One of the great plants for winter gardens are the sacred lilies of Japan, of the genus Rohdea. Our mass of Rohdea japonica ‘Go Dai Takane’ is looking fabulous in January. Rohdeas do not spread, so these are planted from individual divisions, from a single original clump. Going from a single specimen to a mass
Where we’re going, we need Rohdeas Read More »
Our specimen of the North American native, Yucca rostrata ‘Sapphire Skies’ is looking quite lovely in the January garden. This is one of the tallest of the hardy blue-foliage soapworts, thriving well into Zone 6, and south through Zone 9. This clump is sixteen years old this year, so it’s officially entering adulthood, when growth
The Rising Sapphire Skies Read More »
Our plant of Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Snow Cream’ is jam packed with flower buds in early January. These will begin to open, usually in early February, as bright yellow, incredibly fragrant flowers. This particular specimen celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. We didn’t name or introduce it until 2000, but since that time, it’s made its
These Buds are for You Read More »
I recently had the opportunity to chat with the new director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden (SCBG) at Clemson University, Dr. Martin Hamilton. I hadn’t seen or spoken with Martin in at least two decades, so it was great to catch up, and hear about all that is happening at SCBG. Since joining the
As the Corner Turns – a SCBG Update Read More »
We’ve just named the third selection of our Rohdea x japensis (Rohdea japonica x Rohdea chinensis) hybrid this winter, this one for its incredible fruit show. We’ve christened this Rohdea x japensis ‘Super Fruit’. Later this winter, we’ll divide our original clump and start down the production pipeline, which should take about 5-6 years to
Looking good in the winter garden is the dwarf cast iron plant, Aspidistra zongbayi ‘Old Glory’. This cast iron plant never grows taller than 1′, but makes a lovely 3-4′ wide evergreen groundcover. This is our 2002 introduction of a 1996 Darrell Probst collection from Sichuan, China. This has been fine for us for over
Reineckea carnea is a plant in need to better PR firm. Despite offering this several times, sales are always miserable, while its cousins, liriope and ophiopogon are readily accepted into both home and public gardens. I think reineckeas are rather amazing evergreens, looking great as you can see below, as we move toward mid-January. Not
Searching for a better PR Agent Read More »
Flowering here in early January, is the little-known snowdrop, Galanthus snogerupii. This species hails from as very small region in central Greece. These are sometimes confused with Galanthus woronowii, and listed by some as a subspecies of Galanthus ikariae. Who says that plants can’t cheer you up on even the dreariest of days.
Hard to spell Snowdrop Read More »
Looking good in its full fruit mode in mid January is the holly, Ilex ‘Emily Brunner’. This hybrid of Ilex cornuta and Ilex latifolia has proven to be one of the best specimen hollies we grow. A mature specimen is 20′ tall x 20′ wide, so if you’re planting this, give it enough space. Years
Being Fruity isn’t always a Bad Thing Read More »
I remember first seeing on-line images of Agave bracteosa ‘Monaco Princess’ over two decades ago, and it was lust at first sight. Tracking down my new found target of desire proved much more difficult than I could have ever imagined. After some deep on-line dives, I was able to determine that the plant was discovered
Lusting after the Princess of Monaco Read More »
