In 2015, we introduced an amazing selection of the short-lived, but showy, native Silene virginica, discovered by Alabama’s Colleen Keleher and shared by her husband, nurseryman, Maarten van der Giessen (photo below). Silene ‘Jackson Valentine’, was such a dramatic improvement over the typical species, that it was purchased and shared with gardeners worldwide. One of […]
The Little Native Perennial that Could Read More »
One of the amazing broad leaf evergreen shrubs we wrote about three years ago is the Chinese Euonymus myrianthus. We were excited then, and are even more so now. Our specimen has reached 8′ tall, on the way to 12′-15′. The glossy dark green leaves look great all year. We’re still waiting for our plant
Many-Flowered Euonymus Read More »
Our conifer collection really shines in the winter, and one that I walk by daily is the false cypress, Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Clouded Sky’. This sport from the old standard, Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Squarrosa’ is an introduction from Holland’s L. Konijn & Company Nursery. Our 18-year old Clouded Sky False Cypress is now 8′ tall x 12′
There are few plants better to add a upright, phallic statement to the garden, than the native (Canada south to South Carolina) American arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis ‘Degroot’s Spire’. It is truly odd that I’ve never heard a native plant talk that recommended planting this…hmm. I’ve grown this in every garden I’ve every built, valued for
Pinus thunbergii ‘Banshosho’ has made a great specimen at JLBG. This dwarf Japanese selection of Japanese black pine, reportedly matures at 3′ x 3′, but we forgot to let our plant read the books, which is why it’s now 5′ tall x 9′ wide after only six years. Those published growth rates probably come from
A Great Show with Banshosho Read More »
What a lovely surprise to find our native liver leaf (Hepatica americana) in flower in the garden on Christmas day. This fabulous North American native, evergreen perennial, is found in moist woodlands, throughout the Eastern US. Because this collection is from Western South Carolina, it’s flowering months earlier than forms from colder regions. The common
Liver for Christmas Read More »
There are few plants in the garden that put on a holiday show like Photinia serratifolia ‘Green Giant’. I’ve admired this since I was a young horticulture student at NC State, where the west wall of the horticulture building housed some ancient specimens. This member of the rose family hails from China, Japan, Taiwan, and
Christmas Photinia Read More »
Looking handsome in the winter woodland is Polystichum dracomontanum. While most garden polystichums are either American or Asian in origin, this gem hails from South Africa. The specific epithet “dracomontanum” translates to Dragon Mountain, and in this case indicates that the plant is from the Drakensburg Mountains in South Africa. Although I spent a bit
Dragon Mountain Fern Read More »
Looking lovely in the winter garden is the variegated foliaged Ilex cornuta ‘O. Spring’. We’ve grown this informal-shaped holly for almost 40 years. Although it’s a male, and consequently doesn’t fruit, the foliage is more than enough reason to grow this, where space permits. The holly is named for the late Otto Spring, so the
O. Spring in Winter Read More »
We typically think of dogwoods of being seasonally interesting plants in spring, but the semi-evergreen Cornus wilsoniana changes that narrative. Despite the clusters of small flowers in May, this Chinese species is most prized for its amazing white patterned bark, which is especially noticeable in winter, against the prevailing background of brown. Sadly, this amazing
Wilson’s Winter Dogwood Read More »
