The legend of screaming mandrakes of the genus Mandragora is enough reason to grow these fascinating members of the Solanaceae (tomato, potato) family. I’m always reminded of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 1956 classic, I Put a Spell on You, every time I’m working nearby. We’ve actually tried all four species in the genus, but so far
The Mandrake Lives…Quietly, for Now Read More »
Recently, Garden Curator, Doug Ruhren, was moving one of our new Amorphophallus konjac selections from our field trials into the garden. When dug, this form, with solid black stems, had a tuber that was nearly the size of a basketball. The old growth has died back, and it will remain dormant until next June. Below
Basketball Jones…On the Move Read More »
In 2014, we spotted a unique holly fern sporeling in the garden, which appeared to be a hybrid of Cyrtomium falcatum ‘Butterfieldii’, and the typical species. After watching it for several years, we christened it Cyrtomium ‘One Off’, and introduced it in 2023. In form, it’s much more compact than both parents, and has continued
When woody plant experts visit, they almost all ask to see our specimen of the Mexican oak, Quercus tarahumara. Named after the Tarahumara tribe of Northern Mexico, this fascinating oak is quite rare in conservation collections, although there is currently a concerted effort to introduce more wild germplasm. At present, the JLBG specimen, planted in
Tara of the Northern Hills Read More »
One of the bright spots in the fall garden are Aucubas, like Aucuba japonica ‘Ogon no Tsuki’. Even on a dark, dreary day, the bright leaves serve as a focal point to help lighten the mood.
A Bright Spot in the Woodland Read More »
We are entering peak flowering season for Aspidistra (cast iron plants), a time we always enjoy because of the fascinating leaf and flower diversity in the genus. One of several species flowering this week is the rare, South Central Vietnam native, Aspidistra quangngaiensis, a species only discovered and described in 2017. Sadly, it’s small population
Can I Buy a Vowel? Read More »
It was on a 2008 expedition to Taiwan, where I met the Taiwan native spruce, Picea morrisonicola. This amazing plant was named in honor of its native habitat on Mt. Morrison, which was, as was the colonialistic habit at the time, named for English missionary, Robert Morrison (1782-1834) . Today, the mountain is known as
I’ve been enchanted with the New Zealand native fern, Paesia scaberula, since obtaining my first specimen from Washington fern guru, Judith Jones in 2011. We didn’t expect any plant from the cool summer climate of New Zealand to have a chance of surviving here, but after fourteen years, it actually thrives. We almost failed on
I first met the genus, Exbucklandia, in the fall of 1996, at China’s Kunming Botanic Garden. At the time, I’d never heard of this odd, evergreen witch hazel cousin. Not only was the plant odd, but the genus name was an equal oddity. It was originally named by Scottish taxonomist, Robert Brown in 1832, as
The Buckland Faux Paus Read More »
Below is our stunning, seventeen year old specimen of the Subequal Ironwood, now measuring 30′ tall x 20′ wide. Below, is our plant this week, showing off it’s beautiful fall color in early November. Parrotia subaequalis is the Chinese version of the better known Persian ironwood, Parrotia persica. This is so rare in the wild,
Nearly Equal Ironwood Read More »
