Cotinus ‘Winecraft Gold’ PP 30,327, is an amazing 2019 introduction from French nurseryman, Patrick Pineau, who selected it from seed, grown from the first gold leaf cultivar, Cotinus ‘Ancot’. Cotinus ‘Ancot’ was a breakthrough, although it’s lanky, open habit left a bit to be desired. Cotinus ‘Winecraft Gold’ is much more dense selection, with far
Flowering now in the winter garden are several members of the Thymelaeceae family. The more showy of those include the genera Daphne and Edgeworthia. Also in riotous bloom, is their cousin, little-known, not so fragrant, and far less showy North American native, Dirca palustris. It’s also known by its common name, leatherwood, which comes from
Looking amazing in the garden now is the stunning Strawberry Fields deutzia. This amazing 1927 hybrid selection from France’s Lemoine Nursery is actually correctly named, Deutzia ‘Tourbillon Rouge’, but that’s not exactly a great sellable name in Western culture, so it’s no surprise that nursery marketing folks improperly re-named it. Despite the name issues, it’s
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Most folks only know daphnes that retain evergreen foliage, but one of our favorite exceptions is the Chinese native, Daphne genkwa, which happens to be in full flower at JLBG this week. This floriferous species needs moist, but well-drained soils, unlike so many of its European counterparts. Unlike the commonly grown, Daphne odora, it has
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It’s been a while since we posted a photo of our Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Snow Cream’ in full flower, so for those who missed seeing it at our recent Winter Open Nursery and Garden, here it is in its full splendor in mid-March. Our 26 year old specimen is now 8′ tall x 15′ tall, growing
The amazing witch hazel, Hamamaelis x intermedia ‘Orange Peel’ is in full flower at JLBG today, perfuming the cool air. The plant below is 8 years old, and should mature at only 8′ tall.
We just love plants that flower in a true shade of blue, and there aren’t many, especially during the summer months. There are plenty of plants that flower horticulturally blue, which to those who aren’t color blind or prone to exaggeration, are actually purple. Ceratostigma willmottianum is one of those perennials we simply wouldn’t garden
Looking absolutely wonderful in the garden this month is our patch of the native Clethra tomentosa ‘Woodlander’s Sarah’. This splendid introduction from SC’s Woodlander’s Nursery is the finest, and most stable variegated form we’ve ever seen. Each leaf is randomly speckled with creamy white speks and sectors. Starting in late July, the clump bursts into
Looking spectacular in the garden this week is our specimen of the deciduous Viburnum sieboldii. This lovely plant from Central and Southern Japan, is named in honor of German physician/naturalist Phillip Franz von Siebold (1796-1866). My early attempts at growing this at JLBG were all failures, since this species isn’t known to be very heat
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Many years ago, US National Arboretum plant breeder, Don Egolf (1928-1990) embarked on a crape myrtle breeding program, combining the hardiness, and dark bark of the white-flowered Japanese Lagerostroemia faurei with the commonly grown Lagerostroemia indica, with its more colorful flowers. Most of the crape myrtles in the market today named after “Native American” tribes,
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