Looking absolutely dazzling in the garden now, is the star of the genus, Baptisia arachnifera. This superb garden plant from only two counties in Coastal Georgia, is very easy to grow, but sadly very rare in the wild. It’s Federally Endangered status is due to most (95%) of its habitat being crowded out by commercial
Spider Web Baptisia Read More »
One of the rarest of the Southeast US native Barbara buttons is Marshallia ramosa, a plant previous more abundant, but now classified at one of the rarest and imperiled levels, G2. This endemic to a few populations in Georgia and Florida has dwindled, primarily to a lack of fire, and a subsequent takeover by more
Barbara almost lost her Buttons Read More »
One of our prized confers in the garden is the little-known, Nothotsuga longibracteata. Originally thought to be a hemlock, this Chinese native hails from several of the southern provinces, where they grow on acidic soils at elevations between 1,000′ and 7,000′. Sadly, they are now endangered due to excessive logging. In the wild, they eventually
Long-bracted False Hemlock Read More »
Rudbeckia truncata is a very rare coneflower (G2G3 rank – high to moderate risk of extinction), restricted to a small region of alkaline bluffs from Kentucky south into the Georgia mountains. Although named in 1898 by the late botanist J.K. Small, subsequent taxonomists, who obviously didn’t bother to grow the plant, incorrectly lumped it into
Rudbeckia truncata – another “Small” Coneflower Read More »
We love any late season flowering woodland perennials, and few are more impressive than our native Actaea cordifolia. This wonderful rare native (globally rare ranking of G3) from Virginia west to Tennessee has languished in taxonomic purgatory under a parade of invalid names. The 4′ tall, upright, branched terminal spikes end in finger-like clusters of
Flowering now at JLBG is the dwarf, highly threatened pineapple lily, Eucomis montana. In botanical terms, the word “montana” indicates from the mountains. This stunningly elegant pineapple lily species hails from the northern end of South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains (Mpumalanga, Free State, and Swaziland), where it can be found growing in grasslands on rocky hillsides.
The Incredible Hulk of the plant world has returned, once again, to seek a mate. It’s been just over two years since our Amorphophallus titanum ‘Homo Erectus’ gifted us with a giant inflorescence, so we’re thrilled to welcome another flowering event. Below is a photo of our plant on July 3, so, based on past
It’s Back…Homo erectus returns! Read More »
Most of the prehistoric sago palms we grow in the garden are Chinese natives, yet a few of the most unusual, winter hardy ones we grow are actually North American natives. Ceratozamia hildae, which looks great this week, hails from oak woodlands in the provinces of Queretaro and San Luis Potosi, at elevations up to
Mexican Bamboo Cycad Read More »
In flower this week at JLBG is the little-known, Iris speculatrix, known as Hong Kong Iris. Iris are one our specialty collections and this small, evergreen species from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, tops out at a mere 1′ tall. The specific epithet (second part of the Latin name) means “to observe”. It is related
Speculation about Iris Read More »
In flower now at JLBG is the rarely seen, Southeast native, Parnassia caroliniana. This amazing, but difficult to grow bog perennial begins flowering for us in mid-November. Even more odd than the plant itself, are it’s relatives. It’s a member of the Celastraceae, meaning its cousins include the genus, Euonymus, and the bittersweet vine, Celastrus.
Grass of Parnassus Read More »
