We’re always excited when a new fern finds our garden to it’s liking, and such is the case with Cyrtomium tsinglingense ‘Li Ping’, which is now heading into it’s fifth year in the ground. This previously uncultivated species of holly fern is from a Mark Weathington collection in Shaanxi, China.
Sing-a-long Holly Fern Read More »
One of the dazzling conifers at JLBG that always leaves visitors guessing and admiring is the monotypic genus, Taiwaniana cryptomeroides. While there are many specific epithet names that commemorate countries, this Taiwan endemic is one of the only plant genera named after a country. Taiwaniana ‘Independence’ is a superb, glaucous leaf clone that hails from
Taiwania, from, wait…you guessed it, Taiwan Read More »
Ever since I had my first greenhouse at age 7, I’ve grown the tropical Green Cliff Break fern, Pellaea viridis. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d find a winter hardy form. It was not until 2005, when I visited South Africa, that we found it growing at a range of elevations from
Green Cliff Brake…another amazing Ferner Read More »
Recently flowering in the woodland garden at JLBG is another hardy gesneriad, the Chinese Lysionotus wilsonii. This gems hails from 2,000-6,000′ elevation in China’s Yunnan and Sichuan province, where it’s found in woodland valleys. That’s near the minimum elevational range at which we’d expect winter hardiness in Zone 7b/8a, so we are thrilled that it
We’ve written many times about the huge number of plants we’ve killed, but we find that’s the best way to learn. Often, we have a good idea if a particular plant will be successful, and sometimes, it’s just a random attempt. Such was the case, when we planted a cultivar of Rocky Mountain subalpine fir,
Rocky Mountain Hurricane in NC Read More »
One of the lovely surprises from the aroid collections of the late Alan Galloway, has been the winter hardiness of the “tropical” Arisaema nonghinense. This little-known jack-in-the-pulpit, which was only named in 2014, endemic from 1,500-1,800′ elevation in the Nong Hi district in Thailand’s Loei Province. For those who don’t know Thailand, it’s the last
One plant that I’ve tried to grow for decades are the cotton grasses of the genus, Eriophorum. Actually, fourteen of the sixteen recognized species of bog denizens are North American natives. but all but Eriophorum virginicum are native so far north, they have little heat tolerance, as our trials have shown. Some species are tight
Cotton Grass…Fluffy, not Stuffy Read More »
In full flower now is our patch of Agapanthus ‘Ever Amethyst’, from the agapanthus kings, De Wet agapanthus breeders in South Africa. This has been an exceptional performer in our trials. For us, agapanthus flower after the spring floral flush, and before the summer flowering plants begin, providing a great early summer filler. We will
Amazingly Amethyst Read More »
Looking absolutely elegant in a crevice garden seep is the native Carex echinata. Although star sedge is quite common from Maine to Minnesota, it’s quite rare in NC. This is seed grown from a population in the mountainous Alleghany County, NC, although it’s thriving in our coastal plain garden. In the wild, this clump former
A Star Sedge is Born Read More »
In flower now in our crevice garden is the amazing Puya alpestris, a plant better known by its common name of sapphire tower. This native bromeliad to the Chilean Andes south of Santiago, is a plant we really shouldn’t be able to grow, yet here it is in flower. This is growing at the south
Puya – The Magic of Amethyst Read More »
