As you know by our many past posts, we are fascinated by the amazing flowers of the Pig’s Butt arum, Helicodiceros muscivoris, which will be opening in several more weeks. We’re equally amazed at the three dimensional structural scaffolding that the plant contrived to support such a heavy, one-sided flower. Below is the glaucous, angular
Pig’s Butt Scaffolding Read More »
Looking superb in the garden in early November is Arum concinnatum ‘Far and Away’. This special selection is a 2024 Plant Delights/JLBG introduction of a superbly patterned form of the Cretan native Arum concinnatum, collected in 2004, by the late aroid specialist, Alan Galloway. Arum ‘Far and Away’ has the most heavily silver patterned leaf
Far and Away, but so Near Read More »
This year marks our first flowering of the Mediterranean Alp native, Lilium pomponium. This lily is native to dry, rocky, alkaline soils, and has been right at home in our crevice rock garden. It’s probably good, however, that we didn’t read how difficult it is to grow before we tried it. These are now three
It’s the start of arum flowering season at JLBG. These fascinating tuberous aroids grow through the winter, and sleep during the summer months. Our earliest species to burst into bloom are Arum creticum from Greece, Arum sintensii, from Cypress, and Arum palestinum from Palestine. Unlike many of their relatives, arums don’t produce foul odors. Arum
I have long been a fan of the fascinating dryland geophyte, Asphodeline lutea. Native from the Mediterranean through the Caucuses, and south into Africa, Asphodeline lutea is prized for its early spring spikes of bright yellow, star-like flowers. About a decade ago, I heard rumors of an orange-flowered form, which immediately went on my desiderata
Asphodels…a Color Change Read More »
Over two weeks behind this winter, the new growth of the Mediterranean native, Dracunculus vulgaris has finally emerged. This lovable monster is now only a few weeks away from showing off its foul-smelling, phallic, but visually fascinating inflorescence, a large maroon spathe with a dark purple spadix. Watching this is sort of like a train
The Vulgar Dragon Awakens Read More »
