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 »
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 »
I failed for decades to keep the European gas plant, Dictamnus albus alive in our heat and humidity. Despite these mounting failures, I keep trying new genetics as they become available. Finally, this month, we have met with our first success with our first gas plant flowering. Although gas plant looks superficially nothing like its
Gaslighting in the Garden Read More »
Looking absolutely fab in the garden now is the native dogwood selection, Cornus florida ’85 Carat’. You’ve probably never heard of this, because it hasn’t yet been commercially introduced. We acquired this in 2006, from former PDNer Jon Roethling (now Director of Reynolda Gardens), who discovered it on an Interstate 85 off ramp in Gaston
What’s Up Doc? 85 Carats, that’s what Read More »
Several years ago, we grew seed of Dianthus anatolicus, native from Tibet to Turkey, and while all were interesting and deliciously fragrant, one, which we named Dianthus ‘Lunatic Fringe’ stood out from the rest for its exceptional floral show, and heat/humidity tolerance. Our original plant, pictured below, is now almost five years old and still
Flowering now is the amazing groundcover selection of the European daphne, Daphne cneorum ‘Pygmaea’. For years, we were told this wouldn’t grow in our climate, and if you treat them too well, they will not thrive. This is in flower now, growing in our dryland berm, composed of 50% Permatill gravel, 25% native sandy loam,
How Low can you Grow? Read More »
I became entranced with the South African succulent genus, Aloinopsis, years ago, after discovering that Colorado rock gardener Bill Adams had found many of them hardy there in Zone 5/6. We tried quite a few, but found that while they take our winter cold temperatures, they do not take winter moisture. Once we built our
How Low can Aloinopsis Go? Read More »
