The dwarf native woodland iris, Iris cristata are in flower here today. Iris ‘Montrose White’ was introduced by Montrose Gardens in NC. Iris cristata is native in shade, but flowers much better when given a couple of hours of sun. Iris cristata ‘Powder Blue Giant’ is incredibly floriferous in the garden today. These spring flowering […]
Iris cristata in flower Read More »
What an incredible week for epimediums here at Juniper Level. The first photo is our introduction, Epimedium ‘Songbirds‘…an insanely heavily flowered yellow selection. Epimedium wushanense ‘Starlite‘ is our selection of the amazing Chinese species, which boasts large terminal inflorescences on a plant that approaches 2’ tall. Epimedium zhushanense is another incredible Chinese species
Epimediums on Parade in the Garden Read More »
The Japanese woodland peony, Paeonia japonica just opened yesterday in the garden! Unlike most other peonies, this one requires light shade, so plant it with hostas and ferns. Our supply of these is always limited, so if you like it, don’t delay in getting one for your garden.
Paeonia japonica – a peony for shade Read More »
Asarum maximum ‘Shell Shocked’ is quite stunning in the garden today. Here it is in full flower in our woodland garden taken yesterday. This selection is dramatically more vigorous and floriferous than any other clone of the panda ginger we’ve grown.
Asarum maximum ‘Shell Shocked’ in flower Read More »
I spent the weekend enjoying winter garden clean-up and moving a few plants around. This time of year, the garden is like an Easter egg hunt, with treasures popping through the ground everywhere you look. I was thrilled to discover a huge crop of aspidistra seed, which we’ll plant shortly. Most folks move through the
Gathering aspidistra seed Read More »
One of the first plants to flower in the moist woodland are the lovely heloniopsis. Here’s Heloniopsis orientalis ‘Purple Sprite’ in flower today. Heloniopsis was a former member of the giant Lily family, until the great taxonomic breakup moved it into the Melanthiaceae family. The easy-to-grow Heloniopsis (Zone 5a-8b) are a great way to add
Lonely heloniopsis Read More »
I just snapped this image of Cyclamen hederifolium in the garden this morning…only a couple of days removed from a low of 12 degrees F. These are so wonderful in the woodland winter garden. Be sure to plant cyclamen where they will stay fairly dry in the late spring and summer when they are dormant.
Cyclamen hederifolium in the winter garden Read More »
One of our favorite woodland garden plants is the evergreen solomon’s seal, Disporopsis pernyi. Here’s a photo I just took to show how good it still looks after several nights around 20 degrees F. It’s also about as tolerant of deep shade as any plant we grow. We’ve had reports of it being winter hardy
Disporopsis pernyi – Evergreen Solomon’s Seal Read More »
The Chinese Paeonia obovata is one of the few peony species that’s grown as much for its seed as for its flowers…the seed last much longer. Here’s a photo I just snapped in the garden of its amazing seed pods. Be sure to see this when you visit this weekend for our final Open Nursery
Peony obovata in seed Read More »
In flower today are the lovely oxblood lilies, Rhodophiala bifida. This Argentine native bulb emerges seemingly overnight without foliage. The 1′ tall stalks are topped with bright red, out-facing flowers…first cousin to hippeastrum (mistakenly known as amaryllis). About a month after rhodophialas finish flowerering, the winter growing leaves emerge and remain throughout the winter. Rhodophiala
Rhodophiala bifida – Oxblood Lily Read More »
