Looking lovely in the garden this week, is the popular Asian garden fern, Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’. This Casa Flora introduction is slightly shorter than the typical species, with new fronds that are more colorful. We remove the old fronds of autumn fern, in very early spring, so they won’t visually interfere with the amazing new
I remember a few decades back, when my torso looked exactly like the foliage of Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’, during a somewhat unpleasant bout of shingles. Fortunately, there is nothing but joy, that comes from growing this equally patterned mayapple, that’s looking great in the garden now. For over two decades, this Terra Nova introduction has
Horticultural Shingles Read More »
Early to mid-April has been peak for the amazing calanthe orchid show in the garden. These easy-to-grow, semi-evergreen terrestrial orchids, are a woodland perennial we wouldn’t garden without. Calanthe discolor ‘Eco White’ is a selection from the late nurseryman, Don Jacobs. This species range includes China, Korea, and Japan. Calanthe ‘Golden Treasure’ is our selection
Pretty as a Juice Newton song is our patch of Brunnera macrophylla ‘Queen of Hearts’. For so many decades, we struggled to keep any brunneras alive in our hot, humid summers. Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ was the first to survive here, but thrive is a word we never could really use to describe it. That all
Playing with the Queen of Hearts Read More »
Here’s a new one for most gardeners, Carex metallica ‘Fade to Green’, in full flower in our woodland garden this week. We’re not aware of anyone who has grown this evergreen sedge ornamentally. This is our 2008 collection from Taiwan’s Alishan Mountain. We haven’t offered it yet, since we don’t expect the demand would be
Just emerging from its winter slumber in the woodland rock garden, is the scarlet orange-flowered, Adonis ‘Chichibu Beni’. This rare selection is a triploid hybrid between Adonis multiflora and Adonis ramosa. When it comes to Adonis, not all treasures are golden. Hardiness Zone 3a-8a.
The Elusive Red Adonis Read More »
You’ve officially strayed into the realm of horticultural obscurity when you’re excited about the performance of the woodland-growing genus Helwingia in your garden. Helwingia‘s namesake is the little-known Prussian botanist and pastor Georg Andreas Helwing (1666-1734). This odd genus also appears like something transported to Earth through a paranormal portal, since it’s one of a
Helwingia, the Horticultural Hellboy Read More »
Emerging in the woodland garden now are the amazing toothworts of the former genus, Dentaria. Dentaria ‘Green Snowflake’ below, is our 2017 introduction of our hybrid between two natives, Dentaria heterophylla and Dentaria dissecta. This foliage sailed through our recent low temperatures of 15 degrees F. In another eight weeks, the clump will be topped
Here come the Green Snowflakes Read More »
One of the bright spots in the fall garden are Aucubas, like Aucuba japonica ‘Ogon no Tsuki’. Even on a dark, dreary day, the bright leaves serve as a focal point to help lighten the mood.
A Bright Spot in the Woodland Read More »
We are entering peak flowering season for Aspidistra (cast iron plants), a time we always enjoy because of the fascinating leaf and flower diversity in the genus. One of several species flowering this week is the rare, South Central Vietnam native, Aspidistra quangngaiensis, a species only discovered and described in 2017. Sadly, it’s small population
Can I Buy a Vowel? Read More »
