We know it’s time to start thinking of spring when the Atlas Mountain native, Narcissus romieuxii ssp. romieuxii, bursts into flower, here in late January. Nights in the teens F are no match for this amazing bulb.
Cold-blooded Narcissist Read More »
Our specimen of Mahonia ‘Marvel’ is in full flower today. This curious plant from Georgia’s Ozzie Johnson is reportedly a seedling of Mahonia x media ‘Charity’, and while it shares the flower characteristics of the parent, I’m not sure what odd mutation occurred to remove all of the leaf spines. We think this is a
A Mahonia on which to Marvel Read More »
Phlomis x cytherea is a little-known Jerusalem sage that we find incredibly garden worthy. First published in 1967 and named for the island of Cytherea (Kithira), which lies halfway between Mainland Greece and Crete, this natural hybrid occurs in Greece and the Greek islands, where Phlomis fruticosa and Phlomis cretica cohabitate. Compared to the much
Cytherea – The Phlomis G-Spot Read More »
We first posted an image of Hemiboea cavaleriei last year, but wanted to share an update image, now that our clump is more established. What an amazing show for the October and November woodland garden, until a frost arrives. Our plant gets a couple of hours or morning sun, then shade in the afternoon, where
Solidago brachyphylla is a little-known, fall-flowering goldenrod, native from South Carolina west to Alabama. In the wild, this rare native (G3 rank) is found in open forests, but in the garden, it performs far better in part to full sun. Unlike one of our other favorites, Solidago rugosa, this species grows in a tight clump.
A New Rod that’s Just Golden Read More »
I first met the North American (Mexico) native perennial, Galphimia glauca on a 2019 visit to the former Unique Plant Nursery and Garden in NC, returning home with a starter plant, propagated by plantsman/designer, Sebastian Hamilton. It didn’t take long to become a huge fan of the genus. Galphimia is a member of the Malphigiceae
The Gold of Galphimia Read More »
Rudbeckia truncata is a very rare coneflower (G2G3 rank – high to moderate risk of extinction), restricted to a small region of alkaline bluffs from Kentucky south into the Georgia mountains. Although named in 1898 by the late botanist J.K. Small, subsequent taxonomists, who obviously didn’t bother to grow the plant, incorrectly lumped it into
Rudbeckia truncata – another “Small” Coneflower Read More »
I was first introduced to lowland loosestrife on a 2022 South Carolina botanizing trip with Zac Hill and Patrick McMillan. I was shocked that I’d never heard of Steironema hybridum before, despite it being a widespread US native from Canada south to Florida. How is it possible that this late season-blooming perennial wildflower is completely
Orphaned Lowland Loosetrife Read More »
It’s lycoris time at JLBG, as we’re just wrapping up the early part of the flowering season (July 15-August 10). Most of the early blooming surprise lilies are the spring-foliaged species and hybrids. Typically, there are only a few of the fall-foliaged selections that flower during this early period. Sadly, most gardeners have only grown
The Season of Surprises Read More »
One of our favorite ginger lilies is the shade-loving, Hedychium densiflorum ‘Stephen’. While it may look similar to the other members of the genus, Hedychium, it’s actually quite different. While most ginger lilies adore heat, this one tolerates heat, but prefers a cooler summer. It was discovered in 1966 in the Dudh Kosi Valley of
Ginger sure is Dense Read More »
