Plants & Gardens

Camassia – a North American native bulb

douggreen — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:47:57 +0000

This is one of the those “why don’t they ever grow this plant more” type of bulbous plants. Hardy, pest-proof and easy to grow – what more need I say. Here’s an article on growing camassia.

Astrantia or Masterwort

douggreen — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:34:10 +0000

Masterwort (wort is old Saxon for “plant”) is a great plant for the damp garden. It survives in sun or part shade (tends to bloom better when protected from hot afternoon sun) as long as the soil is dampish. Here’s how to grow it and propagate it.

Garden Phlox paniculata

douggreen — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 23:14:03 +0000

If there ever was a backbone plant – a must-have for the cottage garden, Phlox paniculata is it.

It blooms for the longest time (mid July through August) is slightly fragrant (depending on variety) makes a tremendous cut flower, is hardy, and normally can’t be killed by beginner gardeners. Pictured to the left is P. paniculata ‘Nora Leigh’
Propagated easily by cuttings or division, this is how to grow this almost perfect plant.
On the other hand, Missouri Botanic Garden has this to say about this plant.

Symphytum or Comfrey (herb and ornamental)

douggreen — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:54:35 +0000

Comfrey has long been one of the most useful of garden herbs but lately it is invading the ornamental garden. I rather like this plant because it fills another niche in the garden (shady damp garden or part shade). Here’s how to grow it properly.

Here’s the ARS data from the germplasm resources databank and some other herbal information from Henrietta’s Herbal Pages

And here’s a cautionary link to the Canadian poisonous plants list. Comfrey as a poisonous plant (yes, you really don’t want to eat too much of this plant).

But used in the ornamental garden, it is a gorgeous plant that I truly love to grow.

ScillaHyacinthoides

douggreen — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:34:12 +0000

Why botanists do this to poor unsuspecting gardeners is beyond me but they do seem to delight in changing perfectly good names. (If you’re a botanist -I do understand, I just think it’s a shame to lose great names)

In any case, they’ve done it to Scilla. This great little name rolls of the tongue while Hyacinthoides stumbles and grunts as it tumbles out into a puddle of spit.

I’m a fan of the bulb but not of the name. You might not be a fan of the bulb if you have it in your lawn. I on the other hand love the concept of a blue carpet unrolling every spring.

Here are the basics on growing this bulb and here is the datasheet from the Missouri Botanic Garden

Summer Snowflake

douggreen — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:24:59 +0000

The Summer and Spring Snowflake (more properly called Leucojum) are delightful very early spring and late spring-early summer bloomers that resemble their more popular cousin the snowdrop. Almost identical except for petal length, using the two species of Leucojum will extend the snowdrop-look for a longer time in your garden.

Here are some pics of the plant naturalized etc. and here’s how the differences between the two species and how to grow them.

Hymenocallis or Summer Daffodil

douggreen — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 22:24:53 +0000

Summer daffodil is easy to grow if you remember not to bury the neck of the bulb. (if you do this – the bulb is distinctly unhappy).

Here are the general care instructions for making a success with this bulb. I note you can grow it in a container just as easily as the ground.

Carex

douggreen — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 20:10:51 +0000

Growing Carex species is all the rage in some parts of the gardening world. To me, they’re perfect plants for damp spots in the shade or in a bog garden. The new varieties are wonderful plants for this purpose. Try to grow them in dry soils (in sun or shade) and you’ll have a rather short lived plant on your hands.

Here’s a link to basic growing techniques

Here’s a link to the USDA datasheet

Dicentra or Bleeding Heart

douggreen — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 18:49:50 +0000

Bleeding heart is one of the delights of the spring blooming garden (pictured Dicentra spectabilis ‘alba’). Basic growing information is here.

A few more details on specific cultivars is here.

University of Illinois has this to say about this plant – basic.

USDA data on native distribution and the Missouri Botanic Garden has this to say

Japanese Iris (Iris ensata)

douggreen — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 18:05:06 +0000

Japanese iris are quite lovely plants that some gardeners have trouble growing. Here are some instructions for growing this lovely plant.

If you want some other pictures of Japanese iris.

And here’s a link to the Japanese – “Japanese Iris Society” (they don’t ship these lovely plants or seeds but the pictures are wonderful).