Monthly Archives: July 2016

Sedum ‘Bertram Anderson’ (Crassulaceae)

Posted on by under Crassulaceae

sedum bertram andersonIMG_3939

(image from google images)

Common name: Bertram Anderson stonecrop

Size, form, texture: bushy herbaceous perennial up to 20 cm in height, spread 0.1-0.5 m.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: zone 7, south or east facing, prefer moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: rounded, fleshy purplish grey leaves, heads of rosy red flowers, bloom in summer and early autumn, succulent stems and leaves, clusters of small star shaped flowers.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Good for flower borders and beds, garden city edging, courtyard gardens, container plants, rock garden coastal gardens, informal gardens.

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Plumbaginaceae)

Posted on by under Plumbaginaceae

ceratostigma plumbaginoides Ceratostigma_plumbaginoides

IMG_3938

(image from google images)

Common name: leadwort

Size, form, texture: height 0.75-1 ft, spread 1-1.5 ft, wiry matt forming perennial, spreads by rhizomes.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: Zone 5-9, prefers average well drained soils in full sun to part shade, can be aggressive in ideal conditions, likes south facing heat,

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: Beautiful blue flower, clean foliage, late to emerge, doesn’t leaf out until end of may, gap in foliage in spring. Oval shiny green leaves with attractive upright stems bearing terminal flowers. Foliage turns rust coloured in fall.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Forms attractive ground cover, good fall colour, attractive in masses, good as underplanting for shrubs, edging, nice in rock gardens or as front of border.

Origanum ‘Barbara Tingey’ (Lamiaceae)

Posted on by under Lamiaceae

Origanum Barbara TingeyIMG_3937

(image from google images)

Common name: Round-leaved oregano

Size, form, texture: Height 4 inches, width 8 inches, clump forming ground and rock cover.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: Zone 7-9, very good plant for bumblebees, open soil that heats up is required for bumble bee nesting, need full sun and very well drained soil.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: Bracts obscure flower, start green/yellow then goes pink then brown, disintegrates quickly. Blooms for months and months, blue-green slightly rounded heart shaped leaves.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: can be used in planters, hanging baskets, as edging, very attractive plant.

Asclepias tuberosa (Apocyanaceae)

Posted on by under Apocynaceae

Asclepias_tuberosaIMG_3936

(image from google images)

Common name: butterfly weed, milkweed

Size, form, texture: height and spread 24 inches,

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: zone 3-9, native to North America, poisonous compounds to many insects except monarch butterflys who lay eggs on this plant, feed exclusively on this plant, and caterpillars avoid predation by ingesting poisonous compounds that make them poisonous to other insects, butterfly pollinated, tuberous roots that have a variety of medicinal uses, due to poisons leaves remain almost unaffected by any other insects, toxic to any other plant or us.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: alternate arrangement, attractive green foliage, orange/tangerine flowers, long flowering period, best in full sun.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Good used in prairie plantings, rain garden, eclectic aesthetic.

Petasites fragrans (Asteraceae)

Posted on by under Asteraceae

petasites fragransIMG_3935

(image from google images)

Common name: winter heliotrope

Size, form, texture: height 6-12 inches, bulbous head on stalk.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: tender shrub from the tropics, known for sweet baby powder fragrance, “mushroom like” shape, can be invasive/aggressive, won’t come up where dense cover but will show up in holes in landscape, European species, prefers sun to part shade.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: flowers in feb/march, flowers in spring before leaves come, bloom purple or white, foliage is deciduous smooth, succulent leaves.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Good ground cover in summer, dies down in winter, medicinal properties, aka colt’s foot (lead shaped like horse’s hoof), good on slab, should be contained, clean looking, nice dense ground cover.

Iberis umbellata (Brassicaceae)

Posted on by under Brassicaceae

iberus umbullataIMG_3934

(image from google images)

Common name: globe candytuft

Size, form, texture: hardy annual, height 1 ft, spread 4 ft,

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: self seeding, comes back each year after being planted once,  needs to be in drier site protected from the Northeast, zone 5-9, attractive and edible, require moderately rich soil and lots of sun.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: flowers born in umbel, variety of colour in one planting, spring flowers in May to June, forms low mats of attractive flowers and foliage.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Good to cut dead flowers and throw back in so that seeds disperse, good ground cover, edging or on top of wall, good for use in rock gardens, to cover bare spots or in beds, attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds.

Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nippon’ (Asparagaceae)

Posted on by under Asparagaceae

mondo grassIMG_3933

(image from google images)

Common name: dwarf mondo grass

Size, form, texture: mature size 10 inches by 16 inches, evergreen ground cover, herbaceous perennial,

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: zone 7-10, brown tips on leaves in cold winter, shade tolerant, prefers partial to full shade but can tolerate sun, leaves will just get sunburnt, prefers moist well drained soil.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics:  Narrow strip shaped leaves, grasslike texture, interesting appearance, white or pale purple flowers.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Cannot tolerate being walked on, will get holes where people have stepped, good to plant in islands with moss, good as ground cover or in very front of borders.

Phormium tenax (Xanthorroeaceae)

Posted on by under Xanthorroeaceae

Phormium_tenaxIMG_3932

(image from google images)

Common name: New Zealand flax

Size, form, texture: huge clumps, height 1-6 ft, spread 1-3 ft, attractive and unusual aesthetic.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: Native to New Zealand, evergreen, fibrous, when dormant sensitive to excess moisture, bird pollinated flowers, attracts hummingbirds, needs sun and good drainage, increased irrigation in summer increases size of foliage, temporary bedding plant in cooler parts of Vancouver, zone 9 plant likes dry well drained area, needs sun,

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: foliage comes in many colours ranging from green to darker green, awesome flower stalks 4-5 m tall, rarely flowers, very attractive architectural foliage.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Nice plant at waters edge, also very attractive in pots or containers for patios or decks, greenhouse or houseplant, attractive around fountains or water features.

Hebe franciscana (Plantiginaceae)

Posted on by under Plantaginaceae

hebe fransisciana Hebe_x_franciscana

IMG_3931

(image from google images)

Common name: Francisca hebe

Size, form, texture: giant plant, height 2-4 ft, spread 2-4 ft,

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: suitable for mild garden, good on top of wall where there is good drainage, needs good protection but not shade, good under tree where its protected from radiation frost, the bigger the leaf on a hebe the less hardy it is, prefers part sun to shade, fertilizers can enhance foliage.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: perfectly decussate leaves, inflorescent spikes subterminal, conical pink flowers, all hebes are evergreen.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape:  Can be prone to pest problems and is prone to weather damage if not protected from frost. Otherwise fairly low maintenance.

Carex pendula (Cyperaceae)

Posted on by under Cyperaceae

carex_pendulaIMG_3930

(image from google images)

Common name: Drooping sedge

Size, form, texture: Foliage 40-50 inches tall, flower 50-60 inches tall, cool season semi evergreen clump forming sedge.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: hardy, zone 5 plant, aggressive, will grow anywhere once established, can tolerate sun or shade, crowded areas where theres competition, will be very successful with irrigation.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: Lower clumping dark green sedge with tall drooping brown inflorescents, moves with the wind, sandlike, dense lush foliage at ground prevents weeds.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Good plant o create movement in the landscape, can be paired with hosta. Looks good in border or in bedding.

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