Author Archives: olivia walker

Inula magnifica (Asteraceae)

Posted on by under Asteraceae

IMG_3583 IMG_3587

IMG_3908

Common name: Himalayan elecampane

Size, form, texture: tall free flowering, upright perennial, height 1.5-2.5 m, spread 0.5-1 m, bushy.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: prefers part shade, moist but well drained soil, H 7, deep fertile soil.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: large basal ovate leaves, daisy like yellow flower heads, unique looking plant, almost like Van gogh painting, unique thready flowers, could potentially look a tad messy when not in bloom, short blooming period is the problem with all Inulas, very ready involucer, geometric tough buds, need space but will grow very well in sun.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Great in border, must plant in succession with something else as short bloom, cheery and charming appearance.

Echinacea purpurea (Asteraceae)

Posted on by under Asteraceae

IMG_3548IMG_3909

Common name: purple coneflower

Size, form, texture: height 2-5 ft, spread 1.5-2 ft, look sparsely planted at first but grow into surrounding space.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: prefers well drained soil, in full sun to part shade, best in full sun, very hardy plant, drought tolerant, good in hot dry location, native to Ohio river valley, can tolerate excess moisture or shade, but short lived in to much moisture. Needs well drained soil, and will expand laterally.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: Stiff bronze flowers (in centre) with no petals fertile flowers, surrounding by purple petals, composite flower, loved by bees, bloom for about 2 months, bronze cone persists when purple petals fall, green, ovate, broad lanceolate foliage.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: good for massing borders, nice plant for meadow, naturalized or wildflower garden or part shade of woodland garden. Could look nice with black eyed Susan in flower border.

Matteuccia struthiopteris (Onocleaceae)

Posted on by under Onocleaceae

IMG_3513 IMG_3512IMG_3910

Common name: ostrich fern

Size, form, texture: height 3-6 ft, spread 6-8 ft, large clumping dimorphic fern, spore bearing.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: part to full shade, wet shade with constant moisture, native to Europe, Eastern Asia, and Eastern North America.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: lateral leaflets not totally separated, pinnately compound, source of edible fiddleheads, lush green foliage with spores on back, non flowering plants.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: a good planting with blue Himalayan poppies in front in border with ostrich fern behind, best in shade gardens, naturalized gardens or near ponds or waters edge. Nice in mass, plant with early spring flowers so that when they die down fern will be reaching full size and will bend over spent flowers. Combines well with hosts and astilbes.

Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ (Asparagaceae)

Posted on by under Asparagaceae

IMG_3489IMG_3911

Common name: seersucker hosta

Size, form, texture: height 2-3 ft, spread 3-4 ft, spreading ground cover,

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: open bed over winter, completely herbaceous, Z 4-9, prefers part to full shade, likes well drained soil and moist conditions, need to keep soil moist especially in hot, dry conditions.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: large heart shaped coarse textured leaves, with corrugation. Flowers are in white racemes, funnel shaped with purple tinge. Very attractive tropical looking plant.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Low maintenance other than potential irrigation, pests include slugs etc, but not often an issue, dense foliage crowd out weeds, versatile and dependable. Good in shade garden, borders, in perennial border or in mass. Slow growing, takes time to reach mature form.

Begonia grandis (Begoniaceae)

Posted on by under Begoniaceae

IMG_3487 IMG_3486

IMG_3912

Common name: hardy begonia

Size, form, texture: height and spread 1.5-2 ft, monoecious, tuberose root, forms clumps.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: Z 6-7, native to China, prefers part to full shade and moist, rich soil that doesn’t dry out, bushy rounding foliage. Hardy in Vancouver as long as in well drained soiled has shade. Easy to propagate with lots of humidity.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: Distinct leaf with attractive red underside, flowers are bubble like and pale pink and bloom from July to early fall, will self seed in shade, showy plant. Typically grows from fleshy root, delicate and watery stems, lots of water in the stem.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: good selection for shade garden with hostas and ferns, also nice in woodland garden or in the front  of a shady border (as in van dusen). May need extra mulch to increase hardiness over winter, dead heading previous blooms can extend blooming period.

Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae)

Posted on by under Ranunculaceae

IMG_3433 IMG_3431

IMG_3913

Common name: love-in-a-mist

Size, form, texture: height 1.5-2 ft, spread 1-1.5 ft, bed of lacy foliage, ethereal wispy appearance, annual.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: From damascus, easy to grow but difficult to then remove if necessary, native to Southern Europe and Northern Africa, prefers full sun, moderate moisture requirements.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: produces lots of seed, edible in other species, solitary blue flowers blooming in June to August, amid wispy textured foliage, giving way to unusual horned egg shaped seed capsules, all of plant is fairly hairy giving it a unique texture.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: low maintenance, dead heading spent flowers will lengthen bloom period, attractive and interesting plant, would look good in a border, looks good in containers, could be interesting with ferns or rosemary when in bloom.

Delosperma cooperi (Aizoaceae)

Posted on by under Aizoaceae

IMG_3434 IMG_3435

IMG_3894

Common name: hardy ice-plant

Size, form, texture: succulent plants, low growing, matt forming 3-6 in tall, spreading 2 or more ft wide.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: many species in this family have crystalline papillae on leaves, refract light giving frosted appearance. Succulents leaves are filled with moisture making them able to tolerate long periods of drought. Spread by seed and stoliniferously (one clump spreading to larger patches). Need to be in very well drained soil, can’t tolerate any shade, but can hold its own with other succulents. Won’t compete with grasses, best in full sun.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: flowers in june, will flower sporadically through the summer, single flower radiating from centre, in bright pink, receptacles become fleshy producing the fruit.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Good as ground cover, in rock gardens or aerospace gardens as once established requires very little water, can be used for erosion control and tolerates coastal exposure. Hardy attractive succulent.

 

Astrantia major subsp. involucrata (Apiaceae)

Posted on by under Apiaceae

IMG_3439 IMG_3440

IMG_3895

Common name: masterwort

Size, form, texture: height and spread 1-3 ft, clumping, soft ethereal flowers with interesting foliage.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: prefers part shade and medium to wet soil, best in soil that doesn’t dry out and where there are cooler summer nights.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: many fragrant showy flowers blooming continuously throughout summer and fall, white with touch of pink (ranging through pink and purple), sweet smelling. Foliage classic of carrot family, large involucer with many tiny flowers in centre. Still has attractive presence when flowering is done.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Good planted with astilbes, ferns and hostas. Low maintenance, planted in beds and borders, and by waters edge. Looks nice in masses, gets large in masses.

Trachelospermum jasminoides (Apocynaceae)

Posted on by under Apocynaceae

confederate jasmine  jasmine

IMG_3896

(davesgarden.com)

Common name: Confederate Jasmine

Size, form, texture: twisted twirling, climber, grows along walls, nice glossy texture, height 4.7- 12 m.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: Z 8 plant, long flowering evergreen, only grows in mild parts of Vancouver, commonly seen in tropics, not common in temperate zones, prefers full sun to part shade.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: twisted twirling flowers, white, nice scent, opposite leaves, dark green and glossy, flowers for 2 months.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: can only survive very mild conditions, delicate flowers, a nice accent to any fence or wall, would grow well on the island, really nice scent, gives tropical feel to garden, nice near entrance way, looks very like jasmine, scent is slightly more delicate.

Leucanthemum x superbum (Asteraceae)

Posted on by under Asteraceae

shasta daisyIMG_3897

(missouribotanicalgarden.org)

Common name: Shasta daisy

Size, form, texture:  hybrid between two species, long flowering perennial plant, stiff upright stems, clumping, height 3-4 ft, spread 2-3 ft.

Hardiness, origin, native ecology: Z 5-9, hardy, very tough plant, best in full sun but tolerates part shade, plant doesn’t produce viable seed. Low to medium water use. Prefers well drained soil and can remove spent flower heads to encourage longer bloom.

Bud, foliage, flower and fruit characteristics: small dark green leaves with distinct daisy flower on tall upright stem, bad scent to flower, long blooming from July to September.

Cultural and maintenance requirements and appropriate uses in the landscape: Good border plant due to long flowering period, not good cut flower due to scent, cheerful and classic, would look nice with ferns in border, blooms into fall, low maintenance and hardy in border along a well used path.

Spam prevention powered by Akismet