Tag Archives: List 6

Matteuccia struthiopteris (Onocleaceae)

Posted on by under Onocleaceae

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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

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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

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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.

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