Plant of the Month
- Caryopteris incana ‘Sunshine Blue’- Plant of the Month - November
- Clematis integrifolia 'Roguchi' - Plant of the
Month - October
- Ipheion uniflorum 'Rolf Fiedler' & Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye's Giant'- Plant of the Month - September
- Persicaria Polymorpha - Plant of the Month - August
- 'Peggy Martin' Rose - Plant of the Month-July
- Heuchera - Plant of the Month - June
- Solidago ‘Golden Baby’- Plant of the Month - May
- Rita’s Gold’™ Fern - Plant of the Month - April
- Hardy Garden Chrysanthemums - Plant of the Month - March
- Musa basjoo (Hardy Japanese fiber banana) - Plant of the Month - February
- Thuja plicata 'Green Giant' - Plant of the Month - January
Caryopteris incana ‘Sunshine Blue’- Plant of the Month - November
Caryopteris incana ‘Sunshine Blue’
.jpg)
Plant of the Month
November 2008
by Leann Barron
When I was visiting the fabulous University of Tennessee, Knoxville gardens this fall, the peak of color had already passed. However, if you are like me, you can always find plenty to enjoy in a garden. Wandering slowly along the meandering paths, enjoying the carpet of fresh leaves beneath my feet, watching the skies darken from the west, these simple gifts of nature delight the senses in ways a summer garden can’t. One of autumn’s delights is walking amidst the quiet, sleepy trees, listening to the garden’s silence, and wondering when the frosts will arrive.
But on this particular quiet stroll around the UT gardens, I rounded the corner and was suddenly blinded by a neon-yellow and cobalt blue plant. Instantly my brain went from 0 to 100. WHAT IS THAT PLANT??? My pace quickened, my blood pressure rose, every pore of my being was awakened. Zombie-like, I staggered over to this mysterious, mesmerizing, hypnotic, almost psychedelic plant with its impossibly yellow leaves and wild blue flowers and read the label: caryopteris, ‘Sunshine Blue.’ No way. I read it again. For the past two years, I’ve grown Caryopteris ‘Worcester Gold,’ which I thought was perfectly delightful when paired with purple salvias and cupheas, but it just can’t compete with the jolting vibrance of its upstart young cousin ‘Sunshine Blue.’ Perhaps it’s something only a fellow plant addict can relate to, but why take up perfectly good garden space with an inferior cultivar? Sorry, ‘Worcester Gold,’ but shovel-pruning is in your immediate future. You know, “So many species, so little time (and space)?”
.jpg)
Here are some specifics about this spectacular caryopteris. If you are like me and love loud, sassy colors, this is one you will have to have in your 2009 garden.
Caryopteris (pronounced: Car-ry-OP’-tur-iss) ‘Sunshine Blue’ common name: Bluebeard. Caryopteris is categorized as a deciduous subshrub, hardy in zones 5-8, and is great addition to any landscape. ‘Sunshine Blue’ has larger leaves, brighter yellow leaves, and is a strong grower. The eye-popping, vivid blue flowers makes other cultivars pale in comparison. It grows to about 30-36” in full sun to slight shade, thrives in many types of well-drained soil, and is drought tolerant. ‘Sunshine Blue’ is deer resistant, attracts butterflies and bees, and provides fantastic late season color in the garden. It is a strong performer in the UT gardens, and they are very pleased with its hardiness, easy care, and long lasting bright color. ‘Sunshine Blue’ is the new standard for gold-leafed caryopteris, and one that you’ll enjoy in your sunny mixed borders.
Local Resources:
Clematis integrifolia 'Roguchi' - Plant of the Month - October
.jpg)
Perennial Plant of the Month
October 2008
by Leann Barron
Clematis integrifolia 'Roguchi'
One of the most commented upon plants (and a personal favorite) in the Barron garden is the lovely two-toned blue clematis ‘Roguchi,’ (pronounced row-GOO’-chee) introduced by Japanese breeder Kazushige Ozawa-sani. While it’s been wildly popular in collectors’ gardens since the early 1990s, Clematis integrifolia ‘Roguchi’ (also spelled ‘Rooguchi’), has still not achieved the popularity it so richly deserves.
Clematis ‘Roguchi’ is a free-flowering herbaceous perennial vine that needs no pruning, as it dies back every winter. From its vining petioles and healthy green leaves to its nonstop bursts of dainty, bright cobalt dangling bell-shaped flowers, this is one of the easiest clematis around. This summer it bloomed continually from mid-May until the first of October. The seedheads resemble exploding little white fireworks, adding autumn interest. It grows from six feet to eight feet, and is not overwhelming or invasive. I have found that C. ‘Roguchi’ flowers best in full sun, but it’s a versatile clematis that also blooms effectively in part shade, weaving through yellow evergreens such as a ‘Gold Mop’ Chamaecyparis pisifera (Japanese false cypress) or gold heucheras and hostas for a subtle but stunning effect. The design uses are only limited to your imagination and some sunshine.
C. ‘Roguchi’ is a lax grower, and needs support, whether it be a structure, tree or shrub to climb, otherwise you can let it can scramble along the ground, weave through roses, rosemary, variegated or other complementary plants. Its dainty appearance belies its strong winter hardiness and ease of care. C. ‘Roguchi’ needs no winter protection, no pruning, and a place to roam. You’ll love it in your garden--give it a prominent place and enjoy its bright blue bells all summer long.
.jpg)
RESOURCES:
Joy Creek Nursery www.joycreek.com
Completely Clematis Nursery www.clematisnursery.com
American Clematis Society www.clematis.org
Ipheion uniflorum 'Rolf Fiedler' & Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye's Giant'- Plant of the Month - September
Plants of the Month September 2008
Ipheion uniflorum ‘Rolf Fiedler’ and Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye’s Giant’
by Leann Barron
I love September. It’s my birthday month, when the promise of cooler weather arrives, and the hummingbirds are fattening up for their long journeys.
September is also the time to order your spring bulbs, both perennial and annual. Many bulb companies offer hard-to-find bulbs that bring uniqueness, along with welcome color to a sleepy winter garden. Shipping season commences in mid-September, and waiting too long to place orders may mean missing out on those hot new bulbs on the market.
As a birthday present to myself, I’ve selected TWO plants of the month for September: two of my favorite spring bulbs, Ipheions and Leucojums. They have the same bloom time, rapidly naturalize, and make great companions. Best of all, they are deer resistant. (Of course, if deer are truly starving, they’ll eat just about anything, including the bark off trees.)
Ipheion uniflorum ‘Rolf Fiedler’ --Hands down, I am asked about the U.K.’s Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Merit Bulb, Ipheion ‘Rolf Fiedler,’ more than any other plant in my spring garden. This versatile, small, clumping charmer from the Alliaceae (allium) family forms long lasting, bright cobalt blue, starry-shaped, six petaled flowers. Considering these beauties are only a few inches (3-6”) tall, you will need to invest in a good quantity of the bulbs to start with, but they multiply quickly, packing a cheery, visual punch in even the dreariest winter landscape. Ipheion’s fun to pronounce (IF-ee-on un-i-FLOR-um), and since its common name, “Starflower,” can be confused with other plants, Latin nomenclature is preferred when ordering. It’s one of the first flowers to bloom in my garden. Ipheions and their related subspecies are native to southern Brazil, Chili, and Uruguay. They are great naturalizing bulbs for southern landscapes, but are small enough to underplant liberally around trees, shrubs, or anywhere that needs a splashing of color. Ipheions are available in several lovely colors (I personally prefer all the blues) and also in white. I’m particularly fond of ‘Wisley Blue.’ Ipheions are reliable performers in Southern gardens, it’s just a matter of personal color preference. Highly recommended.
Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye’s Giant’ --I love leucojums (commonly called “Snowbells,” or “Snowflakes”), but especially ‘Gravetye’s (or Gravetye) Giant.’ These popular members of the Amaryllidaceae family are often confused with their close relatives, Galanthus (also called “Snowdrops”). Leucojum is another mouthful to pronounce (LEW-co-jum), but again the botanic name is necessary to avoid a mix-up when ordering. ‘Gravetye’s Giant’ is the tallest (30”) of the leucojums. Its foliage, at a glance, resembles that of daffodils. But Gravetye’s flowers are utterly charming, drooping bells of sparkly-white, with bright green polka dots adorning each petal. The sturdy stems hold up in rain (or snow!) and are a great addition to any spring garden.
Resources: Brent and Becky’s Bulbs www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com, Old House Gardens www.oldhousegardens.com, White Flower Farm www.whiteflowerfarm.com
Persicaria Polymorpha - Plant of the Month - August
Plant of the Month
August 2008
by Leann Barron
Persicaria polymorpha (Knotweed/White Fleeceflower)
Who among us can resist the latest cool herbaceous perennial on the 
market? We simply HAVE to have it. Well, if you have space in your gardens to let it go, I’d like to introduce you to Persicaria polymorpha. (pronounced: Purse-eh-CARE-ee ah Poly-MORPH-ah) (I have never heard it called by its common names, Knotweed or Fleeceflower, and I actually had to look it up when writing this piece, so you may want to practice saying it before requesting it at your favorite nursery. Plus, there are other members of the Persicaria family, including popular cultivars such as “Red Dragon,” “Silver Dragon,” “Black Dragon,” and so on, so be specific when ordering.)
market? We simply HAVE to have it. Well, if you have space in your gardens to let it go, I’d like to introduce you to Persicaria polymorpha. (pronounced: Purse-eh-CARE-ee ah Poly-MORPH-ah) (I have never heard it called by its common names, Knotweed or Fleeceflower, and I actually had to look it up when writing this piece, so you may want to practice saying it before requesting it at your favorite nursery. Plus, there are other members of the Persicaria family, including popular cultivars such as “Red Dragon,” “Silver Dragon,” “Black Dragon,” and so on, so be specific when ordering.)A few years ago, I saw this plant at a Perennial Plant Association symposium on a spring garden tour and was wowed, even though the plant was just a baby. But this baby grows fast, giving “instant” gratification its first year. Persicaria polymorpha has attracted a lot of interest from landscape designers and plant collectors, as well as the average home gardener. World-renowned landscape designer and garden writer Wolfgang Oehme gave 5 stars to Persicaria polymorpha as a landscape plant. It forms a nice mound of large green leaves, in mid-summer bursting into bloom with great fluffs of white flowers held in tapering spikes. This well-behaved, clump-forming perennial is great in many garden
applications. I personally like the rather tall plant at the back of a border. While it isn’t a showstopping, front and center star, it attracts plenty of attention without being a diva. Transplanting? No problem. My plant has been re-located in the garden three times with zero stress, and isn’t finicky about soil conditions. It is easily managed by cutting back if it’s too big for your liking. In fact, I find Persicaria polymorpha does better in my garden when I shear it back in late May/early June: when I don’t, it gets leggy and may flop over other plants. It enjoys some moisture, and is quite tolerant of wet sites, and would be lovely in waterside plantings. Excellent for cutting and enhancing mixed bouquets. In early spring, the mannerly, non-invasive clumps are easily divided. Persicaria polymorpha has proven to be a hardy, excellent performer over a wide range of climates, and does not self-seed around.
applications. I personally like the rather tall plant at the back of a border. While it isn’t a showstopping, front and center star, it attracts plenty of attention without being a diva. Transplanting? No problem. My plant has been re-located in the garden three times with zero stress, and isn’t finicky about soil conditions. It is easily managed by cutting back if it’s too big for your liking. In fact, I find Persicaria polymorpha does better in my garden when I shear it back in late May/early June: when I don’t, it gets leggy and may flop over other plants. It enjoys some moisture, and is quite tolerant of wet sites, and would be lovely in waterside plantings. Excellent for cutting and enhancing mixed bouquets. In early spring, the mannerly, non-invasive clumps are easily divided. Persicaria polymorpha has proven to be a hardy, excellent performer over a wide range of climates, and does not self-seed around. I recommend a sunny spot that gets a measure of afternoon shade in the hottest part of the day, it glows in early morning and late afternoon, giving a much-needed restful and cool quality to hot summer gardens.
Resources:
Big Dipper Farm Ph: 360-886-8133 www.bigdipperfarm.com
Forest Farm Ph: 541-846-7269www,forestfarm.com
Avant Gardens Ph: 508-998-8819 www.avantgardensne.com
'Peggy Martin' Rose - Plant of the Month-July
by Leann Barron
There are at least two of the good things that came out of Hurricane Katrina. One was Mrs. Peggy Martin, and the other was a very special rose. Peggy Martin has been an active member of the New Orleans Old Garden Rose Society for many years. Peggy had received a hand-me-down cutting from a friend, who had received from a friend, who had received from a friend, you get the idea. She planted it near an old shed at her home, and within a few years, the rose graced the old building with pink clusters of flowers and long, graceful canes. This previously unnamed rose has been merrily growing there for around 20 years.
During a visit to the Martins’ home in 2003, Dr. William C. Welch, Texas Cooperative Extension horticulturalist, top rose expert, and rose aficionado, admired this virtually thornless climbing rose that was covered in pink “nosegays” and whose foliage was bright green and clean. He took home several cuttings. Dr. Welch was pleasantly surprised by the health and vigor the rose exhibited, but thought little more about it because he assumed it was a mid-spring “once bloomer.” As he continued to observe the rose, he discovered that as it matured, it would have a second bloom cycle in autumn.
Meanwhile, back in Louisiana, the unthinkable happened. In a word, Hurricane Katrina. Peggy and her husband M.J. lost their home, M.J.’s commercial fishing boat used to supplement their income, and tragically, lost both of Peggy’s elderly parents in the flood. Flood waters covered the Martins’ entire property with 20 feet of salt water for two weeks. The sadness and loss was overwhelming. When the Martins were finally able to return to their home, it was obvious that all her beautiful garden plants were lost. As she walked slowly around her property, she was shocked to see two survivors--one a crinum and one was the old rambling rose, growing lushly around the dilapidated shed. Like Peggy, this rose is a tough, true survivor. Dr. Welch named the rose in her honor, worked with nurseries to start a small crop of roses from the cuttings, and has made ‘Peggy Martin’ available to the public, currently through six growers. A portion of the proceeds from your rose purchase will go to funds to help restore gardens, green spaces, and parks in the hard-hit areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
I have ordered two ‘Peggy Martin’ roses to join my ‘Lavender Lassie’ roses on my arbor, and look forward to spending many years with this symbol of hope, resurrection, and the will to survive.
Resources:
- Petals from the Past
www.petalsfromthepast.com - Antiques Rose Emporium
www.antiqueroseemporium.com - Chamblee’s Rose Nursery
www.chambleeroses.com
Heuchera - Plant of the Month - June
Plant of the Month: The Genus Heuchera: The World Of Dan Heims
A Special Interview* by Leann Barron
Author’s Note: We are honored to have been granted this exclusive interview with the great Dan Heims, President of Terra Nova Nurseries.
Dan, we are excited to have the chance to interview a real plant genius regarding some of his beloved plant genus. Tell us a little about your horticultural background.
It all started with a 29-cent houseplant (Gynura) that I bought at Hiron’s Drugstore – a few blocks from the university. It thrived and bloomed in my dorm room and I read a book to see what to do with them. It was there that I discovered Begonias, Peperomias, et al. This led to new levels of nerdiness, taking every course in botany, taxonomy, landscape architecture, and interior design (just the plant classes) that I could find. I still was biochemistry major at the time but switched to Communications (Journalism) with an emphasis on Broadcast Communications. I loved hiking in Oregon’ s forests and mountains and gained a great appreciation for its wildflowers. At school I was a teaching assistant to Dr. Macalister Ruff, who fanned the flames of my passion and eventually installed me as the “keeper” of the Landscape Architecture greenhouse. He would spend 3 months a year in Papua New Guinea and it was my responsibility to receive boxes of cuttings and seeds and root and germinate them. I taught two courses at University level: Advanced Interior Plants (Taxonomy and Horticulture) and Organic Gardening (what fun!) By the time I left school, I had accumulated twelve hundred houseplants (held under banks of fluorescent lights in the basement of a 1905 duplex). It is there that I started my wholesale business of Exotic Plants Unlimited. I built a recycled greenhouse (ahead of my time!) out of Railroad ties and salvaged wood and took over an old bomb-shelter that was great for my houseplants. From there I supplied indoor plant stores in the Portland area and did a farmer’s market called the Saturday Market, where I had quite a following. I was quite active in Plant Groups in the Portland area and started a chapter of the American Begonia Society. As the houseplant boom died I fell back on my landscape maintenance background, and in my 1957 Chevy delivery truck I took my tools and began Terra Green Landscape. I became certified as a landscape contractor in all areas and worked for 20 years in the Portland area doing design and build and maintenance. During this period, I began the Oregon Hosta Society. After a meeting with one of my fellow plant nerds (from the old days), we decided it would be amazing to start a tissue culture company (I was already working with B&B Laboratories in Mt. Vernon, WA at this time). I worked 16-hour days, as did Ken Brown (my business partner) and so was created: Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
“A lifetime of plant-lust starts with a single plant!” –Dan Heims
Why flora and not fauna?
The reason I bowed out of Biochemistry was that it became too molecular and I’ve always loved nature.I found out I was more of a naturalist/zoologist. My original major was Marine Biology. I had every pet imaginable including insects, to my mother’s chagrin. By age 12, I had 25 aquariums all bought with the profits from my Tropical fish business. It was here that I became comfortable with Latin taxonomy: “Oh! Look at that Cichlosoma meekii!”- Yes, I’m a fish nerd too. . .
The art and science and history of hybridizing heucheras and heucherellas: can you give us a brief primer on them?
The first Heuchera ever seen was H. ‘Eco-magnififolia’, a wild selection by Don Jacobs in a Hosta hybridizer’s garden. I was smitten. I had to have them all. (Did I mention that I am passionate?) Some were dogs, but there was such an awesome potential in the genus. So many cool species, color potential, metallics. I had always wanted a hardy Rex Begonia and this is how I was going to make one!
What's so great about heucheras?
It has to be that they do so many things, let’s make a list of their attributes:
They do very well in containers due to a non-competitive root system
Extreme drought tolerance (again a container planting plus)
They are evergreen, providing some relief in the winter.
They are a centerpiece in the Fall Magic type promotions
The color range is phenomenal – they can work with any combination
The bold leaves are a counterpoint to all the fine-leaved material out there
The leaves make excellent cuts, living up to a year in water!
The flowers are showy on some varieties and also good cuts
There are forms perfect in the sunny rock garden as well as showy giants for the shade garden
The are pet-safe
They have medicinal qualities (hence the name Alum root)
Cigar or Tiparello--Heuchera or Heucherella?
Heucherellas (the hybrid between Heuchera and Tiarella) offer a whole new color and foliage range. Central splashes and palmately cut foliage are just two benefits. Many are great bloomers and are entirely sterile, so they keep blooming over a long period. We have entirely new color ranges now that will be out in a few years.
Are there specific planting suggestions you can offer, or can we just stick them in the cold, hard ground?
Sadist! Heuchera thrive in either mineral or rich, free-draining soils. This is why they do so well in containers as opposed to their nemesis- cold, wet, sticky clay--eeew, bad.
Some varieties prefer more shade, most like 4 hours of morning sun a day and even moisture.
What are some of your favorite Heucheras du jour?
Heuchera ‘Peach Flambe’,
‘Lime Rickey’, Crème Brulee’,
‘Southern Comfort’, ‘Paris’,’
Midnight Rose’, and about
12 more that no one has
seen yet!
 |
|
What has the ability to tissue culture hellebores done for the industry?
What has it done for orchids? Why can I go into Trader Joe’s™ and buy the finest orchids in a dizzying array of colors for $12.99? Because of tissue culture, it enables the consumer to receive the best, highest quality, most vigorous plants at a very reasonable price.
What exciting things do we have to look forward to from Terra Nova?
The reason I stay in this industry is for the never-ending array of breakthroughs, be it a stunning orange double Echinacea or a Heuchera that is so purple-metallic that you can’t believe it’s real.
Heucheras have many different uses in the shade garden. What are some of your favorite companion plants to heucheras?
Carex, Ophopogon, Astilbe (dwarf forms), Anemone nemorosa, Tiarella, Corydalis. Generally plants with finer texture that complement the tonalities of the Heuchera’s leaf color.
What garden books bedside reading right now?
“Foliage” by Nancy Ondra, and “The Naming of Names” by Anna Pavord
Dan, thank you for a fun and exciting look into your world.
You are so welcome, thank you!
Bio: Dan Heims has spent the last 32 years deeply involved in horticulture and his job description dictates that he must “travel the world and seek the
newest perennials”. He is currently the president of Terra Nova Nurseries,
Inc., a company noted for its new introductions to horticulture.
Dan’s articles and photography have been featured in a number of
magazines. He has taught horticulture courses, wholesaled exotic plants,
and run his own design and build landscape business. He has hosted a
weekly gardening show on radio (KKSN) and has appeared on U.S.
(HGTV) and British television (BBC). Dan’s garden has been featured in
Sunset Magazine, Organic Gardening, and Better Homes and Gardens.
Dan has written a book of horticultural humor called The Garden Clerk’s
Dictionary and one on Heucheras and Heucherellas with Grahame
Ware of British Columbia.
His perennial breeding programs have produced many international gold
and silver medal winners. Terra Nova continues to create some of the
world’s most exciting new perennials. To date, Terra Nova has 354
patents, and over 500 new plants introduced into horticulture.
He has spoken around the United States, in Japan, England, New
Zealand, Costa Rica, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tasmania, Australia, and Canada.
B.S. University of Oregon (Communications, Botany)
Dan Heims was awarded The Reginald Cory Memorial Cup by the Royal Horticultural Society for advancements in the genus Heuchera.
Solidago ‘Golden Baby’- Plant of the Month - May
May 2008 Plant of the Month by Leann Barron
Solidago ‘Golden Baby’
Achoo! What’s this? A sneeze-inducing solidago (Goldenrod) is the Plant of the Month?? Happily, yes. Here’s the good news. Solidago ‘Golden Baby’ is a beautiful garden plant that is erroneously thought to cause those pesky seasonal sneezes and allergy symptoms. It’s often confused with the true bothersome culprit, ragweed, a plant that blooms at the same time. Solidago cultivars, however, are wonderful North American natives that have many horticultural virtues, and ‘Golden Baby’ is my personal favorite.
Solidago ‘Golden Baby’ is a beautifully clumping, dwarf cultivar of Solidago canadensis with 
spiky plumes of tiny bright yellow flower panicles reminiscent of celosias. With its long bloom
period, its color and effect can be used in a variety of sunny garden border applications.
You’ll find desirable butterflies and bees are attracted to this versatile plant.
With its diminutive dimensions (2’ x3’), it can be used as a border plant, in a native garden or naturalized area, even in front of bold leaved plants such as canna. Solidago ‘Golden Baby’ can be used as a cut flower (remember, it doesn’t cause allergic
reactions), blending nicely with sunflowers, echinaceas, and other late summer plants.
Solidago is tolerant of drought and isn’t at all fussy about poor soils, but avoid over-fertilization, which can cause legginess. If you prefer to have the cheerful yellow flowers gracing the front of the border, try cutting the plant back by half in late May or early June. This will reduce the height to just less than two feet, and will also delay the July bloom time to August. I find that trimming the spent flowers refreshes the plant, encourages new blooms and improves appearance, but it is certainly not necessary. If the rather tatty appearance bothers you at the season’s end, you can just whack it back to the base, otherwise, it will die back in the late fall. But basically, ‘Golden Baby’ is a carefree, happy plant that blends nicely with other bedding plants, fills in bare spots without being a thug, and its clumping habit makes it especially useful in smaller gardens. Happy Gardening!
Rita’s Gold’™ Fern - Plant of the Month - April
.jpg)
April 2008 Plant of the Month by Leann Barron
‘Rita’s Gold’™ Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata)
Call me jaundiced, but when I see a chartreuse-y yellow plant, I fall head over heels in love. And I fell hard when I first cast my eyes on ‘Rita’s Gold’™ fern.
Okay, okay, I can hear you kvetching now: “A Boston fern is not perennial, it’s annual in our climate.” Indeed, it is a tender perennial that needs to be brought inside before frost. But ‘Rita’s Gold’™ is THE hot new fern that quickly will become a perennial favorite in your garden, and one you’ll want to use year after year. Honestly, it’s destined to become a classic in the garden industry. It’s that wonderful.
This introduction, brought to us by one of our favorite Perennial Plant Society speakers, Rita Randolph of Randolph’s Greenhouses in Jackson, TN, is the only true gold fern--the fabulous fronds unfurl to a chartreuse green that hold their color and don’t revert. It’s more compact than ordinary Boston ferns, with fronds reaching 18-24,” making it a versatile workhorse in many garden applications. ‘Rita’s Gold,’™ like other Boston ferns, is happiest in shade to partial shade, handling morning sunshine beautifully. The golden fronds can brighten the darkest corner; it is every bit as healthy, dense and lush as its old green cousin, and prettier, too. Last summer in my garden, ‘Rita’s Gold’ didn’t seem to require as much water as the Boston fern, but I nestled it in a high quality container soil mix, adding a generous helping of mushroom compost and fertilizing it regularly. It grew quickly and showed considerable vigor throughout the summer.
Personally, I like it best in mixed containers, but it’s also a fantastic stand-alone plant. The design possibilities are virtually endless in the ground as well as in containers. It was THE most talked about container plant I had last year, giving a delightfully colorful, textural focal point on our partially shaded back deck. ‘Rita’s Gold’ fern and other annuals grouped in the green ceramic container sparkled in early June, but as the plants grew, the somewhat monochromatic effect just got better and better. All the long, hot, dry summer, the light and airy fern added a cool quality to the containers. I’m already thinking about different ways to use it this year. It makes a great accent plant when grown in the shade or partial shade with other annuals, such as purple supertunias, orange lantanas, strappy, bold cannas, colocasias, hot pink caladiums, coleus, or euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost.’ The combination possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
'Rita's Gold' Fern won the prestigious University of Georgia’s Classic City Award as a plant that outshines other similar plants in the garden.
For further information about ‘Rita’s Gold’ fern, along with other exciting and unusual plants, contact Randolph’s Greenhouses:
ph: 731-422-2768
Hardy Garden Chrysanthemums - Plant of the Month - March
 |
| 'Cathy's Rust' chrysanthemum, photo courtesy of Petals from the Past Nursery |
 |
| Hardy Chrysanthemum 'Jettie' courtesy Plant Delights Nursery |
 |
| 'Ryan's Pink' chrysanthemums in Leann Barron's garden with 'Color Guard' yucca |
Believe it or not, it's not too early when it comes to thinking about autumn in the garden. When we think of chrysanthemums, we are immediately reminded of the colorful florist mums that are available at seemingly every retail outlet. These "pot mums", (I call them grocery store mums) provide about a month of autumn color and enjoyment in the landscape, then they are usually tossed onto the compost heap. They are considered non-hardy plants, although you can always try planting it to see if it survives winter. Pot mums may survive mild winters, but the roots don't have time to get well established before the cold season begins. Personally, I don't want to fuss with them, in fact, I find the very idea of planting them after the bloom cycle ends a waste of time. These mums are greenhouse production plants, they are very heavy feeders, While my opinion won't endear me to the florist industry, I find these mums exceedingly frustrating and this past autumn, I swore them off forever.
But the wonderful news is there are some absolutely fabulous perennial chrysanthemums on the market that are a landscape delight. A "perennial" favorite speaker of the PPSMT, Jason Powell, owner of Petals from the Past Nursery, suggested that I try 'Ryan's Pink' mum a few years ago, and this pink beauty hasn't disappointed. As the garden begins to look tatty and tired in October, 'Ryan's Pink' roars into full bloom, brightening the back corner of the garden with its starry soft pink flushes that last for weeks, even in rain. This delightful perennial mum was named for the equally delightful and colorful Atlanta landscape designer Ryan Gainey. This is the one chrysanthemum I wouldn't be without, and for several years now, look forward to the restful soft color that dramatically contrasts the autumn colors in the border.
Other cultivars to consider are 'Cathy's Rust', 'Thanksgiving Day', and the beautiful white 'Jettie'.
Garden mums like full sun, but they also need water, so don't neglect them in the heat of summer. The lush green plants should be watered several times a week (I just use the sprinkler), just don't overwater. As the plants grow, cut them back (most people pinch them back) several times until the end of July, otherwise the plants will get top-heavy and droop once the heavy bloom flushes begin. They need plenty of room to grow, so they should be planted 18 inches apart. Other than sun, water, pinching and space when planted, they are super easy and rewarding plants. Give them a try this year and see if you don't agree.
Resources:
- Petals from the Past Nursery www.petalsfromthepast.com
PH: 205-646-0069
'Ryan's Pink', 'Cathy's Rust', 'Thanksgiving Day' - Plant Delights Nursery www.plantdelights.com
PH: (919) 772-4794
'Jettie'
Musa basjoo (Hardy Japanese fiber banana) - Plant of the Month - February
| Gardeners in temperate areas like middle Tennessee are showing great interest in growing hardy tropicals like Cannas, Colocasias (elephant ears), Hedychiums (ginger lilies) and hardy palms such as the Windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) an the southeastern native needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix). One of the most prominent and commented upon tropical plants in my garden is Musa basjoo, also known as the Hardy Japanese fiber banana.  This fabulous clumping plant, after just 3 summers, is a sky-scraping 18 feet tall with an ever-widening circumference. It dies back after autumn freezes, but stays in the ground year-round, mainly because it’s huge and I find the corms quite tedious and difficult to dig up. More importantly, it’s totally unnecessary to lift them. The flowers and fruit are definitely unimpressive, and this particular banana is grown in our climate for the incredible blue-green foliage, as the fruit is inedible. Here are my tips for growing the biggest, most fabulous hardy banana plants in our Zone 7 climate. Corms are widely available, but be sure to specify Musa basjoo (Hardy Japanese fiber banana) when ordering, as there are many Musa cultivars that are not hardy in our climate. I’ve seen Musa basjoo for sale on eBay, and many mail-order nurseries such as Stokes Tropicals offer this wonderful plant. When planting, it is essential that you give it a lot of room, and remember that it will grow into a very tall and wide clump over time, so site it accordingly as once it is established, it would be exceedingly difficult to relocate. It can also be grown as a container plant, but would likely need to be cut back and brought into a garage or sunroom to overwinter (I have never grown it in a container, but I hear it does quite well, as long as the container is substantial.) Musa basjoo has 3 simple needs: full sun is optimal, it requires lots (LOTS) of water, and enjoys frequent fertilization. The leaves do tend to rip in strong winds, which occurs in its natural habitat, so I don’t mind the sometimes tattered appearance, but if you find it aesthetically bothersome, consider siting it in a protected area. Be sure to give the corms ample time to get established in the ground before the autumn freezes begin, I recommend planting before August if possible. After the leaves die back, I cut the stalks to around 3-4 feet high. New stalks will come up through last year’s in April, so I always provide a generous layer of pine fines around the plant base as a winter precaution (see photo). From all my reading on the subject, this is really only necessary during the plant’s first winter, but because it’s one of my “pet” plants, I tend to be a bit extra cautious with winter protection. by Leann Barron |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Thuja plicata 'Green Giant' - Plant of the Month - January
Winter gardening at the Barron house pretty much consists of looking out at the birdfeeders and studying the “bones” of the garden. The fallen leaves reveal the architecture of deciduous plants, herbaceous perennials disappear and most of the garden’s color comes from nandinas, winterberries and evergreens. One of our very favorite conifers, and a consistent crowd-pleaser on garden tours, is the sky-scraping Western arborvitae cultivar, ‘Green Giant.’ We have a stunning specimen pair, over 20 feet tall, that we ordered from the back of a magazine 10 years ago. The feathery seedlings arrived in 4” pots for $9.95. We were initially dismayed by their teensy size, but we held onto the promise they would grow to be lush and huge in just a few short years. They have more than lived up to our expectations, displaying excellent vigor, with healthy, broad-pyramidal, rich medium green foliage. Yes, they grow fast…and yes, they are still growing…wow.
‘Green Giant’ arborvitae has many useful landscape applications, great as a hedge or screen (as an alternative to the tempermental Leyland cypress), specimens, groupings or garden entryways. You don’t have to have a lot of room to grow them, ours are growing merrily in the border along the side street. Although while young, they transplant easily, just make sure you don’t plant them too close together—they grow between 15 and 25 feet wide. They like moist, well-drained fertile soils, and do best in sun to partial shade, with adaptable pH conditions. Just treat them to organics like greensand and top dressings of hen manure, then stand back and watch them grow.
While not a problem in our urban garden, there is some indication that Thuja plicata (Western) cultivars are deer-resistant, and from my experience, needs no spraying, as there’s been nary a pest nor pestilence on my twins. On the other hand, Thuja occidentalis (Eastern) cultivars such as the much loved ‘Emerald,’ ‘Rheingold’ and ‘DeGroot’s Spire’ may experience deer-munching, spider mites, leaf miner and other garden aggravations which may require spraying.
If you are looking for a fast growing, extremely handsome, healthy and hardy conifer for your garden, look no further than ‘Green Giant’ Thuja plicata. You’ll be glad you did.
by Leann Barron