Uvularia grandiflora

A New article on 'The Art and Science of Gardening' website.

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Uvularia Grandiflora.html

Gentiana acaulis

See the new article and photos on my website

Gentiana acaulis

http://www.alanjolliffe.com/gentiana-acaulis.html

Eranthus hyemalis

Eranthus hyemalis

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Incarvillea delavayi

Pride of China, Hardy Gloxinia, Chinese Trumpet Flower, Garden Gloxinia

This beautiful clump-forming perennial is excellent for rock gardens and borders. It has handsome foliage and upright stems bearing large, trumpet-shaped, usually bright pink, flowers in early summer. It grows to a height of 60 cm with a spread of 30 cm, but dies down early in autumn. It is frost hardy, but should be protected with mulch during cold winters. It makes an excellent talking point in the garden.

Incarvillea is a beautiful flowering plant with low growing clumps of glossy, deeply divided leaves from which arise 25cm - 50cm leafless stems topped by clusters of flowers, each flower may be up to 75mm across. The first few blooms on each plant often appear before the rosettes of mid-green leaflets have fully developed. 

Blooming from late spring to midsummer, the large terminal heads of exotic trumpet-shaped flowers are a bright magenta to rosy-pink, with yellow throats and are held well above the rosette of dark green foliage on stout stems. ‘Alba’ and 'Snowtop', are white-flowering varieties.

The fleshy taproot must have excellent drainage as they do not tolerate wet or waterlogged soil in winter and grows best in a rock garden or raised bed in a position that receives some sun every day. Remove faded flowers to encourage more buds. Excellent for cut flowers.

Sometimes it is best to treat them as short-lived perennials but it is well worth the extra effort to grow these plants.

The crowns are easily damaged and plants are very late to emerge in the spring, Do not disturb them and you will be rewarded with exotic looking flowers each spring. Grow Incarvillea in deep, sandy soil that has been liberally enriched with compost. They need consistent moisture while in bloom. 

Protect the young growth from slugs but otherwise no major problems.

Crowns should be buried 75-150mm below soil level in a area with full to part sun that is protected. Plants should be mulched in autumn with dry straw or some other mulch, to protect the crowns from winter damage.

Seeds may be sown in the spring or autumn in sandy soil in a cold frame or they may be sown in trays of soil outdoors and covered with sheets of glass. Seeds need no pretreatment but need light to germinate. Do not cover them with soil. Seeds take about 14 days to germinate with soil temp at 10-15° C. Propagation can also be by very careful division in spring but mature plants do not like disturbance.

The genus Incarvillea belongs to the family Bignoniaceae and consists of 17 species native to central and East Asia, including the Himalayas. All are suitable for rock gardens and borders. Some species are annuals, although those in cultivation are usually perennial. Some of the shorter growing species from higher altitudes of the Himalaya’s, Tibet, India and Turkestan have the largest and most exotic flowers. Most species flower in shades of magenta and deep rose-pink although one or two species come in shades of yellow or white. Unlike most other members of Bignoniaceae, which are mainly tropical woody plants, species of Incarvillea are herbs from temperate regions. Incarvillea is named after the French Jesuit missionary and botanist Pierre Nicholas Le Chéron d’Incarville.

The most commonly grown species is  Incarvillea delavayi.

Eranthus hyemalis, Winter aconite

Winter flowering plants are important in providing unusual spots of colour in the garden. Eranthus is not exception especially when it flowers on the coldest days of the year in July in New Zealand.

The small golden yellow, buttercup like flowers appear above a rosette of roughly serrated bright green leaves on a stem only 10 cm tall. They are great for woodlands but look equally at home near shrubs in a garden border. They are easily propagated by division or from seed. After several years left undisturbed it will have densely colonised a small area and when in flower be a real attraction.

Eranthus has about 7 tuberous rooted species which are native of Europe and northern Asia. E hyemalis originates from France, Italy, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria growing mainly in woodland areas.

Great information can be found in this special edition of International Rock Gardener No 49 January 2014.

Ratibida columnifera - Mexican Hat

Ratibida  columnifera forma pulcherrima "Red Midget"

Mexican Hat, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Long-headed Coneflower, Thimble flower Prairie Cone Flower

This is an interesting perennial plant for the garden. Some people will not like it because it can grow a little bit straggly and will probably self seed and grow in different parts of the garden, but if you are looking for something unusual try growing this.

In its native habitat of North America, growing From Canada south to northern Mexico and from Minnesota to Texas and is often overlooked as a garden plant because it is quite common and grows on dry open ground. Prairie coneflower is found on dry plains, prairies, waste ground, and along roadsides and railroads . It has well-developed grey green leaves up to 150mm long and 60mm wide, pinnatifid to partly bipinnatifid, with ultimate segments linear to oblong, often very unequal. This species has one to several stems 300mm to 400mm tall. The fruit is a small ashen. 

There are about 5 species and flower colour can range from yellow through purple.

Belonging to the Daisy family, Compositae, the flower structure is complex. The large ray flowers at the base produce beautifully coloured petals which unfurl from an intricate oblong case. The remaining disc flowers are small individual flowers which occur on the large erect receptacle which may be up to 30mm long. These flowers progressively open from the bottom to the top. It gets its common name from the shape of the flower which looks exactly like a Mexican Sombero.

For those not knowledgeable of Compositae flower structures a daisy flower head is made up of many individual flowers concentrated along the receptacle (or core). Each opens individually and usually produces only one seed.

The flowers are lovely and a definite talking point. Flower stems are quite long making the flowers easy to pick.

It appears to be a ready seeder so new plants may grow each year. It will grow in relatively poor soil. The seed germinates well and it grows rapidly to a height of nearly 1 metre although it tends to flop a little and can be supported by other plants. It will flower for up to three months.

Bees and Butterflies are attracted to this plants making it god for habitat development.

Being a close relative of the purple coneflower (Echinacea), which is a well-known medicinal plant, it's not surprising that historically Mexican Hat has also been used for its medicinal properties.  The Indians boiled leaves and flowers to make a tea to use externally on snakebites and to reduce symptoms caused by poison ivy.  Tea was made from the leaves and flower heads.  Cheyenne Indians boiled prairie coneflower leaves and stems to make a solution applied externally to draw the poison out of rattlesnake bites.  An infusion was used to relieve the pain of headaches and to treat stomachaches and fevers.

Puya alpestris

This beautiful flower does not appear every year on the Puya plant but when it does it is a major attraction and talking point.

The metallic, waxy, funnel shaped and unusually deep greenish/blue flowers and their bright orange pollen on the tips of the stamen are a wonderful sight on their long (up to 2 metres) flower spikes. They are also full of nectar for the birds.

With around 185 species, (estimates vary from 165 to 200 species) Puya is one of the largest genera in the Pineapple Family, Bromeliaceae. Most Puya species are concentrated along the Andes mountain range of South America, some at altitudes up to nearly 5000 metres. Generally they are found in arid places and gravelly soil. Unlike most of the bromeliads, the species of Puya are strictly terrestrial or ground dwellers.

Puya alpestris is one of the southernmost species of Puya found naturaly  in southern and central Chile preferring a cooler climate. This plant has erect or widely spreading rosettes of linear leaves with coarse marginal spines that tend to tear rather than scratch. These spines are presumed to be a defence against browsing animals. 

Puya alpestris is widely grown away from its natural habitat, including in some parks and gardens in New Zealand. 

Puya alpestris in full flower in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens late December 2014

Anemone nemorosa 'Alba Plena’

Anemone nemorosa 'Alba Plena’ ( Alba Plena Wood Anemone )

This is a double white flowered cultivar of  Anemone nemorosa, the Wood Anemone. Its bright white flowers with a ruff of extra petals in the centre makes an excellent early spring ground cover. It grows well in a variety of places especially somewhat shady spots. It is underrated by some gardeners but makes a fabulous show in early spring.

Anemone nemorosa 'Alba Plena' is a beautiful perennial with thin, branching underground rhizomes that form long stems with the double white flowers proudly sitting above the foliage. The white, outer circle of large petals surround a centre of overlapping, tiny petals and the flower spikes will grow to about 15cm high.

This spreading, easy to grow "filler" for woodland gardens or in front of a shady border is easy care. With its very low growing statue and spring flowering it provides an excellent spring show in the home garden or large public garden or park. It enjoys ordinary moist soil, but tolerates drier soil in summer as they are then dormant. It dies down quickly after flowering.

It is ideal in situations which are similar to a woodland floor - good light levels in spring then as a canopy of tree leaves takes over the naturally anemone dies down until next year.

A very closely related cultivar is ‘Anemone nemorosa ‘Vestal' which is also has white, anemone-centred flowers.

Gentiana acaulis

Gentiana acaulis,Trumpet Gentian, Stemless gentian, Gentianella

This is regarded as one of the worlds most spectacular alpine plants. It is one of 400 species of Gentian. The genus is found in many countries of the world including New Zealand.

Gentian acaulis has been well known for 100's of years. Native to central and southern Europe, from Spain east to the Balkans, growing especially in mountainous regions, such as the Alps, Cevennes and Pyrenees, at heights of 800–3,000 m. Botanically Gentiana belongs to the family Gentianaceae. The Latin specific epithet acaulis means "short-stemmed

It is the best known of the gentians and in the garden can be used in a rock garden or at the front of a border. Its neat compact tufted clusters of dark green leaves makes it an attractive plant all year round. In early spring signs of large trumpet shaped flowers can be seen emerging from the foliage. These long sharp ended sausage shaped buds soon open to produce a wide mouthed trumpet shaped unusually pure intense rich blue flower of exquisite quality. The interior spotted green markings are to be seen to be believed.

It has been described as not always the easiest to grow but experience shows this not to be the case and once growing it does really well and can be long lived perennial. It forms a very low, slow-spreading carpet of pointed green leaves. It requires a rich, acidic and evenly moist soil, and has a distinct preference for cool-summer climates and often performs best in a rock garden situation, where the roots can stay cool and moist. Protect it from hot afternoon sun. This plant, like others of its genus, is valued in cultivation for the of its blooms. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Once you see this small perennial in bloom you will forever lust after it. Each brilliant blue bloom faces upward showing its electric blue petals with vibrant green stripes sinking into the flower’s throat.

A number of interesting forms have been selected and they include Gentiana acaulis 'Alba', 'Alpina', 'Azura', and ‘Gigantea’.

Rehmannia elata

This plant comes from northern China. It one of about eight species of hairy perennial herbs. The large leaves grow from a basal rosette which is joined to other rosettes by fine underground roots. It spreads very easily in light soil and likes a lot of water.

The flower spikes grow up to 1 m high in good conditions. Flowers are about 10 centimetres by 4 centimetres in size. They are solitary occurring in the leaf axis and are a beautiful rose purple in colour. Each flower has a yellow throat dotted with purplish red spots. The flower is held in a position by a large calyx.

This is a beautiful plant plants for growing in a semi shady place and it makes an excellent Woodland plant. In 1877 it was granted a medal of Merit of the RHS.

Quizz! Can you name this plant?

Lovely summer flowering perennial

Please  leave a comment

Answer in a couple of days

Alstroemeria psittacina. Lily of the Incas, Peruvian Lily, New Zealand Christmas bell, Parrot Beak Lily

Alstroemeria is a genus of about 50 – 60 species of herbaceous plants native of Mexico and South America. The genus was named after Baron Clas Alstroemer (1736-94) who was a friend of Linnaeus. (Linnaeus was the inventor of modern plant classification system we use today for botanical names). When first described Alstroemeria was placed in the family Amaryllidaceae but it is now classified into its own family Alstroemeriaceae.

Alstroemeria psittacina can be found growing in the wild in Mexico and Northern Brazil. It was introduced to England in 1829. Flowers are borne at the top of a long, leafy stem about 1 metre high. There is usually 5 -6 flowers each about 45mm long dark red tipped with green and internally spotted brown. The top petals are longer than the bottom ones hence the name Parrot Beak Lily.

This and other commonly grown Alstroemerias are herbaceous perennials growing from a fleshy root. They can be difficult to transplant but once growing can be difficult to remove. In fact in some places this species A. psittacina has been know to be quite a rampant coloniser resistant to a number of eradication methods, especially in warmer climates.  Where frosts of up to 8C occur in winter growth is quite slow.

Transplanting this and other Alstroemerias can be tricky as they do not like to be shifted and the fleshy roots will die. However in commerce a variety of Alstroemerias are grown for cut flowers while others are grown as pot plants and treated with a dwarfing hormone to keep them compact.

Alstroemerias have been hybridised to create a large number of brightly coloured cultivars fro the cut flower market and as garden plants.

The  following website will give you further information.http://www.floridata.com/ref/A/alst_psi.cfm

Do you know this plant?

You may know this plant because some of its brothers and sisters are used in floral art and the florist industry.

Please leave a comment

Thank you

Aconitum japonicum

Aconitum japonicum

A native of Japan it grows in the hills and mountain areas. Its leaves are 3-5 lobed deeply cut with some shorter cuts on each part of the leaf giving it a star like appearance. It grows in large clumps with spikes up to about 1 metre high. It is very hardy up to -20C. The flowers are on short spikes often branched. 

This is a valued plant because of its excellent foliage and of course its later summer early autumn flowering with its true blue flowers.

Aconitum is a genus of about 100 different species. Perhaps the best known is Aconitum napellus which is known by a variety of names such as Helmut Plant, Turk’s Cap, Friar’s cap, Soldier’s cap, Bears foot, Garden Wolfbane, Garden Monkshood and Monkshood.

What is the name of this Plant?

My challenge to you all is to name this plant. 

I have decided to put a new one up each week so keep watching.

This one may be harder as it is autumn flowering and it is not tropical.

I tried to think of a prize for this but haven't come up with one yet. Any suggestions?

 Maybe I will Fave your blog.

Leave a Comment or ask a question if you want a hint during the week




The Answer is


Aconitum japonicum

Platycodon grandiflorus Balloon Flower

A botanical lesson first. Platycodon is a monotypic genus which means there is only one species in the genus. However it can come in various forms or cultivars including white and various shades of blue flowers and occasionally double flowers. There are a few cultivars that grow to different heights including dwarf ones.

It gets its common name from the shape of the unopened flower buds that look like inflated balloons. When open the flowers measure up to 7.5cm across and have beautifully and prominently veined flowers.

It is a native of all the islands of Japan and Korea, Northern China and Eastern Siberia growing on grassy slopes in hills and mountains. It is very hardy for all New Zealand conditions.

In the garden they are very hardy but resent wet feet. The large fleshy rootstock enables it to survive in dryer conditions. One advantage is that the rootstock increases in size slowly which means it does not need high levels of maintenance like some other perennials. In the garden it can produce seeds and a few will germinate to slowly increase plant numbers.

Cultivars include

‘Snowflake’ a white semi double flower.

‘Mother of Pearl’ light pink

‘Apoyama’ deep blue

Francoa

Francoa Maidens Wreath, Bridal Wreath

Francoa is a small genus of evergreen perennials native of Chile which are grown for their flowers for use in floral arrangements. The plants grow from a semi-woody stem producing several basal rosettes of wavy, lobed leaves each with a large terminal lobe.

These plans look rather attractive as ground covers in semi-shaded parts of the garden or under large trees, often looking like over-grown lettuces without a heart. They are quite hardy surviving all but the toughest frost. Flowers are borne on stems up to 1m tall. The five petaled bell-shaped flowers may be white, pink or red with darker vertical markings.

These tall spikes often produce side spikes as well to extend the flowering season. At least two species are grown in NZ. Francoa ramosa has wide basal leaves and branching flower spikes with the flowers being white marked with deep pink veins. Francoa sanchifolia has oblong-oval leaves with pink flowers marked with red, on stems which are sparsely branched.

This is an excellent plant for gardens where ground cover and colour are required in partially shaded areas. They can be easily kept in check by cutting back the basal stem encouraging more basal shoots to appear.

Gentiana acaulis

This is regarded as one of the worlds most spectacular alpine plants. It is one of 400 species of Gentian. The genus is found in many countries of the world including New Zealand.

Gentian acaulis is native of Europe where it has been well know for 100's of years.

It is the best known and loved of the gentians and in th garden can be used in a rock garden or at the front of a border. Its neat compact tufted clusters of dark green leaves makes it an attractive plant all year round. In early spring signs of large trumpet shaped flowers can be seen emerging from the foliage. These long sharp ended sausage shaped buds soon open to produce a wide mouthed trumpet shaped rich deep blue flower of exquisite quality. The interior markings are to be seen to be believed.

To really grow successfully plant it in a sunny or even very sunny spot on the gardem as long as it has a long, deep root run. If it is not happy in its situation it will not flower.

Overseas a number of forms have been selected and they include gentiana acaulis 'Alba', 'Alpina', 'Azura', and 'Gigantea'

HELEBORUS Winter Rose

One of the most interesting and popular plants for Winter colour is the Heleborus or Lenton Rose.

The most commonly growing one is Helibrium Orientalis, the Lenton Rose.

It is a native of NE Greece, European Turkey, and Soviet Georgia at up to 2200m altitude.

It's natural habitat is in scrub and at the edges of woods and forests. There are a number of variations which are often found in the wild.

In recent years both in New Zealand and overseas plant breeding programmes have created new and named cultures of beautiful plants.

Flowering in later in Winter they send upright stems up through the old leaves. The slightly nodding flowers open to show beautiful markings and interesting stamen patterns.

They set seed rapidly and the bet way to gather them is to let the seed fall to the ground and germinate beside the parent plant. You can shift the young plants the next year.


Winter rose

Winter roses (hellebores) bring a delicate splash of colour when there is not much else in bloom. They look wonderful planted en masse under trees for a wintry woodland effect, and will flower from June until November.

They are notable for their nodding flowers and unusually delicate colours; perhaps the most familiar is Helleborus orientalis. But there are others with interesting flowers and leaves, such as the tender H. lividus, which has green flowers streaked with purple. Plant-breeding programmes here and overseas have produced new cultures of beautiful plants.

They set seed rapidly and the best way to gather them is to let the seed fall to the ground and germinate beside the parent plant. You can move the young plants the following year. (Note: all parts of the plant are poisonous.)


Helleborus

As well as for their most welcome late-winter or very-early-spring flowers, hellebores are rapidly gaining in popularity among discerning gardeners for their handsome, mostly evergreen foliage.

Hellebores bloom in winter and early spring when cool days keep flowers fresh over an extended period. The inconspicuous petals and stamens drop as the temperatures rise, but the sepals that form the bell remain attractive into late spring. The softly colored bells are either green, white or various shades of dark red to plum. Some have spots inside the bells and others are rimmed in maroon. All are borne above leathery foliage on plants 60cm high.

Hellebores thrive in lightly or partly shaded places, where the soil has been thoroughly prepared with an abundance of organic material. Because the roots resent disturbance, prepare soil thoroughly with an plenty of organic material before planting in spring or autumn. Maintain high fertility with an annual dressing of compost or well-rotted manure each fall and a light spring application of fertilizer. Cut back any leaves damaged by winter weather. New foliage will appear. Deep, frequent watering is necessary in dry weather.

If you must divide the plants to build stock, this is best done just after flowering, but otherwise do not disturb them. H. orientalis, in particular, hybridizes and self-seeds quite freely; it is fun to grow seedlings on your own, but only fresh seeds will germinate readily.

All parts of hellebores are poisonous to humans and animals.

Helleborus orientalis (Lenten rose) is easier to grow than H. niger and usually blooms a little later, with small clusters of cup-shaped, nodding flowers ranging from white, often speckled with maroon, to pale green, through pink to purple. Growing to 60cm tall, it is hardy and is not heat-tolerant.

Helleborus argutifolius [H. corsicus] (spiny-toothed hellebore) has nodding clusters of pale green bells above spiny-edged dark leathery leaves. These coarse-textured plants are bulky and grow to 60cm tall. They are short-lived but often self-seed.

Helleborus foetidus (stinking hellebore) is similar to H. argutifolius in height and shape. The green flowers have maroon rims and the dark leaves are divided into long narrow leaflets. Both species bloom in late winter or spring.

Helleborus niger (Christmas rose), somewhat temperamental, is the best known species. It has cup-shaped, nodding flowers opening pure white and turning blush pink, blooming in late winter to early spring. The dark foliage is evergreen, and the plant grows to 20 - 30cm high.