Viewing comments posted by scvirginia

213 found:

[ Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) | Posted on June 6, 2022 ]

In the 2022 seed catalog from GeoSeed, they give the following info about height of Aquilegia canadensis species (20"), as well as the height of a few dwarf 'nativars' they sell: A. canadensis 'Little Lanterns' is 10", 'Pink Lanterns' is 10", and 'Rhubarb and Custard' is 8".

[ Louisiana Iris (Iris 'Caroline Dormon') | Posted on June 2, 2022 ]

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, October 1943, p.11:
"Some Rare Native Iris" by Minnie Colquitt
CAROLINE DORMAN, a hybrid occurring in the garden of Mrs. Ruth Dorman. A fine new shade in native iris, with excellent size and form. "Bishop's violet", both sepals and petals flushed fujiyama toward the base.

[ Bunched Arrowhead (Sagittaria fasciculata) | Posted on May 27, 2022 ]

Sagittaria fasciculata is one of the nation's rarest plants, found in only two counties, and threatened by development.

[ Many-flowered Grasspink (Calopogon multiflorus) | Posted on May 3, 2022 ]

This beautiful orchid is a rare U.S. native with populations throughout Florida, and along the southeastern coast from southern North Carolina to eastern Louisiana.

[ Peruvian Lily (Scilla peruviana) | Posted on April 26, 2022 ]

Despite the name, this plant is native to the Mediterranean... Spain, Portugal and Northwest Africa. Not from Peru or Cuba, or anywhere in the New World.

[ Butterweed (Packera glabella) | Posted on March 26, 2022 ]

Years ago, I had a volunteer of this plant in one of my many pots, and liked the leaves and blooms. I read online that it was the weediest plant EVER, or something like that, so like a Nervous Nellie, I deliberately planted it out in a difficult spot, and it did not return the next year or in the years since.

This experience reinforced my beliefs that a) few—if any—plants are weedy everywhere, and b) I should keep a new plant in a pot and let it go to seed before I determine whether it's actually weedy. And if it does come back, to keep a close eye on its progress...

[ Rex Begonia (Begonia 'Harmony's Red Robin') | Posted on March 5, 2022 ]

If this is the same Rex Begonia that the RHS calls Begonia 'Red Robin', it was given their Award of Garden Merit in 2012. The International Begonia database lists an earlier Rex Begonia called 'Red Robin', but the photo at their site doesn't match the photo at the RHS web site.

[ Begonia 'Ville de Namur' | Posted on February 22, 2022 ]

There is a Begonia in commerce called 'Namur' which was awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 2005. The International Database of the Begoniaceae does not list a Begonia by that name, so it may be a synonym for 'Ville de Namur', but not an officially recognized one.

[ Begonia (Begonia diadema) | Posted on February 22, 2022 ]

Description from the 1885 catalog, John Saul of Washington, DC:
New Begonias.
Begonia Diadema, a species of incomparable beauty and moreover a distinct type. from the short, fleshy stem branch out numerous leaves, erect, of a delicate green, and marked with white elongated blotches. The leaves are perfectly smooth and shiny. The ground is a clear green, whereon numerous white stains are scattered, without regularity, in bands or longitudinal lines... $1.00

[ Begonia (Begonia socotrana) | Posted on February 22, 2022 ]

Description from the 1885 catalog, John Saul of Washington, DC:
New Begonias.
Begonia Socotrana, a species of remarkable interest both in its scientific and in its horticultural aspect discovered in the island of Socotra. B. Socotrana is a plant of very neat habit with erect stems 8 to 12 inches high, furnished with orbicular peltate leaves 4 to 7 inches in diameter, and producing a profusion of bright rose pink flowers of which the males are fully two inches in diameter. Its great recommendation is its very free blooming character, and its flowering in the depth of winter when other Begonias are at rest, thus prolonging the season of these beautiful plants... $.50

[ Begonia (Begonia manicata 'Aureo-maculata') | Posted on February 22, 2022 ]

Description from the 1885 catalog, John Saul of Washington, DC:
New Begonias.
Begonia Manicata Aurea Maculata, this very beautiful Begonia, has its fine foliage blotched and spotted with yellow, similar to the well known Farfugium grande, a grand foliage plant... $1.50

[ Begonia 'Ville de Namur' | Posted on February 22, 2022 ]

Description from the 1885 catalog, John Saul of Washington, DC:
New Begonias.
Begonia Ville de Namur, this beautiful foliaged Begonia is in the style of Louise Chretien, but superior. The finest that have been introduced for some years. Ready in April... $1.00

Description from 'The Garden', August 29, 1885, p. 233:
Royal Horticultural [Society]. August 25.
"Messrs. Cannell sent a beautiful new Begonia of the Rex type named Ville de Namur; its foliage is highly attractive, being a mixture of claret and emerald-green dotted with silver."

[ Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Tama-no-ura') | Posted on February 21, 2022 ]

My experience with this variety's habit of growth makes me think it would be a very good choice for someone who wanted to espalier a camellia. I don't have a good space to try it myself, but would love to see it done.

[ Begonia 'Dinah Feli' | Posted on February 16, 2022 ]

This double-flowered Begonia was bred by M. Boucher, and named for Mlle. Dinah Félix, an actress with la Comédie-Française from 1862 until 1882.

[ Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Professor Charles S. Sargent') | Posted on February 11, 2022 ]

It's hard to imagine a better 'starter camellia' than 'Professor Sargent'. It has a long bloom season here (cusp of zones 8b/9a) with blooms usually beginning in November and carrying on until March. The blooming will pause during freezes, but will then resume quite quickly. It is floriferous, grows quickly (for a camellia, that is), and becomes an unusually handsome large shrub or small tree.

As with all camellias, don't plant it too deeply or in alkaline soil, and protect it from wind and full sun.

[ Korean Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum 'Country Girl') | Posted on February 5, 2022 ]

Korean Hybrid Chrysanthemum 'Country Girl' was introduced in 1935 by Bristol Nurseries of Bristol, Connecticut with the following description:
"Attaining a height of from 4 to 5 feet, with an equal spread, this lovely variety is altogether too lusty for the average garden. Used as a background subject, along the shrub border or as a hedge-row in the rear of the garden where blooms can be cut by the armful, it will prove a delightful and most serviceable acquisition. The flower is single, 3 1/2 inches or more across, and a lovely shade of glistening pink with soft lilac tones. Occasionally a plant will produce blind wood the first season, but when established it flowers consistently, and is a veritable "Ironclad".

[ Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Berenice Boddy') | Posted on October 17, 2021 ]

This camellia is more cold-hardy than most japonica varieties, and was used by Clifford Parks in his cold-hardy camellia breeding program. Camellia Forest Nursery rates the hardiness from 7a, but I've heard of it doing well in 6b if sheltered from cold, drying winds.

In zone 6, a similar-looking camellia, 'April Remembered' might be a better choice; it's a seedling of 'Berenice Boddy', and somewhat larger and hardier.

[ Cleoserrata serrata | Posted on June 28, 2021 ]

Yet another reason to worry about plant extinctions... plants can cure us, even save lives. Cleoserrata serrata, mostly found in Southern Mexico, has been traditionally used by Mayan healers as an effective treatment for Leishmaniasis. A topical paste made from the plant inhibits the growth of the parasite Leishmania mexicana.

Info from "Climate Change Could Fuel the Spread of a Flesh-Eating Parasite" by Agostino Petroni in Scientific American, published online, June 22, 2021.

[ Apple (Malus domestica 'Scarlet Crofton') | Posted on June 12, 2021 ]

From The Gardeners' Chronicle, January 17, 1920, p. 25:
APPLE CROFTON SCARLET
Dr, Hogg, in The Fruit Manual describes Crofton Scarlet as "a most delicious dessert Apple, of first-rate quality; in use from October to December and does not become mealy". It seems remarkable that such a fine variety should receive neglect from growers, yet apparently it is but little grown now-a-days, and few who saw the specimens exhibited at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on November 18, last, had ever seen this Apple before.
Mr. Divers, who exhibited the fruits, spoke in high praise of this old Apple as a dessert variety, a typical specimen of which is illustrated, natural size, in Fig. 10. It will be seen that the fruit is of medium size and slightly angular on the sides. The colour is bright red on the side next to the sun, hence the name. The flesh is firm, crisp, sweet, and of rich flavour. The origin of this old Apple is not known, except that it came from Ireland.

[ Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica) | Posted on June 1, 2021 ]

According to the National Invasive Species Information Center, Cogon Grass is "one of the world's worst invasive weeds, and is firmly established in several southeastern states". It's a Federal Noxious Weed, so it's illegal to transport it between states without a permit.

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