last update April 2012
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Hellebores: discovered by accident that these plants are generally quite happy in full sun here, and in fact grow somewhat faster and more vigorously than those in shade. Still a good shade plant, however.
1346B photos: ...flower ...plant ...
(some 2 gallon pots this year $9,)... Common names: Hellebore. A low to mid-height perennial, hardy to zone 4. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Upright habit, colonizing mainly by slowly creeping rootstocks. Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 1-2', and 2' wide. Species native to Greece and Asia minor to the S Caucasus and Georgia; these plants are a complex hybrid. Recommended site: part shade. Soil: rich mildly acidic sandy, largely organic loam, reliably moist but well-drained. Naturally occurring in scrub, woodland margins and in grassy places in heavy soil. Benefit from a bit of limestone around the root-zone every 3-4 years (not much: pH just on the acid side of neutral is best.) Year-round mulch is recommended. Irrigate during droughts. Will take deeper shade in deciduous woods where they get a good dose of sun in spring before the trees leaf out. Foliage usually evergreen. Lustrous, leathery, finely serrated. To 15" across. May not be evergreen here after some winters. Large flowers are borne in a small cluster in early spring. Flower colour: shades of white to pink with varying tints of green; darker colours to red and purple are possible. Seedlings in the current batch are from seed set by my co-located mid-pink and maroon plants, open pollinated so I'm expecting a darker range of colours than with the last batch. Nodding, 5-petalled. Timing of flowering very much depends on the winter. A plastic cloche to keep snow and rain off flowers will minimize weather damage. Some uses: Borders and Beds, Edgings, Foliage, Cut Flowers, Containers, Naturalizing. Char base of stems of cut flowers to keep longer. Good underplanting amongst deciduous shrubs.
photos: ...flower ...2 months later...
TOO LARGE to SHIP. The Christmas Rose. Native to the Alps and Apennines from S Germany to Yugoslavia, growing in mountain woods, sometimes on limestone and sometimes with conifers; and sometimes in open grasslands. Earlier to flower than the hybrids or orientalis, it gets its common name from its habit of flowering around Christmas time-- in England. Some strains apparently flower later, some earlier, but here it usually doesn't flower until after the snow melts (although a few plants tend to flower in fall depending on the weather), despite being up against a basement wall. Early to mid-April, 2-3 weeks ahead of the Lenten Rose for me. This species is not as hardy as those above, but is okay here. Leaves are darker, not as serrated, and otherwise distinct from those of orientalis. The flowers (bracts, really) are large and white, changing slowly to green or tan after fertilization.
Common names: Daylily. A mid-height perennial, hardy to zone 3 or colder. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Tufted habit, colonizing mainly by slowly creeping rootstocks. Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Height varies. Very popular perennial. Tough and reliable plants, a bit coarse for some. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: most any fertile near neutral normal, well-drained, moist to dry-ish. Excessive fertility leads to rank growth, poor flowering. Dense, compact foliage, coarse. Very large flowers are borne on a short Spike in summer. Some uses: Borders and Beds, in Shrubbery, Mass Planting, Kitchen Herb, Steep Banks, Naturalizing (but modern hybrid daylilies may not be sufficiently vigorous for naturalizing, depending on the plant). Buds and flowers edible in any number of ways, also all other parts of the plant!
A large number of my seedlings which bloomed in '02 and '03 are still for sale (only one of each, mostly). All were given a number and photographed so they were no longer incognito but the vicisitudes of time have played havoc with the labels and so they are pretty much incognito again; you can select the flower you want from my daylily Rogue's Gallery but finding it is a different issue. Therefore they are now going 3 for the price of 1. As usual, the photo gallery is probably not up to date and it really only matters as an indication of what you might pick at random.
There are also a number of cultivars and species available (more than one of each! and separately priced):
Height: to 2 ft. A re-blooming cultivar. Dormant foliage type; tetraploid. Strongly scented flowers ruffled pink with a red eye. (Some refs say not fragrant; may depend on conditions?)
photos: ...flower ...plant ...
Height: to 8-10in, and 1ft wide. An ever-blooming dwarf daylily with flower stems no taller than the leaves; not the most floriferous variety for me, but still sending up buds into autumn. Dense, compact foliage, of fine texture. Good-sized (but small for daylilies) mid-yellow unscented flowers are borne on a short Spike for 2 months from summer to autumn. Flowers are held at about the same height as the foliage.
photos: ...flower ...
Height: to 1˝-2'. This is a smaller plant (but not dwarf or mini), with finer foliage and fairly late flowering. As near as I can tell from internet photos this is properly named (I had some doubts) OR everyones are mislabelled, so I've upgraded it from 'Sammy Russel' (maybe) to 'Sammy Russel' (probably). Flowers darker brick red, yellow/ orange throat. A nice daylily. Vigorous enough for naturalizing.
Information general to the all listed forms: Common names: Alum Root; Coral Bells; Coral Flower. A low perennial, hardy to zone 4. Low Maintenance. Of Mound habit, colonizing mainly by forming a very tight clump. Vigorous, fast-growing and of long lifespan. Recommended site for most: part shade; but some are better in sun. Soil: fertile mildly acidic peaty to loam, largely organic, reliably moist but well-drained especially in winter. Some will flower best in full sun or light shade. Susceptible to frost-heaving, so plant with crown buried 1in (I haven't tried this myself because I don't have a problem with heaving), provide a year-round mulch, and plant in spring to optimize root development. Personal experience: mulched, in a raised bed with properly-amended soil, frost-heaving shouldn't occur with crowns at ground level. Protect the patterned-foliage types from mid-day sun to prevent leaves bleaching. Dense, compact foliage, coarse. Usually evergreen. Most of the patterned foliage types have tiny white flowers borne as a long Panicle which are airy and starry in form; a nice effect to set off the foliage. Deadheading will extend flowering period. Some uses: Borders and Beds, Edgings, Specimens, Foliage, Mass Planting, Rock Gardens, Containers, Cut Flowers, Naturalizing Woodlands. I have a number of varieties, mainly with great foliage and some whose main attraction is the flower.
The following might still be out there (I've lost track, and they are no longer as "fashionable" as they once were!):
photos: ...flower ... leaf ...
Height: to 2'. Heuchera americana cross. A bronzy-leaf plant for a sunnier spot, and with larger, coral-pink flowers. A plant to be grown more for the flowers than the foliage. Dense, compact foliage, bronze-ish. Foliage mass to 6in tall. Fleshy, purple. Flowers like those of H sanguinea, in rose pink.
photos: ...flower ...plant ...leaf ...in December ...
Height: to 28". Vigorous, a plant about twice the size of H sanguinea. A plant with showy faintly fragrant pink flowers and fresh green wavy leaves softly marbled with traces of silver/ white; here I find the leaf marbling is more apparent in shade while the flowering is better and the growth more vigorous in sun. Foliage mass to 10" tall. Many multi-flowered stalks. Flowers teardrop shaped, and larger than on H sanguinea.
photos: ... none taken yet ...
... Common names: American Alumroot; Rock Geranium. Height: to 1˝-3'. Species has wavy and silver-toned leaves, and is hardy, with excellent insect resistance. Note these are plants from a seed strain, and each will be different in leaf patterns and colours. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Leaves variably patterned / mottled in greens, silver / greys and purpley-red veining. Airy, starry tiny flowers; a nice effect to set off the foliage.
Common names: Fortune's Hosta. A mid-height perennial, hardy to zone 3. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Tufted habit, colonizing mainly by slowly creeping rootstocks. Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Lavender flowers bloom in late summer on vigorous, medium sized plants. Recommended site: open shade. Soil: fertile mildly acidic normal loamy, reliably moist but well-drained especially in winter. Slow to increase in drier shady sites, more vigorous in richer, moister soil. Almost any soil will do if it drains well but stays moist. Be wary of slugs. Some uses: Borders and Beds, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Foliage, Mass Planting, Rock Gardens, Containers, Waterside, Cut Flowers, Naturalizing Woodlands. Both flowers and leaves can be used in floral arrangements.
photos: ... plant ...
Height: to 1.5ft. Species native to Japan. This cultivar is one of the more commonly grown varieties. Tolerates quite dark shade but also a lot of sun. Dense, compact foliage, variegated; coarse. Thin irregular greenish-yellow margin on a mid- to dark green leaf, to 10in long by 6in wide. Lilac-ish violet unscented flowers are more towards the top of the stems than spread along.
Selection is pretty much picked over, and I have no large leafed forms for sale anymore. I should probably dig up and divide the ones down in the woods that the deer are eating at all the time but then they'd only come to the house (a problem with not having a dog anymore)
Common names: Plantain (Lily); Funkia (Lily). Hardy to zone 3. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Tufted habit, colonizing mainly by slowly creeping rootstocks. Moderately quick-growing and of very long lifespan. Species generally native to the woodlands of E Asia, primarily Japan. Recommended site: open shade. Soil: fertile near neutral good, loam, largely organic, reliably moist but well-drained. OK in sun if well-watered. Watch for slugs. Dense, compact foliage. Some uses: Accent, Borders and Beds, Edgings, Focus, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Foliage, Mass Planting, Waterside, Naturalizing, Naturalizing Woodlands. Small numbers of cultivars not listed here become available from time-to-time over the growing season.
photos: ... none taken yet ...
These are seed-grown plants; each will be different from all the rest although not necessarily in obvious ways. Flower colour varies between plants. 0416D is from seed of no particular pedigee. 0416F is grown from open-pollinated seed of 'Blue Umbrellas', and 0416H is from open-pollinated seed of 'Halcyon'
photos: ... none taken yet ...
(few only) Height: to 1.5ft, and 2ft wide. A decent mid-size plant. This one has grown decently for me in the deep shade on the north side of a dense clump of Rhododendrons, so it will take heavy shade. Fairly sun tolerant plus variegation is best with some sun. Leaves blue-green to green with a chartreuse margin. Corrugated texture. Flower colour: pale lavender, early summer; unscented.
photos: ... plant ...
Height to 15in. Here is a Hosta which will actually cover an area without your having to divide and replant it. The noses emerge some 3 inches or so apart, rather than almost against each other, so there is an appreciable rate of expansion of the clump. Bright, almost yellowey-green leaves. Flowers pale lilac, unscented. Can be a Groundcover.
photos: ... plant ...
Height: to 15in, and 2ft wide. A good blue among the smaller hostas. Apparently relatively slug-resistant. Open, sparse foliage, blue-ish green. Wedge-shaped, good substance. Mostly smooth, slightly puckered on the larger leaves. Small unscented flowers of pale lilac. This is 'probably' Blue Wedgewood because it's label had disintegrated, so I am going by the list of what I bought when, and process of elimination. So I'm just about positive.
photos: ... plant ...
(few only) This is one of the best small ones, a real mini, which until now I've had hidden away in a bed which folks rarely pass. Height only about 4", leaves blueish silver, about 2" across.
photos: ...none taken yet...
Seeds were open-pollinated in the presence of several cultivars. Seed parent 'Halcyon' has mid-size, pointed, very blue leaves.
photos: ... plant ... another ...
(few only) Height: to 1ft. Excellent foliage colour, always a favourite with visitors. Small to medium in size. Basically yellow-ish green but the colour changes throughout the summer, various shades of glowing chartreuse to golden green. Superb in difuse light. Flowers pale lilac, unscented. Not hugely vigorous so when naturalized may be choked out by weeds.
photos: ... plant ...(a rather slugged-out plant)
(few only) Height: to 10in, and 1.5ft wide. A very small hosta with golden yellow leaves. Thick, roundish leaves with a lovely golden hue. Flower colour: pale violet shades, unscented.
photos: ...flower ...plant ... another ...
Height: to 15in, and 2ft wide. A smaller hosta with good-sized sweetly fragrant almost white flowers and good leaf colour: mid- to dark green, glossy; variable off-white margin. Blooms in autumn. Wide-open trumpets.
photos: ... plant ...
(few only) Height: to 10in, and 1.5ft wide. Derived from crossing H. sieboldiana 'Elegans' with H. tardiflora, this cultivar is considered by some as the bluest of all, although I'm not sure I can quite agree. Recommended site: part shade. Leaves wedge to lance-shaped, to 5in long, deep blue-grey; powdery; thick. Unscented pale violet flowers.
also known as Hosta 'Tokudama'... Common names: Tokudama Hosta. Height: to 1.5ft. Species originally native to the woodlands of Japan but seems no longer known in the wild. It has been in cultivation in Japan for centuries and is the parent of many blue-leaf cultivars. Slug resistant. Recommended site: part shade. Survived and even increased slowly here in a very dry site at the base of a few beech trees. OK in sun if well-watered. Slug-resistant. Foliage strongly cupped, deeply puckered, heart-shaped to nearly round. Quite blue. Unscented flowers are very pale, nearly white.
Hosta tokudama cv 'Bruces Blue' 1995E $10.00
photos: ... none taken yet ...
(few only) Height: to 15in, and 1.5ft wide. This cultivar is somewhat smaller than my tokudama, and less blue. Foliage blue-ish green with a silvery caste; leathery; long.
photos: ...flower ...plant ... another ...
also known as Hosta caerulea... Common names: Blue Hosta; Blue Plantain Lily; Dark-Purple Flowered Hosta. A low to mid-height perennial, hardy to USDA Zone 3. Height: to 1.5-3ft, and 2ft wide. Species native to China and is the only natural tetraploid Hosta. Recommended site: shade.Foliage attractive; strong pale yellow margin on a dark green leaf. Large, shiny; heart-shaped, twisted at the tips; deeply grooved. Good-sized unscented rather nice flowers are borne on a moderate Raceme for a few weeks in late summer; white-striped mid-blue large funnel-shaped with a purplish tinge. Flowers self-fertile through agamospermy, which doesn't involve pollen transfer, although they do produce pollen.
Hosta ventricosa 0417A $6.00
photos: ...flower ... plant ...
Seedlings from the above, none of which have ever shown any variegation of the leaf, so they're just a shiny deep green with flowers white-striped mid-blue large funnel-shaped with a purplish tinge..
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