Plant of the Month 2008 - The Natural Gardener

◊ gifts & accessories
◊ plants
◊ fertilizer & soil
◊ garden tools
◊ classes
◊ register online
◊ articles
◊ newsletter
◊ links
◊ sitemap
◊ contact
◊ home

The Natural Gardener
Garden Store Ltd.
4376 West 10th Ave.
Vancouver, BC V6R 2H7
Tel: 604-224-2207
Fax: 604-224-2216
Email

Vancouver Weather

Plant of the Month - 2008

Each month The Natural Gardener will be highlighting one of the many unique and unusual plants here at the nursery.

◊ 2007 Archives | ◊ 2006 Archives

JANUARY: Jasminum stephanense

Jasminum stephanense - I am a great believer in vertical gardening and this fragrant, vigorous vine is one of my favourites for climbing up a fence or trellis. In no time at all it will clamber over your fence or trellis filling the air with its fragrance. Hummingbirds love this vine and once they discover it you will be entertained for weeks by them. It is semi-evergreen to evergreen here on the coast depending on how severe the weather is but if it does take a bit of a beating during the winter it doesn't take long for the new growth to appear in the spring and fill in with its glossy green and cream leaves. The flowers are a beautiful shade of pink rather than the usual white or yellow of other jasmines and appear in masses in late spring and then sporadically throughout the summer. It is easy to grow and can reach a height of 20 feet eventually. If you like fragrance in your garden then Jasminum stephanense is a must for you.

Cultural Requirements

Zone: 7
Light: full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Height: 15-20 feet
Spread: 10 feet

FEBRUARY: Erythronium dens-canis "Snowflake"

Erythronium "Snowflake" is the European version of our native erythronium oregonum. The beautiful nodding white flowers with purple anthers appear in April - May and hover atop interesting speckled foliage. This erythronium naturalizes well in a shade to part shade area and does especially well under trees and shrubs. Snowflake does best in moist but fairly well drained soil so don't let it dry out. Being an ephemeral, after blooming it quickly fades away, not to reappear again until next spring so it is best to plant it in amongst other later emerging perennials such as hostas.

Every 3 to 4 years it is a good idea to break up the clump as it can get quite congested. By doing this you will ensure good flowering year after year and as a bonus increase your number of plants.

Erythronnium "Snowflake" is a wonderful addition to the spring garden. Everyone should have a few.

Cultural Requirements

Zone: 3
Light: Shade to Part shade
Soil: Moist, well drained, lots of humus
Height: 6 inches
Width: 6 to 9 inches

MARCH: Acer palmatum "Shishigashira" - Lion's Head Maple

The lion's head maple is a very popular and striking cultivar. It is a slow upright grower with dense tufts of crinkled deep green foliage on each branch, looking somewhat like the mane of a lion. The leaves are resistant to burning in full sun and develop a good golden yellow fall colour brushed with red-orange. It tends to be one of the latest Japanese maples to colour in the fall. Shishigashira makes a great container plant. When placed in the garden it has a sculptural feel that only improves with age.

Although they grow best in humus-rich, well-drained, fertile soil, Shishigashira grow well in most soils as long as they are not poorly draining or heavy clay. Water Shishigashira regularly for its first two growing seasons and during subsequent summer dry spells. Pruning is generally not required for this cultivar. Shishigashira grows well in part shade but has the best fall colour in full sun.

Cultural Requirements

Zone: 6
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Height: 15 feet
Spread: 12 feet

APRIL: Glaucidium Palmatum - Japanese Wood Poppy

This rare and highly prized Japanese woodlander has large, silky purple-pink flowers over rounded clumps of maple-like leaves that appear in April and May. Mature plants can have multiple blooms that can last for up to three weeks. It prefers part to full shade in moist, humus rich soil and will reach a height of 30 inches. This is such an exceptional beauty that any gardener who has a woodland garden simply must have this as part of their garden.

Cultural Requirements

Zone: 4-8
Light: Part shade to shade
Soil: Moist, humus rich
Height: 30 inches
Spread: 18 inches

MAY: Tiarella "Mystic Mist"

Mystic Mist is a brand new introduction from the ever prolific Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon. Prominent red veins intersect the deep green foliage of this enchanting Tiarella whose leaves are also speckled white. With the onset of fall, they turn an astonishing pink. White foam flowers on short, dark red stems appear in the spring. It is much more vigorous than other variegated tiarellas. Mystic Mist has a fast growing, clumping habit but needs good drainage. As an added bonus it is also deer resistant.

Cultural Requirements

Zone: 4
Light: Part shade to full shade. I find tiarellas do well with morning sun and afternoon shade
Soil: Humusy, rich, well-drained
Height: 5 inches
Spread: 11 inches