Plant of the Month 2006 - The Natural Gardener

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The Natural Gardener
Garden Store Ltd.
4376 West 10th Ave.
Vancouver, BC V6R 2H7
Tel: 604-224-2207
Fax: 604-224-2216
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Plant of the Month - 2006

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

◊ 2008 Archives | ◊ 2007 Archives

February 2006

Hellebore 'Mrs. Betty Ranicar'

WOW! A hard to find and truly stunning hellebore 'Mrs. Betty Ranicar' has crowds of double white flowers that are a delight amongst the spring bulbs in your shady border. 'Mrs. Betty Ranicar' is an oriental hybrid and is named after a well-respected Tasmanian plantswoman.

Cultural Requirements

Flowers: Winter to spring
Location: Part sun to shade
Soil: Rich, well drained, neutral to alkaline
Height: 18 inches
Zone: 4-8

March 2006

Codonopsis meleagris

Codonopsis meleagris is a very unusual species with erect stems bearing pale blue or cream coloured bells delicately marked outside with chocolate coloured veins, spotted purple-violet inside. Amazing!! It is a zone 7 perennial that grows best in shady moist soils. Codonopsis meleagris will eventually reach a height of 15-30cm. If you want something different for your garden this is a great plant to add to your collection.

June 2006

Solanum Pyracanthum

This cool and scary plant from Madagascar is a member of the tomato family. Its common name is Porcupine Tomato and you can see why. This lovely beauty is easy to look after; it loves the sun and well-drained but moist soil although it is drought tolerant. The flowers are a beautiful lavender colour and it will bloom all summer. You will get more comments about this plant than any other in your garden. Cut it back in the fall, bring it indoors and place it in a nice sunny spot for the winter.

July 2006

Disporopsis pernyi

Disporopsis pernyi, or Evergreen Solomon Seal is, as its name suggests, a superb addition to the part shade to full shade garden. It has wonderful, dark green foliage that does not disappear in the fall like the regular Solomon Seal. In late spring bell-like little white flowers appear at each leaf axil. It is a slow grower, growing into a clump of 2 feet in about 10 years. Its native habitat is the rocky mountainous areas of Southern China.

Plant it in moist, rich soil. Don't let the soil dry out between waterings.

Doesn't this plant look great. Who wouldn't want to add this to their shade garden.

August 2006

Echinacea "Mango Meadowbrite"

This dazzling new coneflower is topped with 3" wide mango coloured fragrant flowers surrounding a slightly darker orange central cone. This is a stunning flower that is sure to stand out in your garden. Like all Echinacea this plant starts blooming in mid summer and keeps on going well into the fall. Butterflies love this plant.

Light: Full sun
Soil: Moist, well-drained. After it's first year it is drought tolerant
Height: 23-35 inches
Spread: 18-23 inches

I can just see a grouping of this coneflower in a sunny garden bed. Stunning!

September 2006

Meconopsis "Lingholm" (Himalayan Blue Poppy)

Many gardeners are intimidated by the Himalayan Blue Poppy but if you provide it with the conditions it likes you won't have any trouble growing it. My Mom had a patch of Blue Poppies for many years that was the envy of everyone who saw it and she never had any trouble growing them. They were in a partly shady spot with good, rich, loamy soil and were never allowed to dry out. When enriching the soil use compost or manure but not mushroom manure, it is too alkaline. I have also been told not to let them flower in their first year. By doing so you are letting it get a well-established root system and it should grow for you for several years. If it blooms in its first year more than likely it will not come back the following year. So, if you can do it don't let it bloom the first year. Lingholm is the one true perennial Blue Poppy and has very large vivid blue flowers. Give them a try you will be very happy you did.

Cultural Requirements

Zone: 3
Light: Part Shade
Soil: Moist, rich. Never let it dry out
Height: 3 feet
Spread: 18 inches
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

October 2006

Carex "Evergold"

This attractive grass has impressive, evergreen foliage that is perfect for your garden border or for growing in a container. The variegated, arching leaves and sharp silhouettes are an excellent way to add architectural flair and contrast to your garden, or to add a colourful explosion to your patio by growing in a container. It also looks beautiful in the winter, giving it year round interest. It is a versatile grass growing well in full sun to part shade. I have had mine in total shade for three years now and it is still growing well. It really adds a punch of light to that dark part of my garden. This is a cool season grass so don't cut it back in the winter. In early spring just run your gloved hand through the foliage to remove any dead leaves. It flowers in spring and you can either leave the flowers on or remove them.

Cultural Requirements

Zone: 5
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist, fertile soil
Height: 1 foot
Spread: 1 foot

November 2006

Sambucus "Black Lace"

The exquisite Sambucus "Black Lace" first appeared in North America in 2006 in limited quantities but The Natural Gardener will have it for you spring 2007. It will be a stunning addition to your garden. With it's finely dissected leaves it will remind you of a Japanese Maple only with flowers. The pale pink flowers appear in May and June and are followed by purple black berries that the birds love. It will grow practically anywhere including waterlogged areas yet once it is established it is quite drought tolerant. To keep it looking its best it is recommended you cut it back hard in early spring. From what I have been hearing this is going to be one of the most popular plants next year.

Cultural Requirements

Zone: 4
Light: Sun to Part Shade
Height: 8 feet
Width: 6 feet
Soil: Adaptable to many soils

December 2006

Selaginella martensii albovariegata - Christmas Fern

The Christmas Fern (not to be confused with the true Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides) is a nice alternative or even a compliment to Poinsettias. With it's frosted tips it looks like a miniature conifer after a snowfall. It is easy to care for and less finicky about temperature changes than a poinsettia. It is a beautiful indoor plant that can be put out in the garden once evening temperatures remain above 8C.

CARE:

Watering: Keep the soil moist but not wet.
Light: Full sun to bright, indirect but will do well in a shadier spot.
Humidity: It likes it humid, a good misting everyday is a good idea.

We will have Christmas Ferns in stock starting December 1st. Come by and have a look and perhaps add one to your indoor holiday plantings.