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The Beauty and the Parthenocarpy – Acer triflorum
Gardens, Plant portraits, PropagationBeauty is found in almost any maple tree, even if we are to consider only their colourful fall display. The Beast shows its ugly head especially in the case of trifoliate maples and is called parthenocarpy. As a remainder, this means production of seedless fruits (without the fertilization of ovules).
A really undesirable trait, especially for species with indehiscent fruits (samaras, nuts, achene), either if we want their seeds for consumption or to use them for propagation! This is also the explanation for the rarity of some magnificent tree species in our landscapes. Acer griseum, the best known of the trifoliate maples presents parthenocarpy to some extent but not as much as the beauty called Acer triflorum.
Acer triflorum
A trifoliate, very hardy maple from Manchuria and Korea “simply an outstanding small specimen maple, lovely foliage, exquisite bark and small habit contribute to the overall landscape effectiveness…; uses for good trees are endless” (Michael Dirr)
I did a little experiment with about the 60 seeds I had and a pruning shear. By nicking the end of the extremely hard samara and then cracking it longitudinally you can extract the seeds, if any. I found 3 viable seeds and 3 aborted (stenospermocarpy) – about 5% viable seeds!
PS. One easy method to separate seedless fruits is to check if they float; the ones with seeds will go to the bottom. This is recommended for many species but actually not necessary; it is useful though for fruits (like samaras and nuts) when it is hard to say if there are any seeds inside.
The fruit wall is so hard in Acer triflorum that it needs lots of stratification just to wear it down, so I preferred to extract the seeds (I didn’t expect to find any, but perseverance paid off :)
A spicy tree for Thanksgiving – Sassafras albidum
Gardens, Plant portraits, Wildflowers of North AmericaCelebration of the Thanksgiving Day and autumn’ brilliant colours with a portrait of a native, aromatic tree.
Sassafras albidum
Sassafras albidum – sassafras (Fam.Lauraceae) it is a medium size tree, 15-20 m tall, with an interesting branching (candelabra-like) that can be found in the wild in southern Ontario (Canada) and widespread in the States. What I think is really cool is that it has leaves that come in three shapes! On top of this, in the fall they turn yellow, going also into red and purple depending on the year.
It flowers early in the spring and by fall the ornamental black drupes are displayed on red pedicels with the same candelabra-like ramification (aka. sympodial). All parts of the plant are spicy and aromatic.
It requires full sun locations, with no particular preference for soils and it is medium to fast growing. In the wild has the tendency to sprout forming colonies; if desired as a single trunk tree the root shoots (‘suckers’) can be removed, although it also looks nice as a multi-stemmed small tree.
Before the discovery of the North American continent sassafras was extensively used by Native Americans: anthelmintic, antidiarrheal, antirrheumatic, cold remedy, venereal, tonic and so on…. The saying goes that the European explorers, after seeing its medicinal use by the Natives, brought it back to England around 1600s. Like in many other cases, they thought they found the ‘cure-all’ plant. Although not quite so, the sassafras oil was widely imported and employed in foods, medicinal products, cosmetics (root beer, sassafras tea, filé powder, as flavouring in candies…). But after the safrol, the essential component of sassafras oil was recognized as a potential carcinogen around 1960’s, the use of sassafras oil was banned in the U.S.A. and later in Canada. Only the leaves which are said to contain little safrol, are still used to make a powder filé which is part of the renown Creole dish gumbo.
Rarely seen in cultivation here, although it can be propagated either by seeds, either by root cuttings. Germination is said to be best when the seeds are sown in the fall. Stratification is recommended for seeds to be sown in the spring (cold-moist for 3 months). I don’t know if the seeds are losing viability like its spicy cousin Lindera benzoin (as well in Fam. Lauraceae), but for just in case most seeds will be kept stratified, some will be stored dry, and a few sown right away as an experiment.
A tasty lunch
Medicinal plants, Plant portraits, Wildflowers of North AmericaThe rainy weather of this year has surely pleased all the baneberries (Actaea species). Their fruits are not indicated to be consumed for lunch!!! being poisonous, but they are so attractive. Let’s call them local gourmet foods for the soul and eyes!
All Actaea species make for superb specimens in part-shade to shaded locations of the garden. White, fragrant flowers that attract pollinators in late spring, beautiful foliage, colourful and long-lasting fruits… isn’t this enough to consider adding these native beauties to your garden?
Actaea pachypoda – Doll’s eyes, White baneberries
Good fortune made it that I also found a few plants of A. pachypoda with magenta coloured fruits – which is a rare form given as Actaea pachypoda f. rubrocarpa (not everyone agrees on this, but after I found them, I surely do).
Actaea pachypoda f. rubrocarpa
Actaea rubra – Red baneberry
I am very pleased that I can offer them all in my Seed Catalogue – BotanyCa. They are a bit difficult to germinate sometimes (just require more time) but since when are beautiful things easy to obtain?
A chic hat
Medicinal plants, PropagationUpdate: ID as Aconitum variegatum subsp. paniculatum
All Aconitum species are wearing cool hats but this one in particular with the hood on one side looks very chic. Growing Aconitum from seeds that are not properly identified is quite a pain, but worth the trouble.
All monkshoods are equally beautiful and deadly, with spikes of violet, dark blue, yellow or white hood-shaped, complicated flowers that one needs to know the terminology in order to ‘read’ their characters. Species are usually described on the basis of root and flower morphology.
Update: Aconitum variegatum subsp. paniculatum
After lots of searches, pictures, dissections… this one was narrowed down to Aconitum variegatum subsp. paniculatum (syn. Aconitum degenii) or A. variegatum subsp. variegatum. We’ll know for sure in late fall after I’ll dig it up and see the tuber shape; and maybe I’ll have a seed or two but glad to hear other opinions…
Aconitum variegatum: sepals (hood with pronounced rostrum) and petals with coiled nectary spurs
Before being praised as a garden plant, Aconitum was considered (and still is) “the king of the poisons” (Europe) or “the king of medicines” (Tibet and China), depending on where it grew, but this is a good subject for wintertime storytelling…
It is a good idea to wear gloves when doing anything that involves touching an Aconitum. It contains highly active and toxic alkaloids.
Aconitum variegatum (?)
What’s cooking?
Medicinal plants, Wildflowers of North AmericaMy kitchen has become a small scale operation – thinking fruit pies, jams and jellies?
Caulophyllum thalictroides seeds
Caulophyllum thalictroides (Blue cohosh) blue seeds will easily pass for blueberries but unfortunately are poisonous if ingested in large quantities. That’s very improbable to happen though because what seems like a big berry is actually a single huge seed surrounded by a thin fleshy and blue seed coat.
More likely to lose a tooth or two than being poisoned!
Caulophyllum thalictroides cleaned seeds
On the other hand, Podophyllum peltatum (Mayapple) fruit it is/has been used to prepare jams and jellies. The big size fruit (hog apple, wild lemon, Indian apple), when fully ripen has a light yellow colour and a persimmon fragrance (in my opinion). It is actually the only part of the plant that’s not toxic.
Podophyllum peltatum fruits
To ensure good germination seeds of both species have to be placed in moist storage right away. They belong to a large category of species with hydrophylic seeds (intolerant of dry storage).
Also, both species are important North American medicinal woodland plants.
Mayapple seeds – enclosed in a gooey substance
PS. In case you have available large quantities of mayapple fruits to make jam, be kind and promote a sustainable harvest (always) by discarding the seeds in a nearby wooden area.
For Seed trade – Helleborus purpurascens
Botanical travels, Plant portraits, PropagationUpdate: since I wrote this post in 2014! we now have the plants grown from wild collected seeds in the Carpathian Mts. (2 different accessions) flowering well and rewarding us with seeds. Nothing is more satisfying than to see plants grown from few
seeds found by chance growing well in the garden. This species is increasingly rare in the wild; growing it in the garden it is also a matter of conservation at this point. The greenish-slate gray with back dusted purple flowers are exquisite! not to mention the foliage.
“I am not young enough to know everything” – Oscar Wilde
A quick post because I just ‘discovered’ that Helleborus purpurascens seeds are best sown fresh in the summer. They need to go through a warm-moist period followed by cold-moist in order to germinate best. Older seeds will still germinate but in a lower percentage. Helleborus is one thing I have never done from seed (members of Ranunculaceae are notoriously difficult germinators). This is a rare Helleborus species distributed only along the Carpathian Mountains range, up to central and northern Hungary. Interestingly, it can be found growing in full sun, in open alpine meadows and also under dappled shade in beech woods.
Graham Rice, the authority in all Helleborus matters, has an extensive article on H. purpurascens on his website, you can read it HERE. In a bit of a hurry, I will quote him so no one can say I am biased because of its origins:
It is “one of the most captivating species for its engaging habit of flowering so enthusiastically, for its subtle metallic tints… The foliage too is unlike that of other hellebores, in that it radiates from the tip of the petiole in a neat circle.”
As for the flowers, a few forms that are known from Botanical Gardens: “are purple in colour with dark veins, slightly pinkish towards the base and netted towards the edge; some flowers have an overall green haze…In a second form which reaches 15 in in height the flowers are smoky blue-purple in colour, darker outside than in, with slightly reddish veins inside and green nectaries. Other forms may be slate purple or deep purple outside, shining pinkish shades….”
A truly collector’s plant, so this is a call for a seeds trade – if someone wishes a few fresh Helleborus purpurascens seeds to sow them right away, please get in touch with me here, on my email or at infoATbotanicallyinclined.org (of course replace AT with @
It would be a pity not to have them all germinating well – still enough summertime left!
A risky business – Polygala paucifolia
Plant portraits, Propagation, Wildflowers of North AmericaI think some are imagining that trying to open a business of selling wild collected seeds is a breeze – happily wandering in fields and mountains and grabbing here and there whatever comes under your eyes. Well, very far away from the truth. For example, who would think about stumbling into a massasauga rattlesnake (the only venomous snake in Ontario), while collecting Polygala paucifolia seeds!
Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus)
The timing to collect Polygala is almost impossible; the fruiting/seed setting is usually low and then the seeds are equipped with elaiosomes that ants will carry away very fast. So, there is no wonder that seeds are almost never offered and, although desirable, neither are the plants! Looking at the flowers, you understand why all this is worthwhile!
Polygala paucifolia
My germination trials with Polygala seeds showed that dry stored seeds in the fridge, sown in the spring germinate very well, and also the seedlings are developing very well. Seeds stored moist-cold, germinate later and in a lower percentage.
Polygala paucifolia seedlings – germination 95%; they may look small size but remember that this is a little plant
PS. Keep your eyes wide open when hiking in the rattlesnake habitat! When moving, it makes a low rattle noise to make you aware, but when standing still it is very well camouflaged and it doesn’t rattle. They give birth to live baby-snakes, finger-size but already venomous! It is designated a species at risk in Ontario – more about it on Reptiles and Amphibians of Ontario website.
The resurrected – Salvia daghestanica
Gardens, Plant portraitsLittle plants series III
A few years ago I bought a silver leaf Salvia daghestanica for my dry and sunny mini- rockery. It did quite well, but this spring was obviously in distress. Decided to nurture it until its final breath, I planted it by itself in a small pot.
But it has resurrected and flowered profusely (it may really be its last breath) but anyway, the hummingbird has visited it, and now at least we can hope for seeds! Maybe THE BEST silvery leaf sage (sometimes called Salvia canescens var. daghestanica). An amazing plant – you can read a longer story about silver leaf Salvias on the Prairie Break Blog (of the equally amazing Panayotis Kelaidis, who actually is responsable for introducing this Salvia in cultivation in North America).
A Carnivorous Feast
Plant portraits, Wildflowers of North AmericaHappy Canada Day!
This year we had a real Carnivorous feast in advance to the Canada Day Celebration, heading out towards the Bruce Peninsula just at the right time to see in flower, among others, the butterwort – Pinguicula vulgaris. This small vegetal carnivore will trap and digest insects with the help of its sticky, glandular, bright green leaves. But the flowers are highly attractive too, reason why a few species and hybrids are also cultivated. It is great around the pond areas, bog gardens or even a moist crevice of the rockery.
Pinguicula vulgaris
Celebrating Canada Day includes honouring the wild, pristine landscapes we are fortunate to still have. Unfortunately, large areas of wetlands are threatened by housing developments (followed by the inevitable shopping malls), and one of the first things to disappear when a wetland habitat degrades are its carnivorous plants. The least we can do is first to be aware of their existence!
And there wouldn’t have been a celebration without something red, but there were plenty of pitcher plants (Sarracenia purpurea) and slenderleaf sundews (Drosera linearis).
Sarracenia purpurea
Drosera linearis
Note: Interestingly enough, in northern regions of Europe butterwort leaves were known to have bactericidal properties; for example, traditional uses included healing cattle sores and to curdle milk.
Found more about Pinguicula, including tips for growing at this website: A WORLD OF PINGUICULA.
Rapunzel’s flower – Phyteuma
Alpine plants, Gardens, Plant portraits, PropagationPeople in Europe call this member of the bellflower family (Campanulaceae) after many names: devil’s claws (Germany), Oxford Rampion (England), Raponzolo (Italy), and so on. We could definitely give it many other common names; I like to think of it as Rapunzel’s flower.
Phyteuma is strictly a European genus with quite a few species, not very often seen in the gardens. Phyteuma scheuchzeri, flowering now in one of my rock-containers is the most common in cultivation (I was aiming for P. sieberi, maybe next time…).
Phyteuma scheuchzeri
It doesn’t look like a bellflower, that’s for sure – it looks much cooler! In most species the flowers are grouped in spiked, ball-like inflorescences (aka. floral sea creatures) which at full bloom ‘explode’ becoming fluffy. They can be found growing in a variety of habitats, with P. sieberi being the most alpine.
Phyteuma scheuchzeri
Another mountain growing Rapunzel’s flower is Phyteuma orbiculare, photographed here in a rich sub-alpine meadow in the Carpathian Mountains:
Phyteuma orbiculare
Propagation: easy enough from seed (very small, fine seeds just like Campanula).
And just because I like word rhymes: Did you know that Phyteuma has a sister named Asyneuma? Another great but very little cultivated member of the bellflower family.
La primevère du Mistassini
Gardens, Plant portraits, Wildflowers of North AmericaMy apologies to anyone who tried to post a comment in the past couple of weeks – my new anti-spam ‘ware’ needed readjustments.
In the same idea of great little plants, this dwarf canadian primrose would have looked very well in my shade container with the Soldanellas and Haberlea rhodopensis.
Primula mistassinica
Primula mistassinica, the Mistassini Primrose, or even better after its French name – Primevère du lac Mistassini, it’s a small size, more or less farinose primrose that was first discovered growing around the lake Mistassini in Quebec, and so it took its name. Anyone who sees it understands that it is best called by its French name: la primevère du Mistassini – it will answer looking at you with charming yellow eyes from big, pink flowers!
Primula mistassinica flowering in Bruce Peninsula, Ontario
Best grown in part-shade or in full sun locations, if enough moisture is available. Although it looks fantastic in mass plantings it is also suitable for a trough.
In praise of little plants I
Alpine plants, Gardens, Plant portraits, PropagationPlants that did make sense to have in my small garden
A dwarf, big flowered blue columbine: Aquilegia discolor, most probably a cross (from Seedex as A. saximontana)
Aquilegia discolor cross
True that if we would grow only ‘reasonable’ plants, our gardens would lack all spontaneity and wonder. But because I can now easily enjoy them in containers, and not worry about their relocation, I think a bit of praise is warranted.
On the other side of the container, a tiny hardy ginger: Roscoea tibetica (from Lost Horizons) – very precious, after the bad winter we had, who knows if I will get to see the other Roscoeas from the garden.
Roscoea tibetica
From another container, the most fragrant, fringed Dianthus I know: Dianthus petraeus (from wild collected seeds in the Carpathian Mts.) Too bad I cannot insert a ‘scratch patch’ with its perfume.
Dianthus petraeus
A rock jasmine: Androsace sarmentosa – a small piece I saved from an old plant, I hope it will thrive again (or set seeds, or better both).
Androsace sarmentosa
and more are on their way to flower…
Noisy Merry-bells
Gardens, Plant portraits, Wildflowers of North AmericaUvularia grandiflora – Large-flowered bellwort, Merry-bells
Spring is a busy time when it comes to wildflowers – lots of species start flowering almost at the same time, especially when the springtime gets condensed in a couple of months. While I try no to discriminate, some will be overlooked for now and I will highlight just a few; for example would be hard to ignore the Merry-bells! They start to flower at the same time, or a bit after Trillium grandiflorum, depending how shady the location is.
Uvularia grandiflora
Unlike some other wildflowers, Uvularia grandiflora is not a stranger for the cultivated woodland garden. Although not that popular as it should be, it is appreciated for its elegant habit and clusters of pendulous yellow flowers with twisted tepals, always ringing loudly for attention.
Uvularia grandiflora flower close up
More than this, it is an important food source in the spring, providing nectar and pollen for bumblebees, mason bees and other bee species. It will grow to form a nice, tight clump in a few years, so it can be used solitary although it looks fantastic in large groups.
Note: Another native bellwort – Uvularia sessilifolia has smaller flowers and non-clasping leaves.
Out in the woods – thrilled about Trillium
Plant portraits, Wildflowers of North AmericaTrilix (Latin) = having a triple thread
If nothing else about wildflowers, one image can still thrill anyone – the white carpeting of the woodland floor when Trillium grandiflorum is flowering; in southern Ontario sometime from late April to May. Unfortunately, our car committed suicide, so I took this picture close to home in a remnant neighbourhood forest. You’ll just have to imagine this small patch of Trillium multiplied by hundreds, as it happens in the wild wooded areas.
Trillium grandiflorum – Large-flowered trillium
Not that the provincial flower of Ontario needs a description; it is all about the number 3: 3-petaled white flowers (rarely pink) with 3 green sepals above a whorl of three leaves. Usually as they age the white flowers turn light pink. Unfortunately, it goes dormant by mid-summer but after the spring display we can forgive this little shortcoming. Sometimes, individuals with green bands on the petals can be spotted – they look interesting but it’s said to be a result of a phytoplasma infection.
Mixed in with T. grandiflorum is often Trillium erectum – Wake-robin trillium, Stinking Benjamin. It displays stunning dark-red flowers above the foliage – three pointed petals framed by 3 green or reddish green sepals. The scent of the flowers is the source for the common name Stinking Benjamin – they emit odours to attract carrion flies, which are their main pollinators.
Wrightman Alpines Nursery – Hello to a New Adventure!
Alpine plants, GardensThe not so recent news from our small Canadian horticultural world is that Wrightman Alpines, a premiere alpine plants source from Ontario, is relocating to St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Fortunately, there is nothing to worry about as the mail-order will go on as usual, therefore, rather than saying goodbye, this is more a Hello to a new adventure!
Native alpine plants, little known plants, impossible plants…
Clematis columbiana var. tenuiloba, Matthiola trojana and Eritrichium howardii
But for the few of us lucky to be able to drive for their open days last weekend, it was the moment to say goodbye and to wish them all the best in this new adventure of relocating their family and nursery in a new place. After operating for more that 25 years from this location, this is without doubt a courageous endeavour and needless to say heartbreaking because parts of the rock gardens, including plants will have to be left behind.
One more look to the gardens and Hello to a New Adventure!
As soon as I’ll sort out the pictures we’ll have a last walk throughout the hoop-houses – the list of plants for my future rockery keeps growing longer…
And in the gardens last year
A Primula-rina
Gardens, Plant portraits, PropagationA few weeks ago I stumbled upon this Primula that was showing promise to be a great Primula-rina!
The Ballerina – Primula frondosa (a bit elongated in a container in early spring)
Last time when I had visions of dancing plants it was two years ago because of a twirling Arisaema – it is not that often to discover a first class ballerina!.
Primula frondosa is a dwarf, farinose primula endemic from Bulgaria where it grows on cliffs at 900-2000 m altitude, in partly shaded, moist crevices. It is very hardy and will show up from under the snow, with a tight silvery rosette (you may wish that it remains like that), but then the leaves expand and remain powdery only beneath (but the flowering stem and flower pedicels still covered in silvery hairs). A very floriferous primula: umbels with up to 30 pink, delicate flowers with a yellow eye in early spring.
Primula frondosa in full bloom right now ( 2-3 seedlings were planted together in the fall)
Sometimes mistaken for P. farinosa (and vice-versa, but P. farinosa has white-farina on both side of the leaves, and it flowers much later). Both are commonly called Bird’s eye Primulas.
Propagation: very easy to grow from seeds (like other Primula spp.), and it will start flowering in the second year – soooo gratifying!