Flowers & seeds of June

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Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot), first seeds of 2023

It is already mid-June, wow! This is the time when various spring flowering species start to mature their seeds; soon there will be a wave of native species seeds one after another starting with Sanguinaria canadensis, Asarum canadense, Stylophorum diphyllum, and Jeffersonia diphylla…to mention just a few.

Various other species mature their fruits gradually, and also the collecting is done in the same way. For most Viola species, Silene pusilla, Saxifraga cuneifolia, Capnoides sempervirens…this involves seeds collecting every day now. Plus, Helleborus caucasicus seeds are being captured by organza bags, and others will follow shortly.

As soon as there is a larger batch of species collected, there will be another call for seeds, probably in late June – stay tuned.

The regulars of June garden are in flower now: Dictamnus albus, Baptisia australis, Clematis integrifolia, various Dianthus, Salvia, Aconitum moldavicum, with Asphodeline lutea in top bloom. While we all rejoiced in few rainy days, it was not very inducing for taking many new pictures. There are also new garden friends this year, like Glaucium aurantiacum and Gladiolus tenuis.

Silene pusilla

Aconitum moldavicum

Incarvillea delavayi

Paronychia cephalotes

Glaucium aurantiacum

Gladiolus tenuis

This is also a good time for planting 2 years-old seedlings of various bulbous species in the ground, as they enter their summer rest period.

Erythronium sibiricum 2 years-old tubers before planting in the ground

Species like Corydalis solida and allies, Erythronium, Fritillaria, Adonis, Crocus species, Galanthus…you can plant them in the ground after the second year of growth. They can also be grown further in pots, but honestly, I have obtained better results for  such species with this method then by growing them longer in pots. The Canadian plant trade is lacking diversity for these species, so what can we do?

We grow from seeds!

Out in the woods: Trillium grandiflorum and companions

A revised post from another year with some additions. The plants are just the same :) they only flower at slightly different times every spring, region & weather depending.

Do you need ideas about North American natives woodland species to introduce into your garden? Take a hike into the woods; nature is the best expert in providing answers ;)

Trillium grandiflorum, the large white trillium and some of its companions are in flower right now. This year (2023), they flower on the same time with: Jack-in-the-pulpits (Arisaema), Viola pubescens, Viola labradorica, Viola rostrata, Trillium erectum, baneberries (Actaea), Thalictrum dioicum, Polygala paucifolia and various sedges.
Hydrophyllum virginianum (Virginia waterleaf), Podophyllum peltatum (Mayflower) and False Solomons seal (Maianthemum racemosum) are in bud.  Most of the early spring flowering companion species like: wild ginger (Asarum), Sanguinaria canadensis, Erythronium americanum, Lonicera canadensis and Hepatica are already setting fruits.

You can read about all these native species and how to grow them from seeds in the Seeds Shop pages – SEEDS List.

Trillium grandiflorum and Caulophyllum giganteum

T. grandiflorum with Asarum canadense

Podophyllum peltatum, the Mayapple

T. grandiflorum with Tiarella cordifolia

T. grandilflorum, Uvularia grandiflora, Hepatica acutiloba

Trillium erectum with T. grandiflorum

Dryopteris marginalis, wood fern

Trillium grandiflorum and Maianthemum racemosum

Arisaema triphyllum

Uvularia grandiflora and Viola pubescens

Viola rostrata

Trillium and Polygala paucifolia

Notes for the Seeds Shop

  • Updates and new additions to the Seeds List will follow in late summer–early fall.
  • Some Corydalis seeds have been collected; they will be available at the same time with the first Hepatica seeds somewhere in June.
  • The collection of Hepatica seeds will most likely start at the end of the month/early June, and will be followed by Asarum canadense, Stylophorum diphyllum and towards end of June: Sanguinaria canadensis and Erythronium americanum (if possible to collect).
    The availability of these species will be announced. Their seeds germinate best when  sown right away.

 

Hepatica page

The subpage with Hepatica names and coll. numbers has been updated.

For H. acutiloba, there is just one new addition: a light pink maiden form with multipetal tendency, called ‘Maiden Blush’. The cross pollination is made easier in this case, by only having to brush pollen from another Hepatica on the stigma. There is also a new, pink addition on the Intermediate forms subpage page.

The Hepatica page (top right menu) has a dropdown menu, where you can choose one from the 6 subpages. Small updates have been done to the other subpages as well. I encourage all customers who purchased seeds in the previous years (and not only) to have a look, especially at the Seeds & Germination and Transplanting subpages. I know that everyone awaits with impatience to see the newly germinating seedlings this spring, including myself (keep in mind that sometimes we have to wait one more year though).

BotanyCa Hepatica page

BotanyCa – Hepatica subpages

For those not familiar with them, Hepatica species are among the first spring flowers in the Northern Hemisphere. The flower buds are formed in the previous year and lay in waiting for the spring warm up and the first rays of sunshine. Of course there is much more to know and learn about the queens of the woodlands.

We are all prepared now for the new Hepatica season :)
From the garden spots reached by the sun the first Hepatica japonica and Hepatica transsilvanica flowers are already greeting us.

 

 

The thought of bloom – Hepatica americana names

The melting of the snow in some areas brought to light a few Hepatica leaves in the garden. Among a small pile of pots and containers, the first buds of various seedlings and Hepatica japonica are trying to reach for the sun.

Coincidentally, I am working to update the Hepatica pages, especially assigning collection numbers or names to worthy specimens. The page is not entirely redone yet, but I know that almost everyone is thinking about flowers now, so it is nice to review a few of them :)

Collection numbers and/or names must be kept for records and future references. I am of the opinion that, for genera displaying a large variability like Hepatica, not every single plant must be named. But there are a few ‘special’ ones standing out from the crowd.

I present the newly named Hepatica americana for now, before I am done with all updatings:

Hepatica americana offered as fo. diversiloba in 2022 was named ‘Harlequin’. There is no formal name published/accepted for fo. diversiloba, plus there may be others with different flowers. On this single specimen, besides the leaves with extra lobes, the flowers are variously colored: white or pink or white with pink flushes.

Hepatica americana ‘Harlequin’

Hepatica americana ‘Harlequin’ foliage

Hepatica americana deep purple of last year was named ‘Purplelicious’. The gorgeous Hepatica americana multipetal white, also a 2022 offering, was named ‘Mihail’.

Hepatica americana ‘Purplelicious’ 2021

Hepatica americana ‘Mihail’

To review a couple of ‘old’ ones:

Hepatica americana ‘Apple Blossoms’ (offered for a couple of years as H. americana white-pink flares).
And the now famous Hepatica americana ‘#1’. Few seedlings flowered last spring resembling well the mother-plant :)

Hepatica americana ‘Apple Blossoms’

Hepatica americana ‘Apple Blossoms’

Hepatica americana ‘#1’

Hepatica americana ‘#1’ seedlings, 2022

! There is no guarantee that Hepatica seeds will be collected/available this spring (late May-June), because I intend to do more controlled pollinations and make re-arrangements in the Hepatica collection. It all depends very much on the weather.!

Eupatorium & solitary wasps

Continuing the last year’s review – the first picture from the August folder is a Waist-threaded wasp feeding on Eupatorium perfoliatum. It seems that the Common Boneset is a powerful attractant of various solitary wasps, besides other pollinators. Last summer I started to do a little ‘inventory’; I missed a few but there is always the next summer!

For those already cringing at the word ‘wasp’ – there are many species of solitary wasps native to Ontario and elsewhere, which do not have an aggressive behaviour and serve an important role as pollinators. Plus, they also contribute to reducing the populations of various caterpillars, spiders, and other not so beneficial insects from your garden!

They are not easy to identify at species level, but at least they can be assigned to a particular genus within a family or subfamily (https://ncipmhort.cfans.umn.edu/bees#sectionb, http://www.toronto-wildlife.com/Insects/Bees_Wasps/Wasps/wasps.html ). For example, the large group of Threaded-waist wasps (with narrow or threadlike waists) are very easy to recognize. They are typically large in size and prey on various insects and spiders.

The Threaded-waist wasps belong to the larger group of so called mud daubers (Specidae, Crabronidae); the name is used because they all build their nests from mud. Mud daubers capture and place paralyzed spiders or caterpillars in the nest cells as food for their young.

Great Golden Digger Wasp on Eupatorium perfoliatum

Sand wasp on Eupatorium

Five banded Thynnid Wasp on Eupatorium

Grass Carrying wasp on Eupatorium

Waist-threaded wasp August 1, Eupatorium

Wasp or bee – no ID

Others like the Grass-carrying wasps (Isodontia), prefer to lay their eggs in nests above ground (hollow plant stems, abandoned galleries and other similar locations). Females carry blades of grass to their nests to prepare the brood cells where they also place ‘tranquilized’ tree crickets wrapped in grass for the future larvae to feed on: more cool pictures.

Along with these wasps, there is a whole micro-ecosystem built around the Boneset tiny, fragrant flowers: lie-in-wait predators like praying spiders and ambush bugs, bumblebees, butterflies, sweat bees and many others.
It is a fascinating spectacle!

Bumblebee

Ambush bug on Eupatorium

Spider on Eupatorium

Following the food chain, many birds and small mammals prey on the adult wasps too, and other insects can parasitize the wasps ground nests and/or eating their eggs, larvae or the spiders placed there as food.

We rarely think about the impact a single plant has on the garden ecosystem, don’t we?!

 

Remembering June (2)

Towards the end of June it was not only very dry, but also super hot, much to the dislike of quite a few species. Others, which by their nature enjoy such conditions, were not bothered at all (Salvia daghestanica, Veronica oltensis in the featured image). Also, Centaurea jankae, the subject of a plant portrait a little while ago, flowered non-stop from June until late fall.

So, we will retreat on the part-shaded sides of the garden to have a look at a few Arisaemas, Roscoea and companion plants.

Arisaema flavum is one of the most easy to grow species, and while not an overly showy species, it will become a ‘fixture’ of the garden; something that you can always count on to be there, quietly doing its thing. Arisaema candidissimum also flowered well. After it was tried in a container for a few years it was planted in the ground (in two locations). Why bother with containers? Arisaema ciliatum var. liubaense made a short apparition and in protest to the weather went dormant sooner than usual.

Arisaema flavum

Arisaema candidissimum

Arisaema ciliatum var. liubaense

Arisaema consanguineum

Newly in ‘town’ in 2022 was the Eastern NA native Arisaema dracontium, the green dragon. This is a threatened or vulnerable species in many regions of Eastern USA, and a rare sight in Eastern Canada (I have never encounter it).
The bad thing is that some people confuse it with Pinellia pedatisecta (a Chinese species), and worst of all, tubers of the latter are exchanged between gardeners as such. Many Pinellia species have a ‘weedy’ tendency.

It is not hard to distinguish them when in flower – see explanations; there are other more subtle differences (also for fruits/seeds), but the main idea is: do not share tubers unless you are sure what species you have!

Speaking of native species suitable for part-shade, the not often grown, Triosteum aurantiacum, the horse gentian, flowered and even produced a few fruits! In a shaded, overcrowded corner, Vancouveria hexandra always competes for space with Viola canadensis and others.

The more exotic Roscoea cautleyoides also starts flowering in late June. Similar to most Arisaemas, it emerges late from the ground, and thus it needs careful positioning close to more early growing species. Due to the high temperatures, the flowers were short lived, despite being part-shaded; otherwise they are not difficult to grow.

Triosteum aurantiacum, 2022

Viola canadensis, Vancouveria

Roscoea cautleyoides, 2022

I wanted to also show by comparison the Jeffersonia species capsules & seeds, which both mature in June but this post it’s getting to long. Until the next one…

Flowers of December

Most probably due to a mild November, I found Geum triflorum, prairie smoke, with few flowers!

Geum triflorum, Dec. 2022

It is, of course, not good. These flowers will freeze sooner or later. Until then, we can enjoy them.

I also found some of my pictures, Geum triflorum included, copied and used by other people, no less in their seeds shops. Some are masking the Botanyca logo, others do not even bother.
It is, of course, not good… All pictures, writings on this website are copyrighted.

One day I shall publish a list with all offenders.

Geum triflorum is a great native species to have in your garden: fully hardy, with beautiful flowers and seed heads, plus evergreen leaves that turn reddish in late fall & winter!

Friday’s updates with Amsonia

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While seeds are still collected into late fall, we continue with the updates of the Seeds List and occasional plant portraits.

I introduce two more new North American species this season:
Amsonia illustris, Shining Bluestar, Ozark Bluestar
Veronicastrum virginicum, Culvert’s root

Both of them are well known and present in our gardens, but Amsonia needs more promotion. Most Amsonia species are native in Central and SE US with only a couple species from Asia and SE Europe; all are known under the collective name of Bluestars, from their characteristic light blue, star-like flowers. Amsonia illustris and A. tabernaemontana and A. hubrichtii are probably the most cultivated species.

Ozark Bluestar takes its common name from the shiny, thick, willow-like leaves – one of its greatest feature! They persist well into late fall, with the same clean, green shiny look, before turning yellow; remarkably, with no sign of pests damage (being a member of Apocynaceae family pays off :) Clusters of light blue, star-like flowers appear in June and are enjoyed by various pollinators.

Amsonia illustris foliage

Amsonia illustris flowers

If a plant can look so healthy, and also flower and produce seeds after the dry season we have had in SW Ontario, then nothing more to be said for its advertisement.

Amsonia illustris fruits & seeds

The slender fruits are somewhat hidden among the foliage and mature in late October. The fruit is a type of dry capsule called follicle (drooping in this case) and contains 6-9 brown, textured seeds – so we also had a Friday’s seeds!

This Amsonia will get larger in size from one year to another – think of Baptisia australis and Dictamnus albus and you will understand what I mean.
It can be grown in full sun to part shade locations and it is drought resistant after it gets established.

Also, the seeds stock has  been replenished for:
Hibiscus moscheutos
Penstemon digitalis
Smilax herbacea

 

 

 

Veronicastrum virginicum

Penstemon digitalis

Hibiscus moscheutos

The Buttonbush & companions

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I haven’t collected buttonbush seeds in many years. Most people prefer to purchase already grown shrubs and it is understandable. However, after seeing how nice and floriferous a small group of buttonbushes were looking despite the terrible drought, I had a change of heart. After all, most sources indicate that it is an easy to germinate species.

Cephalanthus occidentalis is a deciduous shrub with a rounded, open habit that can reach 3+ m (in optimal conditions), ie. wetlands, ponds and lakes edges, other wetland habitats. The more moisture it gets the larger it will grow.
The Buttonbush takes its common name from the round flower heads formed from many, small tubular flowers with exerted stamens. They flower gradually over a long period and are very fragrant! They attract many insects, especially long-tongue pollinators like bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds. The buttonbush is also a ‘honey plant’.
The fruiting heads take an attractive red color in late fall before seeds maturation; the fruits are 2-seeded nutlets (used as food by various waterfowls). So, it is one of those cases when we are actually sowing fruits, not seeds.

Cephalanthus occidentalis flowering in July

Cephalanthus occidentalis, fruiting heads before maturation

Good news is that the Buttonbush adapts well to growing in regular garden soil, except very dry locations. It just won’t grow that tall, which is actually a good thing for our gardens.

Teucrium canadense in early October

Another species recently added to the inventory that also prefers wet places but grows perfectly well in regular soil isTeucrium canadense , the American germander.
Same like the Buttonbush, it performed well during a very dry season, so we shouldn’t be afraid to grow it. I failed to take a picture at its peak flowering time, but believe me that the long flower spikes (light to deep pink) are attractive and good for pollinators. It does well in sun to part-shaded locations; some also call it Wood Salvia.

Speaking about wetland species that perform very well in regular garden conditions, the Carex grayi seeds inventory has also been replenished.

For the last species, Wild Calla, we would really need a small pond or other water feature to be able to grow it. Calla palustris is a great addition to a wetland area due to its handsome foliage, long flowering period and bright, red fruits in the fall. Most years the fruits are hard to reach, so I took advantage of the receding water on the margin of a pond this fall; those interested can now grow their own wild ‘exotic’ Calla! The seeds are kept moist to ensure  good germination.

Calla palustris (Wild Calla, Water Arum)

 

Back in stock, again

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As announced, we travel local this weekend trough Eastern and Central North American woodlands with:

Amphicarpaea bracteata, American hog-peanut
Asclepias exaltata, Poke Milkweed
and Aronia melanocarpa, Black Chokeberry – counting as new for this season, so we’ll stop for a few seconds to talk about it.

The Black Chokeberry is a great shrub for the wildlife garden, with white flowers in the spring, glossy green leaves which turn red in the fall and black/blue edibles berries. It usually grows as a shrub and it also spreads by root suckers.

Black Chokeberry is a very tough shrub that can be grown in full sun or part-shade, and adapts well to a wide range of soils; the more moisture has the more vigorous will grow.
Usually seen growing/sold as a medium size shrub, in less than optimal conditions in the wild, it can be dwarfed by the winds and snow. So, we have the option to keep it pruned and use it as a featured shrub in a large rockery, for example (or other garden situations).

Mitchella repens (Partridge berry) stock was almost depleted, and more seeds are also now available. The same goes for Lilium michiganense. The partridge berry (in the featured image) is a hard to beat evergreen, very low groundcover for rather moist locations.

The Seeds List

Happy Thanksgiving to all celebrating!

Carnivorously fragrant

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I am always on the lookout for carnivorous plants seeds for the small but dedicated group of ‘carnivorously inclined’ that follows the blog/seeds offerings.

Drosera intermedia; great idea for a ‘moist crevice’ garden!

This late summer I was pleased to find a Drosera intermedia population with seeds at the right moment, growing together with Utricularia cornuta, Horned bladderwort, also with seeds at the right moment!
Once in a while I have the occasion to witness mass flowering of Utricularia cornuta but I can rarely be there at the right moment to collect seeds. Last time they were offered about 6 years ago.

The Horned bladderwort is a species found growing in various regions of North America, curiously enough, in colder and also warmer regions (warm like in Cuba!).
As opposed to Drosera, the mechanisms for catching the prey (traps) are situated underground; above the ground we can only notice its presence during flowering when thin flowering stems adorned with large, yellow flowers appear; sometime in large numbers (depending on location).
The flowers are also very, very fragrant! It is no wonder that various pollinators are attracted to them.

Utricularia cornuta, Horned baldderwort

Utricularia cornuta with Drosera linearis

You can read more about the Horned bladderwort by clicking on the links provided. As well for Drosera intermedia.
This year, despite low expectations, there are also good amounts of Drosera linearis and Pinguicula vulgaris seeds.
All you need is a moist location (a pond edge would make a wonderful place) and the will to grow them! And don’t forget to also add Sarracenia purpurea to the group!

Pinguicula vulgaris

Drosera linearis with Pinguicula vulgaris

Sarracenia purpurea pitchers

Word goes around that we should also consider Triantha as being a ‘partially carnivorous’ plant, but seeds-wise we have to wait till later in the fall to see if they will be available.

Sowing in moss – part II

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Medeola virginiana seeds have just been placed in the inventory. The Indian cucumber is a species that germination speaking “breaks with the tradition” (Breaking the tradition- Medeola germination).

New foliage of Medeola virginiana in the spring, growing in moss with Coptis trifolia (previous year leaves) and Canada Mayflower.

In some places it can be found growing on mossy decomposed tree trunks together with Coptis trifolia, the goldthread and Maianthemum canadensis (Canada Mayflower).

This is a great occasion to emphasize that Coptis trifolia should also be sown asap! Like many other species from the Ranunculaceae family, and those from the moist-packed seeds category, for the best germination it requires a slightly warm/moist stratification period before the winter arrives (ie. the cold/moist stratification period). Otherwise, germination will happen in the second year.

I decided to also sow Coptis seeds; hands-on experience is like no other :) And why not sow like the nature does many times in moist places? Meaning in moss. I already described and recommended this method for Gaultheria and Saxifraga cuneifolia: Green inspiration – sowing in moss.
The method can certainly be used for other species like Coptis, Trientalis, Medeola, Clintonia, Cornus canadensis. And surely 2-3 species could be sown together in a larger pot.

Medeola germination is already tested so let’s try the bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) this time.

 

Prepare a pot: add regular garden soil and a tuft of moss and saturate with water. Next day, have the seeds handy, remove the moss and press the larger seeds in the soil (Medeola, Cornus…), put back the chunk of moss and sprinkle the finer seeds on it (Coptis, Gaultheria, Trientalis); water slowly to push the finer seeds into the moss. Keep the pot in a shaded place, water when necessary. Depending on the situation: many critters, hot summers, you can also enclose the pot in a loose plastic bag. *Preferably use a larger pot that the one seen here.

Especially for species that take 2+ years to germinate, I think it is a wonderful method of sowing: the moss will help keep the pot content evenly moist, plus that it looks nice all year long!
Have yourself a nice hike and collect a little bit of moss :-)

 

September seeds

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Seeds of the following native species have been added to the Shop. We can consider them ‘new’ since last time they were offered in 2016, and not from lack of trying. You can read more about each of them by clicking on the links provided.

Cornus canadensis, the lovely bunchberry; also read more about it Here

Aralia hispida – Britsly sarsaparilla, which is coming in full splendor in September when the fruits change color

Cornus canadensis fruits

Aralia hispida

Lobelia spicata, Pale- blue Lobelia – a choice, delicate species, that can be grown in a variety of situations. For a nice ‘native combo’ you can grow this Lobelia together with the Harebell and Solidago simplex var. ontarioense; they are often found growing close by.

Campanula rotundifolia, the ubiquitous Harebell, that has a place in any garden; the dainty flowers appear from early summer till fall and are better displayed in a rockery.
*The names harebell and witched thimble are said to come from a folk belief that witches used the plant to transform themselves into hares. If we are to believe more folklore, a superstition also says that the harebell flowers will ring to warn rabbits of foxes :)

Lobelia spicata (3)

Campanula rotundifolia

I am happy that my message got through to more people, but I would like to emphasize once more that it is best to first hurry up with all the species from the moist-packed seeds category, peonies, Helleborus, Actaea, Aralia, Lilium, Cornus canadensis… it is still enough time for them to undergo the slightly warm/moist period (required for germination) before the winter arrives (the cold/moist stratification). You will hear me repeating this a few more times!

Speaking about the Moist packed seeds – this fall, both our native Jeffersonia diphylla and its Asian counterpart Jeffersonia dubia are on the Seeds List. Not easy to find to buy the plants, and expensive when it happens; plus they are very difficult to divide. On top of all this, the seeds are difficult to keep in moist storage (all good till now).

Jeffersonia dubia

Jeffersonia diphylla in April

More seeds to come….

 

BotanyCa Shop reopening – fall 2022

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The Seeds Shop is open!

It has been a very dry, tough summer in SW Ontario; also in other regions weather has been very capricious this year, to say the least. The seed set has been affected in general, not only in the wild areas, but also in the gardens.

We remain committed to only collecting a small quantity of seeds from the wild areas, and only from well-established populations. Therefore, more than ever we have to be less wasteful and learn to make due with less, including seeds speaking.

BotanyCa operates as a seeds provider for the hobby gardeners and specialized nurseries.
With regret, we cannot provide large quantities of seeds for naturalizations or other large scale garden projects.
From the beginning, the desire and goal of this business was for regular gardeners to have access to native species not commonly offered by other sources in Canada (or offered as DOD); and also to non-native, more unusual species which come at a high price as plants and are best grown from seeds.

With this in mind, species with limited seeds in stock can only be ordered as 1 pck./person like in previous years. Also, all the other species, at least for the beginning of the season, can be purchased in max. 2 pck. /person.
There are enough seeds in 1-2 pck. of seeds  not only to grow enough seedlings for an average garden, but also, in most cases, to share them with friends!

Direct access to various plant categories

This being said, I extend again many thanks to all those who continue to make the effort of growing plants from seeds and provide a refuge in their gardens to various species, some of which are only grown by specialized nurseries (the dwindling number of them), or not at all.

Many thanks as well to those few who generously contribute with seeds, enriching our offerings.
I would be happy to hear from other knowledgeable people willing to collect seeds of native species, especially from other provinces than ON (Contact form).

The real reward of a small scale seeds business is actually seeing more people trying to grow plants from seeds. Propagation by seeds will always help the conservation of biodiversity, not only of plant species, but all other life forms with which they are tightly interconnected; for this reason we have to persevere.

It is a continuous learning process and an experience like no other.

Thank you again. To the seeds and sowing!

Shipping and Delivery terms BotanyCa Seeds List

 

 

 

The cure for insanity

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Before the announcement for the Shop re-opening, I have good reason to ‘recycle’ and update a post about the lovely Cornus canadensis (bunchberry, dwarf cornel) from a few years ago.
Reason is that fruits have just been collected and, together with few other species, they await the seeds extraction.
So, keep in mind that a new group of species will be posted in the inventory later next week. Among them: Aralia hispida, Lobelia spicata, Drosera intermedia, an Utricularia species and few others.
By a good chance, seeds of another species that wasn’t offered in quite a few years: Coptis trifolia, the goldthread were also collected.

Cornus canadensis

Usually the name Cornus makes us think of trees and shrubs. But the bunchberry is a lovely perennial dogwood, which grows only to 15-20 cm tall, with leaves arranged in whorls of 4 or 6. The flowers, typical for a Cornus, are easy recognizable after the 4 large, white petal-like bracts. The fruit is an attractive, red, globe-shaped drupe, persistent, and also edible (small mammals, birds).

Good as a groundcover in shaded, moist locations, underneath small trees or shrubs; lovely to grow underneath Rhododendrons for example. I have also seen it growing on old tree stumps on top of moss, which would be great to try to ‘reproduce’ if possible (Coptis trifolia and Medeola virginiana can be grown the same way). It also needs a slightly acidic substrate and a cool location.  Usually it can be found in the company of Linnaea borealis, Trientalis borealis, Coptis trifolia, Maianthemum canadense and few others.

Cornus canadensis

 

Propagation from seeds is slow and the best protocol I found suggests: a period of warm/moist stratification for 45 days; followed by cold-moist stratification for 140 days (ie. 4-5 months or two winters). I think we can try to replace 1 winter by doing the following:
warm/moist stratification 1 month + GA3 treatment + cold/moist stratification (2-3 months = 1 winter).

Among its uses by the Indigenous People I found the mention of fruits consumption as a cure for insanity ;) I will chew some while extracting the seeds; who knows, I might get cured of the insanity of trying to maintain this seeds business during a time of increasing world-wide practices of restricting gardeners access to seeds, or better said, rules favoring the large, multinational companies in detriment of small scale operations. Sounds familiar?

Until tomorrow…

 *I cannot miss the chance to post this link where the unique pollination mechanism found in Cornus canadensis is described: THE EXPLOSIVE POLLINATION MECHANISM IN CORNUS CANADENSIS L. – https://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/ben/ben194.html

 

 

Fine grasses for shade & companions

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Not so long ago, when collecting seeds of Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula, I noticed that on a few clumps of Carex rosea (the Rosy sedge or Curly sedge) the seeds were ready. I intended to collect seeds of it a while ago but it was never the right time. Many times you need to get down to the ground to observe the ‘finer’ things.

I love the wonderful ‘grass-like’ fine carpets the curly sedge forms in many deciduous woods. It can grow in a wide range of situations from dry to moist substrates. The ‘curly’ alludes to the fact the stigmas of the flowers are curled (good eyesight or magnifying lens required). *There are few other species included in Carex rosea group.

Carex rosea, summer

Carex rosea seeds

It was a hot day and I enjoyed the shade for a while observing the other species growing nearby & among the Rosy sedge clumps. Besides the Violas there were a couple of Uvularia grandiflora seedlings and Trillium grandiflorum, Maianthemum canadense, a woodland Galium and a Smilax youngster to the right, plus Hepatica americana. What a perfect grouping for a garden woodland micro-habitat!

Not as often cultivated as they should be, the woodland sedges and other relatives (like the woodrushes, Luzula) are among the first ‘green’ messengers present on the woodland floors after the spring snowmelt and also the last one before the snow starts falling in the winter. They can serve the same function in our gardens, complementing the few evergreens and perennials that keep their leaves green throughout the winter (Hepatica, Gaultheria, Mitchella, Helleborus, Polystichum and other ferns).

Carex rosea, Trillium, Uvularia…

Hepatica americana and Carex rosea

Carex rosea group, December

Carex pennsylvanica, early spring

Spring woodland floor

Luzula acuminata

Carex eburnea

Carex plantaginea

Carex on woodland trail, late fall

 There are many other sedges that can be grown in the shaded garden. To mention only the superfine Carex eburnea (Bristle leaf sedge), the Plantain leaf sedge (Carex plantaginea) and another favourite of mine: Carex pensylvanica, Pennsylvania sedge.
We just need more seeds & more nurseries to grow them.  Some species can be purchased on occasion; when it happens do not miss the chance. In any case, they are in the ‘very easy to grow from seeds’ category.

Melica uniflora

This fall you will also find on the Seeds List another favorite grass of mine for shade/to part shade locations: Melica uniflora (syn. M. nutans), the Woodland Melic grass.
I had to grow it from seeds, since I’ve never seen it offered around here: easy to grow and clumps up fast in a part-shade, well drained location. The fine textured foliage comes with the added bonus of the gracious spikelets fluttering in the early summer breeze.

The third fine grass for shade, already offered last year: Patis racemosa (Blackseed rice grass) also deserves a mention. I still have to grow this one for the garden especially that the wild population is quite small and just few seeds can be collected. We don’t have many ‘bamboo-looking’ native grasses.

All these species are forming rhizomes, but are not the aggressive type; just enough so we can split them once in a while and replant the divisions or share them with the lucky friends.