Canadian burnet

Here we call Sanguisorba canadensis, Canadian burnet or White Burnet (Fam. Rosaceae). On the other side of the border it is called American burnet; we are all talking about the same species.

The reason I show the Canada Burnet is not only because the glorious flowering, but also as a continuation to the posts on Zigadenus elegans ssp. glaucus and Zigadenus companions. As mentioned in those posts, we can grow in our gardens many species that in their natural habitat prefer wet places.
Canada burnet can be found growing wild on river shores, stream banks, swamps, wet meadows and other wet locations. I personally never had the pleasure to encounter it in the wild, but I can vouch that it adapts perfectly to garden cultivation; maybe it will not grow to its maximum height (+/- 1.8 m).

Sanguisorba canadensis

Records mention that in various states of the US it is considered threatened or endangered. In general, given the general loss of wetlands the situations will probably become worse.

For Canada, I had to do a bit more research and it seems to be found only on the East side of the country: NS, NB, NF; I also found records from Quebec. There is a misrepresented record in E- BC flora under Sanguisorba canadensis with Sitka burnet as the common name, actually showing Sanguisorba stipulata.
Excellent pictures for the Canadian Burnet taken in the wild can be seen here:
https://inaturalist.ca/taxa/783544-Sanguisorba-canadensis/browse_photos

We offered seeds of Sanguisorba canadensis a few years ago and I will be very happy, if possible, to offer them again. But we have to patiently wait until September/October.
Sanguisorba canadensis makes a great addition to any garden with the grayish-green pinnate foliage and the late summer flowering with fragrant, fluffy, bottlebrush-like inflorescences which are visited by many pollinators.

Candies – for the eyes and soul

The few peonies from my garden have opened their fruits. Given the capricious spring and following drought it is no surprise the harvest is small from a few species like Paeonia japonica. They start to flower a bit too early in our climate.

On the other hand, Paeonia officinalis, which flowered later in the spring during a nice weather window, has exceeded the expectations. Therefore, you can acquire Paeonia officinalis seeds at a lower price this season :) However, we have to admit that Paeonia mascula fruits are more beautiful because of the red appendages (unfertilized ovules).

Paeonia officinalis seeds

Paeonia mascula seeds

Peonies are wonderful garden plants, long lived, tough and reliable. Put them on your wish list, if interested; they are best sowed in late summer. 

Moist packed ‘candies’ recently collected: Uvularia grandiflora (almost missed them this year) and to my surprise the Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum, also produced some fruits (usually in very dry years they get aborted early on). Maybe Medeola seeds will also be ready by the end of the month; otherwise the next batch of species that require moist packing are usually collected only in September (Maianthemum species).
In the garden, only Trillium flexipes has set and developed fruits; all other Trillium have been displeased with the drought.

Uvularia grandiflora seeds

Trillium flexipes seeds

The Seeds List is starting to take shape, although there will be more changes coming September and October. The date for the Shop re-opening: tentatively August 28th, with an emphasis on Paeonia, Lilium and the Moist packed seeds category, plus other species that require summer sowing.

 

Zigadenus companions

,

For those in need of ideas for companion plants, I will show a few other native species growing together with Zigadenus elegans ssp. glaucus in my garden bed. You can attempt to grow them from seeds or source the plants from a specialized plant nursery.

Garden bed containing various native species that enjoy relatively moist situations – view from last year. Due to the drought, some species (especially L. cardinalis seem affected) are not flowering so abundant this year

The garden bed has a natural grading which allows the water to sit at the edging area when it rains. The substrate at depth is clay and in years with normal rainfalls, it remains a rather moist area with little additional watering; sun to part-shade.
Most of the following species will actually adapt to various moisture levels; some will remain shorter in height and flower less if it gets too dry, like it has happened this year, but they will get by.

Eupatorium perfoliatum (Boneset) with its white, fragrant inflorescences of small white flowers is attracting various pollinators,

Great Golden Digger Wasp on Eupatorium perfoliatum

especially solitary wasps that otherwise are not usually seen in the garden.
Lobelia siphilitica (Great blue Lobelia) and *Lobelia cardinalis.

*Geum rivale (Nodding avens), Iris versicolor and Iris hookeri
*Clinopodium arkansanum (Limestone calamint) is also crawling somewhere toward the edge; you know it is here every time a wonderful minty whiff comes into air. Although an alvars dweller, Clinopodium adapts very well to garden cultivation.

*Viola nephrophylla grows with abandon at the edge (self -sown seedlings appear all the time) and there are even few skunk cabbage seedlings! in need of rescuing this coming fall.
And I almost forgot to mention: *Houstonia caerulea, *Primula mistassinica and *Sisyrinchium mucronatum. Plus, *Parnassia glauca (Marsh grass-of-Parnassus) which makes for an excellent late summer bloomer.

Erythranthe guttata and Iris versicolor

One year *Erythranthe guttata, the Monkey flower, bloomed wonderfully at the edge, but it didn’t manage to reseed successfully (on the account on work done to enlarge the bed).
Talking grasses: *Carex grayi and Deschampsia caespitosa.

* – It means the plant was grown from seeds; more pictures and descriptions for each on the shop pages (seeds are not available for all species every year). We must be patient, some of these species mature their seeds in late September/October.

You can create micro-habitats in your garden by using the existent conditions and planting species which naturally grow in a similar habitat. I like this simplified definition of a habitat:
“A habitat is a place where an organism makes its home”.

Maybe you have a similar place, a woodland bed, or a sun baked area? There are species suitable for all situations – offer them a home!

Primula mistassinica

Geum rivale

Sisyrinchium mucronatum, June

Berries, capsules and Zigadenus

,

Various berries and capsules have been collected lately: Podophyllum hexandrum (light pink flower), Clintonia borealis, Hydrastis canadensis; Aristolochia (iberica and also steupii!), Roscoea scillifolia fo. atropurpurea, Trientalis borealis and Trillium grandiflorum (few, smaller fruits due to the drought).

I mostly wanted to write about Zigadenus elegans ssp. glaucus (Mountain death camas), a beautiful NA native species (poisonous as well) that is flowering right now in the garden. Grown from seeds of course, where would I found to buy plants of Zigadenus? There may be few specialized nurseries offering it around the country, but certainly not nearby.

This is a species with a wide distribution in Canada and the US, with two subspecies that were initially recognized, which were then lumped together. The main differences are that Western populations have smaller plants and shorter inflorescences, while

Zigadenus elegans ssp. glaucus, young plant in cultivation

Eastern populations (ssp. glaucus) have taller plants with paniculate inflorescence and glaucous leaves and stems.

For many years I didn’t think about it, being familiar only with the plants growing in Bruce Peninsula, ON. A tall, slender plant with a few basal, bluish, grassy leaves and tall stems with large inflorescences (branched panicles) of peculiar white flowers with a thick greenish- yellow heart shaped glands. The flowers can take a reddish hue after pollination, and later capsules develop.
It likes a moist place, and the ‘wetter’ it is, the taller it gets. On not so wet soils, it just remains smaller in stature. In the picture to the right – a young plant, 4-5 years old. Older plants can reach 80+ cm in height and form much broader inflorescences.

After I got the chance one year to see specimens of Western populations in the mountains of SE BC, I understood why the common name is Mountain death camas, and also why some botanists have considered the two subspecies.
Both are beautiful in their own way, but different and I think a distinction should be made about the origins of plants and seeds.
Here’s a picture with a Zigadenus elegans specimen growing in a mountain rocky meadow in SE BC; it is not difficult to observe the differences.

Zigadenus elegans BC

In my garden, Zigadenus grows together with a few other native species, of the same ‘moist inclination’ (you can spot Lobelia siphilitica close by). About its companions we’ll talk later, after all the berries are cleaned and the seeds that need moist packing are placed in ‘safe’ storage.

 

July flowers and seeds report

,

As we enter the second part of July, the drought is still here, give or take a few ‘rain drops’. But life goes on, plants are flowering and fruits/seeds mature day by day.

A few species have been flowering since the beginning of the month and I want to particularly mention, the tall and gorgeously floriferous Delphinium fissum and its white counterpart Delphinium albiflorum. Not only they have a long flowering period, they are also great food sources for a variety of pollinators, especially the bumble bees are very fond on them (make a note for the fall seeds wish list ;)
Both species are rhizomatous Delphiniums and won’t flower too fast from seeds but they get better and better as the time goes by.

Delphinium fissum

Delphinium fissum flowers close-up

Delphinium albiflorum (4)

Delphinium albiflorum, July 2022

Angelica capitellata, a tall NA western native, also deserves a note because I think it makes for a great garden plant. Mainly absent from cultivation, I had the chance to obtain and offer seeds a few years ago, so here it is, first time to flower! It was very exciting to see the first ‘buttons’ showing up. Due to the tight round balls of white flowers has received common names like: Ranger’s button, Button parsley or Woolyhead parsnip. It grows well in average garden soil in full sun to part-shade. Hopefully a few more other people managed to grow it as well.

Angelica capitellata, Ranger’s button

Angelica capitellata 2022

Angelica capitellata, Ranger’s button

Aconitum kirinense

Other species from the  tall & beautiful category in July are Aconitum kirinense and Acanthus hungaricus. As I was placing the pictures in the gallery I realized these ‘tall & beautiful’ share another commonality: they were all grown from seeds!
Of course many other species are flowering or just beginning to flower: Scabiosa, Sidalcea, various Gallardia and Echinacea are providing a lot of colors at this time. I am just trying to point at species that are not usually found in the trade.  We’ll talk about few others next time.

Fruits & Seeds wise, it is a bit quiet now but Hydrastis canadensis fruits are getting ‘red & ready’ one by one, Hydrophyllum virginianum seeds are gradually maturing, as well as Primula japonica and Primula frondosa capsules. The first peony capsule of P. anomala var. veitchii just opened yesterday; more to follow shortly…

Drought, seeds & keeping sowings moist

,

The Seeds shop is closed now for website maintenance, seeds inventory and most important seeds collections. Re-opening in late August, I hope. But no worry, you will be kept up to date on flowering, fruiting & seeds happenings.

The first fleshy fruits are here! Yes, Actaea rubra (wild) and Triosteum pinnatifidum (garden) were just collected. From the dry side: Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula and Viola labradorica (wild), Erinus alpinus and Aconitum moldavicum (garden), to mention just a few. Quite a few other species are under a ‘seeds-ready’ watch at this time.

Actaea rubra

Triosteum pinnatifidum

Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula

Prolonged drought effects seen in SW Ontario

Sadly, the effect of drought is seen everywhere in SW Ontario; in some locations the mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Trillium grandiflorum and few other species going into an early dormancy and it is uncertain if there will be any seeds.
In the garden we can compensate somewhat by carefully watering especially the moisture loving species but even so, the seeds set is lower than in ‘normal’ years.

The hot/dry weather will continue throughout the summer and I would like to emphasize again that it is very important to keep your early sowings moist; otherwise the warm/moist stratification cycle will not count as such.
Besides keeping the trays in a shaded place and checking the moisture constantly, there is another solution; a friend reminded me about this way of keeping the summer sowings and so I will pass it forward to all others.

Nothing complicated: just place the pots inside a plastic box with a lid (still to be kept in a well shaded or in a cool place!). Do not close the lid tightly and check the pots regularly. Mine are in a cool garage right now.

Enjoy the summer and don’t forget to collect some seeds along the way; it is always good to have a reserve of seeds, plus there are seed exchanges in the fall and trades with friends. 

 

Catch them if you can II

,

I finally had the pleasure a couple of days ago to collect seeds from my own Jeffersonia dubia! I knew that it is part of the ‘catch me if you can’ club, so I was prepared.

There are not too many (hopefully we will get ‘help’ from someone else with more seeds) but it is always exciting when you collect seeds from a plant that was grown from seeds. The circle is now complete :)
Our native Jeffersonia diphylla (Twinleaf) also flowered and now has a first capsule (yet to mature) – to many more next year!

Jeffersonia fruit is a green capsule which only changes to light yellow-green at maturity at which point the suture near the top opens like a lid. After opening, the capsule dries out fast and it turns downwards spreading the seeds on the ground. The seeds are equipped with elaiosomes, which you can notice that in case of Jeffersonia dubia have frilly appendages. The purpose of the elaiosomes is to attract the ants which help with the seeds dispersal.

Jeffersonia dubia opened capsule and seeds

Jeffersonia diphylla capsule

Do not expect your friends to gift you small divisions of these species because, like other species from the barberry family (Berberidaceae), they grow from a tight rhizome which is difficult to divide. Some specialty nurseries are selling them, but otherwise one has to grow them from seeds.
Luckily they are easy to germinate from fresh or moist packed seeds and not difficult to grow.

The beautiful Helleborus caucasicus is also close to ‘throwing out’ its seeds; same for Helleborus purpurascens and Stylophorum diphyllum.

Soon enough a new ‘wave’ of species from the category “best results when sown fresh” will be posted on the inventory. They will be announced. The on-going seeds collections are now posted on the front page on the Announcement corner (bottom, right corner).

Jeffersonia dubia

Helleborus caucasicus, April 2022

Helleborus caucasicus seeds

Helleborus purpurascens, April 2022

Getting ready for Hepatica acutiloba

Collecting and processing Hepatica acutiloba seeds is done! (June 2022)
Those interested can head to the SEED LIST to see what will be available and there are explanations for every offering on their page. As usual, there are more seeds when it was possible to collect from a larger population, and limited seeds when collected just from one plant. Either way, it is a lot of work involved, from trying to catch the seeds to selecting the good ones.

Hepatica acutiloba seeds after collecting

Hepatica acutiloba selected seeds

Wishing good success with the seeds for all  BotanyCa customers, I will repeat myself again:  Hepatica acutiloba seeds seem to germinate reliably in the first spring after sowing, and the seedlings are easier to manage & grow faster. Seeds of Hepatica americana may germinate entirely only in the second year after sowing (or even third), and the seedlings usually have a slower growth.

For this reason, I advise those who have never tried to grow Hepatica from seeds to start with Hepatica acutiloba. In the picture below there is the right example of what I’m trying to say: to the left – seedlings from ‘Purple Star’ and to the right – seedlings of H. americana, all 3 years old (some are 4 years-old, considering 2 years necessary for germination in case of H. americana).
No matter what  seeds you choose to purchase, expect variation in seedlings (‘Purple Star’ seedlings came pretty good true to name). They would all enchant you with their flowers in a few years coming spring!

Recommended reading: Hepatica acutiloba 2020 and a checklist, Notes on Hepatica acutiloba, Growing Hepatica from seeds.

Hepatica acutiloba fo. rosea2

Hepatica acutiloba blue flowers

Hepatica acutiloba – white

Hepatica acutiloba ‘Purple Star’

Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix(1)

 

 

Trillium grandiflorum 2022

,

While we bid adieu to Hepatica flowers, many other spring delights are awaiting for us in the forests and as well in our gardens.

One of the most important events for all woodlanders – the flowering of Trillium grandiflorum, is starting in SW Ontario! The cool, late spring makes it to coincide with Claytonia virginica flowering (spring beauty), which usually flowers earlier in the spring.

These are some of the most wonderful moments of our brief springtime, enjoy them while they last!

Trillium grandiflorum and Claytonia virginica

A last flower of Hepatica americana, notice the fruit heads

Trillium grandiflorum (2)

Trillium grandiflorum, Podophyllum peltatum, Waldsteinia

Trillium grandiflorum

Trillium grandiflorum

Uvularia grandiflora

Viola labradorica

Amelanchier laevis, Allegheny serviceberry

Carya ovata, Shagbark hickory

Thalictrum dioicum

Pileated woodpecker

Less is more

Less is more when it comes to writing during May: there are seedlings to be taken care of, planting beds to be rearranged and new ones to be built.

Today I will show THE easiest method to grow plants from seeds, i.e. plant them in the ground, in an appropriate location :)

Erythronium grandiflorum seedlings, 2022. The seeds were sown in early fall last year (2021). For sowing directly in the ground it is best to sow closely so you can keep an eye on the seedlings; replant them in other locations  if necessary after 3+ years.

And, the second easiest method: germinate/grow them in a pot for one season, then ‘plant’ the pot in the ground (it works great for species that need 3+ years to develop): 4 years old P. tenuifolia seedlings in the image waiting to be separated and replanted.

Paeonia tenuifolia young plants – notice the rim of the pot which was ‘planted’ in the ground in a sunny position, close to other perennials (still dormant). The plants will be separated and replanted.

Indeed, less can be more, sometimes….

A last look at few Corydalis, it’s been a wonderfully cool spring keeping them in flower longer together with a couple of their companions.

Corydalis caucasica

Jeffersonia dubia

Lathyrus vernus

Hepatica americana Easter Edition

In the woods and in the garden Hepatica are flowering. There is a whole page dedicated to them: Hepatica – queens of the woodlands, and there is nothing else new I have to say. Every spring my admiration for them grows more anew!

To those celebrating this weekend – Happy Easter, with love, peace and happiness to all!

Corydalis Easter edition 2022

I cannot envisage springtime without Corydalis flowering. Usually around Easter they are in bloom or just about. The first to flower this year is Corydalis malkensis, a species with large, white-cream flowers. Corydalis paczoskii followed closely, while Corydalis solida and Caucasica caucasica are just beginning.
Until I can take more pictures, there are plenty already uploaded on the website so we can have a colorful Corydalis view for our cold Easter weekend ahead.

Corydalis marschalliana (C. cava ssp. marschalliana) and Corydalis cava are also set to flower soon, for the first time. We’ll talk about them in a next post soon and have a comparison, also in relation with C. solida. Sometimes C. solida and C. cava are mistaken, although they are easy to distinguish.

Corydalis solida

Corydalis solida red

Corydalis solida purple

Corydalis solida and Dicentra

Corydalis malkensis with Lathyrus vernus

Corydalis solida ‘Wild heart mix’

Corydalis paczoskii

Corydalis marschalliana

Corydalis bracteata

For those unfamiliar with these delightful ephemeral species please read: Growing Corydalis solida and allies from seeds. Using the Search tab you will, of course, find more writings on Corydalis. There is no point to repeat things already written.

Some call them weedy. We know better… We also know that some species, especially Corydalis solida, don’t come true to color/form when grown from seeds. No matter what seeds you sow there is a good chance to obtain a nice range of colors and even some hybrids.

To those celebrating this weekend, a Happy Easter with hope for peace, kindness and good understanding among all people!

*I cannot know if/what Corydalis seeds will be available this year. As usual, “a call for seeds” will be made in June, if any available.