BLOG – Page 14 – Botanically Inclined

The cure for insanity

Propagation, Wildflowers of North America

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). Maybe we can replace 1 winter by doing the following: warm/moist stratification 1 month + GA3 treatment + cold/moist stratification (2-3 months = 1 winter).

Or, go the easy way and sow the seeds outdoors and let the nature take its course.

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

August 27, 2022

Latest seeds; recap on Trillium germination

Propagation

First, in the idea that a picture is worth a thousand words: Trillium grandiflorum leftover seeds from 2021, germinating after following a warm (summer-fall 2021)- cold (winter 2021-2022) – warm (spring-summer 2022) cycles regime.
They took me by surprise, usually the rootlets start to grow somewhere in September.

Trillium grandiflorum germinated seeds from 2021 harvest; they need one more cold cycle (winter 2022) for the leaves to appear

As I mentioned before, from any batch of Trillium grandiflorum seeds, part of them always germinate (root) in the first fall and the remaining seeds will germinate in the second fall. So, those who purchased T. grandiflorum seeds last year may have in their pots a combination of seedlings with the first leaves plus only germinated seeds (root only, like in the picture). It is also possible to have only germinated seeds (like seen in the picture).

Other Trillium species follow the same pattern (complete germination in 2 years), others germinate entirely in the first season, and others only germinate in the second year (e.g., Trillium erectum usually only germinates in the second year after sowing).

Latest seeds collected:
Caulophyllum thalictroides and Actaea pachypoda fo. rubrocarpa (wild)

Edraianthus graminifolius, Roscoea schneideriana and Roscoea tibetica (garden)
Clematis occidentalis and Clematis alpina (on-going) – these are early spring flowering species.

Edraianthus graminifolius, Aurinia

Clematis occidentalis

Clematis alpina

Roscoea tibetica

The Seeds Shop will be open for orders starting August 29^th. There will be another announcement with few a important details on Sunday (Aug. 28^th) before the re-opening.

The Seeds List has been updated as much as possible. Plus, there is a tab with various announcements at the top. It is always a work in progress: some species get sold out fast and for others the seeds are ready only later in the fall.

The first species that require attention/sowing right away are the following:
ALL Moist Packed seeds, Paeonia, Helleborus, Lilium species, Actaea, Aralia, Hydrophyllum.

Besides using the Seed List, on the main page click on the SEEDS SHOP tab on top-right for a direct access to various categories.

There is hope for more seeds collecting to be done this week. Until next…

August 22, 2022

Fine grasses for shade & companions

Propagation, Wildflowers of North America

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.

August 17, 2022

Canadian burnet

Wildflowers of North America

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.

August 12, 2022

Candies – for the eyes and soul

Propagation

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 28^th, with an emphasis on Paeonia, Lilium and the Moist packed seeds category, plus other species that require summer sowing.

August 10, 2022

Zigadenus companions

Propagation, Wildflowers of North America

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

August 5, 2022

Berries, capsules and Zigadenus

Propagation, Wildflowers of North America

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 27, 2022

July flowers and seeds report

Gardens, Propagation

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.

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.

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…

July 20, 2022

Drought, seeds & keeping sowings moist

Propagation, Wildflowers of North America

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.

July 13, 2022

Catch them if you can II

Moist packed seeds, Wildflowers of North America

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

June 17, 2022

Getting ready for Hepatica acutiloba

Propagation

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!

Hepatica acutiloba fo. rosea2

Hepatica acutiloba blue flowers

Hepatica acutiloba – white

Hepatica acutiloba ‘Purple Star’

Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix(1)

June 1, 2022

Trillium grandiflorum 2022

Propagation, Wildflowers of North America

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!