The season of ten thousand flowers

The season of ten thousand flowers has begun and the title of this haiku describes very well what is happening in this part of Ontario: the sudden rise of temperatures in mid April results in the overlapping flowering of many spring wildflowers.

This, of course, coincides with many garden tasks, which all need to be done asap, plus new plantings, all which are best done before the summer heat settles in.

The Corydalis tried to flower earlier, but then a wave of cold air stopped them for a while. Right now all are blooming together with Hepaticas, Sanguinaria, Helleborus, Jeffersonia dubia, various Draba and Primula species, plus few Pulsatilla…

Considering the time of flowering, Hepatica seeds will mature somewhere at the end of May this year.

With Corydalis we may never know; notably mama bumblebees (their major pollinator) haven’t made an apparition yet.

The next postings will feature previous writings on Hepatica, unless I have something notable new to add.

Enjoy the long-awaited spring, which will surely merge fast into the summer!

A short Corydalis summary especially for those new to the blog (also see the related posts).

Growing Corydalis solida & allies from seeds

Corydalis Easter edition 2022

Corydalis 2023

To finish about spring Corydalis

 

 

While waiting for spring…

Considering the current weather, the ‘real’ spring will be delayed this year and most likely we’ll enjoy our beloved spring flowering native species a bit later than usual.

The spring of 2020, a Covid year, was similar. Combined with the traveling restrictions I had plenty of time to write and emphasize about various native species growing in my garden; most of them grown from seeds of course!
While doing it, I was enjoying the true spring harbingers, which are non-natives. Truth is, all very early spring flowering plants in our cold climate: the snowdrops, reticulate irises, crocuses, hellebores…are non-native species, and I wouldn’t be without any of them. There is always plenty of space for both categories 😉

Looking back, it is nice to note the progress in my garden: the patches of wild ginger have greatly expanded and I already divided them, same goes for the mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), the waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum), Maianthemum stellatum and even Sanguinaria canadensis. Many seedlings shown back then (in 2020) are now at flowering and fruiting stage! Even a few Claytonia virginica patches escaped the squirrels foraging.

It is worth repeating, at the beginning of a new season when everyone gets easily excited, that depending on the region where we garden and the particularities of our garden, we have to think carefully what native (and non-native) species may adapt and grow well for us. As much as we would like, we cannot grow all of them.
Like I said at the time, “trying to use locations in the garden that reproduce the native habitat is the key to their happiness”.
Also, by growing from seeds and planting more seedlings in the garden, usually ensure more success than buying and planting just one mature plant in one location.

Click on the green links, review, take notes, make garden plans and spring will soon arrive!
Spring in time of covid III – about Allium tricoccum (wild leeks), Stylophorum diphyllum (woodland poppy), Primula mistassinica, bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis).

Primula mistassinica, late April/May

Sanguinaria canadensis

Stylophorum diphyllum

Spring in time of covid IV – about native plants for moist areas, Indian paintbrushes (Castilleja), Blue flag iris (Iris versicolor) and other Irises, Parnassia, Lobelia, Zigadenus elegans….Castilleja coccinea has even flowered one year and few self-sown seedlings may continue the show.

Castilleja coccinea garden, June 2023

Iris versicolor, late April, May

Parnassia glauca, summer

Spring in time of covid V – about other woodland species like Asarum canadense (wild ginger), Caulophyllum (blue cohosh), Prosartes lanuginosa (yellow mandarin).

Asarum-canadense-Maianthemum

Caulophyllum giganteum

Prosartes lanuginosa seedlings April 2020

More about other native species in the “Wildflowers” category posts.
Hepatica species have a whole page dedicated to them!

Also use the “Search” tab: write the plant name you are interested in and if something was written, it will show up. Want to know about the Golden seal? (Hydrastis canadense) just write the name and all the posts will line-up.

Friday’s seeds and Rhamnus alnifolia portrait

Did you know that we have a Canadian native buckthorn? It is not weedy, it doesn’t have thorns, and more than this, it grows as a small size shrub, so it doesn’t take a lot of space. It is never a good idea to stereotype 😉
The seeds were limited as availability, and of course, those who watch the Seeds List got hold of them, but winter is a good time to talk and learn about another not so well-known native plant.

Rhamnus alnifolia, the Alder-leaves Buckthorn or Dwarf alder, is a very cold hardy, native shrub of many regions of Canada, from BC to Newfoundland (plus North Central US). Widespread in some regions and localized in others, it is easy to recognize if one happens to stumble upon, mainly by its nice, shiny foliage (of course, you will have to check all the other characters).

The Alder-leaves Buckthorn is a thornless, deciduous shrub with shiny, conspicuous alternate leaves: lanceolate-oblong to elliptical with (4)5-7 secondary veins, margins crenate. As you notice, the common name alludes to the alder leaf similarity. It is a small size,  +/- 1 m shrub, that inhabits wetlands, fens (generally calcareous) swamps, wet meadows, forest edges and streambanks.

Rhamnus alnifolia

Rhamnus alnifolia flowers

Rhamnus alnifolia fruits

As seen  in the image above, the flowers are inconspicuous: female and male flowers develop on different plants in May-July (plants are dioecious). They are solitary or in small inflorescences and have 5 greenish sepals; fruits are bluish-black, ornamental, and develop in the fall.

Rhamnus alnifolia stones; 1 mm grid

Rhamnus alnifolia habitat

The bluish-black drupes can contain up to 3 ‘stones’ (which we call seeds). Most surely, the stones require cold/moist stratification for good germination (i.e. sowing in late fall/early winter).

In cultivation, the Alder-leaves buckthorn would be a great shrubby addition for those with a relatively wet area in the garden and for naturalization projects.

If we draw inspiration from nature, good companion plants for the Alder-leaves buckthorn would be: various goldenrods (Solidago), White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima), Lobelia species, Shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa, i.e. Dasiphora), Thalictrum pubescens, Northern blue flag (Iris versicolor), Gentianopsis, Triantha glutinosa, Ladies tresses (Spiranthes), Sarracenia, Myrica gale and many other species for moist locations.

 

 

Friday’s seeds & plant portrait: Eriophorum virginicum

I am very happy to notice that more people are willing to grow species listed in the Grasses & related genera category, which contains various grasses per se and sedges, most of them unrepresented in our gardens for no good reason.

Eriophorum virginicum on the shoreline of Lake Huron, ON.

Eriophorum virginicum, Tawny cottongrass, Rusty cottongrass, or Hare’s Tail cottongrass has been added, mostly by mistake, from my desire to use a few seedheads in a vase.
The whitish fluffy seeds-heads, contrasting with the first fall colors of surrounding landscapes are always very attractive. Of course, I should have known better…. they disintegrate easily at maturity.

So, those with possibilities, meaning a wet area (which doesn’t have to be very large) and acidic substrate, have something new to grow and add to their collection of native plants.

The scientific name of the genus Eriophorum derives from the Greek words erion (cotton or wool) and phoros (bearing). The common name is a reference to the cottony nature of the fruiting heads.
All species have +/- the same cotton-like fruiting heads and they are mostly white color. In case of the Tawny cottongrass they are brownish-yellow in color (at full maturity).

Tawny cottongrass can be found in open areas in bogs, conifer swamps, low, wet depressions on rocks, wet meadows.
This species is easily distinguished from other North American Eriophorum species because it is flowering and fruiting later in the season; the spikelets are usually maturing in August and have a rather brownish color. There are of course other methods of ID, but we can keep it simple in this case.

It is a sedge, with slender, grass-like leaves; rhizomatous. The fruiting heads are covered with a cottony mass, and the fruits are 3-angled, brown to black achenes with silky, tawny, hair-like bristles longer than the achenes; one of those situations when the fruits are commonly called seeds. The hairs help with the distribution by wind or water.

Eriophorum virginicum fruithead and achenes

Besides their ornamental fruitheads, Eriophorum species also have wildlife value, with the foliage consumed by many small and large mammals and various birds feeding on their seeds.
There are also reports of consumption by Indigenous People of the young stem bases and the roots of the Slender Cotton-grass, E. gracile (raw or cooked).
Also, the seeds hairs have been used to make candle wicks and for stuffing pillows.

 

Old & new

Those interested can find the following native species seeds back in stock:
Diervilla lonicera, Lilium michiganense, Lespedeza violacea and Thalictrum pubescens.

New for this year:

Ageratina altissima (aka. Eupatorium rugosum)

Ageratina altissima, formerly Eupatorium rugosum, the White Snakeroot, is a plant mostly found growing in part-shaded woodland settings with conspicuous clusters of small white flowers which are very beneficial for the pollinators in late summer to early fall.

However, being extremely adaptable it can also grow in full sun, in which case it needs more moisture.
It is from such a mother-plant, growing on Killarney’s granitic shorelines, that the seeds were collected: notice how part of the foliage takes a beautiful, dark purple color in this case.

There is in fact a cultivar of this species named ‘Chocolate’ with dark foliage year- round.

 

 

 

Greater fringed gentian

I am also very happy to offer seeds of the Greater Fringed gentian – Gentianopsis crinita from the beautiful garden of Anna’s  Perennials & Gardens!

The Greater fringed gentian  attracts attention with a magnificent flower display in late summer. The mauve, large flowers with fringed petals are a sight to behold.
It is a biennial species that reseeds in proper conditions (moisture needed), so do not be shy to give it a try. It is one of the first species I will sow this fall.

The days and nights are getting cooler and it feels like true fall now – a reminder that the moist packed seeds in stock will remain available until early winter only depending on the temperatures!

Things I’d like to grow

Alas, it is not possible at my location; or some species would need an artificially constructed bog.

Chamaedaphne calyculata, leatherleaf

Firstly, the beautiful evergreen leatherleaf: Chamaedaphne calyculata which inhabits edges of the ponds, bogs and swamps. It’s been quite a few years since I got the chance to collect a few seeds, actually 2017 when I also provided a plant portrait: Belated Friday’s seeds.
 
The sole member of the genus Chamaedaphne (Ericaceae), leatherleaf is a low growing evergreen small shrub (up to 1.5 m tall). It is native to the cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere from North America, NE Europe to N. Japan, Mongolia and Siberia, where grows in all types of bogs, sedge fens, and open wetlands.

It is characteristic of mature and late stages of moss – shrub communities, where it forms colonies, with rhizomes spreading in the sphagnum moss. It actually helps the installation of other species with whom is found growing, like: Sarracenia, Drosera, Kalmia polifolia, Oclemena, Ledum groenlandicum, Myrica gale, American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and other Vaccinium species.

For those who have proper conditions, it is more than worth to try and grow the leatherleaf from seeds (I never heard of a specialized nursery offering plants).

Drosera rotundifolia

With the same requirements, new to the Seeds List, Drosera rotundifolia, of which I never had the pleasure to collect seeds until this fall.

The seeds stock has also been replenished for Drosera intermedia – shown in the featured image. Looking at the picture one might wrongfully assume that it is a rockery plant! In fact it grew in a crack of bare rock sitting in a wet area. It can definitely fool us :) Carnivorous aficionados have the occasion now to grow a trio of: D. linearis, D. intermedia and D. rotundifolia.

Another wetlands inhabitant is the interesting bog aster which bears the name Oclemena nemoralis. Looking at the flower anyone could call it aster, while the foliage, almost linear leaves with recurved margins, tells a different story. It is a species flowering in late summer-early fall, and only a few heads were ‘fluffy’, but maybe someone wants to give it a try.

 

Oclemena nemoralis flower

Oclemena nemoralis foliage

Oclemena nemoralis seed heads

Exploring the nature always gives a chance to learn about new plants, you only need to keep your eyes wide open! If we have proper conditions in our garden, we can then try to recreate small ‘pieces’ of wilderness. If we don’t, at least we learned something new!

Campanula rotundifolia complex

Well, I don’t like it but I should write something about this Campanula, which is offered in the Shop (seeds).

Once upon a time, when life was easier, Campanula rotundifolia L. was considered a single species with a widespread distribution and with many variable forms depending on the geographic range.

The situation is reflected by the many synonyms accumulated over the years for this species including: Campanula alaskana, C. arctica, C. gieseckeana, C. intercedens, C. petiolata and so on….

Time has passed, and like with many other things in life, people from various parts of the world started to look more closely at the harebell, with newer tools and fresh eyes. It is an extremely variable pretty plant, so we cannot blame them.

Among other articles, I also managed to find on-line, a partial treatment for Campanulaceae for Flora of North America, which I recommend to be read entirely.
https://inaturalist.ca/posts/86696-campanula-partial-treatment-for-flora-of-north-america

For those who want a very short resume:
Firstly, it seems that the species has colonized NA in a single event from European ancestors, then it diverged into separate morphotypes.

Campanula rotundifolia populations in North America are represented by diploids, tetraploids and hexaploids which occur in a ‘matrix’ according with S. G. Shetler who studied C. rotundifolia in North America and is of the opinion that “the tetraploids form a ‘groundmass,’ and the others might turn up anywhere”. (!)

He has been able to differentiate four ‘races’ in NA based on plants morphology: the “Alaskan Race”, the “Arctic Race”, the “Eastern Race” and the “Cordilleran Race” (please follow the above link for more explanations and relative descriptions).
Very important I think is this note: “in any particular location plants may be found with any combination of morphologies mentioned above, or populations with the features of one or more “races” may occur together or in the same general area”.

If all these ‘races’ will be formally recognized as distinct species, I don’t know. I notice that on WFO C. rotundifolia and C. gieseckeana are listed as accepted.

Campanula rotundifolia L. in Bruce pen., likely what is given now as Campanula gieseckeana

I will personally wait for a general consensus and a complete treatment of Campanulaceae published in Flora of North America, so we can follow the traditional keys for identification. We will follow closely this ‘story’ of and wait for the ‘happy ending’.

With this in mind, it is important to note the seeds collection locations.

Regarding the seeds offered in BotanyCa Shop – all seeds offered as Campanula rotundifolia, of any year, were collected in Ontario on the shorelines of Lake Huron (Bruce peninsula and Killarney).

I also grew plants from the latest collection and after a very close look with the measuring tape in hand out in the garden, our current plants/seeds qualify ‘somewhat’ into to the “Eastern race” as described by S. G. Shetler, with the decumbent stems and very particular ‘ribbonlike leaves’  (currently presented as Campanula intercedens on iNaturalist).
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&taxon_id=905640

I would also note that height and vigor will vary greatly depending on the garden location: shorter, more upright plants in a full sun/dry location versus a much taller plant in part-shade and more moisture.

Campanula rotundifolia – Killarney, ON in full sun

Campanula rotundifolia, C. intercedens in part-shade

Campanula rotundifolia, C. intercedens, Killarney

So, for now I changed the title in the Shop to:
Campanula rotundifolia L.– Killarney, ON
somewhat equivalent to Campanula intercedens Witasek
If you grew plants from seeds purchased in the last two years from BotanyCa Shop, please mark this change in your labels/records.

 

Bursting at the seams

Mid-June is by tradition a period when various spring flowering species are maturing their fruits – many are literally bursting at the seams :-) and are a bit difficult to catch, even for experienced collectors. Cues of maturation are slight changes in color and/or in texture, but even so, fruits on the same plant will mature at different times, therefore using organza bags when possible is still a better way to go.

Stylophorum diphyllum fruits releasing the seeds

Cardamine enneaphyllos splitted fruits

Asarum canadense fruits and seeds

Viola adunca var. bellidifolia opening capsules

With plants being smart, the fruits are in most cases down-turned towards the ground (like in Stylophorum diphyllum, the woodland poppy), which makes the matter of capture even more difficult. The wild ginger fruits (Asarum canadense) are laying at the ground level and innocently keep the same color/shape until the ‘last minute’ of maturation – an open buffet for all ground crawling creatures.

Viola species capsules, we talked about them, are explosives and it is not possible to include all the stems in bags.

So, daily garden walks have a double goal, to admire the newly flowered and to also collect seeds from the ‘seeds defectors’.

Papaver chakassicum, Polygala

Campanula bellidifolia

Dianthus deltoides (2)

Dianthus spiculifolius

Dictamnus albus

Gladiolus tenuis

Just one example of an Epimedium ex. ‘Amber Queen’ hybrid; colored young foliage and yellow spidery flowers in various shades

To make a long story short, there will be new fresh seeds listed in the Spring-Summer 2024 section of the SEED LIST very soon.

At this point, only Jeffersonia diphylla and one Helleborus are on the ‘wait list’, but not for long I think.

PS. In the featured image: capsules with seeds of Epimedium lishihchenii.

Free Epimedium seeds will be offered for all orders (while quantities last)!

This spring was good with them and there are plenty of capsules on Epimedium ‘Amber Queen’ and its hybrids, so it would be a shame to let them go to waste.

Stay tuned…

June seeds and Dicentra

The Corydalis and Hepatica seeds offering will be closed sooner that June 15th, after this weekend. So, do not wait longer if you want to grab some of the remaining seeds.

I was concentrating towards preparing the orders with Hepatica seeds as fast as possible when garden walks revealed that many early flowering species (March/April) are ripening their seeds sooner than usual! The biggest mischiefs from ‘catch me if you can’ category were bagged, and in fact, as of today Helleborus niger and Helleborus purpurascens seeds are already collected.

Frequent garden walks are recommended now because many species are maturing their fruits gradually (Physoclaina, Geum triflorum, Lathyrus vernus, Draba, Viola species….for example). I also noticed the first Epimedium capsules bursting…

Jeffersonia diphylla capsule

Helleborus purpurascens seeds

Lathyrus vernus gradually maturing fruits

Geum triflorum

Collecting seeds in the wild will be a hit and miss this year, that’s for sure.

Dicentra formosa flowers showing immature capsules.

In the feature image we have Dicentra formosa, the Pacific bleeding heart, for which I’ll make a short plant portrait.
It was grown from a few seeds collected many years ago during a trip to Victoria, BC. It grows well in a part-shaded location and I like it for its long flowering period and for providing food for the bumblebees in the spring. Interestingly, I’ve never noticed fruits until this year; as shown in the image they would be hard to miss!

The Pacific bleeding heart is a lovely plant with ferny-like foliage growing from fleshy rhizomes that broke easily (so careful with transplanting). The pink heart shaped dangling flowers appear in early spring and last for a very, very! long time. It will spread to form carpets, with size depending on how much moisture it has; easy to remove as the rhizomes are very shallow (almost sit atop the ground). It usually becomes dormant in late summer.

I would say it is an essential species for the long tongue pollinators in the spring. In my garden it flowers at the same time with Lathyrus vernus and they are both very good ‘providers’. The bumblebees population has increased because of them, and because of the countless early Corydalis and Dicentra cucullaria, of course :-)

Regarding Dicentra seeds germination, I would like to emphasize that the same applies as for Corydalis species. The seeds need to be sowed fresh, with warm/cold stratification cycles. From dry, old seeds you will not get much germination. This subject is not often discussed because actually not many Dicentra species are grown from seeds.

Like in previous years, the next offering of fresh seeds will be done on late June-early July for various native and non-native species, before the Shop will close for the rest of summer: Sanguinaria, Asarum canadense, Stylophorum diphyllum, Saruma, Epimedium, Jeffersonia, Dicentra formosa (if enough seeds), Pseudofumaria lutea, Capnoides sempervirens, Helleborus (Helleborus seeds can also be sown in early fall)…

Apropos Hepatica germination

Now that the seeds sale is started, today I will show a small flat with little pots of Hepatica sowings from last year. Sometimes ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. Have a look at it; the post will be transferred to the Hepatica germination page afterwards.

What else can be said? The seedlings will remain on this stage on for the rest of the season – above ground wise. More is happening below ground with the root system growing on, accumulating reserves for next year growth. Seedlings of this size should not dry out but also beware of overwatering. Less foliage, less watering is the norm. Apply a very light fertilizer once in a while.

The seedlings from the first pot should (and will) be pricked out because the pot is very small; all other pots should wait until next spring, especially those where more seeds are expected to germinate.

The top image features a pot with a sowing from 2021. One seed germinated (spring 2022) and grew up, the remaining seeds germinated only this spring! This means germination in the third year after sowing.

I hope this will draw more appreciation for the amount of work put into obtaining a Hepatica young plant! Never consider that they are too expensive, should you decide to purchase plants. If/when gifted to you, take them with a big thank you.
And my big Thank You to those who persevere in growing these beauties from seeds!

Out in the woods – spring beauties

Back to the ‘Out in the woods’ posts, with less ‘talk’ and more pictures. But make no mistake there is plenty info on this website to keep you reading about the featured plants.

Hepatica acutiloba fo. rosea

A bit earlier this year, the flowering of Hepatica acutiloba (Sharp lobed-leaf liverwort) has started in the southern regions of Ontario, along with its usual companions. Even if there are many images already on the website, it is an event that needs celebrating.

Depending on the amount of sun the plants get and the weather in the next week, more flowers will gradually open. In my garden, on shaded spots, some plants are still in bud.

For those new to the blog, you can read and see more pictures about Hepatica acutiloba, in general, and Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix in particular – from which seeds are offered almost every year.

There is also the Hepatica page, a FAQ regarding the moist packed seeds, and the Search tab where typing a couple of words will bring to ‘front’ other postings on that particular subject.

Hepatica acutiloba and friends; take advantage of any sunny and relatively warm day to enjoy them!

Sanguinaria canadensis 2024

Claytonia virginica

Caulophyllum thalictroides

Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix

Hepatica acutiloba pastel mix2

Hepatica acutiloba 2024-2

Hepatica acutiloba 2024-1

Hepatica acutiloba 2024-3

Hepatica acutiloba 2024

Friday’s seeds: the curious case of Leptarrhena pyrolifolia

Leptarrhena pyrolifolia seeds: light brown, fusiform and partially ribbed with long tails at both ends.

I first wrote a very short post on Leptarrhena pyrolifolia seeds in 2018, after receiving a small package of seeds from a friend. I was wondering that time about the particular shape of the seeds, different than any other seeds of the Saxifragaceae family I’ve seen.

In a way it makes sense, Leptarrhena pyrolifolia (Leatherleaf saxifrage) is the only species of its genus. The name comes from: Greek leptos, slender, and arrhen, male, alluding to stamen filaments (FNA).

So, seeds-wise I knew what to expect when I had the chance to see it for the first time last summer during a trip to BC. What I didn’t expect was how much more handsome this species is in reality, more than pictures can show. It often happens, nothing beats seeing a plant in ‘situ’ among its companions.

Leptarrhena pyrolifolia is a cold hardy, evergreen perennial plant species that inhabiting wet meadows and wet cliffs, usually found around stream banks and seepage areas. It grows in mountaineous areas of AB, BC, NWT and Yukon (Canada) and the US.

Leptarrheena pyrolifolia fruits in foreground, along an alpine stream

Leptarrhena pyrolifolia in habitat, a moist meadow

The Leatherleaf saxifrage grows from a rhizome and like the common name implies, it has attractive, leathery, shiny and toothed leaves, similar in shape and texture to those of most Pyrola species.
From the compact carpet of glossy leaves, arises a tall flowering stem up to 25-30 cm bearing clusters of white/pinkish flowers in mid-summer. Easy to observe later are the conspicuous red fruits, a very nice addition to the overall aspect of the plant (the red capsules resemble a lot those of Triantha glutinosa, another moisture loving plant).

I wonder why this species is not more widespread into cultivation, especially considering that it has evergreen foliage and it is a very cold hardy species; qualities that those living in cold climates always appreciate in a plant.

Mats of Leatherleaf saxifrage foliage in a rocky, moist meadow, BC.

Maybe we can change this situation. Why not consider going beyond the more ‘regular’ saxifrages and also grow Leptarrrhena? It will do well in a slightly moist place, in the rockery or elsewhere in the garden, with other moisture loving species like for example: Zigadenus, Lobelia cardinalis, Gentiana andrewsii, Primulas, Silene pusilla, various sedges….. Due to its rhizomatous nature, it can be used as a small scale, evergreen groundcover.

It is a bit late to sow species requiring cold/moist stratification (unless provide stratification in the fridge), but I have it on my list for next year. For now I will give it a try with GA3 as soon as I ‘turn on the lights’ just to see how it goes.

*There are reports of medicinal usage of Leptarrhena among the Aleuts of Alaska and Indigenous People of British Columbia, most commonly applying a poultice of chewed leaves to wounds.
So, keep this in mind, you never know when the leatherleaf saxifrage will come in handy :)