Podophyllum peltatum, the Mayapple

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For plant collectors, the Podophyllum name sparks instantly the ‘rare plants’ lust. Like with the Arisaema species, unfortunately the North American continent wasn’t left with much: only one Podophyllum species, the Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum. It is a wonderful wildflower with personality which will slowly form a colony in suitable conditions in the forests/ or woodland garden.

Podophyllum peltatum erupting from the ground in early spring

The genus name comes from the Greek ‘anapodophyllum’ meaning a leaf like the foot (podos) of a duck (anas) and peltatum – refers to the specific attachment of the leaf stalk near the center of the leaf blade.

Mayapples can be found in deciduous forests, both in bottomlands and on drier sites. Large colonies usually develop in places with more moisture. Although they can grow in dry places, underneath the trees, in very dry years, they can go dormant in early fall. Some of its companion plants are: Sanguinaria canadensis, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Trillium grandiflorum, Uvularia grandiflora….

Mayapples emerge in early spring with a couple of tightly closed leaves, which expand umbrella-like afterwards and cover one solitary, white, waxy flower somewhere in May; if pollinaton was successful,  ‘green apples’ will form. Unfortunately, the frequency of successful pollination is not high in Mayapple flowers, even if various pollinators visit the flowers.

Podophyllum peltatum flowers

Podophyllum peltatum fruit

Podophyllum peltatum ripe fruits

Therefore, the fruit set rates are often low for individual colonies of plants, and even more, I have noticed that in years with drought most fruits are aborted. The ripe fruits are the only part of the plant that’s not toxic, and are called “hog apples” or “wild lemons”. They become yellow and fragrant when fully ripe, usually in mid to late August (no idea why the ‘mayapple’ name). They are enjoyed by a variety of small animals, which are also the principal seed dispersers (the Eastern box turtle, gray squirrels, opossum, raccoons…).
So yes, Mayapple’s ripe fruits are edible, and you can even find recipes for jellies.

Medicinal importance

Even if the whole plant, except mature fruits, contains toxic substances, the Mayapple has also been a staple medicinal plant in the repertoire of the Indigenous Peoples, being used as: boiled roots (laxative), juice of the fresh rhizome (to improve hearing), powdered root (skin ulcers and sores, purgative), to mention just the well-known uses.
At some point, the Mayapple resin (extracted from the rhizome) was considered one the most powerful laxatives available, and it was even sold commercially (Carter’s Little Liver Pills in early 1900s), but because of the toxicity, this use has been discontinued.

More recently, pharmaceutical research proved that certain chemical constituents of the Podophyllum species can be used as anticancer agents. The substance responsible is called podophyllin and it is a resin contained in the rhizome (see the use of powder root to treat skin ulcers). This resin is composed of several toxic glycosides, the most active being podophyllotoxin. Derivatives of the podophyllotoxin (etoposide and teniposide) were formulated into anticancer drugs used in chemotherapy to inhibit the growth of tumors in various types of cancer.

 Propagation

Actually, all Podophyllum species are very easy to cultivate – all you need is shade…and seeds or rhizomes cuttings. You can read a detailed account for growing Mayapple from seeds here:  Growing Podophyllum from seeds.
It is not difficult if you follow the directions. Mayapple seeds need to be sown fresh, if not moist packed, in order to obtain good germination. Be aware of companies selling dry kept seeds!!!

Podophyllum peltatum first year seedlings with cotyledon leaves in 2018; these are grown up by now and flowering!

Patience is required like with all other rhizomatous species, which are slow to develop in the first years. From seeds they will flower in 5-6 years.

As a side note, the seeds are enclosed in a sticky, mucilaginous mass, and are the most awful seeds to clean out! Ask everyone who has ever done it!

In dry years, the few formed fruits are aborted and offered seeds are quite rare, or available in tiny amounts. So, take advantage of this wet season when more fruits have been produced if you want to grow a few umbrellas in your woodland garden.

 

The Seeds Shop will open for orders next Monday, Aug. 28th – watch for the announcement and please do not order before!

 

 

Delphinium exaltatum portrait

A short plant portrait for Delphinium exaltatum today. Besides getting familiar with this Eastern North American larkspur, I want to emphasize the fact that for species starting to flower late in July or August, like all fall Gentian for example, seeds MAY become available only in very late fall October or even November.

The early fall Seeds List is taking shape and it may ready at the end of next week, fingers crossed; if not, by 1st of September. It will be announced.

Delphinium exaltatum, Tall larkspur

Delphinium exaltatum, shown here cultivated in the garden, is a native species with a rather limited distribution in a few Eastern US states. My plant was grown from seeds that were offered a few years ago in the shop, so other people should also have it in their gardens.

 It goes by the common name of Tall larkspur and the epithet ‘exaltatum’ also alludes to its height.
The leaves are palmate-lobed with narrow lobes, and the flowering stems can reach 1.6+ m, also depending on the growing conditions.

The lavender-blue flowers open gradually on loose, branched inflorescences in late summer, reason why it has a very long blooming period. They become the center of attention for various pollinators; particularly butterflies and the hummingbirds are in love with it.

It is said to dislike hot and humid conditions. For this reason in regions with hot summers (like SW Ontario) it does better in a part-shaded location with extra moisture. Otherwise a full sun location can be used. It may need staking, although I prefer to let mine to sway in the breeze.

Among other noticeable plants flowering in late summer, besides all the Echinacea, Rudbeckia and Eupatoriums, are various Gentians: Gentiana septemfida towards the end of flowering, Gentiana paradoxa just starting, Iris dichotoma,  Platycodon, Lomelosia olgae, Ziziphora clinopodioides…

Delphinium exaltatum, Tall larkspur

Gentiana dahurica

Gentiana septemfida

Iris dichotoma

Platycodon ‘Sentimental Blue’

Lomelosia olgae

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…

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 categorized as 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 is Teucrium 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.