Out in the woods: Trillium grandiflorum and companions

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Do you need ideas about NA native 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 and, with the current summer-like temperatures will not last long.
(other species not seen in the gallery: Erythronium americanum, Actaea rubra and A. pachypoda, Sambucus, Lonicera canadensis, Thalictrum dioicum, Hydrophyllum virginianum…)

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

  • The inventory of dry seeds will not be updated from now on (with the exception of two stage germinators: Lilium and Paeonia). This is the time to concentrate on the first seed collections, and most species, as it happens, require moist storage; it is a lot of work.
    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 in June. And fingers crossed that Claytonia virginica will also be available again this year.
  • The collection of Hepatica seeds will most likely start at the end of the month/early June, and will be followed by Asarum, Stylophorum diphyllum and towards end of June: Sanguinaria canadensis and Erythronium americanum (if possible to collect).
    The availability of these species will be announced. They all require moist storage and are best sown right away.

This is how most Hepatica plants are looking at this time: new foliage has developed and the pedicels holding the fruit heads are hiding under the new leaves. This makes them hard to spot and is a good sign to keep in mind that the collecting has to be done soon.
Until the seeds are collected, I suggest a visit to the Hepatica page  where you can read more on the subject.

Hepatica acutiloba with new foliage

Hepatica acutiloba seeds catching

Goldenseal, and much more…

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It is always interesting to see that some species always germinate at about the same time the mother plants emerge in the garden. Hydrastis canadensis, the goldenseal, is one of them. The seeds have started to germinate last week, at the same time the plants started to appear in the garden.

In order to offer more seeds, we have to increase our stock (conservation through propagation ;) plus they are such delightful plants to grow.

Hydrastis canadensis seedlings 2021

Hydrastis canadensis garden grown 2021

Because there are always questions regarding the seeds collections, the goldenseal fruits mature somewhere at the beginning of August (in this region/ also depending on the weather). So, they could be available in the September update of the Seeds List.

With regret, we cannot answer questions like: When….seeds will be available? simply because no one can tell.
The collection of seeds it is always under the influence of weather conditions (and various garden/woodland critters). For those interested to purchase or to collect their own seeds, here are few species to keep an eye upon during May and June in SW Ontario (with a margin of +/- 2 weeks).
In some years there are seeds from all, but most often not all are setting seeds/can be collected regularly.

May:
Corydalis solida and other species of Corydalis, Eranthis
Hepatica americana and H. acutiloba, Claytonia virginica, Dirca palustris
June:
Asarum canadense, Sanguinaria canadensis, Anemonella thalictroides
Erythronium americanum, Stylophorum diphyllum, Anemone quinquefolia
Lonicera canadensis, various Viola species, Polygala paucifolia…

Many trees are expanding their leaves, but the weather has remained cool and probably some seeds will mature later than usual. Stylophorum diphyllum is blooming; Uvularia grandiflora is just starting and we can look forward to a prolonged show of Trillium grandiflorum. If you want an early flowering Clematis, you can always count on C. occidentalis.

I also have to mention that the first blooms of Paeonia japonica are opening!  The nearby Viola sororia fo. priceana was looking gorgeous, and to not discriminate, I took a picture. And wait, Glaucidium is also starting to bloom!

Trillium grandiflorum

Uvularia grandiflora

Clematis occidentalis

Paeonia japonica

Viola sororia f. priceana

Glaucidium palmatum ‘Album’

On the sunny side: Papaver chakassicum decided to keep company to the little Iris suaveolens f. rubromarginata ex. Dobrogea. Pulsatillas are still flowering and there will be many more flowers to come!

Papaver chakassicum, Iris suaveolens f. rubromarginata

Aquilegia canadensis ‘Little Lanterns’, Pulsatilla ex. styriaca

Silene suecica, Dianthus, Aurinia…

The “season of ten thousand flowers” has begun :) Enjoy!

Mid-April report: spring beauties

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The unusual warm weather experienced in SW Ontario for a while has determined many spring beauties to explode into fast growth and flowering. Then, the torrential rains arrived, and now we are heading backwards to the winter…(snow showers outside at the moment).

This is, most years, the early spring time in Ontario!

The earliest spring beauties are in flower: Lindera benzoin, Lonicera canadensis, Claytonia virginica, Caulophyllum, Hepatica americana and H. acutiloba.  Sanguinaria canadensis has almost finished flowering (depending on the region) and yesterday I noticed the first trout lilies blooming, plus Trillium erectum and T. grandiflorum with buds just about to open! The wild ginger is well on its way of carpeting the woodland floor/garden.

Lonicera canadensis

Caulophyllum giganteum

Lindera benzoin, early spring

Hepatica acutiloba

Claytonia virginica

Hepatica americana

Erythronium americanum

Sanguinaria canadensis

In the garden, few Primulas and Helleborus have been flowering for a couple of weeks now alongside Corydalis.  Other spring beauties are appearing almost on a daily basis. *Our native Primula mistassinica is in flower as well but I didn’t take a picture yet.

Helleborus purpurascens

Helleborus x hybridus large purple

Hepatica acutiloba fo. rosea

Hepatica acutiloba ‘Purple Star’

Dicentra cucullaria

Pachyphragma macrophyllum

Primula macrocalyx and Lathyrus vernus

Primula sibthorpii

Primula amoena

Draba haynaldii

Jeffersonia dubia

Pulsatilla ex. styriaca

Young shoots of Caulophyllum thalictroides/giganteum

*Young seedlings have also appeared and some new sowings are starting to germinate.
Especially for those who have sown Caulophyllum in the ground two years ago (and the few lucky ones who received one year-old stratified seeds) –  be careful because the young shoots are dark colored (almost black) for a while and they can be easily stepped upon. Same goes for other directly sown native species in the ground, even if green colored/or sown in pots: Asarum  and Stylophorum diphyllum, Hepatica, should be germinating around this time, or soon.

 

Weekend getaway – Jane W. Irwin Perennial Garden

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Talking about Papaver bracteatum brought to my mind the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) visited many years ago. I didn’t see this species there, but I used in the shop the featured picture with Papaver orientale (a similar species) taken in the Jane Watson Irwin Perennial Garden (part of NYBG).

So, a good occasion to show a few more pictures from Jane Watson Irwin Perennial Garden, which I found particularly lovely. The weather wasn’t quite good and they were taken with an old camera. Even so, you will understand the ‘spirit’ of this garden and maybe found inspiration for your garden.

The initial geometrical design of D.U. Kiley in the 1970s had seen a few modifications in the 1980s; the plantings were modified as well. Today’s look is the creation of public space designer Lynden B. Miller, who used the existing garden structure like a painter’s palette to combine various perennials, bulbs, shrubs and annual plants to achieve a masterful work of living art.
Although I’ve only seen it only  once, in early summer, I easily imagine how this garden beautifully transforms continuously throughout the seasons.

Overall layout of the garden

Entranceways are marked and emphasized by hedges and symmetric plantings

The geomatrical grid allowed for long focal points

The plantings of the rooms was inspired from the traditional English perennial gardens

Nice focal point framed by hedges

Small size evergreens in combination with perennials

In a shaded ‘room’: Hakonechloa macra ‘Old Gold’, variegated Polygonatum, Yucca flaccida

A humid spot with Iris sibirica ‘Blue Moon’, Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum, Astilbe, Hosta…

The green pillars were Ilex crenata, if I remember well

Sage, Iris and Calycanthus ‘Hartlage Wine’ in the background

Salvia viridis (annual) mass planting

One more look

To visit the whole NYBG one needs a short vacation, especially in late May/June when also the peonies are in flower!
There is a peony album which I still keep on the website; I like to have a ‘peony viewing’ once in a while ;)
One picture per blossom: A Peony Album

Paeonia lactiflora collection border at NYBG

Weekend getaway: Lizard Ranges revisited

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The latest splurge in posting pictures was only possible by deleting some of the oldest posting (who really reads about 600! of them?). The superfluous have to go to the trash bin.
But there are some who can be a bit improved and worth keeping as records for the flora of a specific region, especially if seeds were collected (and maybe they will be again).

So, a revisit of the Lizard Ranges in SE British Columbia is warranted for this weekend getaway.

Parts of the Lizard Ranges mountains are easily accessible from the town of Fernie, BC, located about one hour drive from Cranbrook, or about 4 hours from Calgary. Although mainly a winter ski resort and a gathering for mountain biking lovers, there are multiple hiking trails well suited for one day trips and few of them can be ‘shortened’ by taking up the two ski lifts operating during the summer (note: the Timberline only works during weekends). This allows for more botanizing time.

There are many plants species to be admired along the way, wildlife, rocks and glamorous mountain ridges. Because of the gradient in altitude, there is the chance to find some species in fruit and flower on the same time! I will not detail every trail, many species are repeating anyway. The trails are well marked and maps can be purchased on site.

The pictures below illustrate the Summer Road Trail through the Skeleton Flats and above, which I consider an amazingly beautiful place.
Of course, not all plants can be shown, but is enough to give an idea of the region and its flora; few explanations with every picture. Enjoy!

The Lizard Bowl ski range signage gives you an idea of the place

Part of the Lizard Bowl with Eriogonum umbellatum var. subalpinum

Lizard Bowl to the right

But first few species form the start of the trail: Mimulus lewisii

Rhododendron albiflorum in huge numbers

Saxifraga lyallii

Valeriana sitchensis

Eucephalus engelmannii

Clintonia uniflora

Clematis occidentalis ssp. grosseserata

Castilleja and Rubus parviflorus

Anemone occidentalis (syn. Pulsatilla) as well in huge numbers, must be quite a sight in flower

Rock outcrop

Eryhtronium grandiflorum capsule showing from an Artemisia clump

For the Skeleton flats you just keep climbing a bit more

And the Penstemons start showing up: Penstemon ellipticus

More beautiful than a picture can show: Penstemon lyallii

Penstemon confertus

Phacelia sericea

A dwarfed Salix vestita

Penstemon albertinus

Castilleja cf. miniata

Erythronium grandiflorum, glacier lily

Spring always comes in July/August at high altitude: Erythronium grandiflorum

Erythronium with Ranunculus eschscholtzii

View towards the Morrisey Ridge and Mt. Hosmer

Iconic silhouette of Abies lasiocarpa

Abiles lasiocarpa, the subalpine fir

Other trails worth doing are: Peak to Park trail and the most amazing Spineback trail (which extends further into the Goldilocks).
There are many species and landscape images not presented here, there isn’t that much space available, but again, I think they suffice to make an introduction to this most beautiful region.

Aquilegia flavescens

Anticlea elegans

Sedum lanceolatum

Currie Bowl

Eriogonum ovalifolium

Cirsium hookerianum close-up

Hedysarum sulphurescens

Ranunculus eschscholtzii

Anemone parviflora

Spineback ridge

Castilleja

Actaea rubra

Adiantum aleuticum

Anticlea occidentalis

view from Spineback (2)

Phyllodoce empetriformis

Polystichum lonchitis

Salix nivalis

Saxifraga bronchialis spp. austromontana (2)

Viola orbiculata, round -leaved violet

View from Spineback trail

Calochortus apiculatus

Heuchera cylindrica

Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus

Castilleja for a cold day

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We need something to warm us up and nothing can be better than a hot image of Castilleja applegatei, wavy leaf paintbrush, taken many years ago in the Albion Basin of the Wasatch Mts., Utah.

Castilleja applegatei, wavy leaf paintbrush

Hiking on many North American mountain trails will most likely bring you face to face with at least one Castilleja species. Not easy to grow from seeds, they are highly admired and desirable; the best bet is to try them within a plant community containing species from their wild habitat.

Because I couldn’t find to collect Castilleja coccinea seeds locally, I tried to procure at least another Castilleja species (which is also not an easy task).
So, do not miss the chance to give it a try, it may be a one-time offering: Castilleja applegatei.

Castilleja applegatei in a mountain meadow mix with: Helianthella, Lupinus, Eriogonum, Penstemon, Agastache…

 Yes, these species are not easy to germinate and sometimes they will do it after two years, but I think they are worth trying.
Last week I also included this species in the experiment with GA3; the acid gibberellic treatment doesn’t work for all the species, but first we need to try it.

Stay warm and tuned for the weekend gateway ;)

January seeds and after-ripening

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These are the latest seeds added to the inventory; please check the updated Seed List 2020-2021, always in the works...
Back in stock:
Amphicarpaea bracteata
Amphicarpaea bracteata var. comosa
Cercis canadensis
Lilium columbianum

New/not often offered:
Actaea spicata
Anemone drummondi var. lithophila
*Anemone occidentalis (syn. Pulsatilla occidentalis)
Calochortus macrocarpus
Cirsium hookerianum
**Clintonia udensis

*Note on Anemone occidentalis

Seeds were previously offered in 2018 ( wild coll. from Lizard Ranges, BC). Although fresh, the seeds I sowed didn’t germinate in the spring of 2019. It may be that they were sown too fast; yes, sowing very fresh seeds it is actually not good sometimes!.
If someone who purchased seeds obtained germination, please let me know. I am interested in what conditions they did so (date of sowing/temp.).

I have started a small experiment a few days ago with 2020 and 2018 seeds.  Until I have some data I will bring attention to the after-ripening (AR). It is possible to be the cause of non-germinating seeds of A. occidentalis.
 AR importance is rarely discussed with concern to ornamental species but quite few studies have been done and are still conducted for crop plants. We can learn a lot from them.

What after-ripening means?
“Once produced, dry seeds undergo an aging time period, called dry after-ripening, during which they lose primary dormancy and gradually acquire the capacity to germinate when exposed to favorable germination conditions”.

I am trying to ‘decipher’ a few articles at the moment. You can read with me and we’ll discussed them later.
“Primary seed dormancy: a temporally multilayered riddle waiting to be unlocked” (cool title, eh?)
https://academic.oup.com/jxb/article/68/4/857/2627445

“Seed after-ripening is a discrete developmental pathway associated with specific gene networks in Arabidopsis“
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2254144/

**Note on Clintonia udensis
As announced, shipping of the moist packed seeds has been temporarily suspended. Low temperatures coupled with the postal delays at this time, make for a very bad combination.
The shipping will resume when the weather becomes more favorable. It will be a rare occasion to procure moist packed seeds of this beautiful white flowered Clintonia. Stay tuned.

 

Clematis occidentalis portrait

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I don’t think I had the chance to show C. occidentalis when it flowered this spring; too many other things were happening in May.

Clematis occidentalis (Purple Clematis, Mountain clematis) is a species native to the US and Canada, usually growing in rocky woodlands, near creeks, talus slopes, tickets, often on calcareous substrates.
It is a variable species with 3 var. recognized by Flora of North America: var. occidentalis (Eastern NA), var. dissecta (confined to central Washington) and var. grosseserata (Western NA).

Plants from the Eastern N America belong to Clematis occidentalis var. occidentalis. It is rare that one can stumble upon them in the wild, being scarce in most locations; actually, it is considered an endangered species in a few US States.
It is a trailing or climbing vine on nearby plants/tree trunks, up to 2 m in length with 3-parted leaves, coarsely crenate and/or lobed. The bell shaped flowers are large (up to 6 cm long) and can be reddish-violet to pink-purple.

In the garden, for a natural look, let it scramble on a nearby plant (a shrub preferably) or even better, over stone walls and boulders. The large flowers appear in the spring (May in ON) and will surely attract attention!

Clematis occidentalis var. occidentalis – garden cultivated

Clematis occidentalis var. occidentalis; this is a trailing specimen which likes to scramble on the nearby plants; you can also tie up the stems on a small trellis/obelisk.

Also, the shrubby Clematis integrifolia seeds are back in stock! We missed having them to share in the last couple of years.
Clematis integrifolia – blue
Clematis integrifolia – pink group

Asarum canadense, the wild ginger

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More and more people are interested in growing various woodland native species this fall which is very encouraging.
Asarum canadense  seeds have been packed for the last 5-6 orders, so even if it is familiar plant I will make a short portrait; more on few other tough plants in the next post. The aim now is to dispatch the orders as fast as possible.

 There are not enough words for praising our native ginger and I am happy that this year there are more seeds to share. Not only is a beautiful species with fuzzy leaves starting to emerge in early spring and purple flowers, it also very useful as a groundcover in tough locations.

The pictures below were taken in my garden two year ago and this week. The plants grow in dry part/shade on a dry slope under a large spruce and were started in fiber pots 4 years ago, then planted in situ in the fall of their first year. Asarum seedlings are growing very fast.

Not only they cover an area where growing something else would be quite impossible, being a rhizomatous species also stabilizes the ground and prevent the soil from washing down. There is also Maianthemum stellatum, looking a bit ratty at this time and few other species.

The wild ginger is one of the easiest species to grow from the moist packed seeds category. You can even sow the seeds ‘in situ’.
I think would be useful to read a recap for: how to start the moist packed seeds and pay attention to the ‘space saving method’; it is the most easiest and practical way to grow a wide range of woodland native species in our climate with cold winters.
Also worth to read (again) about how to:  Grow Caulophyllum thalictroides from seeds – the easy way.

Thank you all and get sowing – You can do it!

 

 

Gillenia

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Gillenia trifoliata (syn. Porteranthus trifoliatus), Bowman’s root, Indian physic

The Bowman’s root is yet another North American native species (S. Ontario and various US states) which deserves more attention. Offered by local garden centers on occasion, it is possible to pass unnoticed if not caught in its full splendor.
Some people are already taking advantage of the available seeds, so it is a good time to talk again about it.

The Bowman’s root is a cold hardy perennial which remains in a tight clump and will grow to 1.20+ m depending on the location; in rainy summers it may need staking. Any partly shaded spot in the garden would lighten up in June when Bowman’s root is flowering in profusion! The white/pinkish flowers with red calyces are distinct and barely disclose the plant affiliation with the Rose family (Rosaceae).

Gillenia trifoliata, syn. Porteranthus trifoliatus

Unfortunately, not all flowers are pollinated and usually the seeds are in limited quantity; the dry capsules mature and split open somewhere in September. Good news is that it is not a difficult species to germinate and grow from seeds.
The germination advice given in the shop: sown in late fall/early winter (cold/moist stratification).

Gillenia trifoliata garden grown with fall color

The deep green, healthy foliage will turn an exceptional bronze-reddish/or yellow color in the fall. What more can we ask from the Bowman’s root? 

Its common names derive from the former medicinal uses of the dry root (laxative, emetic), although they were more often referring to another species, Gillenia stipulata (also called American ipecac).
Other traditional medicinal uses of Gillenia root include: indigestion, colds, asthma and hepatitis. In principle, it was common in ‘cure-all’ elixirs sold by the traveling medicine salesmen in 19th-century America.

 

Parnassia glauca

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Parnassia glauca – fen grass of Parnassus, Bog star, American grass of Parnassus

September is always signaled by Parnassia glauca flowers. This species can be found growing in fens, wetland edges and floodplains, on calcareous substrates in NE US and SE Canada.
Despite the name and wild habitat preference, it can be easily grown in the garden in a full/part sun location in a moist enough location, which means, a spot where watering is done at least during very dry spells. Otherwise, during spring and fall there is usually plenty of rain to keep the soil saturated in many parts of Canada.

Parnassia glauca growing in the garden with good companions: Lobelia cardinalis, Iris versicolor, Viola nephrophylla, Sisyrinchium mucronatum

There are many other species of Parnassia in N America, Europe and Asia; the genus name is thought to refer to Mount Parnassus in Greece.
All have very interesting flowers at a closer look because of the 5 sterile stamens, which can have 3 or more branches that display yellow glands at their ends looking like drops of ‘nectar’. It is not nectar, just a way the plant tricks pollinators, which are also guided by the veins on the petals.

Parnassia glauca flower close-up; notice the sterile stamens with 3 branches

For growing Parnassia from seeds, the sowing is best done in late fall with the cold/moist stratification provided over the winter.
One can also try to cast the fine seeds ‘in situ’ in a moist area and hope for the best (cover lightly with sand/fine gravel to prevent them from being blown away).

Trillium luteum portrait

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One of the many new seeds offerings this year, Trillium luteum (Yellow trillium, wax trillium) is a species that belongs to the sessile group. A native of South Eastern US, it has beautifully marbled foliage and light yellow flowers with a pleasant lemony fragrance – which is also an easy character to distinguish it from T. sessile, which is very similar morphologically.

My favorite shade spot in the garden in May is where the yellow Trillium’s slender flowers are effortlessly mingling with Primula sieboldii, Paris quadrifolia and Epimedum stellulatum. This species doesn’t grow wild in Canada or Ontario, which makes it an even more precious plant to have and enjoy in our gardens.

By contrast with T. grandiflorum and T. erectum, the petals are long lasting and the plants seem to remain in flower a long time after pollination. Likewise, the fruits take a long time to ripen; the last ones were collected yesterday.
I was able to check the germination with the few seeds produced in the past years and the germination is reliable in the first spring (a slightly warm cycle followed by a cold period/winter). The first flowers should appear in the fourth year.

Trillium luteum moist packed seeds