Clematis recta ‘Purpurea’
Clematis recta Purpurea’
(KLEM-uh-tis RECK-tah)
Family: Ranunculaeae
Common name: purple ground clematis
Zone: 4 – 9
Height: 3 – 5 ft (1 – 1.5 m)
Spread: 4 – 5 ft (1.2 – 1.5 m)
Aspect: full sun; partial shade
Soil: humus-rich; moist; well-drained
Water: regular
Description: An herbaceous, clump-forming, non-climbing clematis with purple foliage on purple stems and panicles of small (¾-inch/1.9 cm), star-shaped, vanilla-scented white flowers from summer to fall, followed by attractive silvery seedheads.
Special Notes: Native to central and southern Europe, this unique ground-sprawling clematis can be trained to climb or left to crawl along the ground. Grow in a sunny or part sun location in fertile, alkaline, well-drained soil and water regularly. Be sure to keep roots shaded and cool, as you should with all clematis.
Treat this clematis as a Group C or 3; cut back old growth to 6 – 8 inches (15 – 20 cm) in late winter, preferably to a pair of strong buds. Young foliage is coppery purple, turning to purple with tinges of green as the season progresses. Flowers appear in early summer.
No serious insect or disease problems. Propagation by division. Can be grown from ripe seed that has had a period of vernalization.
In our Zone 7a garden: We have this plant in John’s back garden. It is mostly in shade from a large Magnolia shrub which provides some relief from the hottest of the summer days. Employing several wrought iron peony rings holds the mass of stems upright to display the ground-cover plants growing at their feet…keeping the clematis roots cool.
It garners much admiration from our garden visitors, especially when it is in full bloom.
Posted on February 28, 2024; updated on January 22, 2025
Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’
Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’
(CHOY-zee-ah duh-wit-ee-AY-nuh)
Family: Rutaceae
Common name: Mexican mock orange; Mexican orange blossom
Zone: 7 – 10
Height: 8 ft (2.5m)
Spread: 8 ft (2.5m)
Aspect: full sun; partial shade
Soil: fertile; well-draining
Water: regular
Description: An evergreen, dense, rounded shrub. Aromatic, glossy, bright yellow-green leaves made up of three oblong leaflets. Clusters of fragrant, star-shaped, creamy white flowers appear in late spring. There may be a second flowering in autumn.
Special Notes: A cross between Choisya ternata and Choisya dumosa var. arizonica bred by Peter Moore of Hilliers Nurseries in 1982. This cultivar was the first hybrid in the genus and named for the French nurseryman, Dominique de Witte.
Needs some protection in Zone 7. Will tolerate seaside conditions but not direct exposure to salty winds. Prune into shape after flowering. Leaves will be more golden yellow if grown in full sun. Propagate by softwood cuttings in late spring; hardwood cuttings in autumn.
In our Zone 7a garden: Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’ resides under the eave on the right corner at the front of the house. The eave provides protection when our winter temperatures dip to -12 °C (10.4 °F) and lower some years. ‘Aztec Pearl’ is also protected in that spot from the prevailing SE winds which seem to be getting increasingly stronger each year.
RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993
Posted on January 17, 2013; updated on January 15, 2025
Chasmanthium latifolium
Chasmanthium latifolium
(kaz-MAN-thi-um lat-ih-FOE-lee-um)
Family: Poaceae
Common name: Northern sea oats, river oats
Zone: 3 – 8
Height: 3 – 4 ft (90 – 120 cm)
Spread: 2 – 3 ft (60 – 90 cm)
Aspect: Full sun; part shade; full shade
Soil: moist, fertile, well-drained
Water: average
Description: Clump-forming grass with light green lanceolate, bamboo-like foliage. Blades are 10 – 12 inches (25 – 30 cm) long and one-inch (2.5 cm) wide. The above ground stems (called culms) support showy, spike-like panicles above the leaves. Each panicle consists of 7 – 20 flat, green-tinged spikelets. Each individual spikelet is one-inch (2.5 cm) long, flat in appearance and scaly.
Special Notes: Native from the midwestern to eastern parts of the United States, this ornamental grass is one of the most drought and shade tolerant. While it prefers fertile soil conditions, it will thrive in all soils types and moisture conditions. Wonderful understory plant with an added benefit that it is tolerant of the toxic chemical juglone produced by black walnut (Juglan nigra) trees. Good coppery-brown fall colour in both foliage and seedheads.
Plant host to some caterpillars, particularly of the Northern Pearly Eye butterfly, and skipper species. Provides cover for birds and seeds for small mammals. Good plant for containers, in mass plantings and for erosion control. Excellent in dried flower arrangements and good winter interest. Deer resistant.
Posted on November 8, 2023; Updated on January 7, 2025
Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’
Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’
(KAIR-ecks oh-shih-MEN-siss)
syn. Carex morrowii ‘Aureovariegata’
Family: Cyperaceae
Common name: variegated Japanese sedge
Zone: 5 – 9
Height: 10 – 16 in (25 – 40 cm)
Spread: 10 – 16 in (25 – 45 cm)
Aspect: partial shade; full shade
Soil: medium; moist; well-draining
Water: moderate; regular
Description: A slow growing, evergreen perennial grass with a dense, clump-forming habit. Narrow leaves with creamy yellow centres edged in green form a ground-hugging, arching fountain shape. Insignificant brown flower spikes on triangular stems appear in summer.
Special Notes: Native to the rocky slopes and dry wooded areas of Honshu Island, Japan where it is commonly known as Oshima kan suge. A low maintenance, fine-textured grass which tolerates moist areas such as beside ponds but needs good drainage. Most references place this in at least partial shade but it does well in full sun with regular water. Foliage can be cut back to a low mound in late winter to rejuvenate the leaves. Spreads by rhizomes. Propagate by division in early spring or autumn. Relatively few pests and disease problems. Deer and rabbit resistant.
In our Zone 7a garden: Several clumps of ‘Evergold’ dot the landscape in my front garden as this grass species does exceptionally well in competition with the roots of my chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) and silverleaf maple (Acer saacharinum). As for deer resistance, I cannot confirm this fact as our garden is completely fenced against buffet-hunting ungulates. However, there are rabbits in the neighbourhood which can sneak in but they completely shun this grass, preferring to nibble on another grass called, Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’, my tulips and hosta leaf tips instead.
RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993
Posted on April 27, 2013; updated on October 30, 2024
Carex ‘Silver Sceptre’
Carex ‘Silver Sceptre’ Family: Cyperaceae
(KARE-eks mor-OH-ee-eye)
Common name: Japanese sedge
Zone: 5 – 9
Height: 8 – 12 in (20 – 30 cm)
Spread: 12 – 24 in (30 – 60 cm)
Aspect: full sun; partial to full shade
Soil: average; well-draining
Water: moderate
Description: A short, evergreen, perennial grass with a clump-forming, slow-spreading rhizamous habit. White margins brighten the narrow (0.25 inch / 6.4 mm) green leaves. Insignificant greenish-brown flowers on triangular stems appear in mid-spring.
Special Notes: This grass has a preference for partial to full shade, although it will tolerate full sun if watered regularly. Given shade, it is drought tolerant once established. Evergreen in the warmer regions of its range but semi-evergreen in the cooler regions, and may go dormant in Zone 5 and lower.
In spring, cut back to 2 or 3 inches (5-7.6 cm) before fresh new growth appears. Spreads slowly to form dense, arching clumps. Drought tolerant. Deer resistant.
This cool season grass cultivar was presented by Dr. Masato Yokoi, Japanese variegated plant specialist, to the English grass collector, Roger Grounds. Plants Delight Nursery of North Carolina introduced ‘Silver Sceptre’ to North America in 1999. It is often labeled as Carex morrowii ‘Silver Sceptre’ but its connection to this particular species of Carex has not been confirmed.
In our Zone 7a garden: ‘Silver Sceptre’ is evergreen in our garden and looks lovely in the shady side of my front border under the towering chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) and silver leaf maple (Acer saacharinum) trees, providing bright spots of tumbling variegated strap-like leafy clumps.
Posted on August 17, 2012; updated on October 16, 2024
