Cotinus ‘Grace’
Family: Anacardiaceae
Common name: smoke bush; smoke tree; smokewood
Zone: 4 – 8
Height: 10 – 15 ft (3 – 4.5m)
Spread: 10 – 15 ft (3 – 4.5m)
Aspect: full sun; partial shade
Soil: moderately fertile; well-draining
Water: moderate
Description: Deciduous shrub with a pleasing, multi-branched, natural-forming shape. Boasts lovely round leaves that emerge light red in spring, darkening to a reddish-purple in summer before turning a brilliant orange-red in autumn. Large, open panicles of frothy pink flowers appear in early summer.
Special Notes: A cross between Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ (a seedling discovered in a nursery in the US) and Cotinus obovulatus (native to SE United States). Pleasing, natural growth form requires little pruning and then only to keep paths clear or make room for its neighbour. Deer resistant. Tends to be susceptible to verticillium wilt and powdery mildew. Allow airflow to minimize contracting these diseases. Propagation is difficult.
In our Zone 7a garden: John planted ‘Grace’ on the south side of our pond to create some shade for the goldfish. However, we soon discovered the shrub’s height was impacting on getting past it on our way to the greenhouse or toolshed. This prompted John to coppice…cut back…the shrub to just above the soil level. Doing this annually meant the shrub’s new growth remained better behaved and did not overly impact on the path.
Full disclosure, however, because coppicing ‘Grace’ every year meant our shrub did not produce any frothy pink flowers. It was a sacrifice we endured though as we still were able to enjoy the lovely changes in its foliage as the days progressed into autumn.
Unfortunately, we were forced to remove ‘Grace’ from the garden when we had to renovate our fish pond in 2021. And that is the whole thing with a garden…change happens on a regular basis.
Great Plant Pick 2003
Posted on November 6, 2014; updated on February 5, 2025
Corydalis solida
Corydalis solida
(kor-ID-ah-liss SOL-ih-dah)
Family: Papaveraceae
Common name: fumewort; bird-in-a-bush
Zone: 4 – 8
Height: 6 – 10 in (15 – 25 cm)
Spread: 12 – 18 in (30 – 45 cm)
Aspect: full sun; partial shade
Soil: moderate; well-draining
Water: moderate
Description: A spring ephemeral perennial with a low mounding habit. Tuberous roots will slowly spread out to produce a soft carpet over time. Grey-green leaves are deeply divided and fern-like. Tubular-shaped flowers with an upswept spur sit atop a slender stalk. Floral colour can be blue-mauve to purple, or reddish and white. Whatever the colour, it will be consistent on one plant. Blooms mid-March through spring. Being an ephemeral, the plant completely disappears come summer.
Special Notes: Native to northern and central Europe and Asia where this plant grows in meadows and woodlands. British gardeners have been cultivating it in their gardens since late in the 16th century. Very easy care; relatively pest and disease free. Moderately drought tolerant, but does benefit from some watering. Deer and rabbit resistant. Propagation by division in early spring or by fresh seed in late spring. Seed needs a stratification period in dappled shade to germinate. Not deadheading the spent flowers right away is a guarantee you will have one or two new seedlings pop up the following year. (Try not to disturb the soil around your fumeworts too much or you may lessen your chances of new seedlings.)
In our Zone 7a garden: This plant was a new addition to my front garden in Spring 2015. A gift from a friend, it was broken into three clumps and planted under the Acer campestre (European field maple). Fast forward two or three years and it has become a lovely early spring presence in the bed outside the front room window. There is nothing like signs of growth and early flowers after the tough months of winter.
Posted on March 28, 2016; updated on February 5, 2025
Convallaria majalis
Convallaria majalis
(kon-vah-LAH-ree-ah mah-YAH-lis)
Family: Liliaceae; Asparagaceae
Common name: lily-of-the-valley; May lily; May bells; lady’s tears
Zone: 3 – 9
Height: 10 in (25 cm)
Spread: indefinite
Aspect: partial shade; full shade
Soil: fertile; moist; well-draining
Water: moderate
Description: An herbaceous perennial with a vigorous spreading habit. Elliptical, bright green leaves are upright in stature. A single stem arises from the centre of the plant in May from which dangle a multitude of wonderfully fragrant, pendulous, bell-shaped, white flowers. Red berries follow in summer.
Special Notes: Native to the temperate regions of North America, Asia and Europe. Good cut flower. Can be very invasive, especially in moist fertile soil, so best to keep this plant well contained. May have a problem with leaf spots. Leaves will turn brown on edges if plant is kept too dry. Deer and rabbit resistant. Propagate by fresh seed or by division in early spring or autumn.
In our Zone 7a garden: We grow this plant in a tiny bed at the foot of our back steps. Hemmed in by a concrete sidewalk and a concrete retaining wall keeps it from running amok. Every few years, we dig out a clump to ease the over-crowding. This keeps the patch looking nice and producing an abundance of blooms. And while I am talking about these deliciously scented flowers, I should also mention we get lots of blossoms even though our patch of lily-of-the-valley is in full shade. It is also under the overhang of the eaves in an area where we do not water.
The harsh conditions our Convallaria majalis plants are subjected to proves this species can take tough conditions and still throw out good blooms. Few things can surpass starting one’s day with a whiff of lily-of-the-valley as soon as you step outdoors.
Caution: All parts of the plant are toxic. Fatal if ingested in large quantities.
RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993
Posted on April 14, 2013; updated on January 29, 2025
Clematis viticella ‘Polish Spirit’
Clematis viticella ‘Polish Spirit’
(KLEM-uh-tis vih-tih-CHELL-ah)
Family: Ranunculaceae
Common name: Clematis ‘Polish Spirit’
Zone: 4 – 9
Height: 15 – 20 ft (4.5 – 6 m)
Spread: 3 – 5 ft (0.9 – 1.5 m)
Aspect: full sun; partial shade
Soil: humus-rich; well-draining
Water: regular
Description: A vigorous growing, deciduous vine. Masses of 3 – 4 inch (7.5 – 10 cm) velvety, violet-blue flowers are set off by rich, dark green leaves appear in mid- to late-June straight through until a killing frost.
Special Notes: This cultivar of clematis was discovered in the monastery garden in Warsaw, Poland of the well-known clematis breeder, Brother Stefan Franczak, in 1984. Plant 2 year old seedlings 12 – 18 inches (30 – 45 cm) deep in a well-prepared hole amended with compost or well-aged manure and a complete fertilizer. Pruning Group C (or Group 3); flowers on new wood. Cut vine back to 12 inches (30 cm) in late winter or early spring. Best to strap vine if grown on a trellis and exposed to high winds. Very easy care; relatively pest and disease free, including clematis wilt. Propagation by internodal cuttings in spring.
In our Zone 7a garden: This is one of our favourite clematis. Not only is it beautiful, but it is easy care and long blooming. The previous year’s spent growth on ‘Polish Spirit’ is cut back to a height of 8 – 10 inches (20 – 25 cm) in late winter. And that’s it, pretty much. You might have to tuck the odd rogue branch back into its trellis and you do have to water the vine on a fairly regular basis.
But be prepared to wait until about mid-July before the violet-blue flowers fully burst open and start their summer show. And what a show it is! The vine will be thickly covered in flowers straight through until the first frost which is typically sometime in October in our garden.
Adjusting the soil pH with ashes or a sprinkle of lime scratched in around the vine’s base and making sure it has regular water will ensure this clematis remains pest-free.
RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993; Great Plant Pick 2002
Posted on October 12, 2012; updated on January 29, 2025
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