Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Princess Diana’
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Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Princess Diana’ (am-uh-LAN-kee-er x gran-dih-FLOR-ah) Syn. Amelanchier laevis ‘Princess Diana’; Amelanchier ‘Princess Diana’ Family: Rosaceae Common name: apple serviceberry; hybrid serviceberry; seviceberry |
| Description: Reasonably small, deciduous, understory tree with finely-toothed, 3 inch (7.6 cm) long, oval-lanceolate leaves, emerging with bronze tints in spring, gradually changing to dark green though summer before changing a brilliant red to orange-red in fall. Showy white flowers appear in April followed by edible 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) diameter edible berries which are a deep red-purple when fully ripe in late June through early July.
Special Notes: Amelanchier spp. are native to North America. Amelanchier x grandiflora is a hybrid cross between A. arborea (downy serviceberry) and A. laevis (Allegheny serviceberry), two species of North American serviceberries. ‘Princess Diana’, one of several named cultivars in this Amelanchier species, is known for its abundant floral display of white flowers, wide canopy and its vibrant fall colour. It was discovered in the mid-1980s in a garden in Elm Grove, Wisconsin. A U.S. Plant Patent PP6,041 was issued on October 20, 1987.
Pests and Diseases: There are no serious insect or disease problems, although amelanchiers can occasionally have problems with powdery mildew, leaf spot, rust, fire blight and canker. So far, our tree has not experienced any problems whatsoever. (Touch wood.)
In our Zone 7a garden: We absolutely adore this small tree in the back garden! It resides in the shadow of the ancient transparent apple tree and is further shaded by the 12 ft (3.6 m) tall cedar hedge. Still, the flowers appear in April and there always seems to be enough bees around at that time to perform their pollinating duties. I keep a close watch on the berries when they start to come as I like to pick them for my Serviceberry Cobbler. (Click here for the recipe.) I have to be quick because the birds love these berries too, especially the cedar waxwings who make a point of arriving in our garden to feast on the serviceberries. Often, I am picking berries from the lower branches while several cedar waxwings are enjoying them above my head. While I have yet to make jam or jelly from serviceberries, it is reported to be quite good. Perhaps I will attempt these preserves next season as we do love our Aronia Berry Jelly and Oregon Grape Jelly. One good piece of information to note: serviceberries can be picked before they are fully ripe as they will finish ripening if laid out in newspaper-lined beer flats.
Posted on October 20, 2021
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Hepatica nobilis
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Hepatica nobilis Family: Ranunculaceae (hi-PAT-ih-kuh no-BILL-iss) Common name: liverwort; liverleaf |
| Description: An evergreen, clump-forming perennial with kidney-shaped, 3-lobed leaves that are glossy green on top and a purple hue underneath. Showy violet-blue flowers with 6 – 7 sepals and conspicuous white stamens appear in March through April.
Recommend cutting back old leaves in late winter in order to enjoy the early spring flowers and give exposure to newly emerging, fresh leaves. Propagate by fresh seed sown in place in spring. Needs stratification in order to germinate. Dig up and divide larger clumps after flowering or in autumn. Reliably disease- and pest-resistant, as well as deer and rabbit resistant. Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit 1993
Posted on July 31, 2021 |
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Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’
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Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’ Family: Geraniaceae (jer-AY-nee-um FAY-um) syn. Geranium phaeum var. phaeum ‘Samobor’ Common name: mourning widow; dusky cranesbill Zone: 4 – 9 Height: 24-30 in (60-76 cm) Spread: 18-24 in (45-60 cm) Aspect: partial shade; full shade Soil: fertile; well-draining Water: moderate |
 Description: An herbaceous, clump-forming perennial. Deeply incised, palmate bright green leaves display a large, dark maroon-black splotch in their centre which splays outward towards the leaf tips. Appearing in May to June, the small-sized flowers are held aloft on upright slender stems and are an almost perfect colour match for the leaf splotch.
Special Notes: This cultivar of the species was discovered in 1990 by Elizabeth Strangman in a Kent nursery. It is one of the few geraniums which actually thrives in almost full shade. While tolerant of most soil types as well as wet and dry conditions, ‘Samobor’ will excel if given fertile soil and moderate water. Relatively low maintenance plant. When flowers are finished, either cut the spent stems back to the basal leaf or cut the entire clump back to one or two inches above the soil. The plant will rejuvenate and perhaps provide another flush of flowers in September. Good resistance to diseases and pests, including slugs and rabbits. Deer may nibble on the leaves.
In our Zone 7a garden: John has a lovely clump of ‘Samobor’ under a tall Pieris japonica where it does not receive any sun…unless it is from a setting sun at the end of the day and only at a certain time of the growing season. I have a clump of ‘Samobor’ near the front of my mixed hosta and fern bed…one of the shadiest beds in my garden. ‘Samobor’ does get some morning sun at the front of the bed and it seems to be just the right amount as my plant is typically a little ahead of John’s in full shade. Regardless of its location in either garden, it always solicits comments from visitors to our garden. A truly delightful plant.
Posted on March 10, 2021 |
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Allium flavum
 Photo coming soon |
Allium flavum Family: Liliaceae (AL-ee-um FLAH-vum) Common name: ornamental onion; small yellow onion |
| Description: A bulbous herbaceous perennial which produces an umbel of lemon-yellow, bell-shaped flowers in late spring through early summer. Narrow, strap-like, blue-green leaves will wither as the flowers mature.
Special Notes: An heirloom dating back to the late 1750s. Native to region surrounding the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas; France, Morocco to Iran, Kazakhstan. A relative to culinary onions and garlic. Good for containers and rockeries. Plant bulbs 3 – 4 times their own depth in autumn. Naturalizes to create a pleasing display. Attracts bees. Can fall prey to the same diseases which afflict onions and garlic. Deer resistant.
Awards: Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 1993.
Posted on February 17, 2021 |
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Ajuga reptans BLACK SCALLOP
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Ajuga reptans BLACK SCALLOP Family: Lamiaceae (ah-JEW-gah REP-tanz) syn. Ajuga reptans ‘Binblasca’ PBR Common name: bugleweed; carpet bugleweed |
| Description: An evergreen groundcover with glossy, dark maroon-purple to almost black, scalloped-edged leaves and a dense habit. Short, upright, spikes of dark violet, fragrant flowers four to six inches tall (10 – 15 cm) appear in mid- to late spring.
Special Notes: The genus Ajuga is native to Europe. BLACK SCALLOP is a mutation of Ajuga reptans ‘Braunherz’, discovered in an in-vitro nursery laboratory in 1998 and subsequently isolated to be developed and introduced as a new cultivar, Ajuga reptans ‘Binblasco’ PBR. U.S. Plant Patent was issued in June 2005. (PBR – Plant Breeder Registration) BLACK SCALLOP tends to have a more compact habit than some of the other Ajuga cultivars. Plant where it will get more sun for deep, rich foliage colour but plants will require watering more often. In hotter climates, give it a little more shade from the sun. Propagate by cutting the stolon, or plantlet, growing out from the mother plant to start a new plant. BLACK SCALLOP does not come true from seed. Crown rot can be a problem if ajugas are allowed to grow too densely. Divide clumps every few years to thin the planting out. Aphids, slugs, snails and whiteflies can also be occasionally problematic. And while it is not unheard of for cucumber mosaic virus and tobacco mosaic virus to attack ajugas, there have been no reports of these viruses found on BLACK SCALLOP. However, remove the plants if you see these viruses and bag them for the garbage. In our Zone 7a garden: We now have a few patches of BLACK SCALLOP in our landscape and we love them! Absolutely the best-behaved ajuga to plant in your garden for its dark leaves and dark violet flowers.
Posted on February 3, 2021 |
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