Plantology Archives
Bring Nature Close to You!
Bring Nature Close Plantology bring you a spotlight on a different plant every month. Some times it is a food plant sometimes a beautiful flower, we mix it up! If you want to know about a specific plant let us know. We are dedicated to giving you new information to Bring Nature Closer to you! Here are the last few months if you missed them.
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Helleborus
Originally from Europe and western Asia, these flowers are some of the earliest to bloom. They like rich well drained soil under the shade of trees. They do extreemly well in plenty of composted soil and aged leaf mold where they will spread easily.
These plants are deer resistant and rodent resistant. They will come back year after year.
Helleborus come in various shades of white and cream, burgandy through pink and several shades of green. They make a stunning display, not only because they are beautiful but because they are the only thing blooming in an other wise dull landscape!
Camellia
biemalis
You will often find an old favorite Camellia outside grandmas back door, where it gets heat from the house in winter and is protected from strong winds and the heat of the summer being on the north side of the house.
Camellias are originally from SE Asia.. They grow in zones 6 through 10 in rich organic, acidic soil that is well drained. These sturdy bushes have shiny leaves that are pointed on both ends and they have slightly serated edges. The blossoms are peony type flowers. These plants often bloom in December and January in warmer areas of the country. They will continue to bloom until May. They can be pruned right after they bloom but can be pruned in the summer. They can be shaped into a shape or a hedge.
Some varieties have to be grown in partial shade. These should be grown under trees and on the north sides of buildings. Other varieties can be grown in full sun providing they have a good 3 inches of mulch to keep the roots cool. The crown of the trunk should never have soil on it. Keep the mulch away from the trunk, at least 3 inches.
If you happen to get a variety that has too many blooms, pinch off the buds on the ends of the branches leaving only two buds per branch.
Fetilize with a weak but acidic fertilizer every other month in spring and summer. Make sure to water the plants well the day after fertilization.
Kerria
japonica "pleniflora"
Kerria is a wonderfully hardy plant the blooms and blooms. In the Pacific NW it starts in March and keeps blooming through May. The leaves look a little like nettle leaves, and have soft "stickers" on the branches. Kerria needs lots of room. The plant if not crowded makes a beautiful arching, vase shaped shrub. It grows about 8 feet tall and spreads out to 5 or 6 feet. It is a bit invasive and can be kept in check by mowing or cutting back venturing shoots.
The branches can be cut and thinned after the bloom, sometime in June. These branches make good floral arrangements in the winter as the branches stay green all winter. The shrubs make a beautiful diplay outside as well. The branches make a stunning show of bright green stalks against the blahs of winter.
The little yellow "roses" cover the plants and keep the shrub covered with blossoms for three whole months. Mine also has a few blossoms all summer, but nothing rivals the spring show.
This shrub likes full sun to full shade. It is one of the few plants that will bloom in full shade. It is a good xeriascape plant. Once it is established it needs very little water. In fact one of the only things it does not like is heavy, wet soils. It likes regular soil and will just grow more branches if overly fertilized. It does well from a little "neglect". These beautiful shrubs have little or no insect or disease problems. Plant where you want to do very little work. It will put a show on for you!
Rhubarb
Polygonaceae
Rhubarb is one of the top producers in the garden and can fill the larder with plenty of jam, marmalade, sauces or pie filling. It is often called "Pie Plant" in the Mid-west and Southern United States. The stalks are the part you use. The leaves themselves are very poisonus. The plant is high in oxalic acid and it is hard on the body to eat too much of it.
Rhubarb has big heart shaped leaves and a woody crown that the leaves grow from. To pick the stalks for use, grasp the stem close to the base. Rock the stem back and forth with a slight pulling motion. While you are still in the garden, cut off the leaf and slice down the stem to remove any brown base material attached to the bottom of the stem.
Most books tell you to cut off the flower head if it shows up. I have not seen any significant problems with leaving it on. Most Rhubarb crowns are large if not huge and do not get depleted by leaving the flowers on. Most books tell you that the flowers are insignificant! They obviously have not left very may blooms on, or they would not say this. The blooms themselves are very small, but the whole set of umbels is magnificent and the smell is out of this world! The whole thing is stunning!!!!! So leave the blossoms ON!
Plant these plants out in early spring or fall. Nice loamy,composted manure is what they love to grow in. They like ample water but not mushy soil. Start removing stems for cooking the third spring after you have planted them. If your neighbor gave you a root the size of a basket ball you can probably start using the stems the next spring. Rhubarb grows in most zones in the continental U.S.A. It has a hard time in areas over 8,000 feet or monsoon type areas. Otherwise it is a hardy grower!
It is NOT a good idea to harvest ALL the stems off of a plant. Leave 3 or 4 leaves on each plant so it can
continue to grow without making more leaves late in the season. Also, when the stalks become very thin it is time to stop harvesting.
Pick a variety with red stems for a great looking display plant and red treats!
VooDoo Lily
Wow, the place I moved to here in the Pacific North West has these incredible lilies growing in the backyard!!
VooDoo Lilys like partial to full shade and some what acidic soil. Here in spring they rapidly grow to 4' and 5' then large green spikes come out with a little ruffle of burgandy on the edge. Soon after that the flower unfurls! A huge calla like flower, burgandy with a black spike. The unfortunate thing about these flowers is that they smell like rotting flesh/ decomposing animals.
Some people dig them in fall and force them indoors for Jan/Feb blooms. In summer here they bloom the end of June.
VooDoo Lilys are propagated by dividing the rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs. They may also be propagated by saving the seed and planting it. After bloom, the plant makes a seed pod. Wait until late fall and cut off the pod. Crack open and plant the seeds in a tray or bed in the garden. The seeds will sprout rapidly. Mulch with grass or hay in colder climates. In spring, remove mulch so the babies can get some light. They will grow quickly but will take 3 to 5 years to bloom (generally).
Warning: All parts are poison if ingested. Handling may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction.
- Typonium venosum