Download HS Plant Notes for May 2010 Acer pensylvanicum (Aceraceae

HS Plant Notes for May 2010
Acer pensylvanicum (Aceraceae) Moosewood, Striped Maple, Goosefoot Maple
Grown by Jon Craig in Corralitos: Moosewood is a very pretty, small tree with a rounded or flat-topped
canopy. It usually grows 15-20 ft. tall in cultivation but can be twice that in the wild. Its 5-8 in. leaves have
3 pointed lobes and are bright green with pale reverse. They turn a showy, clear yellow in fall. In spring, it
blooms with yellow-green bells on 4-to-6-in.-long, dangling racemes. But, its most distinctive feature is its
young branches with green bark marked with long, greenish-white striations. In nature, itʼs found mostly in
the northeastern US and adjacent Canada and follows along the Appalachians just into northern Georgia.
Itʼs found in areas that receive 28-64 in. of annual rainfall as part of the forest understory on north slopes
in moist, slightly acidic, sandy loam. It has a reputation for being a challenge to grow in the landscape, so
coming close to those conditions will improve your chance for success.
Aesculus glabra var. arguta (Hippocastanaceae) Texas Buckeye, White Buckeye
Grown by Betsy Clebsch in La Honda: Texas Buckeye is seldom seen in cultivation except in public
gardens. Itʼs a deciduous, dense, small tree/large shrub thatʼs native from Iowa and Nebraska southward
into central Texas growing in moist sites, along rivers and streambanks. It usually grows to 15-20 ft tall
but can be much larger. Its large, glossy leaves are palmately divided into 7-11 leaflets with sharply
toothed margins. In spring, after leafing out, it covers itself with large, dense, terminal spikes of pale
yellow flowers. Its fruits are spiny, round capsules with 2 or 3 typical buckeyes inside. Betsy says it
produces a lot of seeds and most are viable. Give it moderate irrigation in full sun and any soil.
Cantua buxifolia (Polemoniaceae) Sacred Flower of the Incas, Magic Flower
Grown by Kerry Barrs in Woodside: Cantua is native to Andean valleys in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and
northern Chile and is the national flower of Bolivia and Peru. Itʼs a semi-evergreen, woody shrub with midgreen leaves on erect stems with arching branches. It grows to about 6-8 ft. high. In spring and
sporadically through summer, the branch tips are weighed down with large, drooping clusters of 3” long,
tubular flowers that flare open at the throat. They are usually crimson but also can be found in shades of
pink, purple, yellow, and white. In fact, you might find one of these colors on your own plant since they will
occassionally produce a stem with distinctly different foliage and flower color. It prefers cool climates,
fertile soil, and regular irrigation in full sun or some shade. It has a somewhat awkward habit that will need
training. Since it blooms on the previous years branchlets, prune right after flowering to encourage new
branch production for next yearʼs show. Itʼs reported to be hardy to about 20°F.
Clematis ʻParisienneʼ (Ranunculaceae)
Grown by Paula Lion in Los Altos: This is one of the Boulevard Collection of compact patio clematis bred
by Raymond Evison, the famous British breeder, for use in containers, small gardens, and patios. They
grow about 3-4 ft. tall, have 4-5 in. flowers all along the stems at the leaf axils, and will bloom repeatedly
from late spring to frost. They want full sun or some shade, a cool root zone, and regular irrigation. Prune
them in February or March by gathering all the bare stems in one hand and cutting the bundle about a
foot from the ground. They quickly regrow and will be blooming beautifully by late spring. Paulaʼs
ʻParisienneʼ is a very showy selection with large, violet-blue flowers with several overlapping petals and
dark red anthers at the center.
Cobaea scandens (Polemoniaceae) Cathedral Bells, Cup and Saucer Vine
Grown by Katie Wong in San Jose: This is a vigorous, evergreen vine that can grow more that 50 ft. in its
native range in Mexico. It creates a dense mass of mid-green foliage. Each leaf is divided into 4, 4-in.
leaflets and a tendril with hooks for climbing. It blooms with big, 2-in.-wide, bell-shaped flowers that open
creamy green and mature to deep purple. They are held by a saucer-like calyx that remains green. Give it
the warmest, full-sun spot you have and well-drained, evenly moist soil. Itʼs not really hardy in our area
unless you garden in a very special warm-winter pocket. But, since it can grow 10-25 ft. and bloom in one
season from seeds, itʼs worth trying it as an annual. Katieʼs is growing under her house eaves and not
only survived but kept on blooming last winter.
Firmiana simplex (Sterculiaceae) Chinese Parasol Tree
Grown by Daxin Liu in Mountain View: This is a distinctive looking, deciduous tree that the Chinese
consider a symbol of good fortune. Its common name refers to its large leaves that are 12 in. across,
bright green, and divided into 3-5 pointed lobes. They can turn brilliant yellow in fall. The stems and bark
are smooth and green. After many years, the trunk becomes pale gray. Itʼs a fast grower that reaches 3040 ft. tall with a dense, upright, oval canopy with a 15-20 ft. spread. Daxinʼs started from a seed 5 years
ago and is now 20 ft. tall. It blooms in early summer with small yellow/green blossoms in 10-20 in. long,
loose, upright panicles. In fall, the odd, papery seed pods separate into 4 petal-like sections exposing the
small, round seeds dangling inside. This structure is perfectly designed to become airborne and carry the
seeds some distance. The treeʼs detractors swear that the germination rate is 100%. It tolerates any soil,
part shade to full sun, and needs average irrigation.
Lepechinia fragrans (Lamiaceae) Island Pitcher Sage
Grown by Melanie Hopper in Sunnyvale: Of all the lepechinias, this one has the most attractive flowers
and pleasant fragrance, mixing some fruit with the sage. Though uncommon in the wild now, itʼs native to
the chaparral of coastal Southern California and the northern Channel Islands. It blooms from spring into
early summer with showy, lavender, fox-glove-like flowers big enough for bumble bees to climb into.
Hummingbirds also visit them. They open in pairs along arching, 1-to-2-ft.-long racemes. It has soft, furry,
lanceolate leaves. In the rainy, growing season, it carries lush foliage up to 5 in. long. With the start of the
dry season, these die off and are replaced with more water-efficient leaves that are grayer and less than
1½“ long. This is a slightly woody perennial to 4-6 ft high and wide. Young plants need pinching or light
pruning to give a full, dense structure. Itʼs fine in any soil with decent drainage including clay, takes
occassional irrigation to none and sun or part shade. Itʼs excellent under native oaks. ʻEl Tigreʼ is a
cultivar from Santa Cruz Island with darker purple flowers and a purple flush on the stems and calyces.
Philadelphus mexicanus ʻFlore Plenaʼ (Hydrangeaceae) Evergreen or Mexican Mock Orange
Grown by Cheryl Renshaw in Santa Clara: Native to Mexico and Guatemala, this is an evergreen,
climbing shrub. Given support, it can reach 15-20 ft. or it can be kept a 6 ft. shrub with pruning. Cheryl lets
hers grow, tucking the ends into a fence. It blooms in spring, often again in fall, and sporadically through
summer with very fragrant, creamy-white, 1½”, cupped flowers that are doubled in this cultivar. They
occur singly or in clusters of three. Itʼs happy with some light afternoon shade, any soil with good
drainage, and average to occassional irrigation. itʼs hardy to about 22°F.
Salix sp. (Salicaceae)
Grown by Nancy Schramm in Gilroy: Nancy brought a group of willows suited for use in rock gardens and
garden railroading landscapes. S. matsudana ʻTortuosaʼ (Corkscrew Willow) is grown for its sinuous and
contorted branches and slender leaves. Itʼs naturally a 20-to-30-ft.-tall tree but is an excellent subject for
bonsai. S. nakamurana var. yezoalpina (Creeping Alpine Willow) makes a beautiful mat about 2 ft. high
and indefinitely wide, expanding about 1 ft. a year. Bright green, broad leaves have netted veins and fold
slightly upward along the center vein. Young leaves are covered with silky, white hairs. Showy male
catkins are held upright above the foliage. S. purpurea ʻNanaʼ (Dwarf Purple Osier) is a very attractive,
billowy, rounded shrub with slender, gray-blue-green leaves on slim, purplish branches. ʻNanaʼ will grow
to about 3 ft.tall and wide in 10 years and can eventually reach 6 ft. S. repens ʻBoydʼs Pendulaʼ (Alpine
Willow) is a dwarf, ground-hugging shrub thatʼs usually only 10-16 in. tall and 3 ft. wide after 10 years. It
has small, gray-green leaves with silver undersides and small, upright catkins that bloom on bare stems
before the leaves emerge.
Some of you are remembering that there were more plants than these, but the 2-page limit has been
reached. I hope you got to talk to the presenters about whatever caught your fancy.
~JND~ Sources: Am. Hort. Soc. A-Z Encyclopedia, Botanica, CA Native Plants for the Garden, Flora,
Sunset Western Garden Book, and many websites.