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Caryopteris by Elisabeth Ginsburg

The first time I heard the word “bluebeard”, I thought about the old French fairy tale about a murderous nobleman and his unfortunate wives.  A little research proved that caryopteris, the shrub that goes by that nickname, is neither French, nor murderous.  In fact, bluebeard, sometimes also known as “blue mist shrub” or ‘blue spirea”, is downright joyful and brings color to the late summer landscape.

Blue, even when it tends to blue-purple is a wonderful color in the garden, and it is especially welcome in late summer and early fall—generally just ahead of the mums and asters– when blue mist shrubs burst into bloom.

The most common forms of blue mist shrub are varieties of Caryopteris x clandonensis, a hybrid of two caryopteris species, Caryopteris incana and Caropteris mongholica.  The happy result of the hybridizing process is deciduous shrubs that grow two to three feet tall, with green to gray-green, oval-shaped leaves that taper to elegant points.  The leaves, which release a pleasant fragrance when brushed, give away the fact that Caryopteris is a member of the enormous mint or Labiateae family.

The “blue mist” that give Caryopteris species, hybrids and varieties their common name, is made up of clusters of small blue flowers that appear at the ends of the arching stems and in the leaf axils where stems and leaves meet.  The “beard” that gave rise to the common name “bluebeard” is actually a small tuft at the base of each tiny petal. Butterflies and other pollinators probably don’t care about the beards, but they do covet the abundant nectar in the tubular blooms. Perhaps best of all, the plants flower on the current year’s growth, so early spring freezes will not prevent later summer flowering.

Gardeners are spoiled for choice when it comes to caryopteris.  The classic variety is ‘Longwood Blue’, a hybrid developed at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania.  Sky blue flowers ornament a plant that grows to be about three feet tall and at least as wide.  A little smaller, with darker, richer-colored flowers, ‘Beyond Midnight’ is another x clandonensis hybrid that reaches about 2.5 feet tall and wide.  It might work well in large containers.

To light things up further, ‘Sunshine Blue’ sports golden-green foliage to go along with its medium blue flower clusters.  It grows to about the same dimensions as ‘Longwood Blue’.

Since blue mist shrubs flower only once per growing season, variegated foliage helps sustain interest before and after bloom time.  ‘White Surprise’ is a clandonensis hybrid with green petals edged in white.  ‘Snow Fairy’, a variety of the Himalayan species Caryopteris divericata, also sports white-edged leaves.

But what about the vogue for pink in fashion and flowers?  Blue mist shrubs are also available with pink “mist” (though they retain the “blue mist” name).  ‘Beyond Pink’d’ is a variety of Caryopteris incana, one of the parents of the clandonensis hybrids.  It boasts the same aromatic foliage and flower panicles as its blue-flowered relatives, but the bloom clusters are medium pink.  Its pollinator-attracting capabilities are the same as those of other caryopteris.

With its moderate size and colorful late summer flowers, blue mist shrub makes a good addition to beds, borders or even container gardens, provided the containers are large enough.  It also has the potential to make an excellent deciduous hedge, or shine as a single specimen.  The clandonensis hybrids are generally hardy in USDA plant hardness zones five through nine; ‘Beyond Pink’d’ and other incanas are a little less cold tolerant.  They and even some of the caryopteris hybrids may die back to the ground during cold winters, but will sprout up in the spring with no ill effects.

What conditions make for a happy caryoperis?  Sunlight is important, and the shrubs need about the same light exposure as roses or tomatoes—at least six hours per day.  Like humans, blue mist shrubs dislike wet feet, so amend heavy soil with a product like Fafard Premium Natural and Organic Compost.  Mulch the shrubs in doughnut fashion, with the mulch surrounding, but not touching the base of the plants.  Water regularly while the new shrub establishes its roots.

If you crave caryopteris when you see a neighbor’s shrub flowering, take heart.  The plants can be purchased and planted in early fall.  If your pocketbook is subject to other demands right now, rest assured that “blue mist” can still blow your way next spring.

About Elisabeth Ginsburg

Born into a gardening family, Elisabeth Ginsburg grew her first plants, a healthy stand of Hollyhocks, as a young child. Her hands-on experiences range from container gardening on a Missouri balcony to mixed borders in the New Jersey suburbs and vacation gardening in Central New York State. She has studied horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden and elsewhere and has also written about gardens, landscape history and ecology for years in traditional and online publications including The New York Times Sunday “Cuttings” column, the Times Regional Weeklies, Horticulture, Garden Design, Flower & Garden, The Christian Science Monitor and many others. Her “Gardener’s Apprentice” weekly column appears in papers belonging to the Worrall chain of suburban northern and central New Jersey weekly newspapers and online at http://www.gardenersapprentice.com. She and her feline Saki. “garden supervisor” live in northern New Jersey.

Late Summering Flowering Trees By Elisabeth Ginsburg

In spring the whole world seems to bloom, with a wide array of flowering trees and shrubs joining the parade of daffodils, tulips and hyacinths.  The pace of mid to late summer is slower, which gives gardeners and flower lovers more time to appreciate the changing show.

If you are thinking about including a summer-flowering tree in your landscape, the choices are varied, from the cascading fringe of sourwood, to the camellia-like blossoms of the native Franklinia tree.  While not so numerous as the spring-flowering trees, summer bloomers come in all sizes and configurations.   If you happen to have an arboretum, you can have them all.  For the rest of us, the hardest part is choosing only one.

The Sweetness of Sourwood

Known for its (allegedly) bitter leaves and decidedly sweet fragrance, sourwood (Oxydendrum arboretum) is a deciduous native of the southeastern United States.   Related to members of the heath and heather or Ericaceae plant family, the species is also known as “Sorrel tree”, or, more sweetly, “lily-of-the-valley tree”.  In cultivation sourwoods grow to about 25 to 30 feet tall and about 20 feet wide, with shining, oval-shaped leaves that are green in summer and brilliant red or red-purple in the fall.  In very late June or July, sourwood trees are completely clothed in drooping flower panicles made up of tiny, individual chalice or urn-shaped blooms that last up to a month, spilling out over the leaves and giving the trees a singular appearance.

Well-drained soil and full sun to light shade make for happy sourwoods, and the trees are hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 9.  Lovers of variegated leaves may be interested in Oxydendrum arboretum ‘Albomarginatum’, which boasts white leaf edges.

Franklin’s Tree

Perhaps fittingly for something discovered during America’s colonial period, the Franklinia tree (Franklinia alatamaha) is a member of the tea family.  Other notable members include camellias, so it is no coincidence that the beautiful Franklinia flowers, which appear in late July, August and sometimes into September, are camellia-like.

Franklinias, hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8, are especially appropriate for smaller gardens, growing between 10 and 20 feet tall and up to 15 feet wide, with spreading branches.  The glossy leaves are narrowly tapered ovals with soft undersides.  In the fall those leaves turn red to purple.

The tree’s greatest glory, however, may be the fragrant flowers, which are white, with five petals apiece surrounding a sumptuous boss of golden stamens.

Franklinias like well-drained soil on the acidic side of the ph scale.  To get the best from the plant add organic material, like Fafard Garden Manure Blend to the soil when filling the planting hole.

Discovered in the wilds of Georgia in 1770, Franklinia disappeared from its habitat sometime afterwards.  Thanks to colonial plantsman John Bartram, who collected the seeds and named the newly discovered species after his friend, Benjamin Franklin, last summer flower lovers can enjoy Franklinia today.

Great Crape

Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia sp.) is a small tree that generally tops out at 15 to 25 feet.  The many available varieties shine with brilliant summer flower panicles or branching clusters composed of scores of individual six-petaled blooms in shades including white, a range of pinks and roses, dark red and lavender.  Crape myrtle flowers are spellbinding when they bloom, but the plants pull their weight in all four seasons. The leaves, which are oblong and appear in groups of three, tend to be smooth and glossy green, coloring up in the fall in shades of red, orange and yellow. Most varieties also have smooth grayish bark that exfoliates or peels off to reveal underbark that may be brown, gray or even pinkish.  The effect is like elegant camouflage, and it makes crape myrtles stand out during the cold months when leaves and flowers are a thing of the past.

The most common crape myrtles in commerce are varieties or hybrids of Lagerstroemia indica, which is native to parts of Asia, and the list of colors and sizes is long.

Crape myrtles like the same conditions as roses—full sun for at least six hours per day.  If your chosen site receives a little less light, the tree or shrub may still thrive but will likely produce fewer flowers.  Plant in well-drained soil enriched with organic material and mulch thoroughly.

If crape myrtle can be said to have a downside, it may be zone hardiness.  Older varieties are probably only hardy from USDA Zone 6 or 7 through Zone 9.  Newer cultivars have been bred for greater cold tolerance, but it pays to check plant tags before purchasing.

Perfect Pagodas

A tall, upright, deciduous tree with spectacular late summer flowers, the Japanese pagoda tree (Sophora japonica) is not native to Japan, but hails from China.  Reaching 50 to 75 feet tall, with a nearly equal spread, it is majestic, perfect as a specimen or even street tree.  Pagoda trees sport medium green leaves that are pinnate, with each five to ten inch “leaf” composed of a number of short leaflets that sprout from a single stem.  In July or August, those leaves are complemented by elongated clusters of pea-like white flowers that are lightly fragrant and attract pollinators.  After the petals drop, the yellow-green seed pods appear, hanging from the trees like strings of beads.  Eventually those pods turn brown and split.

Japanese pagoda trees prefer full sun to part shade, and well-drained loamy soil.  Once established they are tolerant to environmental stressors, including air pollution.  The most popular variety is ‘Regent’, which grows more quickly than the species. Pagoda trees are hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 9.

And For Colder Climates…

If you live in USDA Zones 3 or 4, where winters are colder, you can still grow trees with late summer flowers. Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), can be grown either as a shrub, or, as is often the case, trained (either by a nursery or by the gardener) to grow as a small tree.  In tree form, it can grow up to 15 feet tall with a wide crown.  From July through September the hydrangea will bloom, producing fat, conical flower panicles composed of scores of individual white blossoms that eventually age to pink and then ten.  Hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8, panicle hydrangeas are also tolerant of air pollution, but dislike drought.  Plant in full sun and provide supplemental water during hot, dry weather.

About Elisabeth Ginsburg

Born into a gardening family, Elisabeth Ginsburg grew her first plants, a healthy stand of Hollyhocks, as a young child. Her hands-on experiences range from container gardening on a Missouri balcony to mixed borders in the New Jersey suburbs and vacation gardening in Central New York State. She has studied horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden and elsewhere and has also written about gardens, landscape history and ecology for years in traditional and online publications including The New York Times Sunday “Cuttings” column, the Times Regional Weeklies, Horticulture, Garden Design, Flower & Garden, The Christian Science Monitor and many others. Her “Gardener’s Apprentice” weekly column appears in papers belonging to the Worrall chain of suburban northern and central New Jersey weekly newspapers and online at http://www.gardenersapprentice.com. She and her feline Saki. “garden supervisor” live in northern New Jersey.

Great Groundcovers by Elisabeth Ginsburg

Perennial groundcovers are the workhorses of the garden—insulating the soil, smothering weeds and beautifying the landscape all at once.  Given a little care and water while they get established, most groundcovers with grow happily with minimal attention from the gardener.  All provide a green carpet and some color up in the fall. Many have the added attraction of seasonal flowers.

A great groundcover forms a thick mat and spreads horizontally. As with any plant, finding a successful groundcover is a matter of “right plant, right place.”  Adding a quality soil amendment, like Fafard® Premium Natural and Organic Compost Blend, at planting time will encourage any low-growing “green mulch” specimen to thrive where it is planted.

The world of ground covers is large, with an array of choices for every site, even if your landscape contains that bane of the gardener’s existence—dry shade.  The following are a few of the best.

Gracious Geraniums

At about 12 inches tall when flowering, big-root geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum) is a stellar groundcover with deeply dissected medium green leaves that smell of apples.  In spring, just after the daffodils and tulips have finished their show, the leaves, are ornamented by five-petaled pink flowers.  When the petals drop, decorative pinkish seedheads appear, with a shape that brings to mind to the plant’s common name, “cranesbill”.

Flourishing in sun or light shade, big-root geraniums spread freely, but are not invasive. In the fall, the foliage turns a festive shade of red.

Geranium x cantabrigiense is a naturally occurring hybrid of big-root geranium and another species, Geranium dalmaticum, with a ground-covering habit.  The leaves are dissected, but are smaller, more rounded and daintier than those of its relative.  Shell-pink flowers accent the popular ‘Biokovo’ variety, appearing in the spring, with leaves that may redden in the fall.

Scents of Thyme

Prostrate or creeping thyme (Thymus) plants make agreeable, often fragrant groundcovers in sunny spots, and are semi-evergreen in cold winter climates. In addition to tiny green or gray-green leaves, many varieties boast small, colorful flowers.  Groundcover thymes are not generally used in cooking, unlike the closely related culinary thyme (Thymus vulgaris).  Some gardeners use prostrate thyme plants in beds and borders, while others position them between stepping stones or on lightly traveled paths.  Flowers may be white, pink or purple-pink, depending on species and variety, with most appearing in early summer.  Among the most popular species are Thymus serpyllum or wild thyme; Thymus praecox; Thymus pseudolanguinosus, commonly known as “woolly thyme”, with softly hairy foliage; and Thymus herba-barona, or “caraway thyme”, which bears caraway-scented leaves that can be used in cooking.

All thymes like well drained soil and, once established, are drought-tolerant.

Hosta Minis

Hostas of all sizes and descriptions are loved for their shade tolerance, beauty, tenacity and ease of care.  Small hostas also make great low groundcovers.  At four to eight inches tall (with taller flower spikes), minis are available in a variety of colors and forms.  The classic ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ features rounded, blue-green leaves, while its sport (spontaneous genetic mutation), ‘Mighty Mouse’ has the same foliage edged in cream.  Light up dark places with ‘Munchkin Fire’, with pointed golden green leaves. Little ‘Lemon Zinger’ also bears pointed leaves with wavy edges and darker green leaf margins.

Happy hostas will multiply quickly into ground-covering clumps that can be easily divided in spring.  The minis are as tough as their larger relatives and do well under trees and in other difficult situations.  Provide consistent moisture during dry periods.

Sweets for the Shade

Another shade loving groundcover with great leaves is sweet woodruff (Gallium odoratum), sometimes called “sweet-scented bedstraw”.  Each dark green leaf is lance-shaped, but the leaves are grouped in rounded, seven-leaf whorls that swirl about eight inches above the soil.  In mid- spring, small clusters of four-petaled white flowers appear.  Both flowers and leaves are fragrant, and can be dried and used in potpourri or sachets. Sweet woodruff spreads handily—sometimes a bit too handily—in its preferred moist, shaded environment, but escapee plants can be hand pulled or mowed easily.  It will grow successfully under black walnut trees, a challenging location for many plants.

Bugleweed Trumpets

With its ground-hugging scallop-shaped leaves and bright blue spring flower spikes, ajuga (Ajuga reptans) attracts attention.  In the species form, the leaves are shiny and dark green, but plant hybridizers have been busy creating varieties with more colorful foliage.  ‘Black Scallop’, for example features darkest purple to black foliage, while ‘Burgundy Glow’ is variegated in cream, sometimes with rosy highlights.  ‘Bronze Beauty’s’ leaves are bronze-red.  All feature similar spikes of tiny blue flowers that attract spring pollinators.  For something familiar, but just a bit different, vendors offer ‘Pink Lightening’, with pink-purple flower spikes.

Ajuga is great for covering areas that have varying mixtures of sun and shade, and prefers consistently moist soil.

If you are covering a large area with any groundcover, start with small “plug” plants and space according to directions on the tags.  Mulch around the new arrivals and water regularly.  Eventually your little plants will spread to meet each other and take over the mulching duties on their own.

 

About Elisabeth Ginsburg

Born into a gardening family, Elisabeth Ginsburg grew her first plants, a healthy stand of Hollyhocks, as a young child. Her hands-on experiences range from container gardening on a Missouri balcony to mixed borders in the New Jersey suburbs and vacation gardening in Central New York State. She has studied horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden and elsewhere and has also written about gardens, landscape history and ecology for years in traditional and online publications including The New York Times Sunday “Cuttings” column, the Times Regional Weeklies, Horticulture, Garden Design, Flower & Garden, The Christian Science Monitor and many others. Her “Gardener’s Apprentice” weekly column appears in papers belonging to the Worrall chain of suburban northern and central New Jersey weekly newspapers and online at http://www.gardenersapprentice.com. She and her feline Saki. “garden supervisor” live in northern New Jersey.

Rudbeckias

Rudbeckias are as American as the Fourth of July. All 20-something species of this sunny-flowered genus call North America home, with most occurring in at least part of the U.S. A familiar sight in meadows, prairies, and gardens, they are commonly known as black-eyed susans or coneflowers – names that allude to the dark-hued central disk that typifies their blossoms. The petals that radiate from this “cone” are usually a bracing bright yellow. The flowers typically continue for many weeks beginning in June or July, starring in the summer (and fall) border. If you want perennials and annuals with a cheerful disposition and prolific summer-long flowers, rudbeckias top the list. For even more prolific bloom, give them a spring topdressing of Fafard® Garden Manure Blend.

They are also easy keepers. Most Rudbeckia (including the following) accept a wide range of soil types, tolerate drought, and resist pests and diseases, with rabbits and deer often sparing their raspy foliage. Their only universal need is abundant sunlight. They do and look well combined with other sun-loving meadow and prairie perennials such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and blazing stars (Liatris spp.).

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

This eastern North American native lifts archetypal gold-petalled, black-coned flowers on 2- to 3-foot stems from late spring until frost, above rosettes of furry tongue-shaped leaves. Numerous garden forms are available, including so-called Gloriosa Daisy types, with especially large blooms that are often heavily stained with maroon. Named cultivars include ‘Cherokee Sunset’, whose huge double blooms carry various shades of burgundy and orange; ‘Prairie Sun’, with yellow, amber-haloed, green-coned blossoms; and ‘Indian Summer’, an enormous golden-yellow form. Compact forms such as ‘Toto’ and ‘Rustic Dwarfs’ fit nicely where space is more limited (including containers). All forms tend to be short-lived, in most cases behaving as biennials or annuals.

Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba)

Also short-lived, this relatively little-known biennial or perennial from central and eastern North America makes a highly rewarding and colorful garden subject in USDA zones 3 to 9. Borne from summer through fall in many-flowered clusters, the blooms resemble miniature black-eyed susans. Some forms such as ‘Prairie Glow’ have red-marked flowers reminiscent of Gloriosa Daisy forms of Rudbeckia hirta. Both of these short-lived species possess exceptional drought tolerance and self-sow freely if allowed.

Orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida)

Most familiar in the form of cultivar ‘Goldsturm’, orange coneflower spreads by underground rhizomes and by seed to eventually occupy large swaths of garden. Many ‘Goldsturm’ in cultivation are actually imposters, with rangier stems and smaller flowers than the 2-foot-tall original. Whatever the variety, orange coneflowers produce gold-petalled, brown-coned blooms from July until frost, attracting loads of pollinators along the way. Dwarf selections such as foot-tall ‘City Garden’ and 15-inch ‘Little Goldstar’ work well in tighter spaces. All forms of this eastern North American native thrive in moist well-drained soil, but also do fine in drier sites. Winter hardiness is from USDA zones 3-9. Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) gives the effect of a somewhat taller, lankier, non-running Rudbeckia fulgida, with pure yellow rather than orange-yellow petals. The petals are furled into funnels in the cultivar ‘Henry Eilers’, lending it a novel look. Missouri coneflower (Rudbeckia missouriensis) also bears a summer-through-fall bounty of yellow, dark-coned blooms on clumping rather than spreading plants. The densely hairy, relatively slender-leaved, highly drought-tolerant plants top out at around 30 inches and do best in zones 4 to 9.

Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)

Here is the rudbeckia to grow if you want to make an architectural statement. Large eye-catching expanses of bold deeply cleft leaves bring forth towering stems crowned with yellow-petalled, green-coned blooms. The young leaves make good eating in stir-fries and other dishes. Flowering occurs from late summer into fall. Plants can spread vigorously underground, so either give them plenty of room or choose a less rambunctious selection or hybrid such as ‘Herbstsonne’. The double-flowered cultivar ‘Goldquelle’ is also relatively well behaved, especially compared to ‘Hortensia’, a rampant double-flowered selection that often goes under the name ‘Golden Glow’. This adaptable species from eastern and central North America does well in USDA zones 3 to 9. Also quite architectural is the south-central U.S. native commonly known as great coneflower, (Rudbeckia maxima). Drawing considerable attention in spring with its immense gray-green cabbage-like basal leaves, it produces flowers with prominent thimble-shaped cones on near-naked 5-foot-plus stems in summer and fall. Happiest in relatively moist, humus-rich soil, it sometimes fails for no discernible reason, even well within its zone 5 to 9 hardiness range.

About Russell Stafford

Hortiholic and plant evangelist, Russell Stafford, transplanted his first perennial at age 7 and thereby began a lifelong plant addiction. He is the founder and custodian of Odyssey Bulbs (and Odyssey Perennials), an online nursery specializing in cool and uncommon plants. Russell also works as a horticultural consultant, freelance writer (Horticulture and The American Gardener magazines), and garden editor. He formerly served as Curator and Head of Horticulture at Fernwood Botanic Garden in Niles, Michigan and as the Horticultural Program Coordinator at the Center for Plant Conservation, then located at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. His academic degrees include a masters in forest science from Harvard University.

Shrubby Mallows

Everything has a season and midsummer is the time for mallows.  If the word “mallow” does not ring a bell, think of hollyhocks, okra and hibiscus.  All are part of the large mallow or Malvaceae family, with five-petaled flowers that look like crepe paper and distinctive central staminoid columns.  The familiar hollyhock flower is an archetypal mallow bloom.

Some mallows, like rose of Sharon, are true shrubs.  Others, including swamp mallow (Hibiscus moschuetos) and tree mallow (Lavatera arborea and Lavatera trimestris) are not true mallows, but have shrubby growth habits that make them excellent landscape specimens.  Like their mallow relatives, the shrubby  mallows are on display now in gardens across the country.

Rose of Sharon

The botanical name for rose of Sharon is Hibiscus syriacus.  This is confusing, because the plants do not hail from Syria, but grow wild in parts of China and India.  Hardy in USDA zones five through eight, the deciduous shrubs also grow exceptionally well in home gardens, rising to a height of eight to 12 feet tall and six to 10 feet wide.  Roses of Sharon can also be trained in standard or tree form.  If you grow the plant as a shrub, it can also be kept to reasonable dimensions by pruning.

Species roses of Sharon boast blooms that are pink with a darker red central “eye zone”.  Breeders have had their way with the species and now varieties are available in colors ranging from pure white through a range of pinks, reds and blue-purples.  Single-flowered cultivars sometimes have the characteristic contrasting eye zones.  Double-flowered roses of Sharon are full and fluffy with a multitude of petals.

To say that roses of Sharon are unfussy is an understatement.  If you have a space that receives full sun or light shade, chances are the plant will grow regardless of the soil type.  Once the shrub is established, it will withstand drought, pollution, and the toxins secreted by any black walnut trees that happen to be nearby.  Four-legged varmints avoid them as well.

The hollyhock-like blossoms are lovely at this time of the year, and the seed pods that succeed them are decorative.  Though the leaves do not color up in fall, the branches add structure to the landscape in the cold weather months.

If roses of Sharon have one flaw, it is their prolific nature.  Older varieties self-seed with wild abandon, making it necessary to be vigilant about locating and grubbing out unwanted seedlings.  To avoid this problem, prune the shrubs after they flower.  You can also invest in newer types, like the popular ‘Lavender Chiffon’, that are better mannered and do not self-seed.

Swamp Mallow

Though not technically a shrub, perennial swamp mallow (Hibiscus moschuetos) grows like one, with a woody stem and somewhat branching habit.  Rising between three and seven feet, with a spread of two to four feet, the plants have an impressive appearance, with lobed, toothed green leaves that may be up to eight inches long.  The real glory of the swamp mallow lies in the plant’s large summer flowers, which feature the traditional hollyhock-like configuration in an impressively large size—sometimes up to six inches wide in species plants, and even larger in hybrids and varieties.  A mature plant can produce scores of blossoms at once and serve as an eye-catching specimen in a yard or garden.

Species swamp mallows, which are hardy in USDA Zones five through nine, boast white or pink blooms with darker central “eyes”.  Plant breeders have created highly commercial varieties and hybrids, like the Southern Belle group of Hibiscus moschuetos, all of which have “belle” in their varietal names.  These mallows have a slightly more compact stature—four to six feet tall—and slightly less compact blooms, with flowers ranging from eight to ten inches wide in shades of white, pink and red, with the characteristic dark “eyes”.    At three to four feet tall, ‘Kopper King’, a hybrid of swamp mallow and another mallow species, Hibiscus coccineus, is more compact still, with distinctive dark maroon foliage and huge, light pink flowers, each bearing a red “eye”.

True to the “swamp” part of its common name, swamp mallows like uniformly moist soil and sun to light shade.  In cold winter climates, the plants die back to the ground, but return once the growing season is underway.

Shrubby and Manageable

The small and manageable tree mallows (Lavatera arborea and Lavatera trimestris) also have shrubby growth habits.  The annual trimestris species is native to the Mediterranean and grows two to four feet tall and two to three feet wide, making them good specimen plants, container subjects or low hedges.   The hollyhock-like blooms open in summer, or, depending on climate, early fall.  Normally about two to three inches wide, the blooms are white or pink and sprout from the axils of the lobed green leaves.  Lavatera trimestris is often grown from seed and can be started indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date.  The plants may also self-seed if the spent blooms are not deadheaded.

At three to six feet tall, Lavatera arborea is somewhat larger than the trimestris species, and is native to parts of Europe and northern Africa.  It is a perennial, but is only hardy in warm winter climates, so these tree mallows should be treated as annuals or overwintered indoors.  Like the trimestris mallows, Lavatera arborea blooms in mid to late summer, producing pinkish purple blooms that are attractive to pollinators.

Both tree mallows like full sun to light shade and moderate moisture levels. Gardeners with heavy clay soil should add organic material, like Fafard® Garden Manure Blend, to give lavateras a good start.  As with other shrubby mallows, the tree mallows are easy to care for and provide lots of floral beauty for a relatively small investment of time, effort and money.

 

About Elisabeth Ginsburg

Born into a gardening family, Elisabeth Ginsburg grew her first plants, a healthy stand of Hollyhocks, as a young child. Her hands-on experiences range from container gardening on a Missouri balcony to mixed borders in the New Jersey suburbs and vacation gardening in Central New York State. She has studied horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden and elsewhere and has also written about gardens, landscape history and ecology for years in traditional and online publications including The New York Times Sunday “Cuttings” column, the Times Regional Weeklies, Horticulture, Garden Design, Flower & Garden, The Christian Science Monitor and many others. Her “Gardener’s Apprentice” weekly column appears in papers belonging to the Worrall chain of suburban northern and central New Jersey weekly newspapers and online at http://www.gardenersapprentice.com. She and her feline Saki. “garden supervisor” live in northern New Jersey.

Pest-Resistant Natives by Russell Stafford

 

American gardeners who want to incorporate more native perennials into their plantings often come into conflict with two other native species: white-tailed deer and Eastern cottontail. Unlike many native plants, these vegetation-munching critters find suburban neighborhoods and other domesticated landscapes to be ideal “natural” habitats. This especially goes for one of their favorite suburban microhabitats – perennial plantings. What tastier delicacy than a lush phlox or coreopsis or other perennial favorite?

 

Rabbits and deer find some perennials to be anything but toothsome, however. Here are some to consider for your nibbler-infested garden. Most will remain largely unscathed even in areas with swarms of pests. The goldenrods are one exception, as they may be on the menu where herbivore pressure is intense.

 

Bee balm (Monarda spp.)

Deer and rabbits tend to steer clear of plants with strongly aromatic foliage. Consequently, many of the most pest-resistant perennials belong to the mint family – including everything in the genus Monarda. Best known to gardeners in the form of large 3-foot-plus hybrids such as brilliant red-flowered ‘Jacob Cline’ and purple-red ‘Raspberry Wine’, bee balms come in many other colors and sizes. One of the best is the Midwest native Bradbury’s bee balm (Monarda bradburiana). Its lilac-pink flowers open a month before the hybrids bloom, on 15-inch plants that clump rather than romp. The mildew-resistant foliage flushes deep bronze-purple in early spring. Similar in flower color but blooming a month later on 4-foot stems, wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) ranges over a wide area of eastern and central North America. It also spreads widely in any good garden soil. All of the above would appreciate a hit of Fafard Organic Compost, especially if your soil has lots of sand or clay. In contrast, horsemint (Monarda punctata) prefers garden conditions more akin to the dry, sandy habitats where it occurs naturally. It’s fascinating pink-collared whorls of yellow flowers attract numerous beneficial pollinators in summer, while its oregano-scented foliage repels herbivores. This spreading, 30-inch-tall, short-lived perennial is native to much of North America, from coast to coast.

Mountain mints (Pycnanthemum spp.) and anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

We profiled these fragrant-leaved mint family members in May in an article on edible natives. Edible for humans, that is; for deer and rabbits, they’re just the opposite. One Agastache we didn’t profile last month – yellow giant hyssop (Agastache nepetoides) – is equally pest-resistant and pollinator-friendly. An architectural 4- to 6-foot perennial from eastern and central North America, it triggers a pollinator feeding frenzy with its summer spikes of small yellow flowers. They evolve to elongated dark-gray seedheads, which make an ornamental statement in fall and winter. Most Agastache are enthusiastic self-sowers, so be on the lookout for volunteer seedlings. Mountain mints also spread widely, by underground rhizomes and sometimes by seed.

Beardtongues (Penstemon spp.)

Beloved by hummingbirds and bumblebees, Penstemon are native exclusively to North America, in a wide range of regions and habitats. Deer and rabbits avoid all 250-plus members of the genus. Most Central and Eastern U.S. beardtongues (such as P. digitalis and P. smallii) produce spires of white or pink/purplish flowers on 2- to 4-foot stems in late spring or early summer. Western species flower in a much wider range of colors, including blue, red, and the occasional yellow. Unfortunately, Westerners are also typically mountain-dwellers that loathe heat and dampness. Exceptions such as violet-blue-flowered Penstemon strictus do just fine in the Eastern lowlands provided the soil isn’t too heavy or damp.

 

Bluestars (Amsonia spp.)

The handsome lance-shaped foliage of these stalwart perennials is seemingly immune from diseases and pests. Native mostly to the southeastern and central U.S., bluestars owe their common name to their clusters of narrow-petaled flowers that open in late spring or early summer. Until recently, Eastern bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) – including its narrow-leaved and compact forms (salicifolia and montana) – was the most commonly grown species. That honor now surely belongs to threadleaf bluestar (A. hubrichtii), prized for its fine-textured, narrow foliage borne on dense 42-inch plants. Also worth growing, are other U.S. native amsonias including shining bluestar (A. illustris) and stiff bluestar (A. rigida). All of them turn eye-catching yellow shades in fall.

Goldenrods (Solidago spp. etc.)

Often dismissed wholesale as rampant weeds, goldenrods offer numerous well-behaved species in a diversity of shapes and sizes. They are also pest-resistant – although you can expect some damage in heavily browsed areas. Perhaps the most pest resistant of the tribe is sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora), whose anise-like fragrance and flavor is off-putting to bunnies and deer. Other noteworthy species include stiff goldenrod (S. rigida), which flaunts large, handsome, gray-green basal leaves and domed heads of yellow flowers; and showy goldenrod (S. speciosa), with arrestingly large panicles of golden yellow on statuesque stems. There is even a white-flowered species, silverrod (S. speciosa), also notable for the graceful form of its narrow upright inflorescences on 2-foot stems. These and other goldenrods are essential late-summer bloomers, attracting swarms of bumblebees and other pollinators. And no – they do not cause hay fever.

Bugbane (Actaea spp.)

Formerly known botanically as Cimicifuga, these pollinator favorites make excellent architectural subjects for partial shade. Northeast and Central U.S. native black bugbane (Actaea racemosa) forms large lacy clumps of divided leaves, topped by statuesque spires of frothy white flowers in midsummer. Appalachian bugbane (A. rubifolia) is bolder in texture, later in flower, and somewhat more compact in habit than black bugbane. Its dense white candelabras appear in late summer atop shrubby clumps of large maple-like leaves. Both species do best in good moderately moist soil, but Appalachian bugbane also thrives in somewhat drier sites.

Fernleaf bleeding heart (Dicentra spp.)

One of the few shade-loving perennials with season-long bloom, Dicentra eximia produces flushes of pink flowers from mid-spring through fall. Native to rocky woodland habitats in the mid-Atlantic and Southeast, it’s nearly identical with the Western U.S. native Dicentra formosa. Their charming blooms cluster above low clumps of ferny, often silver-tinged leaves, which are quite attractive in their own right. Hybrids between these species (including ‘Zestful and ‘Luxuriant’) also make outstanding and pest-resistant garden subjects.

 

About Russell Stafford

Hortiholic and plant evangelist, Russell Stafford, transplanted his first perennial at age 7 and thereby began a lifelong plant addiction. He is the founder and custodian of Odyssey Bulbs (and Odyssey Perennials), an online nursery specializing in cool and uncommon plants. Russell also works as a horticultural consultant, freelance writer (Horticulture and The American Gardener magazines), and garden editor. He formerly served as Curator and Head of Horticulture at Fernwood Botanic Garden in Niles, Michigan and as the Horticultural Program Coordinator at the Center for Plant Conservation, then located at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. His academic degrees include a masters in forest science from Harvard University.

Tasty Native Perennials by Russell Stafford

 

You can have your native perennials AND eat them too. As exhibit A, we present the following toothsome perennial species from eastern and central North America. Adding zest both to ornamental plantings and to recipes, they’re a must for cutting-edge kitchen gardens – and kitchens.

Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Favorites of bees and hummingbirds, the lavender-blue, late-spring-to-fall flowers of this 3-foot Midwest and Plains native have a sweet anise-like flavor that also appeals to humans. So, too, do the leaves, which are good for mixing with the flowers as a salad garnish. You can use them in cooked dishes as well, where they work nicely as a counterpoint to acidic fruits and vegetables. Drought-tolerant and sun-loving, anise hyssop will tolerate some shade, flowering less prolifically there. Self-sowing is common, so be on the lookout for volunteers! It’s hardy from USDA Zones 3 to 8.

Sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora)

The tasseled yellow late-summer blooms and anise-like fragrance and flavor of sweet goldenrod make it a natural companion to anise hyssop, both in borders and in dishes. Sprinkle a mélange of their flowers on salads for a bracing hit of flavor and color, or add the leaves to tea. At around 20 inches tall, this clumping goldenrod plays nicely in sunny wildflower plantings and cottage gardens, functioning well as a foreground plant. It does well in medium to dry soil in zones 3 to 9 – a wide hardiness range that reflects its Southeast Canada to Texas native range.

Aniseroot (Osmorhiza longistylis)

The scent and flavor of anise make yet another guest appearance in this widespread North American woodlander (native from the East Coast to the Rockies). From its fleshy roots to its ferny leaves to its lacey white late-spring flowers to the seeds that follow, it is excellent for flavoring salads and cooked dishes and for brewing into teas. Aniseroot looks well in naturalistic shaded borders and cottage gardens in zones 2 to 9. It likes humus-rich soil, so an application of Fafard® Premium Natural & Organic Compost is helpful in sandy or clay-heavy sites. Its close cousin Osmorhiza claytonii is hairier, fewer-flowered, and much less aromatic.

Mountan mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)

Members of the mint family, pycnanthemums all possess the scent, flavor, and romping habit characteristic of their tribe. As ornamental plants, they’re perfect for naturalistic borders, where their colonizing habit and white to purplish summer blooms provide an effective foil to showy-flowered summer perennials such as coneflowers (Rudbeckia) and blazing stars (Liatris). Ornamentally, mountain mints come in two different general types. Species such as hoary mountain mint (P. incanum) and silver mountain mint (P. muticum) have oval leaves with petal-like silver-gray bracts that surround the small clusters of pink or white flowers. Other species (including Virginia mountain mint, P. virginianum) bear narrow, almost needle-like leaves and somewhat larger flower clusters, with no flower bracts. All pycnanthemums can be used in the kitchen to add minty highlights to salads, cooked dishes, teas, and jellies. Broader-leaved species tend to be mintier in flavor than the needle-leaved types.

Ramps (Allium tricoccum)

The pungent garlicky leaves of this woodland onion have been a staple of “ramps festivals” and other springtime culinary traditions throughout its native range of eastern and central North America. Unfortunately, this has resulted in over-collection from the wild in many areas, resulting in reduced populations. With a bit of patience, you can grow it for eventual harvest in whatever shady, humus-rich habitats your yard has to offer (you will need several years to achieve a substantial clump). Fortunately, a little ramps goes a long way. Harvest a leaf (or two) with its underlying bulb in spring before the foliage goes dormant, and you will have enough to flavor a good-sized omelet. Then leave your clump alone for another year. Clusters of whitish flowers appear in early summer after the leaves disappear – an echo of spring’s bounty.

Sochan (Rudbeckia lacniata)

Highly ornamental when they form bold jagged clumps in summer and fall, the leaves and shoots of this eastern and central North American native make for a tasty treat while young and tender in spring. Use them in stir-fries, where they will contribute a distinct flavor somewhat reminiscent of celery. Older leaves and stems require more careful handling. As an ornamental, Rudbeckia laciniata peaks in late summer, displaying yellow green-centered coneflowers atop lofty stems. Plants succeed in moist to average soil over a wide hardiness range (2 to 9).

Scots lovage (Ligusticum scoticum)

Another outstanding ornamental perennial with celery-like flavor, Scot’s lovage occurs on beaches and other coastal habitats throughout much of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The lush compound leaves even have something of a celery look, although on a much handsomer plane. Flat lacy white umbels appear on 18-inch stems in late spring and summer, confirming this perennial’s membership is in the parsley family. As with the leaves, the flowers are edible (as are the seeds that follow). The flavor can be strong, so use Scot’s lovage sparingly at first. It does well in average as well as sandy soil, in sunny to lightly shaded garden habitats from zones 3 to 7.

Additionally, ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), with its eminently friable fiddleheads; sunchoke (Helianthus tuberosus), with its tasty tubers; and quite a few other native perennials also are excellent both for display and for eating.  All of the above are things to keep in mind when you’re planning your ornamental and kitchen plantings.

 

 

 

About Russell Stafford

Hortiholic and plant evangelist, Russell Stafford, transplanted his first perennial at age 7 and thereby began a lifelong plant addiction. He is the founder and custodian of Odyssey Bulbs (and Odyssey Perennials), an online nursery specializing in cool and uncommon plants. Russell also works as a horticultural consultant, freelance writer (Horticulture and The American Gardener magazines), and garden editor. He formerly served as Curator and Head of Horticulture at Fernwood Botanic Garden in Niles, Michigan and as the Horticultural Program Coordinator at the Center for Plant Conservation, then located at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. His academic degrees include a masters in forest science from Harvard University.

Eye Zone Roses by Elisabeth Ginsburg

For garden lovers, the landscape is full of “eyes”–bi-colored flowers with petals that include a central “eye” or ring that contrasts with the main flower color. Members of the mallow family, like hollyhocks and rose-of-Sharon have them, but garden roses usually do not. Now plant breeders have changed all that and the eyes have it among rose fanciers.

The genes for the rose “eye zone” trait came from a plant known—depending on the sources– botanically as Rosa persica, Hulthemia persica or Hulthemia berberifolia.  Whatever you call it, the important thing to remember is that hulthemia, a plant native to eastern Iran and surrounding areas, is a thorny, scraggly shrub that sports bright yellow flowers with unusual red centers.  It blooms in summer and is well adapted to its native hot, dry climate.  It is clearly related to the genus Rosa, home of true roses, but lacks some rose characteristics.

photo by Proven Winners® Ringo All-Star™

Hulthemia might still be an obscure plant, if not for those “eyes”, which have entranced breeders for years, inspiring them to cross hulthemia with garden rose varieties to produced offspring with eyes.  Some of the first matchmaking attempts were made by Englishman Jack Harkness, who bred roses for his family’s firm from 1964 until his death in 1994. Obtaining hulthemia seeds, Harkness worked to breed reblooming rose varieties that had the characteristic hulthemia appearance. Harkness eventually  introduced four hulthemia/rose varieties: ‘Euphrates,’ ‘Tigris,’ ‘Nigel Hawthorne’ and ‘Xerxes.’  Unfortunately, none were reliable rebloomers and only ‘Tigris’ produced viable seed for future crosses. The matchmaking efforts continued, with further crosses made by Harkness and other breeders in England and America, including Ralph Moore, a Californian best known for his miniature roses.

Photo by Elisabeth Ginsburg

In a 2007 article, an American rose breeder named James A. Sproul of Bakersfield, California, wrote about the hulthemia breeding process.  According to Sproul, the genes that produce the characteristic “eyes” seem to be linked to genes for non-repeat blooming.  The majority of modern rose buyers look for roses that rebloom reliably, which made  hulthemia breeding an even greater challenge.

In his article, Sproul predicted that either the Harkness firm or one of several other breeders would create a hulthemia breakthrough and have a reblooming rose with eyes ready for introduction within five years.  Sproul then went ahead and did it himself, introducing his trademarked “Eyeconic” series, beginning with ‘Lemonade’ and ‘Pink Lemonade’ in 2011.

The Eyeconic series has since expanded to include delectable-sounding varieties like ‘Lychee Lemonade’, ‘Mango Lemonade’: ‘Plum Lemonade’, ‘Melon Lemonade’ and ‘Pomegranate Lemonade.’  In all cases, the fruit designation refers to the base petal color.  All feature darker central “eyes”.  The “Eyeconic” shrubs are medium size bushes, growing to around four feet tall, with semi-double flowers bearing eight to ten petals apiece.  All are repeat bloomers and all are striking plants.

Once breeders like Sproul figured out the reblooming equation, more “eye zone” roses came to market, including ‘Ringo’, a cream to yellow single rose with and orange-red eye.  Most are now characterized as “hybrid Hulthemia” roses, because of their mixed genetic heritage.

In 2019, American rose breeder Tom Carruth introduced ‘In Your Eyes’, a repeat-blooming hulthemia hybrid that can grow up to six feet tall.  It bears colorful flowers that open with cream or creamy yellow petals surrounding a red eye.  As the petals age, they take on a lavender cast and the eye darkens.  With multiple buds opening at different times on a single mature bush, the effect is  dramatic.

The hybrid hulthemias, with their heritage of heat tolerance, are useful in areas where summers can be torrid.  Like other roses, they flourish in spots that get at least six hours of sunshine each day, and appreciate the addition of a high –quality soil amendment like Fafard® Premium Natural and Organic Compost Blend at planting time. To curb the tendency to legginess, cut back by one third after each flush of bloom.

Going forward, we will certainly see more trademarked lines of “eye zone” roses.  Right now, most produce single or semi-double flowers to allow maximum exposure for the central eye. Rise Up ‘Ringo’ is a recent entry in the field with an array of fluffy yellow petals, red central eyes, and a climbing habit.  Still to come–similar roses with  more petals and/or more compact habits.  Fragrance is not a strong feature, so hybridizers are almost undoubtedly working to breed that trait back into future introductions.

Major plant producers like Proven Winners® have jumped on the eye zone bandwagon.  Various varieties should be widely available through local garden retailers.

About Elisabeth Ginsburg

Born into a gardening family, Elisabeth Ginsburg grew her first plants, a healthy stand of Hollyhocks, as a young child. Her hands-on experiences range from container gardening on a Missouri balcony to mixed borders in the New Jersey suburbs and vacation gardening in Central New York State. She has studied horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden and elsewhere and has also written about gardens, landscape history and ecology for years in traditional and online publications including The New York Times Sunday “Cuttings” column, the Times Regional Weeklies, Horticulture, Garden Design, Flower & Garden, The Christian Science Monitor and many others. Her “Gardener’s Apprentice” weekly column appears in papers belonging to the Worrall chain of suburban northern and central New Jersey weekly newspapers and online at http://www.gardenersapprentice.com. She and her feline Saki. “garden supervisor” live in northern New Jersey.

Beyond Forsythia by Russell Stafford

Forsythias are not the only shrubs that bloom bright yellow early in the year, despite being the only ones you’re likely see in your neighborhood or at your local garden center. Indeed, they are far from the earliest – or the best—such shrubs. Several other hardy shrub species not only produce sunny yellow flowers weeks or months before forsythias blossom, but also offer ornamental interest post-bloom (rather than reverting to an anonymous tangle of suckering stems, as forsythias do). Yet, because they flower before the gardening season is in full swing and are harder to propagate than forsythias, these superior alternatives are far less known in nurseries and gardens.

 

If you’ve ever puzzled over a “forsythia” that’s in full bloom in midwinter, chances are it’s actually a hybrid of Chinese witch-hazel (Hamamelis × intermedia). The earliest varieties open their ribbony blooms during mild weather in February or even January in zones 6 and warmer. These large, often V-shaped shrubs usually flower in yellow, but some varieties delve into redder parts of the spectrum. Numerous hybrid witch-hazel cultivars are available from a handful of gourmet mail-order nurseries, and all are worth trying. You’ll do just fine though with the relatively common ‘Arnold Promise’, which produces abundant golden-yellow flowers rather late in the witch-hazel season (February to March). One of the best of the non-yellow cultivars is the paprika-red ‘Diane’, which glows especially warmly when backlit by the winter sun. All witch-hazel flowers possess a delightful citrusy perfume, which carries on whatever mild breezes might be wafting. Their broad, bluntly toothed leaves go yellow or orange in fall.

Offering rather smaller flowers than the Asian hybrids is the U.S. native Hamamelis vernalis, commonly known as Ozark witch-hazel. The yellow to violet blooms open as early as December, on densely branched plants that top out at 8 feet or so, rather than the 10-feet-plus of most Asian witch-hazel varieties. Ozark witch-hazel thus makes a splendid choice for hedging (unlike an unruly Forsythia!). For smaller gardens there’s the cultivar ‘Quasimodo’, which matures at around 5 feet tall and wide.

 

Then there’s the most widespread U.S.-native witch-hazel, Hamamelis virginiana. A fall-bloomer, it’s outside the scope of this article, but well worth incorporating in your garden. Most witch-hazels are hardy to USDA Zone 5.

 

As their common name suggests, winter-hazels (Corylopsis) resemble witch-hazels in several respects, particularly in the shape of their handsome foliage. This is not surprising, given that they’re also members of the witch-hazel family. Most mature as large shrubs of 8 to 10 feet or more, which dangle chains of yellow flowers from their branches a couple weeks before forsythias bloom. Buttercup winter-hazel (Corylopsis pauciflora), however, grows more compactly, forming tightly thicketing clumps of 4- to 6-foot tall stems. They’re elegantly adorned in late winter with clusters of sulfur-yellow blooms, with the leaves turning similar pale yellow hues in fall. This first-rate shrub is one of the most desirable subjects for USDA Zone 5b to 8 gardens, as is its hybrid ‘Winterthur’. Give your winter-hazel a site sheltered from hot sun and northwest winds, with an occasional top-dressing of Fafard Organic Compost to keep it extra-happy. They’re hardy to milder sectors of Zone 5.

Another group of shrubs with very early blooms are the cornelian cherries, best known in gardens in the form of Cornus mas. Maturing at 12 or more feet tall, this Zone-5-hardy member of the dogwood tribe also can be grown as a multitrunked small tree. Clouds of small citron-yellow flowers open in late winter, well before the oval leaves emerge. Tart fruits that resemble cranberries ripen in late summer, making a valuable contribution to the edible garden. Cultivars such as ‘Pioneer’ produce even larger fruits than standard-issue Cornus mas. Fall foliage is often a good burgundy-red on most varieties.

Blooming slightly earlier on similarly sized (but slightly less cold-hardy) plants is Japanese cornel, Cornus officinalis. Its early bloom time and attractively exfoliating bark mark it as arguably a superior ornamental plant to Cornus mas, but it is far less common in horticulture. As with all of the above, it is well worth searching out if, you have a place for it.

About Russell Stafford

Hortiholic and plant evangelist, Russell Stafford, transplanted his first perennial at age 7 and thereby began a lifelong plant addiction. He is the founder and custodian of Odyssey Bulbs (and Odyssey Perennials), an online nursery specializing in cool and uncommon plants. Russell also works as a horticultural consultant, freelance writer (Horticulture and The American Gardener magazines), and garden editor. He formerly served as Curator and Head of Horticulture at Fernwood Botanic Garden in Niles, Michigan and as the Horticultural Program Coordinator at the Center for Plant Conservation, then located at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. His academic degrees include a masters in forest science from Harvard University.

Flowering Quince by Elisabeth Ginsburg

Every year I glory in the first signs of spring—snowdrops, crocuses, early daffodils and grape hyacinths.  But the big show really takes off when the swollen buds on the old flowering quince start popping open, revealing joyful, pinky-white blossoms that cover the shrub in a foamy cascade.

The flowers are reminiscent of apple blossoms, which is no coincidence, since quinces and apples both belong to the larger Rosaceae or rose family.

Flowering quince—Chaenomeles japonica, Chaenomeles speciosa and hybrids—have been enchanting us for a long time.  The japonica species was introduced to the United States from Asia in 1784, and the speciosa quinces arrived in 1815.  They caught on quickly.  For some time flowering quince was known as Pyrus japonica, a nod to the pear tree, also loved for its flowers, and known to its botanist friends by the species name Pyrus.

photo by Elisabeth Ginsburg

Japanese quince has many virtues, including vivid red-orange spring flowers, attractive ovoid leaves, and a relatively low-growing habit (two to three feet tall, and three to six feet wide).  Densely branched, it also sports a highly effective system of defenses, in the form of inch-long spines.  Harvesting branches for indoor display is a time-honored spring tradition, but requires sturdy gloves and a bit of caution.

The spiny trait is shared by the glorious Chaenomeles speciosa, a flowering quince native to parts of China, Tibet and Myanmar.  It is larger than the speciosa type, growing six to ten feet tall and wide.  The flowers are more red than orange and also open in the spring.

Orange and orange-red flowered quinces are show-stopping, but varieties with less flamboyant flower colors are also available.  I love the old-fashioned hybrid, ‘Cameo’, with soft peach blooms and characteristic glossy green leaves on three to four-foot shrubs.  The flowers are especially beautiful with the spring sunlight shining through them.  If you are partial to white blooms, try ‘Jet Trail’, a somewhat smaller variety (three to four-foot height and spread) with single white petals surrounding golden stamens.

photo by Elisabeth Ginsburg

So what should you do if you covet the beauties of flowering quince but hesitate at the threat of thorns?  Hybridizers have thought of that, crossing and back-crossing speciosa and japonica varieties to produce thornless cultivars like the trademarked Double Take series, speciosas hybridized by Dr. Thomas Ranney at North Carolina State University Extension Center.  The color range includes  ‘Double Take Scarlet’, ‘Double Take Orange’, ‘Double Take Peach’ and ‘Double Take Eternal White’.

Confusion can ensue when gardeners compare traditional flowering quinces against those of common quince (Cydonia oblonga) native to parts of Eurasia, which bears white or pink flowers. Common quince is grown primarily for its edible pear-like fruit, while the flowering species and hybrids, which may also bear somewhat smaller quantities of fruit, are grown almost exclusively for their ornamental value.  Ripe quince fruits from either type of shrub exude an intoxicating fragrance, but cannot be eaten out of hand.  Hard and sour when harvested, quince can be cooked down with a bit of sugar to make a lovely sauce or thickened further into membrillo (also known as quince paste or quince cheese) that is tasty when paired with cheese.

If you don’t want to worry about rock-hard quinces falling from your shrubs, opt for the Double Take varieties, which are both spineless and fruit-free.

Flowering quinces  have long been prized as landscape shrubs. Twentieth century gardener and garden writer, Vita Sackville-West, co-creator of the great gardens at Sissinghurst in Kent, England, mentioned them many times in her garden columns for the Observer newspaper.  She recommended using quince bushes en masse for flowering hedges.  Needless to say, those hedges would be especially effective for use on property boundaries.

The shrubs can also be grown as specimen plants or incorporated into a mixed annual, perennial and shrub border.  They appreciate the same conditions as other members of the rose family—full sun and rich, loamy soil, but can also adapt to light shade.  Like many beautiful things, they tend to grow in an undisciplined manner.  Prune after flowering to shape the plant and watch for root suckers.  These are easy to remove, but if left unchecked will begin the process of turning your single quince into a quince thicket.

photo by Elisabeth Ginsburg

Glorious spring beauty is the best reason to invest in flowering quince.  Don’t be intimidated by the spines.  For centuries gardeners have grown all kinds of spiny things, including raspberries, barberries, cacti and holly, and managed, using a combination of gloves and caution, to enjoy them without drawing blood.

About Elisabeth Ginsburg

Born into a gardening family, Elisabeth Ginsburg grew her first plants, a healthy stand of Hollyhocks, as a young child. Her hands-on experiences range from container gardening on a Missouri balcony to mixed borders in the New Jersey suburbs and vacation gardening in Central New York State. She has studied horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden and elsewhere and has also written about gardens, landscape history and ecology for years in traditional and online publications including The New York Times Sunday “Cuttings” column, the Times Regional Weeklies, Horticulture, Garden Design, Flower & Garden, The Christian Science Monitor and many others. Her “Gardener’s Apprentice” weekly column appears in papers belonging to the Worrall chain of suburban northern and central New Jersey weekly newspapers and online at http://www.gardenersapprentice.com. She and her feline Saki. “garden supervisor” live in northern New Jersey.