Foamflowers, Tiarella cordifolia

Facts about Foamflower, Tiarella cordifolia:

Appearance:
--Heart-shaped, lobed leaves that are typically green but can have some burgundy variegation, especially in cooler weather.
--White flowers with long stamens that bloom in late spring on slender stalks rising above the foliage.
--Grows to be about 10-14 inches tall.
--Habitat: Prefers shaded areas with moist, well-drained soil. Found in woodlands and forests of eastern North America.

Uses:
--Shade tolerant groundcover for gardens.
--Easy to grow and low maintenance.
--Deer resistant.

Other:
--Also known as Heartleaf Foamflower.
--A member of the Saxifrage family.
--Considered a "showy" wildflower.

Torenia,Torenia fournieri

Common names: Also known as Wishbone Flower, Bluewings, and in Hawaii, Nanioola'a or Ola'a beauty.
Family: Linderniaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae)
Type: Flowering plant (annual)
Size: Grows 6 to 12 inches tall and wide.

Flowers: Trumpet-shaped blooms with five petals, come in various colors like white, pink, lavender, blue, violet, and purple, often with yellow markings in the throat. The center stamen resembles a wishbone, hence the nickname.
Bloom time: Early summer to late summer.
Light: Prefers partial shade.
Water: Needs consistent moisture but well-drained soil.
Uses: Popular for borders, edging, and containers. Does well in shady areas.
Maintenance: Relatively low maintenance. Pinch young plants to encourage bushier growth.

Propagation: Can be grown from seeds sown indoors or directly outdoors.
Interesting fact: Many Torenia hybrids have been developed in recent years, offering a wider variety of colors and growth habits.

Icelandic Poppy, Papaver nudicaule

The Icelandic Poppy, scientifically known as Papaver nudicaule, is a fascinating plant with a range of unique characteristics and cultural significance.

Here are some intriguing facts about this beautiful flower:

Origin and Habitat: Despite its name, the Icelandic Poppy is not native to Iceland but to the subpolar regions of Europe, North America, and Asia. It thrives in cold climates, showcasing its resilience and adaptability​​.

Appearance and Varieties: The plant is known for its large, papery, bowl-shaped flowers which come in a variety of colors including yellow, orange, salmon, rose, pink, cream, and white. The flowers sit atop hairy, 1-foot curved stems amid feathery blue-green foliage. Cultivars such as 'Champagne Bubbles' and 'Wonderland' offer a range of sizes and colors​​.

Cultivation: Icelandic Poppies prefer light, well-drained soil and full sun. They are not well-suited to hot weather and can live 2-3 seasons in cool summer climates. Their seeds are exceedingly minute, and the plants have long taproots that do not like to be disturbed​​.

Symbolism and Uses: These poppies symbolize hope and resilience, blooming in harsh conditions and attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. They have been used in traditional medicine for their analgesic properties and are popular as cut flowers due to their long-lasting blooms​​.

Toxicity: Like all poppies, Icelandic Poppies contain toxic alkaloids, making all parts of the plant potentially poisonous​​.

The Icelandic Poppy's vibrant colors, delicate appearance, and resilience in cold climates make it a beloved choice for gardeners and a subject of interest in various cultural contexts.

Brazilian jasmine, Mandevilla sanderi

Brazilian Jasmine, known scientifically as Mandevilla sanderi, is a vibrant vine that originates from the State of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It's not a true jasmine, despite its common name, and belongs to the Mandevilla genus. This plant is celebrated for its ornamental qualities, being a rapidly growing, creeping perennial that can prune shoots about 60 cm per year​​.

The plant has a naturally bushy habit and can reach heights between 2-3 meters, or even 4.5 meters in warmer climates. It's characterized by its ability to climb using long, woody stems and its dark green, glossy, ovate-elliptical leaves that grow to about 6 cm in length. The inflorescences are typically pink-red and emerge in simple racemes, usually at the terminal ends of branches. Each flower is around 4-7 cm in diameter, displaying a funnel-shaped corolla​​.

For care, Brazilian Jasmine thrives in well-drained but moist, sandy loamy soil that is moderately fertile. It's crucial to maintain a balance in watering, ensuring the plant receives generous amounts once a week when the topsoil is dry, particularly during the growing season from spring through autumn. Overwatering should be avoided to prevent root rot and other common diseases​​.

When it comes to propagation, Brazilian Jasmine can be propagated through seeds or stem cuttings. For stem cuttings, which are often preferred, you should take 4 to 6-inch cuttings from young, healthy stems, dipping the cut end in rooting hormone and planting them in moist soil. In a few weeks, you should have new plants starting to root​​.

Pests and diseases can occasionally be a concern, with issues such as spider mites, aphids, and leaf spot being the most common. Preventive measures include regular sprays with insecticidal soap or neem oil to keep pests at bay and ensuring the soil isn't overly moist to avoid diseases​​.

Regarding toxicity, Brazilian Jasmine is mildly toxic due to the latex in its sap, which can cause skin irritation upon contact and indigestion if ingested. It's advisable to keep the plant out of reach from children and pets to avoid any accidental ingestion or skin contact​​.

With its lush, colorful blooms and vigorous growth, Brazilian Jasmine can make a stunning addition to your indoor or outdoor garden, provided it receives the right care and conditions to thrive.

Orpine, Sedum telephium

Orpine, also known by its scientific name Hylotelephium telephium, and previously as Sedum telephium, is a succulent perennial plant native to Eurasia. It's part of the Crassulaceae family and is known for its robust and easy-care nature. The plant has many common names, including frog's-stomach, harping Johnny, life-everlasting, live-forever, midsummer-men, Orphan John, and witch's moneybags, reflecting its diverse cultural significance and appearance.

Orpine grows erect or ascending stems, which can reach up to 60 cm in height, with dull green, sometimes reddish-tinged leaves. These leaves are oblong, elliptic to narrowly ovate, usually with strongly toothed margins, and can be up to 6 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. The star-shaped flowers are reddish-purple and appear in dense clusters, usually from late summer to fall. It's a hardy plant that dies back to the ground in winter, with new growth appearing in spring.

This plant has adapted to a variety of environments and can be found in fields, around hedges, and on gravelly or calcareous soils. It's well-known for its drought tolerance and can thrive in areas from USDA hardiness zones 5a to 9b, which corresponds to a wide range of temperatures.

Orpine has been used in both culinary and medicinal contexts. Its young leaves can be eaten raw, and both the leaves and firm tubers can be cooked. Historically, the Romans used it to treat wounds, and it has been employed to treat internal ulcers. Interestingly, it has also been part of love-divination practices.

For gardeners interested in cultivating orpine, it prefers full sun but can tolerate light to partial shade in hot climates. It requires well-drained soil and does not need rich soil to flourish. The "soak and dry" method is recommended for watering, ensuring the soil is completely wet before allowing it to dry out completely. Annual feeding with a balanced fertilizer in spring as new growth appears is beneficial for its health and vigor.

Propagation can be done through seeds, division, or stem cuttings, making it a versatile plant for gardeners looking to expand their collection or share with others.

Love-in-a-Mist, Nigella damascena

Love-in-a-Mist, or Nigella damascena, is a charming and romantic garden annual known for its lovely flowers that seem to be encased in a delicate, misty web of bracts. This plant is native to rocky areas of North Africa and southern Europe and has a long season of interest in the garden​​.

The plant gets its unique name from its intricate flower structure, where delicate petals surround a central cluster of thread-like filaments, creating a mist-like appearance. It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, which includes other well-known species such as buttercups, clematis, and peonies. Love-in-a-Mist has been cultivated for centuries, appreciated for its ornamental value in gardens​​.

Love-in-a-Mist blooms in various colors, including shades of blue, white, pink, and purple, adding a cheerful touch to any garden. After flowering, it forms unique seed pods that are often used in dried flower arrangements. Typically grown as an annual plant, Love-in-a-Mist completes its life cycle in a single year but can self-seed in suitable conditions​​.

The plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil and is relatively easy to grow from seeds. It is known for its fern-like foliage, which provides an attractive backdrop for the blooms. In addition to its beauty, Love-in-a-Mist attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, supporting local ecosystems and promoting biodiversity. The seeds are sometimes used in cooking for their unique flavor​​​​.

For those interested in adding Love-in-a-Mist to their garden, it's worth noting that this plant is a prolific re-seeder, meaning one packet of seeds can start a long-lasting presence in your garden. It's recommended to sow the seeds about 1/8-inch deep in a spot that gets full to part sun and keep the soil moist until sprouts appear, which should be in about two to three weeks. Once established, this annual requires average to little water and does not transplant well due to its long taproot​​.

Whether used in cottage, meadow, or cutting gardens, or even in containers, Love-in-a-Mist offers a delightful and whimsical touch with its airy blooms and ornamental seed pods. Its ease of growth and minimal care requirements make it an excellent choice for gardeners of all levels​​.

Snake's Head Fritillary, Fritillaria meleagris

The Snake's Head Fritillary, Fritillaria meleagris, is a truly distinctive and fascinating plant with a rich history and intriguing characteristics. Originating from Europe and western Asia, it's recognized by its unique, nodding, bell-shaped flowers adorned with a checkered pattern of pink and purple, which some say resemble a snake's skin, hence its common name. This plant thrives up to a height of 30 cm and features lance-shaped, greyish-green leaves​​.

There's been some debate in the United Kingdom about whether this species is native or a long-established garden escapee that became naturalized over time. The first recorded sighting in the wild dates back to 1736, though it was described in gardens before that. Historically, it was abundant in areas like the Thames Valley and parts of Wiltshire, and was a popular cut flower in markets across London, Oxford, and Birmingham. Unfortunately, much of its habitat was lost during World War II when meadows were plowed for food production, making it rare in the wild today. However, it can still be found in specific locations such as Magdalen College, Oxford, and North Meadow National Nature Reserve in Wiltshire​​.

In terms of cultivation, the Snake's Head Fritillary is now readily available as an ornamental bulb for gardens, sold in various colors. The species itself and the pure white-flowered variety have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, indicating their high quality and reliability in gardens​​. It's also recognized as a valuable plant for pollinators, providing nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects, making it an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly gardening​​.

Despite its susceptibility to pests like the scarlet lily beetle, the plant is generally disease-free and can be used in a range of landscaping and horticultural applications, including borders, containers, woodland gardens, and wildflower meadows, due to its distinctive appearance and contribution to biodiversity​​​​.