Moya Andrews talks about euphorbias.The genus Euphorbia is large—about 2000 species—and there is great variation between forms. Some plants look a bit like cacti, and many of the species have flowers that are actually bracts. Many of the plants are tropical and sub-tropical, though some members of this genus survive well in temperate regions. At the holiday season we see many poinsettias, native to Mexico; they are the best known euphorbias in commerce. They are imported or are grown in cold regions in greenhouses. Those that grow in the outdoors in cold regions are often referred to as milkweed or spurge and include Euphorbia polychroma with bright chrome-yellow clusters of flowers in zones 6 to 9. Like many in this genus, it exudes a milky sap when picked. Euphorbia marginata grows in zones 4 to 10 and is native to North America. It produces bright green leaves margined in white and broad petal-like bracts surrounding small flowers in summer. It grows quickly to two feet and is a pretty foil for any brightly colored neighboring flowers. Euphorbia schillingii or Schilling’s spurge is a frost-hardy, clump-forming perennial, growing to three feet and was discovered in Nepal by Tony Schilling in 1975. The flat flowers are produced from mid-summer to mid-autumn, and the fall foliage is often colorful in zones 5 to 9. Euphorbias are becoming more popular with gardeners recently, as they are versatile, easy- to-grow and deer resistant.This episode originally aired December 4, 2014.
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Ferny Corydalis
Moya Andrews talks about Corydalis.Many of us have seen a ferny plant with tiny yellow flowers growing on walls and in cottage gardens in England, where it self-sows enthusiastically. This plant is Corydalis (kor RID ah liss), and it grows from rhizomes. It resembles the habit and form of Bleeding Heart, and it likes similar growing conditions. It has delicate lacy-looking foliage and racemes of spurred flowers in the spring. There are about 300 species of Corydalis, both perennial and biennial, belonging to the poppy family. Give these plants full sun to partial shade where summers are not too hot and well-drained soil with regular moisture. Most of the species resent being transplanted, but they can be divided in spring or fall if watered well to smooth the transition. However, they grow best where they self sow, and they seem to find very pleasing sites for themselves. For example, they have self sown at the edge of stone steps in my garden and look charming there despite the fact that there seems to be little dirt to nourish them. There are blue-flowered varieties now available, but I have not been able to get them established in my own Midwest garden. The yellow ones, such as Corydalis ‘lutea’, bloom well over a long season, however, and their blue-green foliage is attractive all of the growing season.This episode originally aired April 22, 2010.
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Bugle Fairy
Moya Andrews reads a poem about ajuga, a.k.a., bugle weeds.Ajugas are perennials that are commonly known as bugles or bugle weeds, and there are about 40 species in the genus. Ajuga reptans (reptans means creeping), is often used as a ground cover that carpets the ground with glossy rosettes of spoon-shaped leaves and spikes of violet-blue flowers in late spring. Cultivars with variegated foliage are less vigorous than those with green or bronze leaves it seems. It is hardy zones 3-9 and prefers light shade, though it will grow in sun too. In evenly moist well drained soil, Ajuga reptans spreads vigorously, so choose a site carefully.Cicely Mary Barker, wrote a poem about this plant and called it, as you might guess, “The Song of the Bugle Fairy.” Here it is: At the edge of the woodland Where good fairies dwell, Stands, on the lookout, A brave sentinel. At the call of his bugle Out the elves run, Ready for anything, Danger, or fun, Hunting, or warfare, By moonshine or sun. With bluebells or campions* The woodlands are gay, Where bronzy- leaved bugle Keeps watch night and day.NOTE: *Campions are Lychnis (e.g., rose campion) plants.This episode originally aired March 31, 2011.
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Campanula Bells
Moya Andrews talks about bellflowers.Campanulas, or bellflowers to use their common name, are plants with bell-shaped blue or white blooms, and they range in height from ground-hugging dwarfs to plants that grow to 6 feet. A gardener who plants a number of different types can have bloom for most of the summer. Varieties and Growing HabitsThey need a moderately rich well-drained soil and full or partial sun. C.persicifolia is the popular blue peach leaf, and the white equivalent is ‘alba’. These are best for humid southern summers. Cut bellflowers last well in a vase, which is a big asset, as far as I am concerned. C. ‘Telham Beauty’ has three inch lavender blue flowers on 3 foot stalks and mixes well with astilbe, either in a bed or in a vase. It will naturalize in woodland settings in light shade. The new campanula punctata ‘Cherry Bells’ is quite a departure from the older varieties because it has red tubular flowers edged in white so provides an early summer treat for hummingbirds. An old standby that has stood the test of time is the clustered bellflower C. glomerata, which is hardy zones 3-8 and has upward facing violet bells on 1-2 ft plants. This is a very reliable plant. The newer gold leaf Adriatic bellflower ‘Dickson’s Gold’ is a short variety which provides a striking contrast of blue flowers against gold foliage that looks wonderful spilling over walls or used as a groundcover.This episode originally aired July 22, 2010.
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Stalwart Salvias
There are roughly 900 species of salvia, which is the largest genus in the mint family. The common name is sage, and the genus includes annuals, perennials, and sub-shrubs. Remember that sub-shrubs have the woody base of a shrub and soft top growth. When pruning a sub-shrub such as sage or lavender, do not cut into or injure that woody base.Salvias have tubular flowers with two lips and are ancient plants, which were probably taken to England by the Roman legions, as the name is derived from the Latin salveo, meaning “I am well.”There is an old Arabic proverb: “How shall a man die that has sage in his garden?” That hints at the plants links with immortality. It was said to have the most power medicinally in May, just before the appearance of the blooms.Of Mediterranean origins, salvias like full sun and good drainage. The flowers can be most colors but are rarely yellow. The blues, purples, and reds are most admired. Culinary sage is named Salvia officinalis and is a short-lived perennial with grey-green leaves and purple flowers in summer.In your flowerbeds, try two to three feet tall hybrids sylvestris ‘May Night’ or ‘Blue Queen’. ‘East Friesland’ is also pretty but shorter. All have violet-blue spires on neat green clumps in zones 4 – 9.This episode originally aired June 1, 2017.
South Africa