erican Horticulturist Volume 74, Number 4 April 1995 ARTICLES Great Native Graminoids by Shelly Stiles . .. ........ ..... .. ... ............ 18 Bristly, bearded, fuzzy, seedy, frothy, spiky, spreading, reedy .. it's the versatile "hair of the earth." Classic Composition by Rob Proctor . .. ...... .... ....................... 24 He knew what he wanted in his new garden: formal lines and a symphony of color. Inspiring Spireas by Terry Schwartz . .............. ... .. ... ... ... .... 29 Multicolored flowers and colorful fall foliage are just a few of the possibilities offered by these tough shrubs. The Reintroduction Myth APRIL'S COVER by William H. Allen .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. ... .. .. .... 33 Photographed by Dorothy Long: PhotolNats Biologists can relocate endangered plants that are in the path of development. True or false? Native to Europe and Asia, Solanum dulcamara is widely A Little Light on Nightshades naturalized in the United States, by Jack Henning . ..................................... 38 where it is found in semi-shady There's nothing deadly about the way these potato relatives perform locations at the edges of woods in the garden. and in vacant lots. Its flowers are a regal combination of deep violet petals and clustered golden DEPARTMENTS stamens, while its green berry fruits ripen to a bright red. The Commentary .............. ....................... 4 taste of its fruit earned it the name bittersweet-the translation Members' Forum ..... ............................... 5 of dulcamara-among early European herbalists, but in Offshoots . 6 America it is more commonly Gardeners' Information Service . 8 known as woody nightshade. Its historic reputation for various Natives at Risk ........................ .. ... .. ... .. ... 10 medicinal qualities has been replaced by due respect for Natural Connections ................................... 12 its toxicity. Book Reviews ....... ................................ 13 Planting the Future ...... ............... ... ... ...... 15 The Urban Gardener ................. .. ................ 16 Classifieds .. .. ....................... ... .... 44 Pronunciations ........ ....... ...................... 46 American Horticultural Society The American Horticultural Society seeks to promote and recognize COMMENTARY excellence in horticulture across America. BOARD OF DIRECTORS he second-floor offices of George OFFICERS 1994-1995 Washington's River Farm are rever­ Mrs. Sarah S. Boasberg berating with the sounds of work­ Chairman T Washington,D.C. boots and the voices of roofers. Outside, Dr. William E. Barrick broken slate is raining down on the lawn First Vice Chairman as a band of agile workers replaces it with Pine Mountain, Georg,ia new tiles. New copper flashing reflects the Ms. Kat'}' Moss Warner sun, and the air is pungent with hot sealant Second Vice Chairman tars. These sounds, sights, and smells are Lake BueFla Vista, Florida immensely rewarding. After occupying this Mr. William A. Pusey Secretary historic property since 1973, the American Washington,D.C. Horticultural Society is putting a new roof Mr. GeFald T. Halpin on the aging main structure-the first step Treasurer in a long-overdue restoration being under­ Alexandria, Virginia taken as a result of our very successful fund-raising gala here last October. Dr. Thomas G. Amason Jr. Such outward signs of improvement are symbols of the prog'ress we are Birmingham, Alabama making in many directions-not only to restore our headquarters, but also Mrs. Nancy H. Callaway to help AHS focus its activities to serve our members and nation better. All Pine Mounfain, Georgia of our programs are now operating on the black side of the ledger, each one Mr. Paul Ecke Jr. Encinitas, California dedicated both to service and financial responsibility. There is nothing like Dr. John Alex Floyd Jr. operating in the Washington, D.C., area to ingrain in anyone what can hap­ Birmingham, Alabama pen when you don't live within a balanced budget. Dr. Richard L. Lower Our progress over the last three months in fund-raising and refocusing Madison, Wisconsin our priorities has brought a new level of enthusiasm for developing the pro­ Mrs. Martyn L. Miller Ashton, Maryland grams that will make ours a nation of gardeners. Watch "Commentary" in Mrs. Walter M. Morgan Jr. upcoming months as more achievements unfold. Nashville, Tennessee This issue of American Horticulturist reflects the scope of issues, ideas, Mr. William G. Pannill and geographic regions that AHS must consider. "The Urban Gardener" Martinsville, Virginia department takes us to a shady city lot in Boston. Terry Schwartz, who Dr. Julia W. Rappaport works at Bailey Nurseries in Minnesota, tells us about spireas beyond the Santa Ana, California old-fashioned bridal-wreath-selections that bloom well into summer and Mr. Geoffrey L. Rausch Pittsburgh, Pennsj'lvania survive the winters of the upper Midwest. Jack Henning writes about the Mrs. Jane N. Scarff neglected Solanum genus-shrubs and vines hardy only in our subtropics. New Carlisle, Ohio We also go to Denver, where author Rob Proctor has designed a new Mrs. Josephine M. Shanks home garden that Panayoti Kelaidis of the Denver Botanic Garden calls Houston, Texas "the Sissinghurst of the Rockies." It is not a shrine to native alpine plants, Mr. Emanuel Shemin Proctor explains, because Denver is Reither in the mountains nor an undis­ Greenwich, Connecticut turbed ecosystem. If you love natives, turn to Shelly Stiles' article on native Mrs. Sellers J. Thomas Jr. Houston, Texas grasses, where you'll find a staggering selection for accents or ground cov­ Mr. Robert D. Volk ers, in beds and meadows, or for erosion-control situations. San Marino, California It's extremely rare for us to reprint an article that has appeared in an­ Mr. Monroe Whitton other magazine, but we thought it would be hard to improve on William Alexandria, Virginia H. Allen's Bioscience article on endangered plant reintroduction. Devel­ opers can build ilil areas where endangered plants are growing if they pay PRESIDENT to establish them elsewhere, but biologists say they know little about how Dr. H. Marc Cathey to do that successfully without creating other environmental problems. Whether you're in boots or well-worn sneakers, we hope exciting things EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT are beginning to happen in your home garden and that AHS is a part of Mrs. Helen Fulcher Walutes that excitement. Join with us in sharing it with gardeners throughout the nation. H. Marc Cathey, AHS President 4 APRIL 1995 American Horticulturist Editor Kathleen Fisher Assistant Editor MEMBERS' FORUM Terri J. Huck Assistant Editor David J. Ellis Editorial Assistant Nikole Williamson Off With His Coconut! We can't dispute that we seem to have Design Director In my Hoya article ("Proven Performers," grabbed a Bombus instead of an Apis. It's Joseph Yacinski February) I made a serious error when re­ also true that researchers say our native Designer ferring to the death of plant explorer C. B. bumblebee is sometimes the more efficient Pam Johnson Robinson. Although I had read several ac­ pollinator. The article was about beekeep­ Membership Director counts of his attempt to re-collect Rum­ ing and gardening as companion hobbies, Darlene Oliver phius's plants, the only reference I saw but knowing the native pollinators can Editorial Advisory Board regarding how he died referred to "an at­ also be rewarding. We 'll try harder. John Bryan tack." That this meant a heart attack or Sausalito, California stroke seemed to have been borne out Know Thy Abies John Creech when I consulted a person I thought to Was someone asleep at the keyboard when Hendersonville, North Carolina know a lot on the subject, but either she you gave that fantasy scientific name for Keith Crotz Chillicothe, Illinois misunderstood my question or I misun­ Douglas fir, instead of Pseudotsuga men­ derstood her answer. ziesii ("Natural Connections-Fragrance Panayoti Kelaidis Denver, Colorado Through two other sources I learned that of Fir," December)? Every year my family Richard Lighty Robinson's death apparently resulted from of Christmas tree scouts the small number Greenville, Delaware a lack of communication skills. He thought lots in Denver that sell our Colorado na­ Peter Loewer he was asking his helpers in their native tive white fir, Abies con color, to buy our Asheville, North Carolina tongue for "coconuts" but what tree. Most lots will tell you, "Sure, we have (kelapa), Elvin McDonald he demanded of them instead was kepala firs-Douglas fir! Right over here." Then Houston, Texas ("heads"). As Dr. J. F. Veldkamp described smiling sweetly and risking pedantry, I it in his account: "The shocked natives have to preach my little conifer lesson. Advertising AHS Advertising Department thought this bearded, wild-haired, bespec­ "True firs have those lovely upcurving nee­ 2300 South Ninth Street, Suite 501 tacled apparition from the jungle was the dles that grow skyward from the branch, Arlington, VA 22204-2320 devil incarnate coming for their souls!" As as do the cones, and which give the tree (703) 892-0733 a result, they "done him in." that authentic European Christmas tree Color Separations Christine M. Burton appearance. " Heartland Separations, Inc. Porterdale, Georgia Now I am nervous. Next December will my Christmas tree vendors be waiting, Printer William Byrd Press, Inc. We'd say Robinson's error was a lot more smugly waving your article? Diane Ipsen serious than yours. We're extremely grate­ Denver, Colorado Back issues of AMERICAN