Feature Article Old and New Favorites at Brandywine Cottage by David L. Culp

t is hard to believe that twenty I began this article on a 100° day which feature in the winter garden, their main Iyears have passed since my partner followed a winter that had four feet of bloom time coming before hellebores and I started making a garden here snow. With our Mid-Atlantic weather in March. Both plants are perfect cures at Brandywine Cottage. Our garden extremes, it’s important to take note of for chlorophyll withdrawal in the late never ceases to be rewarding. That is those plants that perform well, instead winter. not to say that it is without challenges. of concentrating on the plants that have I am currently adding cultivars with Perhaps the easiest part is putting in died. yellow markings and yellow ovaries. the garden; maintaining and refining Another group of plants of Galanthus ‘Ecusson d’Or’ (Shield of the garden is both the challenge and the particular interest to me are those that Gold) is a good example. A nivalis fun. Time and space limitations only up have an off-peak bloom time. They add form, it blooms a little later in the the ante. If you could do it all at once, further interest by extending the garden galanthus blooming season. Galanthus would you really want to? seasons. Among the plants that I am ‘Spindlestone Surprise’ is a good I am a plantsman first and, as still planting and want more of after grower for me which is a definite plus one, I enjoy watching plants grow and twenty years are many of my familiar when it comes to the yellow-marked express themselves. As a garden maker/ favorites. They have earned a place Sandersii Group. I sometimes have designer, I enjoy playing with colors in my heart and garden. Perhaps you difficulty with this group. Of course, and textures to achieve the desired are familiar with some of these plants, I would recommend the Galanthus effect. It is always an interesting tight or perhaps it is time to take a second ‘David L. Culp’, a tall plant with well- rope to walk—plantsmanship vs. look. You may find a forgotten favorite formed flowers and refined markings. designer, but I wouldn’t have it any or find that “special one” to add to the It, too, is a strong grower. I am dividing other way. I am always refining the garden. and planting more of this one, you can picture, whether editing out plants or be sure. The yellow-marked galanthus (more likely in my case) adding plants. Galanthus are especially useful when making color This becomes tricky as the garden Surely there is always fills in. Making selections for the room for minor bulbs. garden becomes more rigorous with For me, galanthus are time. However, I do not look at this major players in the as a negative. Instead, I select plants garden. Some species that work with me, those that exhibit such as Galanthus a general willingness to live in the reginae-olgae start location I have chosen, and those that blooming in October, are adapted to their environment. Aside and if you add other from giving a sense of place, this is one species and cultivars, of the important lessons the native plant you can have movement teaches us. galanthus blooming Plants that look good even under from fall through stress are plants I tend to want more of. spring. These plants photo © Diane Mattis This is particularly evident considering are an indispensable Green hillside at Brandywine Cottage.

Vol. 24, No. 5 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group 3 combinations in the garden. The yellow once established. C. pensylvanica, H. ‘Albo-striata’) is a good companion markings repeat other yellows found in with its fine hair-like texture, seems for plants with white or cream the garden at this time of year, such as to be the most drought tolerant once it variegations. The species H. macra is Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’, mahonia is established and spreads into a sizable equally beautiful in an understated kind flowers, early daffodils, yellow-berried clump. One is almost tempted to of way. With the same arching habit hollies, and yellow-flowered hellebores. comb it. indicative of the species and its darker Yellow is useful any time of the Carex plantaginea with its pleated green foliage, it is even more serene year—not only is it cheerful, but it also leaves gives an added texture to and looks great in a mass in a more can provide a pleasing contrast. I am plantings. It is also semi-evergreen formal setting, or as an edging plant. always interested in adding new forms which gives another season of interest. Recent introductions of H. macra, of galanthus and try to make selections Both C. flaccosperma and C. laxiculmis such as ‘Beni Kaze’, ‘Nicolas’, and based on flower form, distinct ‘Bunny Blue’ offer a glaucous, ‘Naomi’ give us a red color note to use. markings, and foliage that does not hide gray-blue color note to contrast or I especially like ‘Beni Kaze’ (Japanese the flower. I like the flower presented complement other shade plants in your for red wind) because it shows color well above the foliage—contorted garden. Gray is such a good color to earlier. ‘Nicolas’ and ‘Naomi’ show red oddities are not my cup of tea. lighten up dark-shaded areas. only late in the season in my garden. Every year I find more uses for Hellebores Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’. Hydrangeas I am still planting hellebores. I consider I would place it in my top ten favorite I have used hydrangeas even before them the ultimate shade plant. Helle- plants because of its multi-season living here at the Cottage. These old- bores’ strongest features are their sea- use alone. Its “ever purple,” almost fashioned plants have recently enjoyed son of bloom and the variety of flower black, foliage can be used in a variety a renewed interest and popularity. They colors available. An additional bonus is of situations. Because of its texture bloom in late June through July and that no slug or deer repellent is needed. and color, I always seem to be adding some into August. The first flush comes I keep a lookout for new colors— more of this plant, or creating new after the roses and becomes a dominant good clear colors that catch my eye or combinations with it. It’s also a good feature after other plants are taking a that add accents to existing plants are bridge color, uniting other brighter breather from the spring rush. Flowers important characteristics. When I find colors, and it mimics the patterns of that age gracefully can extend the show a color I like, I add more to enlarge the light and shadow on the forest floor. even longer. It was a nice surprise color drift. You need both accent plants Colors, other than green, add to the for me when I found H. quercifolia and color drifts to keep your collec- excitement level of the shade garden. to be drought tolerant. Three plants tion interesting. Recent introductions Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ was became fifteen and then I added more of Helleborus argutifolius x H. niger the Perennial Plant Association’s Plant cultivars—that is usually how it works hybrids are very popular. These hybrids of the Year in 2009, a well deserved for me. If one performs well, I know have large outward-facing flowers and accolade. Its graceful texture and that it adapted to my site, and more are are great performers in winter pots and arching mounded habit is beautiful added. containers. as a specimen or in drifts. H. macra Hydrangea serrata is one of my ‘Aureomarginata’ with its yellow favorites because it blooms on new Vertical Elements wood. This can prove to be invaluable Verticals are an important key element variegation sparks up the after a cold in the shade garden. Mother Nature has winter. Its lace- given us many bold shapes for shade— shade. H. macra ‘All Gold’ is, cap blossom is wide-leaved hostas and hellebores, more delicate along with lacey ferns, are the first two as its name suggests, all in form and textures many think of as shade garden serves as a foil features. The challenge is always to find gold. It will grow in full against the vertical or grass-like shapes to add to heavier shaped your combinations. All three textures sun as well as part shade. H. macrophylla. are needed. I grow them

Both cultivars photo ©Diane Mattis Carex, especially native both in the species like Carex pensylvanica, are easy to use Assorted Hellebore Flowers with yellow or garden and C. plantaginea, and C. flaccosperma are use them as container plants as well, forgiving of dry situations in the garden yellow-variegated shade plants. Slightly larger H. macra ‘Albovariegata’ (syn. especially the less hardy forms.

4 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group September 2010 There are many species, cultivar I added S. rostrata, a Chinese species, ‘Floating Clouds’ are on the acquisition variations, and combinations of colors which is early to bloom, similar to our list. ‘Floating Clouds’ is much more of hydrangea. native Stewartia ovata, but much easier scorch resistant than C. canadensis H. macrophylla ‘Ayesha’ has to grow. ‘Silver Cloud’ and has the same classic delicate, cup-shaped individual flowers, It is a magical time of the year magenta pink flowers. C. canadensis forming striking flower heads. Like when dogwoods and redbuds, the ‘JNJ’ (The Rising Sun™) has yellow many other hydrangeas, its color signature understory trees of the East to peach foliage on its new growth saturation may depend on your soil’s Coast, are in bloom. Few moments can and was the talk of the Pennsylvania pH. surpass it. I knew I could indulge my Landscape & Nursery Association passion for them because they were (PANTS) Show this year. Its overall Trees effect is that of a tri-colored tree. I suppose if some evil Dogwoods (Cornus florida) force made me select just are not long-lived, compared to one tree, I would choose a oaks, and tend to get the disease stewartia—any stewartia anthracnose. Whenever C. florida would do. They are needs to be replaced, I replant among my favorite trees. with the anthracnose-resistant I appreciate them for their selections ‘Appalachian Spring’ winter bark and exquisite or ‘Jean’s Appalachian Snow’. It’s flowers in late to early up to us to replant with improved summer. The added bonus selections. of great fall foliage color After the redbuds and gives us four seasons of dogwoods, what next? interest.

photo ©Diane Mattis Chionanthus virginicus answers Comparatively Native Dogwoods. that question quite nicely. I felt speaking, stewartias are I was in good company when not large trees and thus growing wild on my property, and were I read that this native tree was one adaptable to many spaces. This year adapted naturally to the site. of Thomas Jefferson’s favorites. It is great fun to seek out new Many garden visitors comment on its Asters color gradations of the redbud (Cercis wonderful fragrance when they walk Aster (star in Latin) is indeed the star of canadensis) flowers which come in by it in bloom. This year I planted autumn offering showy displays as other many shades from magenta to pink. C. virginicus ‘White Knight’, a new plants begin to decline. Sited at the edge of woods or in a border, they are C. canadensis ‘Appalachian Red’ is the introduction from Manor View Farms tough, drought tolerant, and combine closest to a red-flowered form that we in Maryland, selected by Alan Jones. well with most garden plants, especially have at this time. It is clearly a different It is a male clone and flowers at a very effective with grasses. Choose shorter, shade but not a ‘stop sign’ red, and it early age—perfect for those of us who bushier varieties that require no staking fits nicely into the overall colors of the don’t want to wait. or pinching back. David offers some of his favorites. garden. I am always adding more asters to The flower color my aster border and am especially fond being a given, I have of Symphyotrichum laevis ‘Blue Bird’ been adding cercis and Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, with colored foliage. but any that prove to be more disease Cercis canadensis resistant and require less maintenance will do. The fragrant asters like S. ‘Ace of Hearts’ oblongifolium seem to be more rabbit with its yellow and deer resistant. They also seed a foliage brightens up bit, but that suits me fine in the thin, my mixed border dry soil where I have planted them. S. and repeats the oblongifolium ‘October Skies’, a strong yellow color at a compact mound, and S. oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’, taller with large tree-height plane.

blue-purple, densely packed flowers, Variegated forms photo ©Diane Mattis are the stalwarts among them. such as C. canadensis A Relaxing Garden Setting.

Vol. 24, No. 5 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group 5 Heat-tolerant list of roses will continue Perennials to grow. New disease Echinaceas are wildly resistant roses, such as the popular today, and we are Knock Out®, ‘Carefree’, faced with an ever-growing and Hasslefree® series number of new ones each from a new generation of year. As mentioned earlier, breeders, have given rose I am writing this while lovers a new lease on life, under a heat advisory, and brought many more temperatures reaching gardeners to roses who 90–100°F. My list of plants previously avoided them. that do not seem to suffer from heat and drought is an Shade Perennials I am always on the lookout important one. Besides the photo ©Diane Mattis for a new part-shade plant. obvious succulents, the list Vertical Elements in the Garden. Bowman’s root, Gillenia contains many native plants. de la Malmaison’. Roses with a high trifoliata ‘Pink Profusion’ Of special note are the echinaceas. This petal count or singles are preferred, (syn. Porteranthus trifoliatus ‘Pink is not exactly a love note concerning but disease resistance is a must when Profusion’), has rapidly gone from a this genus. The ones that perform making a selection. trial plant to wide use in my garden. I plant with glee—they are workhorses There are countless old shrub It has light pink flowers in mid to late in the garden. However, I do struggle roses and climbers that have good spring and, at 24", is shorter than the with some. New does not always equal disease resistance. I recommend straight species allowing a new range of garden worthy. The orange-flowered doing a little research before making a possible combinations. It requires moist forms and the deep purples are the ones shade initially, but once established, that currently interest me. Oh, how will tolerate dry conditions. I have fickle gardeners can be with color! I am underplanted taller polygonatums with still on the ‘holy grail’ quest for the best ‘Pink Profusion’ for contrast; both orange flower. I have learned the hard plants have great fall color, again adding way that until you grow a plant you another season of interest. G. trifoliata don’t know it. A special thank you to ‘Pink Profusion’ is a Mt. Cuba Center Mt. Cuba Center for its research of this introduction. Difficult to propagate, it genus.* I concur that some of their top- will be, and should be, more deservedly rated selections like E. purpurea ‘Pica used in the future now that we have Bella’, E. purpurea ‘Elbrook’ (Elton broken the tissue culture code. Knight), and E. Pixie Meadowbrite™ are among the best performers in Dry Shade my garden. E. Pixie Meadowbrite™ When asked for a plant for dry shade, is the first tri-species hybrid, a very my first answer is epimedium. Their floriferous compact selection with a large reddish-brown cone, making it a Stay informed. Subscribe to the HPS Upcoming showy standout in the garden. Events e-mail by sending an e-mail request to info@ hardyplant.org. Insert ‘Upcoming Events’ in the subject line. Roses Redux Classified Ads

I recently returned from a tour of photo ©Diane Mattis The HPS/MAG Newsletter accepts garden-related France at the height of rose time. It Containers classified ads. The cost is $3 per line (approximately 40 characters or spaces per line), with a minimum of renewed my love affair with this plant. $20 per ad. For more information, contact Barbara I have been growing roses my entire selection. The internet provides lots of Bricks, 610-388-0428, [email protected]. gardening life. We grow more than information on this subject. The long The newsletter is published bi-monthly, in Jan, Mar, twenty cultivars here at the cottage. list I made while away was narrowed May, July, Sept, and Nov. Copy deadlines are one month before the issue date: Dec 1 (for Jan), Feb 1 Long ago, I decided they were just down to ‘Zigeunerknabe’ (Gypsy (for Mar), April 1 (for May), June 1 (for July), Aug 1 too beautiful to live without. I have a Boy), ‘Ghislaine de Feligonde’, and (for Sept), and Oct 1 (for Nov). HPS/MAG adheres to one-time use; all other rights are retained by the special fondness for the old varieties Uetersener Kloesterrose®. With all of author. the varieties available, there are even We welcome all contributions. Contact Barbara such as ‘Madame Hardy’, ‘Sombreuil’, Bricks, 32 Elmwood Dr, Kennett Square, PA 19348. and the old Bourbon rose ‘Souvenir roses for part shade. I suspect my wish 610-388-0428. [email protected].

6 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group September 2010 primary strength is beautiful evergreen yet another dimension to the plant. and new plant researcher for Sunny Border to semi-evergreen foliage; Mother Epimedium grandiflorum var. violaceum Nurseries, Inc. He lectures throughout the Nature has given us an added bonus with ‘Bronze Maiden’; E. g. var. higoense United States; contributes articles to a variety of horticulture magazines including Fine Gardening the flowers. The wide range of color ‘Confetti’; E. pinnatum ssp. colchicum and Horticulture; has appeared on numerous TV choices now available give those with ‘Thunderbolt’; E. zhushanense; garden shows, including MGTV and Martha design tendencies more to play with. E. macrosepalum ‘Sweet Rachel’; and Stewart Living; and is an instructor at Longwood Their unusual flower form is a welcome E. sagittatum ‘Warlord’ are all on my Gardens. David currently is writing a book about alternative to composites. While I find radar screen to find at the Hardy Plant the joys and lessons learned creating the gardens of Brandywine Cottage, to be published the flowers alluring, it is the foliage Society Fall Plant sale! by Timber Press in 2012. Go to www. color that now excites me! It adds Thankfully, my list of favorites DavidLCulp.com to view more photos of the goes on and on. Myrica cerifera ‘Soleil’ gardens and the Brandywine Hybrids™ with its gold foliage is being trialed and hellebores. "Hellebores, a special exhibit of I am making room for Mukdenia rossii paintings and drawings by Adrian Martinez inspired by Brandywine Cottage," opens ‘Karasuba’, a new groundcover for shade October 1 at Sunset Hill Fine Arts Gallery, West with wand-like flowers in spring and red Chester, PA, 610-692-0374, www. tones to its foliage in fall. A shipment of adrianmartinez.com. antique bearded iris arrived today. It is Ed Note: HPS will tour Brandywine Cottage gardens one more plant, one more combination to in Spring 2011. Look for details in the January HPS newsletter. Also, for a color edition of this feature make that keeps me going. article, go to the HPS web site, www.hardyplant.org. *For downloadable PDFs of the Mt. Cuba Center trials of coneflowers and asters, go to www.mtcubacenter. com. Plant Sources Garden Vision Epimediums www.home.earthlink.net/~darrellpro Sugarbush Native Plants David Culp has been creating the gardens of www.sugarbushnursery.com Brandywine Cottage with partner Michael Yellow Springs Native Plant Farm Aldefer for more than 20 years. David is a www.yellowspringsfarm.com well-known gardener, past president of the Rare Find Nursery

photo ©Diane Mattis Hardy Plant Society, an internationally known www.rarefindnursery.com Foliage Textures hellebore hybridizer, and a sales representative Healthy Gardening President’s Message by Kay Johns rior to a recent minor knee problem, seat that reverses to become a stool is a less strength to use. Soft grips on tools help PI never realized how very important the good investment. If you must kneel, it is far reduce repetitive motion injuries. Long- health of our joints is. I have been garden- better to use this as a kneeler since it is well handled tools save the back. Look for tools ing in the same manner for forty years and padded, which softens the impact on the labeled “ergonomic.” It is also important to felt very comfortable with my method. I am knees, and is raised from the ground a few wear shoes with proper support. a kneeler and a crawler in the garden. After inches. Also, it is far better to kneel on one demonstrating to my physical therapist the knee only. This cuts down on the physical Raised Beds positions that I am usually in when garden- stress. Many of the seats have arms on the If you have problems with your knees and/ ing, I was surprised to see how unhappy kneeler which can be helpful when standing or back and are creating new beds, make he was. It seems I was breaking every rule up from a kneeling position. them raised and high enough for easy in the book and putting tremendous strain When lifting heavy loads, bend at the access from a seated position. on my knees and ankles. The following are knees and not the waist. The same applies suggestions that I gleaned from my thera- when lowering heavy objects to the ground. Not So Fast pist and from research. Use the entire body when turning and do Pace yourself; Rome was not built in a day not twist. Always use good posture when and neither will your garden be. Take time Poor Posture standing and sitting. Use wheelbarrows to stop and smell the roses. As gardeners, Poor gardening posture contributes to the and carts to move heavy items. Keep hips we often become so involved in the discomfort we often feel after long periods and shoulders aligned when raking and process, that we forget to sit back and look of gardening. Therefore, it is extremely shoveling. Do not pivot at the waist. at what we have accomplished. A few good important to stretch and limber up a little stretches to end a gardening session and before starting. It is also a good idea to Tool Selection a nice hot shower always help the aches stretch and change positions approximately Tool selection is also important for pain- and pains! Gardeners are a hardy bunch— every 20 minutes. Avoid kneeling, squatting, free gardening. Ratchet pruners require far remember, it is not just the plants that are and bending from the waist. A gardening hardy in the Hardy Plant Society!

Vol. 24, No. 5 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group 7