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TheThe AmericanAmerican

GARDENERGARDENER® TheThe MagazineMagazine ofof thethe AAmericanmerican HorticulturalHorticultural SocietySociety May / June 2008

rewards of a Home Orchard

Impatiens: Beyond Busy Lizzies A Love for Lilies Hardy Geraniums for Carefree Color Your plant’s nutritionist. (Actual size)

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FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

5 NOTES FROM RIVER FARM 6 MEMBERS’ FORUM 7 NEWS FROM AHS Green Garage is part of U.S. Botanic Garden exhibition, Garden School on trees a success, winners of the AHS Environmental Award at Philadelphia and San Francisco flower shows, upcoming webinars on designing with color and woodland gardens.

12 AHS NEWS SPECIAL: 2008 NATIONAL CHILDREN & YOUTH GARDEN SYMPOSIUM An overview of what page 27 is in store for this year’s event in the Philadelphia area.

16 CAREFREE CRANESBILLS BY RICHARD HAWKE 44 ONE ON ONE WITH… With their long blooming season and easy culture, hardy geraniums Harold Pellett, plant page 12 are tough to beat. breeder. 46 GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK 22 FRUIT TREES FOR YOUR BACKYARD BY DOREEN G. HOWARD Scientists confirm South American origins Use these tips to grow your own delectable apples, pears, peaches, of “European” potato, Australian invasive- and cherries. weed-screening system shows promise for North America, top Shasta daisies for northern gardens, 2008 All-America Rose 27 DESIGNING WITH VINES BY PAULA REFI Selections, interest in edible gardening is Take advantage of the vertical space in your garden by integrat- growing, Center for Public Horticulture to ing colorful and versatile vines. open at the University of Delaware.

50 GREEN GARAGE® LILIES, GLORIOUS LILIES BY BRIAN BELL 32 Mosquito and tick protection. Growing and breeding lilies is the passion of Dave Sims, whose Idaho garden is a tribute to the diversity and potential of this genus. 52 BOOK REVIEWS Viburnums, Big Book of Garden Designs, and 38 IMPATIENS: BEYOND BUSY LIZZIES Professional Planting Design. Special focus: BY JO ANN GARDNER Regional gardening books. If the only Impatiens you’ve grown are 56 REGIONAL HAPPENINGS busy lizzies, you’ve barely scratched the surface of this large and intriguing genus 60 PLANT IN THE SPOTLIGHT Rhododendron occidentale. of shade-loving plants. page 38 62 HARDINESS AND HEAT ZONES AND PRONUNCIATIONS ON THE COVER: Introduced in 1952 by the University of Minnesota, ‘Meteor’ is a very hardy dwarf

TOP LEFT: SUSAN A. ROTH; BOTTOM: RAYMOND J. MORGAN / COURTESY OF TIMBER PRESS. FAR RIGHT: CAMDEN CHILDREN’S GARDEN sour cherry that yields tart red-skinned fruit with yellow flesh. Photograph by David Cavagnaro

May / June 2008 3 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA 22308-1300 (800) 777-7931 fax (703) 768-8700 www.ahs.org Making America a Nation of Gardeners, a Land of Gardens

American Horticultural Society President’s Council

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tom Underwood CHAMPION’S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. John H. Ariail, Jr. ■ Ms. Judy Daniel ■ Mr. Board of Directors Franklin Y. Hundley ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kulp, Jr. ■ Ms. Melissa Marshall MTR Landscape Architects, LLC ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. ■ Mr. CHAIRMAN Susie Usrey Dayton, Oregon Arnold Steiner ■ Mr. and Mrs. W. Bruce Usrey ■ Mrs. Pauline E. Vollmer FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN Don E. Riddle, Jr. Davidsonville, Maryland SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN Leslie Ariail Alexandria, Virginia LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY CIRCLE Mr. Richard C. and Mrs. Katherine Stark Bull ■ SECRETARY Albin MacDonough Plant Baltimore, Maryland Mrs. Susan M. Cargill ■ Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Dane ■ Mrs. Elisabeth C. TREASURER Arnold Steiner Birmingham, Alabama Dudley ■ Mrs. Marion Greene ■ Ms. Minako Henderson ■ Mr. Deane H. IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Arabella S. Dane Center Harbor, New Hampshire Hundley ■ Mr. and Mrs. J. Landon Reeve IV ■ Ms. Katy Moss Warner ■ Mr. and Mrs. Klaus Zech

Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia ■ Suzanne Bales Oyster Bay, New York ■ William E. Barrick, Ph.D. HAUPT CIRCLE Nancy J. Becker, M.D. ■ Mr. and Mrs. C. William Black ■ Mr. Theodore, Alabama ■ Kurt Bluemel Baldwin, Maryland ■ Katherine Stark Bull Washington, D.C. and Mrs. Kurt Bluemel ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Bogle ■ Mr. Gerald T. Halpin John Alex Floyd, Jr. Trussville, Alabama ■ Carole Hofley Wilson, Wyoming Mrs. Richard W. Hamming ■ Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Hanselman ■ Mrs. Margaret Kulp Louisville, Kentucky ■ Caroline Lewis Coral Gables, Florida ■ Melissa R. Marshall Pittsburgh, Carole S. Hofley ■ Ms. JoAnn Luecke ■ Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Matheson, Jr. Pennsylvania ■ Carol C. Morrison Palatine, Illinois ■ Shirley Nicolai Fort Washington, Maryland ■ Mrs. Rosalyn Milbrandt ■ Dr. and Mrs. David E. Morrison ■ Mr. and Mrs. J. Landon Reeve IV Woodbine, Maryland ■ Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. Falls Church, Virginia James T. Norman ■ Mr. and Mrs. Ken Mountcastle Michel Sallin Groveland, Florida ■ Jeanne Shields Greenville, Delaware ■ Steven Still Hilliard, Ohio ■ Howard McK. Tucker Alexandria, Virginia ■ Robert D. Volk San Marino, California COUNCIL MEMBER’S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. Carter Bales ■ Mrs. Katherine Belk ■ Daryl Williams Lake Buena Vista, Florida Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Bigos ■ Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. ■ Dr. Sherran Blair ■ Count and Countess Peder Bonde ■ Mr. and Mrs. William L. Carr, III ■ Anne PRESIDENT EMERITUS Katy Moss Warner S. Chatham ■ Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Demisay ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert Duemling ■ Dr. and Mrs. John A. Floyd, Jr. ■ Mrs. Carolyn V. Foil ■ Ms. Marguerite Peet 2008 Advisory Council Foster ■ Mr. and Mrs. Joel Goldsmith ■ Dr. and Mrs. William O. Hargrove ■ Beverly Hanselman, Nashville, Tennessee – Chair Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Hohlt ■ Mr. Brian Holley ■ Mr. and Mrs. Allan L. Holmstrom ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Hooff ■ Mr. Philip Huey ■ Mrs. Deborah Kern Clarissa Bonde, Washington, D.C . Egon Molbak, Bellevue, Washington ■ Ms. Mary A. Lambert ■ Mrs. Marta Lawrence ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Walter Bull, Columbia, South Carolina Dean Norton, Mt. Vernon, Virginia Lindsay ■ Mrs. Dorothy Marston ■ Mrs. Barbara McClendon ■ Ms. Lillian Anne Bucher, Silver Spring, Maryland Nancy Keen Palmer, Nashville, Tennessee McKay ■ Mrs. Paul Mellon ■ Mr. and Mrs. Egon Molbak ■ Mrs. Shirley Ann Elaine Burden, Middleburg, Virginia Bob Patterson, Washington, D.C. Nicolai ■ Ms. Patricia Painter ■ Mr. and Mrs. Albin MacDonough Plant ■ Dr. Patty Bush, St. Louis, Missouri Dr. Julia W. Rappaport, Santa Ana, California Julia Rappaport ■ Mr. and Mrs. James A. Runde ■ Mrs. Deen Day Sanders ■ Skipp Calvert, Alexandria, Virginia Deen Day Sanders, Norcross, Georgia Mrs. Josephine Shanks ■ Jeanne Shields ■ Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Shemin ■ Mr. Dr. H. Marc Cathey, Davidson, North Carolina Josephine Shanks, Houston, Texas R. P. Simmons ■ Mrs. P.M. Spreuer ■ Dr. and Mrs. George E. Staehle ■ Mr. Russell Clark, Boston, Massachusetts Barbara Shea, Owings Mills, Maryland Harold Stahly ■ Mr. and Mrs. John B. Strasenburgh ■ Mr. Joe Viar ■ Ms. Angela Bartie Cole, Owings Mills, Maryland Holly Shimizu, Glen Echo, Maryland M. Vikesland ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Volk ■ Mr. and Mrs. Dennis White ■ Jim Corfield, Geneva, Illinois Charles Henry Smith, Jr, Middleburg, Virginia Mr. and Mrs. Harvey C. White ■ Mr. and Mrs. John W. White, Sr. Edward N. Dane, Center Harbor, New Hampshire Tom Szaky, Trenton, New Jersey Ben Griswold, Glyndon, Maryland Nancy Thomas, Houston, Texas HONORARY PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Mrs. Enid Haupt ■ Mrs. John A. Lutz ■ Mr. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, Ponte Vedra, Florida Bryan Thomlison, Haddonfield, New Jersey and Mrs. Bruce Miller Mickey Lynch, Dunmore, Pennsylvania Pauline Vollmer, Baltimore, Maryland Bob Malesardi, Easton, Maryland Joyce and Harvey White, Nashville, Tennessee Robert and Joanna Martin, Menlo Park, California Joannah Williams, Sebring, Florida Barbara McClendon, Alexandria, Virginia Sheryl Wood, Middleburg, Virginia G. Ray Miller, Brandon, Florida

Education Sponsor OXO International

Corporate Partners The Care of Trees ■ Chapel Valley Landscape Company Homestead Gardens ■ Monrovia ■ Osmocote ■ TerraCycle, Inc. To access the members-only Horticultural Partners America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program ■ Bellingrath Gardens and Home ■ Colonial portion of the AHS website at Williamsburg Foundation Garden Symposium ■ Cox Arboretum MetroPark ■ Epcot International www.ahs.org, the username is Flower & Garden Festival ■ The Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America ■ The ahs and the password is sprout. Homestead in the Garden Symposium ■ Inniswood Garden Society ■ Leonard Haertter Travel Company ■ Magic of Landscapes ■ Morris Arboretum ■ Oklahoma Botanical Garden & Arboretum ■ Oklahoma Horticultural Society

4 the American Gardener The American NOTESC FROM RIVER FARM GARDENER

EDITOR David J. Ellis MANAGING EDITOR AND ART DIRECTOR Mary Yee ASSOCIATE EDITOR NE OF THE MOST POPULAR destinations at River Farm is the chil- Viveka Neveln dren’s garden. Complete with its boat garden, maze, and imaginary bat EDITORIAL INTERN John Fiege Ocave, this garden has delighted children and adults alike for 15 years. As gar- CONTRIBUTING EDITOR dens go, it is not fancy or elaborate, but nonetheless it has had a tremendous and Rita Pelczar positive impact on the lives of thousands of young people. CONTRIBUTING WRITER Across America, parents, teachers, and informal educators are discovering the Carole Ottesen important role that gardens and outdoor experiences can play in fostering positive environmental values and kindling a sense of wonder and curiosity in children. EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Teachers are using hands-on experiences in CHAIR Richard E. Bir gardens to supplement traditional class- Brevard, North Carolina room studies. Parents are appreciating the Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia opportunity for physical activity that gar- Nina L. Bassuk dens provide. Youth leaders and public gar- Ithaca, New York den educators are promoting the benefits of Steve Bender vegetable gardening to encourage healthy Birmingham, Alabama food choices and social responsibility. John E. Bryan The American Horticultural Society is San Francisco, California proud to have been a leader in promoting John L. Creech children and youth gardening since 1993 Columbus, North Carolina when the first National Children and Youth Garden Symposium was held in Chevy Panayoti Kelaidis Chase, Maryland. This summer, hundreds of educators will once again converge for Denver, Colorado three days of learning, sharing, and inspiration on the University of Delaware’s cam- Richard W. Lighty Kennett Square, Pennsylvania pus in Newark. We are tremendously honored to have four outstanding institutions Elvin McDonald in the greater Philadelphia area hosting this year’s symposium—Camden Children’s West Des Moines, Iowa Garden, Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and Winterthur Museum & Country Estate. Look for a preview of the symposium on page 12. But the National Children & Youth Garden Symposium is only one of several CONTACT US The American Gardener 7931 East Boulevard Drive wonderful AHS programs on the horizon. In early June, we will gather at River Farm Alexandria, VA 22308 for our Great American Gardeners Awards ceremony. At this annual event, we rec- (703) 768-5700 ognize individuals and organizations that are making outstanding contributions to American horticulture and their communities. Later in the month, the AHS travels EDITORIAL E-MAIL: [email protected] to Denver, Colorado, where “Gardening with Native Plants” will be the topic for ADVERTISING & E-MAIL: [email protected] our second AHS Garden School of the year (see page 7 for more details). CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS We hope that you will plan to join us at one of these upcoming events. In the mean- time, we invite you to spend some time exploring the pages of this issue of The Amer- ican Gardener where you will discover how to grow your own tree fruit and integrate The American Gardener (ISSN 1087-9978) is published bimonth- ly (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, Septem- vines into your garden. You’ll also learn about intriguing impatiens and hardy low- ber/October, November/December) by the American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300, maintenance geraniums that will provide a long season of color. You’ll even meet a (703) 768-5700. Membership in the Society includes a subscrip- lily grower and collector in Idaho whose passion for this genus knows no bounds. tion to The American Gardener. Annual dues are $35; two years, $60. International dues are $50. $10 of annual dues goes toward As spring unfolds at River Farm and across the country, we encourage you to magazine subscription. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Vir- ginia, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send take advantage of this special time of year to introduce someone new to garden- Form 3579 to The American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, ing. They will surely thank you for the richness and satisfaction that the pursuit Alexandria, VA 22308-1300. Botanical nomenclature is based on The American Horticultural of gardening will bring to their lives. Society A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, on A Synonymized Check- list of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada and Greenland and on the Royal Horticultural Society Index of Garden Plants. Opinions Happy gardening! expressed in the articles are those of the authors and are not necessar- ily those of the Society. Manuscripts, artwork, and photographs sent for possible publication will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We cannot guarantee the safe return of unsolicited Susie Usrey, Chair, AHS Board of Directors material. Back issues are available at $8 per copy. Tom Underwood, Executive Director Copyright ©2008 by the American Horticultural Society. Printed in the U.S.A. on recycled paper.

May / June 2008 5 MEMBERSC’ FORUM

SOURCES FOR SUN COLEUS American Conifer Society member and Plant Locator: Western Edition, compiled Where can I find seeds for the sun-toler- past Northeast Region president, it is grat- by Susan Hill and Susan Narizny (Timber ant coleus selections described in the ex- ifying to see conifers take center stage. Press, 2004), which focuses on western cerpt of Ray Rogers’s coleus book Marvin points out that miniature nursery sources. An excellent resource, of- published in the January/February issue? conifers grow less than one inch per year. fered through the Andersen Horticultural Steve Aegerter I might also add that “dwarf” conifers Library at the University of Minnesota Denver, Colorado grow a bit faster at one to six inches a Landscape Arboretum, is an online data- year. Both sizes are suitable for the small base of nursery sources for plants called Editor’s response: The sun-tolerant garden and their beauty is revealed in Plant Information Online (https://plant coleus cultivars are cutting-propagated to the winter when all else is dormant. info.umn.edu/arboretum/default.asp.) An- retain their leaf patterning, so you won’t Walter Cullerton other online resource is www.plantscout. be able to grow them from seed. Ask for Pineville, Pennsylvania com, part of the Dave’s Garden website. them by name at your local garden center or search for sources online. A good NEED HELP LOCATING PLANTS CORRECTION place to start is the Coleus Finder Is there is an American version of the Mavis Augustine Torke rendered the illus- (www.coleusfinder.org). RHS Plant Finder that is geared to help- trations on pages 37 and 39 of the compost- ing home gardeners locate plant sources? ing article in the March/April issue. CONIFERS GET THEIR DUE Hank Vogt I was particularly pleased with the profile Tallahassee, Florida PLEASE WRITE US! Address letters to Editor, The of Marvin Snyder’s conifer collection American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, (“Conifer Heaven in the Heartland,” Jan- Editor’s response: The closest thing to the Alexandria, VA 22308. Send e-mails to [email protected] (note Letter to Editor in subject line). uary/February 2008). As a long-time Plant Finder in North America is The Letters we print may be edited for length and clarity.

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6 the American Gardener TOP: VIVEKA NEVELN. BOTTOM: JOHN FIEGE exhibition inWashington,D.C.,thissummer. The GreenGaragedisplaywillbepartofan 2008 AHSGardenSchoolsCelebrateTrees andNativePlants venile pruning. health, soilbiology, tree integrity, andju- cluded presentations onevaluating root ciety’s River Farm thatin- headquarters study attheAmericanHorticultural So- its historictrees andattendedafield pants alsotoured Mount Vernon toview andprotecting trees.preserving Partici- community involvement canmakein plant exploration,andthedifference trees, tree new options resulting from the effectsclimatechangemayhave on such asproper mulchingandpruning, provide, how-tos important oftree care the manybenefitstrees inthelandscape tention, especiallywhenyoung.” ing andeducation,trees require specialat- like givingyour children agoodupbring- opening address, emphasizingthat“just than otherwoodyplants,”hestatedinhis ticulturist. “Trees are adifferent beast director ofhorticulture atMount Vernon, asguesthor- served non Estate&Gardens inAlexandria, Virginia. scape,” onApril 10and 11atGeorge Washington’s Mount Ver- AHS’s first2008 Garden School,“Trees oftheAmericanLand- MORE THAN AS PARTOF tury,” theAmericanHorticultural Society willhave itsaward-winning Green Garage Green GarageatU.S.BotanicGarden’s SustainabilityExhibition News PROGRAMS •EVENTSANNOUNCEMENTS Other noted tree spokeabout experts the United States BotanicGarden’s (USBG)summerexhibition,“One Planet—Ours! Sustainability forthe22ndCen- 40 gardeners andprofessionals attended the from AHS trees forGarden Schoolparticipants. Vernon, leadsa tour ofthehistoricproperty’s Dean Norton,directorofhorticulture atMount more information,visitwww.ahs.org Green Garage, alongwiththeAHS’s Education Sponsor special events forchildren. Merrifield willsponsoreducationalactivitiesatthe it ispossibletohave notonlyabeautifulgarden, oneaswell.” butanearth-friendly says AHSExecutive Director because itprovides anaccessiblewaytolearnaboutsustainablegardening options,” Show andtheNorthwest Flower &Garden Show inSeattle, resonates withpeople serving green roof createdserving by the from tainers provided by Merrifield Garden Center environmentally responsible gardening. Thegaragewillbesurrounded con- by colorful play willfeature afull-scalemodelofhomegaragefilledwithtoolsandsuppliesfor to October 13.In keepingwiththeexhibition’s theme,theAHS’s Green Garage dis- Dean Norton, June 21,July 19,andAugust 16willbeFamily Day attheUSBGexhibitionwith Green“The Garage, whichhaspreviously appeared atthePhiladelphia Flower Monrovia nursery based in Azusa, California.It basedinAzusa, nursery willbetoppedwithawater-con- writer andgarden designer, for asguesthorticulturist willserve wildflower bloom.ScottCalhoun orado onJune 19and20,timedtocoincidewiththestate’s peak will takeplaceattheDenver BotanicGardens (DBG)inCol- The nextGarden School,“Gardening withNative Plants,” Tom Underwood displaydemonstrates that . “This Furbish Company ® or call(703)768-5700. on displaytheNational Mall from May 24 Mountain andGreat Plains native plants one ofthefinestcollections ofRocky Denver BotanicGardens, whichfeatures ant plantsforwestern gardens. dens, whichspecializes indrought toler- David Salman of acclaimedbooksonnative plants;and for theSouthwest; Robert Nold , author plants which specializes indesert-adapted States WholesaleNursery inArizona, expert; andornamentalgrass ifornia nurseryman rock garden John expert; Greenlee, aCal- yoti Kelaidis , anotedplantexplorer and the AmericanWest andSouthwest. this event thatfocusesonplantsnative to click on“Events.” 5700 ext.137 or visitwww.ahs.org in cultivation. Participants alsowilltourthe23-acre Other speakersare DBG’s own Pana- For more information,call(703)768- in Merrifield, Virginia, andotherplants Janet Rademacher in Baltimore, Maryland. May /June2008 , anaward-winning garden of HighGar- Country OXO Good Grips. For May /June of Mountain 2008 and 7 8 www.ahs.org M • Farm, Alexandria,Virginia. • the Experts”Symposium. • Growing FertileMindsandCommunities. • ary Effects • Plants. • quet. • • Botanic Garden. • • Washington’s RiverFarm,Alexandria, Virginia. • Farm, Alexandria,Virginia. • Farm, Alexandria,Virginia. • C. ColstonBurrell. Area. Farm, Alexandria,Virginia. C.16. OCT. SEPT. 20.AHSAnnualGala. AUG. 22–24.TheHomestead’s10thAnnual“InGardenWith JULY 24–26.NationalChildren&YouthGardenSymposium: JULY 8. JUNE 19&20.AHSGardenSchool:GardeningwithNative JUNE 6.GreatAmericanGardenersAwardsCeremonyandBan- MAY 27–30. MAY 24–OCT.13.GreenGarage MAY 18.RiverFarmFamilyPicnic. DEC. 11. DEC. 1–23. OCT. 23.Dr.H.MarcCatheyDay. Garden SchoolatDenverBotanicGardens,June19&20 Garden SchoolatDenverBotanicGardens,June19&20 the American Gardener George Washington’sRiverFarm,Alexandria,Virginia. sponsored orco-sponsored by theAHS.Visit ark your calendarforthesenationalevents thatare Denver BotanicGardens,Denver,Colorado. Webinar: DesigningwithColorandTextureForVision- by TracyDiSabato-Aust. Webinar: Annual RiverFarmHolidayReception. or call(703)768-5700formore information. Holiday TreesDisplay. AHS President’sCouncilTrip. Washington, D.C. CALENDAR 2008 AHS NATIONALEVENTSANDPROGRAMS Design andPlantsforWoodlandGardensby The Homestead,HotSprings,Virginia. George Washington’sRiver ® George Washington’sRiver Exhibit atUnitedStates George Washington’sRiver George Washington’sRiver Greater Philadelphia Washington, D.C. George

COURTESY OF DENVER BOTANIC GARDEN opne,wsrcgie tteSnFacsoFoe GardenShow. companies, wasrecognized attheSanFranciscoFlower & “Living onthe Edge,” adisplaybythreeCalifornia landscaping Philadelphia FlowerShowinearlyMarch. EnvironmentalAwardatthe “Jazz UpYourRoof”receivedtheAHS THIS YEAR Environmental Award Flower ShowsReceiveAHS which wascollaboratively designedandbuiltby Greenworks, California from March 12to16was“LivingontheEdge,” ing gardening heights. tonew viding insulation,theseroofs alsoprovide possibilities forbring- various intostreams grasses.Besides diminishingrunoff andpro- and with drought-resistant plantssuchassedums,delospermas, 2008 themeofNew Orleans. Thisdisplayfeatured aroof planted play “Jazz Up Your Roof,” atitlethatcomplementedtheshow’s recipient wasthePhiladelphia Water Department ticulture andtheenvironment ataflower show. of displaysthatbestdemonstratetherelationship between hor- received theAHSEnvironmental Award, given inrecognition The winnerattheSan Francisco Flower &Garden Show in At thePhiladelphia Flower Show from March 2to9,theaward , exhibitsat27flower shows around thecountry for theirdis-

TOP: JOHN FIEGE. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF DAVIS DALBOK Living Green, and Rock & Rose Landscapes—all California- ticulture professor and author Allan Armitage. She also ap- based companies. Sponsored by Garden Design magazine, the preciates the opportunity to “hear from horticultural experts display featured a multi-level terrace with succulents and other without having to leave home.” drought-tolerant plants. “We put all of the horticultural knowl- Dan Hinkley, plantsman and former owner of Heronswood edge and integrity that we could muster into creating a garden Nursery in Kingston, Washington, presented the next webinar that was not only beautiful, but one that respected our place in on May 8 on woody plants for Ameri- nature,” says Rock & Rose Landscapes General Manager Mike can gardens. He discussed many of his Boss. “This award speaks eloquently to our intent, and we dis- favorites, “both well known though too play it proudly.” infrequently seen, as well as some new Other winners of the 2008 AHS Environmental Award will introductions that have enormous po- be posted on the AHS website (www.ahs.org) when they be- tential in the landscape.” come available. “Designing with Color and Texture For Visionary Effects” will be the topic of the next webinar on July 8, presented by Online Seminars for AHS Members landscape designer and author Tracy WILLIAM CULLINA, director of horticultural research for the Tracy DiSabato-Aust DiSabato-Aust. Space is limited and reg- New England Wild Flower Society and garden book author, istration will open on June 10 through the presented this year’s first AHS members only online seminar— members-only area of the AHS website. known as a webinar—on March 20. About 200 AHS members On October 16, award-winning au- from 38 states and two Canadian provinces were treated to a fas- thor and plantsman C. Colston Burrell cinating presentation on native ferns, moss, and grasses, which will present “Design and Plants for is the subject of Cullina’s latest book. Afterwards he took ques- Woodland Gardens.” tions from the enthusiastic audience on everything from prop- This webinar series is exclusively of- agation to the ethics of planting cultivars of native species. fered as an AHS member benefit. Visit “I love the diversity of topics,” says AHS member Becky the members-only area of the AHS web- Scarboro, who attended Cullina’s webinar as well as the first site for more webinar information or to two AHS webinars given last year by University of Georgia hor- C. Colston Burrell sign up to receive e-mailed updates.

Explore noteworthy landscapes while learning about native plants of the American West and Southwest during the peak of wildflower bloom. ahs garden school

Gardening with Native Plants June 19 & 20, 2008 Denver Botanic Gardens Denver, Colorado

Featuring Guest Horticulturist Scott Calhoun, garden designer and author and a special evening with Robert Nold author of High and Dry: Gardening with Cold-Hardy Dryland Plants along with four other noted native plant experts.

Visit www.ahs.org or call (703) 768-5700 ext. 137 for more Scott Calhoun information or to register.

May / June 2008 9 New Lecture Series at River Farm Kicking off this series on May 17, Glenda Booth, president of Friends of Dyke Marsh, will discuss the preservation and restora- THE AHS IS pleased to offer a new program: Saturdays at River tion of one of the few freshwater tidal marshes still remaining Farm. On the third Saturday of each month from May to Sep- along the Potomac River. She will focus on the importance of tember at 10:30 a.m., visitors are invited to the AHS’s head- Dyke Marsh to the area’s ecosystem and the wildlife that resides quarters in Alexandria, Virginia, to attend a presentation by in this wetland located just a few miles north of River Farm. experts on a variety of educational topics. Next, on June 21 in honor of the second annual National Pollinator Week (June 22–28) local bee expert Carl Johnson will talk about local bee populations and what they can teach Save the Date: AHS Gala in September us about bees around the world. On July 19, environmental ed- On Saturday, September 20, 2008, the AHS will hold its ucation expert Joe Keyser will tackle water conservation and annual fundraising gala, “America’s Garden Celebration: Local water retention strategies such as using rain barrels and planti- Harvest, Bountiful Earth,” at its ng rain gardens. River Farm headquarters in For a full lecture schedule, visit www.ahs.org and click on Alexandria, Virginia. “This fun and “River Farm.” Pre-registration is required and tickets are $12 for festive evening will emphasize AHS members or $15 for non-members. Space is limited so re- sustainable gardening and eating, serve your seat by calling (703) 768-5700. reflected in a menu that will be largely comprised of local In Memoriam: Floral Designer ingredients,” says Sarah Christie, Frances Jones Poetker AHS events coordinator. All proceeds from the gala support the FRANCES JONES POETKER, floral designer, author, and lec- stewardship of River Farm and the turer, died on March 4 at the age of 95, leaving behind a rich Society’s educational programs. legacy. In her honor, since 1988 the AHS has presented an Look for more information soon. eponymous award given to recognize “significant contributions to floral design in publications, on the platform, and to the pub-

lic,” as part of its Great American Gardeners Awards program. COURTESY OF RODNEY BAILEY / WWW.RODNEYBAILEY.COM Gifts of Note

In addition to vital support through membership dues, the American Horticultural Society relies on grants, bequests, and other gifts to support its programs. We would like to thank the following donors for gifts received between February 1, 2008 and March 31, 2008.

Mrs. Sallie S. Barnes In memory of Heddy Campbell Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Carbonara Ms. Lenore Koch Mr. and Mrs. Elias Cassis Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Dane Mrs. Joan Goltzman In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Matheson, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Gross Ms. Beverly B. Erdreich Mr. Edwin L. Heminger Ms. Lousie P. Ten Eych Mr. Paul A. and Ms. Nancy B. Hess Mr. and Mrs. John O. Hedden Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Holliday Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn Hooff Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kulp, Jr. Ms. Bridget Maginn Ms. Mary Malouin In memory of Janice Pfaff Ms. Nan T. McEvoy a Ms. Rachel Gardenmayer Mr. and Mrs. Egon Molbak Mr. William C. Nill Mr. and Mrs. Charles Root In memory of Dorothy H. Wehrwein Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Shemin Ms. Mary Werny Mr. and Mrs. John B. Strasenburgh Mr. Howard McK. Tucker and Ms. Megan Evans Estate of Mr. Dudley G. Watkins

If you would like to support the American Horticultural Society as part of your estate planning, as a tribute to a loved one, or as part of your annual commitment to charitable giving, please contact Laura Alexander, (703) 768-5700 ext. 127 or [email protected].

10 the American Gardener After earning degrees in botany and plant ecology in the 1930s, Poetker owned and operated her family business, Jones The Florist in Cincinnati, Ohio, for more than 40 years. Additionally, she was Spring Arrives at River Farm the spokesperson of the Florists’ Transworld Delivery (FTD) for 14 years and was the first woman to sit on the board of the Soci- ety of American Florists (SAF). She wrote a column, “Fun with Flowers,” that was syndicated by 68 major newspapers, and co- wrote Wild Wealth, an award-winning book on gardening with wildflowers that was published in 1971 by the Bobbs-Merrill Com- pany, Inc. She also served on the AHS Board for nine years. Among her numerous accolades, Poetker was inducted into SAF’s Floriculture Hall of Fame in 1967 and received its Silvia Award for floral excellence in 1975. Summer Exhibit of Local Artists UNTIL JUNE 28, “Rhapsody In Bloom,” a collection of water- colors and fine art photography by artists Kathleen and Tom Ball, will be on display at the AHS’s River Farm headquarters in Alexan- dria, Virginia. The show features more than 50 works of landscape and close-up images of the mid-Atlantic region’s natural beauty. Upcoming art exhibits at River Farm will include silk floral paintings by internationally acclaimed botanical artist Jamie Kirkell from August 29 to January 4. Tulips and pansies bloom in River Farm’s annual border, News written by Associate Editor Viveka Neveln and Editorial welcoming spring with a palette of fresh, soothing colors.

MARY YEE Intern John Fiege. PHOTO BY ANNE C. ALLEN FROM 2008 GARDENER’S CALENDAR

2008 “Gardener’s” Calendar There are 13 prize-winning colors taken by TGOA/MGCA members, including AHS members who are also members of TGOA/MGCA $6.95 ($59.00 for 10) Postpaid To order: call 515-278-0295 or e-mail [email protected] The Gardeners of America/ Men’s Garden Clubs of America Box 241, Johnston, Iowa 50121-0241 (515) 278-0295 www.tgoa-mgca.org

May / June 2008 11 Youth Garden Symposium. coming AHSNational Children & inspiration toattendeesoftheup- Greater Philadelphia area offer and gardening programs inthe Vibrant newchildren’s gardens 12 by DeniseCowie Youth Garden MovementFinds Fertile GroundinPhiladelphia have played initsthemedgardens, and cational programs. rector. Frick, ateacher, designeditsedu- Devlin becamethegarden’s executive di- Delaware River from Philadelphia. acrossopened onthewaterfront the a-half-acre Camden Children’s Garden a lotofpeople,butin1999thefour-andby ning, fundraising,anddrum-beating and mostdangerous inthecountry. often describedasoneofthepoorest oasis fortheyouth ofCamden,acity creating achildren’s garden asanurban symposium brimmingwithideasfor Devlin and Frick returned from the schools withaGrow Labprogram. But idea ofgardening intoCamdenCity dren’s Garden inEastLansing.” speech aboutherMichigan 4-HChil- conference, andby Jane Taylor’s keynote Garden Club. “We were inspired by the cil aswell aspresident oftheCamdenCity the timewasonCamdenCityCoun- ‘Wow!’,” recalls Devlin, alawyer whoat them. “We lookedateachotherandsaid out tobealife-changingexperiencefor the Youth Garden Symposium, turned (AHS). Thesymposium,known thenas the AmericanHorticultural Society sium onchildren’s gardening convened by sey—attended thefirstnationalsympo- I Since then,thousandsofchildren It tookmore thanfive years ofplan- The clubhadalready introduced the ty gardeners inCamden,New Jer- Valerie Frick—both avidcommuni- N 1993, N the American Gardener 08ASNATIONAL CHILDREN&YOUTHGARDENSYMPOSIUM 2008 AHS Mike Devlin and hiswife, top, andtheButterfly House,above. Children’s Garden istheDinosaurGarden, Among theattractionsat Camden H ESSPECIAL NEWS AHS C to beaninspirationothers. grow theirown nutritiousfood. from have learnedthattheycanactually know where tomatoesandlettucecame hundreds ofCamdenkidswhodidn’t that involve plants,gardening, andna- mote programs forchildren andyouth Greater Philadelphia area. Communities,” whichwillbe held inthe Symposium, “Growing Fertile Minds and nual National Children &Youth Garden children’s advocates totheAHS’s 16than- garden designers,community leaders,and hosts welcoming hundreds ofeducators, dren’s Garden willbeoneoffourlocal From July 24 to26,theCamdenChil- INPHILADELPHIA GATHERING Now thegarden hasanopportunity The symposium’s missionistopro-

COURTESY OF CAMDEN CHLDREN’S GARDEN (2) Symposium Registration Online registration for the AHS 2008 National Children & Youth Garden Sym- posium is available by visiting the AHS website (www.ahs.org). Attendees can also register by phone at (703) 768- 5700, ext. 132.

Living Sculpture Workshop Marcia Eames-Sheavly, a senior Exten- sion associate at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and several of her col- leagues will conduct a pre-symposium workshop that features an innovative combination of art and horticulture. On July 23 at Longwood Gardens, participants can learn how to create living sculpture in the garden using sod. Eames-Sheavly defines living sculpture as “sculpture created with living, growing, or recently harvested plants.” Longwood Gardens will be among several destinations during the symposium. As part of Cornell’s Garden Based Learn- ing Program, Eames-Sheavly has en- ture, and to share ideas about how to en- expertise as a host will be the Pennsylva- gaged students and entire communities gage young people’s interest and imagi- nia Horticultural Society (PHS) in in sod sculpture projects, including a nation. “The caliber of this year’s Philadelphia, whose innovative projects sod sofa created for a children’s village speakers is exceptional,” says Stephanie such as Green City Youth and Kids Grow and a sod cow. The shape of the sculp- Jutila, manager of the AHS’s education- Expo connect young people to the nat- ture is molded in soil, which is then cov- al programs. “The symposium will fea- ural environment through gardening. ered with swathes of living turf and kept ture 36 interactive educational sessions alive by appropriate applications of wa- representing presenters and youth gar- THE ENCHANTED WOODS AT WINTERTHUR ter and nutrients. dening initiatives in 23 states and three “The opportunity for children to explore, Those interested in participating in foreign countries.” to have adventures through the garden, is the workshop must sign up when regis- In addition to the educational sessions, very important,” says Chris Strand, di- tering for the Symposium (see registra- there will be two keynote presentations. rector of the garden and estate at Win- tion information above). —D.C. The opening one will be given by Jane terthur. “These create early experiences Kirkland, who has become identified that we remember as we grow up, and be- with the get-in-touch-with-nature move- come part of the way we look at the nat- Engaging imaginations is easy in Win- ment through her prize-winning Take a ural world.” terthur’s children’s garden called the En- Walk® books for children and their fami- chanted Woods™. Kids in the six-to-seven lies. Award-winning singer/songwriter age range “are open to that sense of won- Erica Wheeler will give the other keynote der, and it can grab their attention,” Strand that will use song to illustrate the emo- says of the Enchanted Woods™, a three- tional connection people have with their acre fairy-themed outdoor garden located environment. under a canopy of mature oaks. Most of the symposium will take The garden was designed by W. Gar y place at the University of Delaware cam- Smith, who will participate in a panel on pus, but field trips will introduce partic- children’s garden design at the sympo- ipants to a broad range of regional garden sium. At Winterthur, he used real stone, programs for children. Among these will wood, and other materials from the his- be visits to host sites Longwood Gardens toric property to build a Faerie Cottage, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania; Win- a Tulip Tree House, a Birds’ Nest, and terthur Museum & Country Estate in other attractions in a woodland commu- nearby northern Delaware; and the pre- The Faerie Cottage in the Enchanted Woods nity scaled for children. Recently, when viously mentioned Camden Children’s at Winterthur Museum & Country Estate is a large tree fell on the grounds, Smith

TOP: COURTESY OF LONGWOOD GARDENS. BOTTOM: ROB CARDILLO / WINTERTHUR MUSEUM & COUNTRY ESTATE Garden in New Jersey. Also sharing its scaled for children’s enjoyment. and Strand decided to salvage it, trim it

May / June 2008 13 down, and re-erect it in the children’s garden—but upside down, so that young visitors could experience what the branches of a tree are like. “I think one reason garden activities can be successful is that they can be so very different,” says Strand. He believes that, when you garden with children, it’s important to let them have responsibility and do the work. “Don’t do it all for them,” he says, “and don’t over-explain. Let their imaginations color in the details, so they have the latitude to be free and explore. Learning comes out of first-hand experiences.” LONGWOOD’S INDOOR CHILDREN’S GARDEN Last fall, Longwood unveiled a new Indoor Children’s Garden that is a child-scale world they can have a positive impact on their of mazes, grottoes, towers, and numerous environment and their neighborhoods. water features—water bubbles, ripples, “We wanted to connect the children spits, or drips from more than 100 nozzles with neighborhood and community throughout the 4,000-square-foot garden. leaders who had made a change for the “We always knew kids loved water, better, so they could see that they could and I was really pleased with how many have an impact,” says Eva Ray, the di- different ways we learned to manipulate rector of education for PHS. water playfully,” says Tres Fromme, the Under the leadership of Larry Stier, a design specialist on the team that creat- former teacher turned PHS educator, the ed the children’s garden along one side of kids take photographs of their environ- Longwood’s East Conservatory. ment, then use those photos to talk about Fromme, who now works for Mesa De- what “green” means to them and how it sign Group in Dallas, Texas, will take part makes a difference. They practice “com- in two presentations at the symposium. He munity greening through the lens of ser- says he was inspired by the gardens of Italy, vice learning,” says Stier. The children and that classical influence is evident not choose projects to work on—container only in the fountains but in the sculpted plantings for their block, for instance, or birds, turtles, fish, and other creatures that creating window boxes for neighbors, or populate the space. Above: At Longwood Gardens, children can planting trees or doing ornamental plant- “There are many layers of detail, cre- enjoy splashing in the indoor mosaic fountain. ings in their schoolyard. ative details,” says Fromme. “Interesting Top: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Stier also takes the students to a local spaces for children to explore—under and Philadelphia Green is a program that wildlife preserve, to show them what over, up stairs, through tunnels—and they encourages urban greening projects at the their neighborhoods once looked like. find the details, they discover things.” community and school level. “For many of them, this is their first walk Of course there are plants in the chil- in this kind of environment,” he says. dren’s garden, too: nearly 50 different va- an opportunity to ‘hook’ their interest in After the youth program was flourish- rieties chosen for their texture, color, and the green world around them.” ing, the Burpee Foundation gave PHS a fragrance, plus disease and pest resistance. grant to establish Green City Teachers, a “This is strictly an experiential chil- PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY program run by community educator dren’s garden,” says Sharon Loving, Long- The 181-year-old society, based in Philadel- Sally McCabe that shows teachers how wood’s horticulture department head, who phia, has long been involved with children’s to introduce horticulture and environ- was co-leader of the project that was 10 programs, including Kids Grow Expo, a mental topics into the curriculum. years in the making. “Many children in an one-day flower show in which 500 to 600 Stier and McCabe will make a joint urban environment may never have the children compete. Among the society’s cur- presentation about PHS children’s pro- chance to walk in the woods and experi- rent projects are the innovative Green City grams during the symposium. ence nature. Children’s gardens offer an Youth and Green City Teachers programs. opportunity for these children to be in a Now in its third year, Green City A former garden columnist for the Phila- setting where they are surrounded not only Youth reaches out to urban youth, delphia Inquirer, Denise Cowie writes for the

by plants but also by beauty. We see this as through city schools, to teach them that Greater Philadelphia Gardens website. TOP: COURTESY OF PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. CENTER: LONGWOOD GARDENS.

14 the American Gardener

16 bridize incultivation. Andtoday’s selec- not tomentiontheirpropensity tohy- liage, andarobust andadaptablenature, lengthy bloomingperiod,attractive fo- perennialswart display, includinga surprising, given theattributesthesestal- A Top left: and partshade. Right: the American Gardener With theirlongbloomingseasonandeasyculture,hardygeraniumsaretough tobeat. over thepast10years. Thisisn’t bill varieties hashitthemarket N EXPLOSIONOF Geranium sanguineum Geranium G. psilostemon, G. new cranes- new ‘Canon Miles’forms tidy12-inchmounds.Bottom left: which growsto four feetwideandtall,hasfoliage thatturnsredandyellowinthe fall. mately 300speciesofthegenus common namesthatrefer toapproxi- of flower andfoliagecolors. floriferous nature, andatantalizingarray proved growth habits,aneven more garden; varieties manynew boastim- cranesbills were toowildorcoarseforthe tions defytheVictorian complaintthat Cranesbills orhardy geraniums,the Cranesbills Carefree Cranesbills Carefree BY RICHARDHAWKE Geranium, G. cinereum G. ed almost150different cranesbillsatthe pearing tolackdiversity. several different selectionswithoutap- needs thateven asmallgarden canfeature in theirornamentaltraitsandcultural similarities, cranesbillsare varied enough of theworld.Althoughtheyshare familial are widelydistributed intemperateregions ‘Lawrence Flatman’ toleratesbothfullsun Since 1997,Ihave grown and evaluat-

TOP LEFT: RICHARD HAWKE; BOTTOM LEFT: LYNNE HARRISON. RIGHT: MARK TURNER blotched, or banded with cream or purple. In autumn, the foliage of many cranesbills turns purple, red, orange, or yellow. Some species have aromatic foliage, but depending on your sense of smell, the fragrance may be described as minty, medicinal, or malodorous. Cranesbills offer a diversity of habits too—from mounding to trailing, clump- forming to spreading, from a few inches to several feet tall. Because they blend and weave comfortably with other plants, cranesbills make good garden companions. The following selections are a sam- pling of the many cranesbills we found to be exceptional in our trials. SUNNY SELECTIONS A new generation of blue-flowered cranesbills is taking the gardening world by storm, with award-winning Rozanne (‘Gerwat’, Zones 5–8, 12–2) and lookalike ‘Jolly Bee’ (Zones 4–8, 8–1) among the best. Most blue-flowered cranesbills contain a hint of pink, but these selections come pretty close to true blue. In side-by- side trials their differences are negligible; both feature large two-inch blue flowers with white centers and purple veins, from early June to frost. Their vigorous sprawling habits, 18 inches tall and 48 Rozanne’s vivid blue flowers make a striking contrast with a yellow-leaved New Zealand flax. inches wide, are similar too. For many years, ‘Johnson’s Blue’ Chicago Botanic Garden (USDA Hardi- pending on the selection, bloom over a (Zones 4–8, 8–1) was the most popular ness Zone 5b, AHS Heat Zone 5). We period of about four weeks to five blue-flowered cranesbill. Unfortunately, it have identified the best for northern gar- months, from late spring into autumn. has the bad habit of toppling over during dens based on their superior ornamental Those with especially long bloom peri- flowering, which diminishes the floral dis- qualities, cultural adaptability, pest-free ods include some of the newest selections play. ‘Johnson’s Blue’ has been superseded nature, and winter hardiness. Many of such as ‘Jolly Bee’, ‘Nimbus’, ‘Orion’, by ‘Brookside’ (Zones 5–8, 8–1), a vigor- these varieties thrive in other regions as Rozanne, and ‘Tiny Monster’. well. (For varieties recommended for Both the botanical and common names other parts of the country, see “Regional arise from the resemblance of the fruit to Favorites,” page 19.) the beak or bill of a crane; Geranium de- rives from geranos—“crane” in Greek. The GETTING TO KNOW CRANESBILLS distinctive fruits burst open upon ripening, Cranesbills flaunt their flowers in shades dispersing seeds up to several feet away. For of blue, purple, magenta, pink, and some species, including G. ✕oxonianum white; darker or contrasting veins com- and G. pratense, this may result in an abun- monly streak the petals, an adaptation dance of seedlings and a tendency to be that helps attract pollinating insects. Act- weedy. Cranesbills are notoriously promis- ing as a landing strip of sorts, the lines cuous and will hybridize with other cranes- guide insects to the nectaries located at bills nearby in the garden. the base of each petal. Each saucer- Cranesbill leaves are palmately lobed shaped blossom has five petals, often and often deeply dissected. Shades of notched at the tip, and some sport a green to gray-green predominate but white or dark eye. Flowers range from plum-purple and golden green selections The selection Blue Sunrise features chartreuse

TOP: JERRY PAVIA. BOTTOM RICHARD HAWKE one-half to two inches wide, and, de- exist; other selections are variegated, foliage that fades to yellow.

May / June 2008 17 18 reminiscent ofG. palepinkflowers habit very and ashorter stems. Ground-hugging ‘Lohfelden’ has leaves ofcream, gray, andgreen on18-inch tures rose-pink flowers and variegated light pinkflowers, while‘Variegatum’ fea- gwersen’s Variety’ isslightlylargerwith est magentaonstemsto12inchestall.‘In- shearing. ‘Czakor’ hasflowers ofthe deep- and healthywithoutdeadheadingor and, unlikemanycranesbills,remains tidy ters. Bigroot cranesbillisdrought-tolerant and maybesemi-evergreen inmildwin- red, orange,and burgundytonesinfall May andJune. Its aromatic leaves takeon inflatedcalyceswith colorful appearin Abundant magenta-pinktowhiteflowers to 18inchestallandwide-spreading. some green leaves andarefined habit,up versatile plantforshadeorsun,withhand- orrhizum, ways bigroot cranesbill(Geranium macr- for agarden, myfirstresponse isalmostal- shade. bit tallerinpart inches talland36wideinsuna ‘Nimbus’ isavigorous plant,reaching 24 flowers becomepalerinhotsunnygardens. blooming and,like‘Orion’, itspurple-blue ous cranesbill.‘Nimbus’ isalsolong- (Zones 5–8,8–5),another notablyflorifer- it hasmore incommonwith‘Nimbus’ though ‘Orion’ isaseedlingof‘Brookside’, that widthbefore thelastflowers fade.Al- bloom inmid-June, sprawlingtotwice 24 inchestalland30wideatpeak mer. ‘Orion’ hasarobust, spreading habit, blossoms from latespringintosum- 8–5) displayscopiousdeeppurple-blue and 36incheswide. mannered cranesbillreaches 24inchestall grows shade.Thiswell- admirablyinpart liant inasunnysite,butBlue Sunrise tion ofyellow andblueisespeciallybril- and continuetolateJuly. Thecombina- lavender-blue flowers openinlateJune This colorfadestoyellow-green justasthe sected goldenchartreuse leaves inspring. selectionthatfeatures8–5) isacolorful dis- Illinois. northern veins, from lateMay intomid-August in each withasmallwhiteeye andreddish full sun,producing deepblueflowers, a 36-inchspread. It grows more uprightin ous selectionthatgrows 24inchestallwith When askedtorecommend perennials Long-blooming ‘Orion’ (Zones 5–8, Blue Sunrise (‘Blogold’, Zones 5–8, the American Gardener Zones 4–8,8–1).It isareliable, ✕ cantabrigiense. Attractive, reliable,andadaptablebigrootcranesbillbelongsineverygarden. spreading habit—nineto12inchestalland to red, burgundy, ororangeinfall.Its low, above thearomatic foliage,whichchanges magenta flowers are borneinprofusion bitastough.Inand isevery May andJune, rhizum 8–5) lookslikeadiminutive G.macror- makes itagood choiceforagroundcover. The spreadinghabit of Geranium (which is,infact,oneofitsparents) ✕ cantabrigiense G. G. ✕ cantabrigiense (Zones 5–8, pink flowers; light pink-flowered ‘Connie 12-inch-tallmoundwith purple- perfect notch cultivars include‘CanonMiles’, a twice thesize oftypicalleaves. Other top- and extralarge,dark green leaves—about and-one-half-inch-wide magenta flowers inches tallandfive feetwidewithone- ticularly robust plantthatgrows to24 fall. I’m impressed by ‘Rod Leeds’, apar- leaves may takeonred andpurpletonesin of theborder. Thedeeplylobedgreen good choiceforagroundcover orthefront inches tallandthree feetwide,makingita bill varies in habitandsize, from sixto24 radic rebloom until frost. Bloody cranes- blooming from May intoJuly withspo- with shadesofpinkandwhitepossible, are predominately red-purple tomagenta Turkey.Caucasus, andnorthern Flowers sturdy speciesindigenoustoEurope, the guineum was bloodycranesbill,Geranium san- cultivar withthepalestpinkflowers. most commonlygrown; ‘Jans’ isanewer and dark pink‘Karmina’ are probably the over three feetwide.Pale pink‘Biokovo’ white flowers onstems10inchestalland bestcultivars is‘St.the very Ola’, with for agroundcover oredgingplant.One of choice 30 incheswide—makesitaperfect My introduction tohardy geraniums var. striatum (Zones 3–8,8–1),a

TOP: RICHARD HAWKE. BOTTOM: CATRIONA T. ERLER REGIONAL FAVORITES To help identify selections that thrive in areas other than the upper Midwest, I asked knowledgeable cranesbill growers from several geographic regions to recommend the best varieties for their climate and soils. Without exception, the experts cited Rozanne among their top picks due to its floriferousness, robust habit, long bloom period, sterile flowers, easy culture, and drought tolerance. In recognition of these merits, the Perennial Plant Association named Rozanne the 2008 Perennial Plant of the Year. It also received the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the Royal Horticultural Society. In addition to this stellar cultivar, here are the experts’ comments on other geraniums that thrive in their region.

Mid-Atlantic: For eastern gardens, guineum ✕ G. psilostemon) that has Stephanie Cohen, author and lecturer grown well in full sun to light afternoon from Pennsylvania, likes long-blooming shade for the past eight years; G. ✕canta- ‘Dilys’ with magenta flowers on trailing brigiense and G. macrorrhizum are both stems that look best draped on a spring- good choices, but only in shade; and ‘Jol- flowering shrub. She values white-flow- ly Bee’, which, although it suffers in the ered G. macrorrhizum ‘Spessart’ for heat, has persisted in his gardens. drought tolerance, easy culture, and suitability as a container plant. She California: Robin Parer, owner of Gera- loves the black-eyed magenta blossoms niaceae nursery near San Francisco, rec- of G. psilostemon and ‘Ann Folkard’, ommends a variety of cranesbills for which are quite happy in a good, mois- western gardens. Creamy white-flowered ture-retentive soil. G. ✕cantabrigiense ‘St. Ola’ is an ever- ‘Ann Folkard’ green groundcover in California and not New England: In trials at the University as rampant as ‘Biokovo’; ‘Springtime’, a of Vermont, horticulturist Leonard Per- selection of G. phaeum, grows well in ry identified a number of favorites, in- hot summers in shady spots; its leaves cluding G. phaeum ‘Chocolate Chip’, are a beautiful mix of yellow, pink, and which has great dark purple flowers in light green. Parer likes the large blue late May; ‘Patricia’, with eye-catching flowers of ‘Orion’ and values its heat tol- bright pink flowers; and long-blooming erance in morning sun and adaptability G. wlassovianum, with nice red fall col- to a wide variety of soils. or, wide-spreading habit, and drought tolerance. Pacific Northwest: Maurice Horn, co- owner of Joy Creek Nursery near Port- Southeast: Allen Bush of Jelitto Seeds land, Oregon, highlights cranesbills he’s in Louisville, Kentucky, says G. wlasso- grown personally and that are also rec- vianum is a lovely, tough performer, ommended by Great Plant Picks, a plant which has proven tolerant of heat and ‘Mavis Simpson’ award program for the Pacific North- humidity for 10 years. He is fond of vi- west. Silvery-leaved ‘Mavis Simpson’ olet-blue-flowered ‘Spinners’, espe- does exceptionally well, tolerating wet cially in early spring, and appreciates winters (as long as the soil drains) and its handsome, deeply divided leaves. warm, dry summers. Its rosy pink flow- He likes G. macrorrhizum, too, but ers are sterile and bloom for an ex- specifically ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’ as a tremely long time. He loves the robust- groundcover for evenly moist soils in ness of ‘Ann Folkard’, which performs part shade. The leaves have a pleasant well as long as it has good drainage. The minty fragrance and turn shades of red chartreuse to yellow foliage is lovely in in autumn. contrast with the magenta flowers, he says. And he also likes G. cinereum Deep South: Jimmy Turner, director of re- ‘Laurence Flatman’, a very tough plant search at Dallas Arboretum, is actively that tolerates full sun to part shade and evaluating hardy geraniums. His picks so poor soils that drain well. “It is ever so far for top-performers in the Texas heat ‘Tiny Monster’ polite and has never seeded in the gar- include ‘Tiny Monster’, a hybrid (G. san- den,” he adds. —R.H. TOP TO BOTTOM: JERRY PAVIA, SAXON HOLT, ALEKSANDRA SZYWALA

May / June 2008 19 Resources The AHS Encyclopedia of Perennials by Graham Rice and Kurt Bluemel. DK Publishing, New York, New York, 2006.

The Gardener’s Guide to Growing Hardy Geraniums by Trevor Bath and Joy Jones. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2004.

Hardy Geraniums: The Complete Guide to the Genus by Peter Yeo. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2002.

“Plant Evaluation Notes: Hardy Gerani- ums for Northern Gardens” by Richard Hawke. Chicago Botanic Garden, The darker lines on the petals of G. wlassovianum help attract pollinators to the flowers. Glencoe, Illinois, 2004. www.chicagobotanic.org/down Hansen’, which grows 20 inches tall and States native are at their peak in May. loads/planteval_notes/no22_ wide; and ‘Kristin Jakob’, with bright pur- ‘Elizabeth Ann’ and ‘Espresso’ are similar geraniums.pdf. ple-magenta flowers on stems to 14 inches plants with coffee-colored foliage and tall and 36 inches wide. bountiful lavender-pink flowers. ‘Espres- Geranium wlassovianum (Zones 4–8, so’ has darker chocolate-burgundy leaves Sources 8–1) is an unassuming cranesbill with a that fade to dark bronze after flowering, Avant Gardens, Dartmouth, MA. good character and long-blooming habit. while ‘Elizabeth Ann’ fades to olive drab. (508) 998-8819. www.avantgardens From mid-June into autumn, this Asian ‘Elizabeth Ann’ has slightly larger flowers ne.com. Catalog $3; free online. native bears purple flowers with a white that are significantly darker in color than eye and violet veins. It has a bushy habit ‘Espresso’. Both cultivars are 18 inches tall Bluestone Perennials, Madison, OH. with stems to 20 inches tall and 36 inches and upright in habit. Although adapted (800) 852-5243. www.bluestone wide. In the fall, leaves turn a brilliant mix to shady sites, their leaf color will be bet- perennials.com. Catalog free or of purple and red. We grow it with great ter with morning sunlight. online. success in full sun but it also tolerates part Mourning widow or dusky cranesbill shade and drier soils. are common names that refer to the cu- Digging Dog Nursery, Albion, CA. Blue-flowered, sun-loving cranesbills (707) 937-1130. www.diggingdog. such as Rozanne, ‘Buxton’s Variety’, or com. Catalog online. ‘Brookside’ blend nicely with the soft yellow flowers of Achillea ‘Anthea’ or Coreop- Fieldstone Gardens, Vassalboro, ME. sis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’, while their (207) 923-3836. www.fieldstone long-blooming nature makes them a good gardens.com. Catalog $2.50; free choice for seasonal displays in hanging bas- online. kets and window boxes. Other companions for cranesbills in sunny gardens Forestfarm, Williams, OR. (541) include blue oat grass (Helictotrichon spp.), 846-7269. www.forestfarm.com. prairie dropseed (Sporobolus spp.), lamb’s Catalog $5; free online. ears (Stachys spp.), lady’s mantle (Alchemil- la spp.), catmint (Nepeta spp.), aster, and Geraniaceae, Kentfield, CA. (415) wormwood (Artemisia spp.). 461-4168. www.geraniaceae.com. Catalog online. SHADE LOVERS Flowering plants that excel in shade are Joy Creek Nursery, Scappoose, OR. like gold to gardeners. Spotted cranesbill, (503) 543-7474. www.joycreek. Geranium maculatum (Zones 4–8, 8–1), com. Catalog $4; free online. is one of those plants. The rosy-pink to Geranium phaeum produces intriguing dark

white flowers of this eastern United flowers with contrasting light centers. TOP: CATRIONA T. ERLER. BOTTOM: LYNNE HARRISON

20 the American Gardener G. ✕cantabrigiense, right foreground, combine well with pinks (Dianthus spp.), hostas, and columbines (Aquilegia spp.) in this shade garden.

rious dark blossoms of the European choice for moist shade but will appreci- If cranesbills become floppy as the species, G. phaeum (Zones 4–8, 8–1). ate morning sun. The leaves of maroon- bloom cycle ends, shear their stems to the Flowers also bloom in a range of colors, flowered ‘Samobor’ are broadly stained ground to rejuvenate them. New basal from white to pink to violet and deep with a dark purple band. ‘Lily Lovell’ has leaves will typically grow within two weeks. maroon; they appear from mid-May to spotless leaves and large, violet flowers in Exceptions to this rule are G. macror- mid-June. Although their spread may May and June. Both spotted and dusky rhizum, G. ✕cantabrigiense, G. wlasso- reach 30 inches, it was about half that in cranesbills combine well with other vianum, and G. sanguineum, which do not our trials. Dusky cranesbill is a good shade-loving perennials such as coral generally require shearing. Shearing will bells (Heuchera spp.), hosta, and lung- also reduce self-sowing. wort (Pulmonaria spp.). Cranesbills are rarely troubled by pests and diseases. Powdery mildew, leaf spot- HOW TO GROW CRANESBILLS ting, Japanese beetles, and rabbits are oc- Cranesbills are generally easy-care plants casional problems. In our trials, cultivars of that thrive in a variety of light condi- G. pratense were solely affected by powdery tions and in most soils, except extremes mildew; while Japanese beetles damaged of wetness or dryness. Moist, organic the leaves of G. ✕oxonianum cultivars. soils are best for most types. Even Equally at home in formal gardens or drought-tolerant species such as Gera- naturalistic landscapes such as meadows nium macrorrhizum and G. phaeum will and woodlands, cranesbills can be grown benefit from consistent moisture. as individual specimens or in small groups Many sun-loving cranesbills will tol- in the border. They also make colorful erate a bit of shade, but too much will groundcovers beneath trees, shrubs, and result in lanky plants and fewer flowers. roses. With such a wide range of uses, This can be true for shade-lovers, too; you’re sure to find a spot for these adapt- placing them in morning sun helps pro- able perennials in your landscape. mote flower production and bushier habits. For optimum growth in hot re- Richard Hawke is plant evaluations man- Dark markings on the leaves of Geranium gions, site cranesbills where they will re- ager for the Chicago Botanic Garden in

TOP: CATRIONA T. ERLER. BOTTOM: LYNNE HARRISON phaeum ‘Samobor’ give it extra appeal. ceive afternoon shade. Glencoe, Illinois.

May / June 2008 21 22 Asian pearsare sweet, crunchy,andjuicywith yellow tobrownrussettedskin. for yourbackyard Fruit Trees pear pluckedstraightfrom thetree. wanted wasacrispappleorjuicyAsian small kitchengarden. But whatIreally peaches there—two trees bordered my Igrew cherries, andapricotsstruggle. mates likesteamyHouston where apples, I mostly resided inplaceswithhotcli- envy mostofmyadultlife,becauseI ’VE SUFFEREDFROM the American Gardener fruit-tree planting trees inwell-drained soilinfull all aboutlocation.It goesbeyond simply ness Zone 4.Growing successfullyis fruit lost causeinbitterlycoldUSDAHardi- quickly Idiscovered thatpeacheswere a Asian pearsinmybackyard. But very plethora ofapples,succulentcherries,and a decadeago,Igotmychance.planted When Imoved totheUpper Midwest pollinators. ments, diseasesandpests,necessary including hardiness, chillingrequire- sun; manyotherfactorscomeintoplay, form bestinyour climate. grower torecommend varieties thatper- Master Gardener, orexperiencedfruit askingalocalExtension agent, worth spring frosts. Suffice tosay, itiswell early andsufferseriousdamagefrom for your area maybreak dormancytoo tree achillingrequirement withtooshort maydie.A fail toproduce fruit—and you’re likelytoexperiencewillprobably rately calculatechillhours. tinue torefine methodstomore accu- to becontinuous.Fruit specialistscon- measured cumulatively; theydon’t need November andFebruary. Thehoursare and above 32degrees Fahrenheit between when thetemperature remains below 45 which are basicallythenumberofhours has itsown requirement for“chill hours” ment mustbeconsidered. Eachvariety to break dormancy, thechillingrequire- ing inorder fortheirflower andleafbuds require amount ofwinterchill- acertain since apples,pears,cherries,andpeaches eties thatare hardy inyour climate.Next, A logicalplacetobeginisselectingvari- REQUIREMENTS HARDINESS ANDCHILL two varieties mustoverlap. Even apples Furthermore, theblooming timesofthe ond variety nearby toensure pollination. nate themselves—and musthave asec- self-sterile—their flowers cannotpolli- pears, andsweet cherrieshowever, are ond variety forpollination.Most apples, donotrequireself-fruitful—they asec- tor. Most peachesandsourcherriesare treesfruit iswhethertheyneedapollina- Another considerationwhenselecting ENSURING POLLINATION BY DOREENG.HOWARD peaches, andcherries. own delectableapples,pears, Use thesetipstogrowyour A tree thatrequires more chillingthan

DAVID CAVAGNARO LEFT, TOP AND BOTTOM: MICHAEL S. THOMPSON; LEFT, CENTER: DAVID CAVAGNARO. TOP RIGHT: DOREEN G. HOWARD them. Theirtips,describedbelow,havehelpedmetogrowavarietyofgreatfruit. I talkedtoanumberofresearchersandhomefruitgrowersfromaroundthecountrylearnwhatyearsexperiencehavetaugh TIPS FORSUCCESSFULFRUITHARVESTS ‘Meteor’ sourcherry ‘Meteor’ sourcherry ‘Stanley’ plum ‘Liberty’ apple ‘Stanley’ plum ‘Liberty’ apple leases fromthetree,appleisripe.Ifyou give itaquarterofturn,”hesays.“Ifre- pick them.“Lifttheappleupsidewaysand bear plentyofapples.Andheknowshowto backyard. Histhree-tofive-feet-talltrees trees inhis43-by-55-footSkokie,Illinois, er trunkmakesthetreebearearlier. ly arethefruitseasiertopick,butshort- off newlyplantedtreesatbeltheight.Noton- trees growingon10acresinMichigan,cuts who hasmorethan150apple,pear,andnut down flavor.Theapplemaybelarge,butit’sflatinflavor.” “Overfertilized soilproduceswoodandfoliagegrowth,butitwaters Watch fertility,saysGuyAmes,nurseryownerinFayetteville,Arkansas. APPLES hedge. Brancheswillinterweave, andpollinationwillbebetter. ing twovarieties,alternating themfourtosixfeetapartcreatea big. It’seasytokeepthemsmall withpruning.”Healsoadvisesplant- “They’re moreexpensivethan standardtrees,whichdon’tgrowthat erative. “Don’twasteyourmoneyondwarfplumtrees,” hesays. sells histreestothepublicthroughFedco,amailordernursery coop- John Bunkergrows30varietiesofplumsathisMainefarm andalso PLUMS room temperatureandletthemripengradually. pears shouldberefrigeratedforatleastaweek.Thenbring themto near thestem.Heuseshisthumbtogaugepressure.After picking, Fackler saystopickwhenthereisaveryslightgiveonthe fruitsurface in spring.Treescanbeplantedanytimebeforetheground freezes. they gainonefullseasonofgrowthbyplantinginthefall,ratherthan ous rootsystems,evenincoldclimates.Somepeargrowersclaimthat ist EdFackler.Treeswillspendthewintermonthsestablishingvigor- Autumn isthebesttimetoplantpeartrees,accordingfruitspecial- PEARS ‘Lapins’, ‘BlackGold’,and‘WhiteGold’. versity inEastLansing,recommendsthesevarieties:‘CompactStella’, tile sweetcherry.GregLang,cherryresearcheratMichiganStateUni- avoid plantingtwotreesthatwilltakeuppreciousspace,selectaself-fer- Unlike sourcherries,mostsweetcherriesneedapollinatortosetfruit.To CHERRIES ple andthenholdontothebranchsoyoudon’tbreakfruitingspur.” they’re fullsizebutnotperfectlyripe.Youmighthavetotwisttheap- want tostoretheapples,pickthemwhen Gene Yalegrows165miniatureapple Joe Hecksel,aquality-controlengineer European pearsdonotripenonthetreeandshouldbepicked green. home orchard. Crunch’ applesfromher The authorharvests‘Pixie May /June 2008 —D.G.H. 23 t 24 of dwarfness, hardiness,of dwarfness, adaptabilityto has beenbred specificallyforitsqualities the desired variety ontoarootstock that stem—calledascion—of bud orshort ples andpearsare produced by graftinga spray,prune, ap- Dwarf fruit. orharvest varieties don’tDwarf require aladderto think dwarf, even ifyour garden islarge. Before pickinganappleorpearvariety, SMALL ISSMART varieties shouldbeplantednearby. duces sterilepollen,sotwoadditional tors foreachother. Also,‘Magness’ pro- incompatible anddonotwork aspollina- rieties; however ‘Seckel’ and‘Bartlett’ are other aslongyou planttwodifferent va- orExtension agent. nursery sources,” page25),orconsultyour local Missouri Extension website (see“Re- both applesandsweet cherries,visitthe of compatiblevarieties forpollination should beplanted.For anexcellent chart sterile pollen,sotwoadditionalvarieties ‘Jonagold’, and‘Arkansas Black’ produce Some varieties ofapplessuchas‘Mutsu’, pollinating variety isplantednearby. ‘Liberty’, willproduce heaviercrops ifa ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Granny Smith’, and that are suchas listedasself-fruitful, uneC 6–8 12–15 Quince C 10–12 OH xF513 OH xF333 PEARS (EUROPEAN&ASIAN) Colt CHERRIES Remarks 6–10 M9 Height(feet) Bud 9 APPLES Rootstock stocks promoteearlierfruiting. ples, cherries,andpears.Inadditiontoreducingthetree’ssize,mostdwarfingroot- The followingareamongthemorecommonlyavailabledwarfingrootstocksforap- APPLES, CHERRIES,ANDPEARS COMMON DWARFING ROOTSTOCKSFOR iea58–12 Gisela 5 15–20drought 10–14 4–8 M111 M26 M27 Most pearsare abletopollinateeach the American Gardener 12–18 8–10 resistant tofireblight disease-resistant may requirestaking induces earlybearing,hardyto -25ºF very coldhardy,treesmayneedstaking tolerates heavysoil,hardyto-10ºFahrenheit tolerant ofwetsoils very coldhardy,treemayneedstaking suitable forcontainersandsmallgardens only 43by55feetinsize,buthemanagestogrowmorethan160miniaturesppletrees. You don’tneedalargespacetohavefruitfulorchard.GeneYale’sIllinoishomegardenis states atree isn’t isadwarf enough.You Pennsylvania State University. “A tagthat Crassweller, professor oftree at fruit rootstock isnotspecified,”cautionsRob “Don’t appleorpearifits buyadwarf site conditions,anddiseaseresistance. tolerant dwarf rootstocks mayrequiredwarf staking(for in heightupto20feet;sometrees on stocks canproduce atree from fourfeet your climate.”Different root- dwarfing and iftherootstock isappropriate for need toknow how highthetree willgrow be successfullygrown inalargecontainer. Some dwarffruit trees, suchasthispeach,can

TOP: DOREEN HOWARD; BOTTOM: MICHAEL S. THOMPSON more information about rootstocks see tect your trees. I’ve developed an organ- “Common Dwarfing Rootstocks for Ap- ic three-spray routine that knocks out ples, Cherries, and Pears,” page 24). most fungal spores and insects from the Resources “We haven’t been able to develop true previous season and protects new Home Orchard Society, dwarfing rootstock for stone fruits such as growth. Just after spring pruning, I spray www.homeorchardsociety.org. plums and cherries,” says Ed Fackler, an every tree with dormant oil, mixed with Indiana fruit specialist who works with the lime sulfur. You can combine the two North American Fruit Explorers, United States Department of Agriculture concentrates or buy an oil-sulfur fruit www.nafex.org. (USDA) and nurseries to develop better tree spray. Horticultural oil smothers fruit trees for the consumer market. “But, emerging insects and lime sulfur is a Pollinating Fruit Crops by Michele R. they can be easily kept small with prun- powerful organic fungicide. Two weeks Warmund. University of Missouri Ex- ing.” There are a few genetically dwarf later, or when buds start to swell on trees, tension. http://extension.missouri.edu/ stone fruit trees that grow more like shrubs I spray neem seed oil, which is an organ- explore/agguides/hort/g06001.htm. and stay under 10 feet tall without being ic insecticide and miticide. After flower grafted onto dwarf rootstocks. Look for petals drop, I follow up with a third Training and Pruning Fruit Trees by ‘Bonanza’, ‘Compact Redhaven’, ‘Honey spray, again with neem seed oil. I’m care- Michael L. Parker. North Carolina Babe’, and ‘Garden Sun’ peaches. ‘North ful to apply the third spray either early in Cooperative Extension Service. www. Star’ and ‘Meteor’, genetically dwarf sour the morning or after 5 p.m. when the sun ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/ag29.html. cherries, reach 12 feet; so does ‘Compact is waning. Direct sunlight on the oil Stella’, a sweet cherry. Again, check to see droplets acts like a prism, burning tender which varieties are adapted to your area. new foliage and buds. Sources Columnar peach trees are the latest Adams County Nursery, Aspers, PA. dwarfing advance, according to Ralph (717) 677-8105. Scorza, research horticulturist at the www.acnursery.com. USDA’s Appalachian Fruit Research Sta- ■ Crimson Rocket columnar peach. tion in Kearneyville, West Virginia. “‘Crimson Rocket’ is great for home gar- Boyer Nurseries, Biglerville, PA. (717) dens, because of its tiny footprint,” he 677-8558. www.boyernurseries.com. says. Trees grow to about 14 feet in height, ■ Apples on Bud 9, M9, M11 & M7 but pruning will easily keep them at six to rootstock. eight feet. “The freestone peaches will hold on the tree for a week, retaining their Edible Landscaping, Afton, VA. (434) firmness. So you can pick them as you 361-9134. www.eat-it.com want,” says Scorza. Edible Forest, Madison, WI. DISEASE RESISTANCE (608) 663-0840. www.edible Insects and diseases love fruit as much as forestnursery.com. we do. That’s why commercial growers The author shows the dramatic difference ■ Apples on Bud 9 rootstock. often spray trees on an almost weekly between a bagged (left) and unbagged (right) basis in order to harvest a saleable crop. ‘Ashmead Kernel’ apple. Fedco Seeds, Waterville, ME. (207) Luckily for gardeners, a number of dis- 873-7332. www.fedcoseeds.com. ease-resistant fruit trees have been bred If the weather cooperates in late fall, I ■ Cold-hardy fruits. in the last decade. By planting the vari- spray trees again after all leaves have eties that are resistant to the diseases that dropped with the dormant oil-sulfur com- Greenmantle Nursery, Garberville, CA. are common in your area, you can reduce bination to suppress diseases and pests. I (707) 986-7504. www.greenmantle the amount of pesticides you need for also rake up all dropped leaves and fruit in nursery.com. growing high quality fruit. And if you the fall and remove them to prevent the bag apples and pears, you can harvest spread of disease or insects that might Raintree Nursery, Morton, WA. (888) perfect, blemish-free fruit that is truly or- overwinter in the debris. 770-8352. www.raintreenursery.com. ganic (For details on bagging apples see ■ Cherries on Gisela 5 rootstock. page 26). Your local Extension agent PLANTING, PRUNING, AND THINNING should have a list of disease resistant va- The best time to plant your fruit trees is rieties suitable for your growing region. when they are dormant, either in early without bending them. I pull the tree out Disease resistance doesn’t mean that a spring or late fall. Dig a hole about twice of its nursery container and rub mycor- disease will not occur at all, but resistant as wide as the tree’s root ball or pot. If rhizal fungi inoculant on the roots. My- trees are far less likely to suffer significant planting a bare-root tree, be sure the hole corrhizae are beneficial soil fungi that

DOREEN HOWARD damage. So it pays for you to help pro- will accommodate all roots comfortably work in symbiosis with plant roots. They

May / June 2008 25 BAGGING APPLES AND PEARS Even organic growers end up spraying often with products such as horticultural oil, neem seed oil, sulfur, and pyrethrum to keep diseases and insects at bay. It’s a challenge to apply these various organic solutions at the correct time to prevent disease infestations and to kill insects that will destroy fruit. That’s why I embraced a technique the Japanese have used for more than 150 years to produce perfect apples, which are prized gifts in the Japanese culture. Members of the North American Fruit Explor- ers (NAFEX) shared the Japanese technique on their listserv five years ago. I belong to the organization and was in the process of planting apple and Asian pear trees. I tried the bagging technique and now pick flawless, sweet, and crunchy apples on Labor Day—without applying any chemicals. Last year, I bagged my Asian pears, and they ripened perfectly in mid-August. In fact, they were crunchier and sweeter than the previous year, when I didn’t bag them.

How to Bag Fruit 1. Buy zipper-lock or sliding-lock sandwich-size plastic bags. Snip off the two bottom corners of Depending on their rootstock, some dwarf each bag diagonally. This allows accumulated trees, such as this apple, may require staking. moisture to drain away from developing fruit. 2. When fruit is about the size of a large pea, the branches to allow for maximum light thin clusters to one fruit and thin to space ap- and air penetration. North Carolina State ples at least eight inches apart on branches. University offers excellent details and dia- 3. Place a bag over each fruit and close the zip- grams on how to prune specific fruit trees per or slide lock around the fruit stem. If the on its website (see “Resources,” page 25). fruit falls off during the process, it wasn’t fully Or ask your local Extension service for a pollinated and would abort on its own later. pruning fact sheet. As soon as young fruits start to devel- After bagging, all you need to do is observe op, thinning—reducing the number of the developing fruit periodically. Extra heat gath- fruits on each branch—is important to ered by the plastic bag will help to increase the ensure good-sized and sweet fruits says sugar content of apples and pears and contribute Top: Plastic bags are placed over Fackler. Five to six weeks after full bloom, to larger size. Fruit colors perfectly; it remains forming fruit early in the season. thin apples and pears to about eight inch- firm and crunchy, too. When it’s time to harvest, Above: This ‘Pixie Crunch’ apple es apart, peaches and plums to at least four simply snap off apples from trees as you would has matured to perfection in its bag. inches. The fruit will grow to optimum normally. Many growers leave apples in their bags size, and you ensure that there will be a for long-term storage, so the fruits don’t dehydrate. Apples stored this way will remain crop next year, too. crunchy and sweet much longer than those stored without coverage. I’ve observed an- You can grow your fruit trees in a small other benefit. Apples mature a week or two earlier when grown in bags, which is a orchard or as part of your kitchen garden. tremendous bonus in the short growing season of my USDA Zone 4 garden. —D.G.H. They can also be incorporated into ornamental gardens as specimens or shade trees, as part of a mixed flowering border will colonize on tree roots and extend hy- with a thin layer of compost followed by or fruiting hedge, or espaliered against a phae 20 to 30 feet in every direction, organic mulch to suppress weeds and re- wall. Careful selection of varieties, gathering nutrients and water for the tain moisture. Be sure to water the tree thoughtful placement, and some consci- new tree. Set the tree in its hole so that regularly throughout its first year. entious care will result in significant—and the graft union (the knobby spot on the Prune in late winter or early spring be- delicious—rewards for years. trunk) is two to three inches above fore trees break their dormancy. The main ground level. Fill in the hole with the re- objectives are to develop a strong frame- Doreen G. Howard is a garden writer in

moved soil, firm, and water well. Top work for the developing fruit and to open Roscoe, Illinois. LEFT: DOREEN HOWARD (2). RIGHT: DAVID CAVAGNARO

26 the American Gardener KAREN BUSSOLINI Designing Crossvine provides evergreencoverandred-orange springflowersforthisarbor. with riodic removal? Is there a preferred season maintenance that necessitatesthevine’s pe- needregularWill surface thesupporting The shyonesneedalittleencouragement. are andclimbwithoutassistance. assertive Somesome visiblemeansofsupport? vines ous, perennial orannual?Does itrequire shade? Should itbeevergreen ordecidu- Willof sorts. thevinebeplantedinsunor you’re lookingfor—acompatibilityprofile candidates, develop alistofthequalities den site.To narrow thefieldofpotential gar- vinewillthrive inevery but notevery mate thegarden. andothercreaturesbutterflies, thatani- for pollinatorssuchashummingbirds, And theflowers ofmanyvines are magnets spaces orcamouflageunsightlystructures. fast-growing vinescanbeusedtofilllarge efficiently usesspace.In largergardens, habitaddsanextradimensionand vertical bilities inagarden. In smallgardens, their long-term commitment. ities iftherelationship istogrow intoa must alsopossesssomelessobvious qual- tanglement, theobjectofone’s desire plant lust.But, aswith anyromantic en- canresult inanincurablecaseof nursery with abloomingspecimenatlocal love atfirstsight.Achanceencounter luscious blossoms,well, it’s invariably sturdy shrub. And,whencovered with a mailbox, hugawall,orsnuggleupto I BY PAULAREFI versatile vines. integrating colorfuland space inyourgardenby Take advantageofthevertical Climbers belong in every landscape, Climbers belonginevery Vines offermanycreative designpossi- Vines ability toembraceadoorway, caress and lovely vine.Maybe it’s theplant’s T’S EASY to beseducedby alush May /June 2008 27 of bloom? A dispassionate assessment of a deceived by its rather delicate stems; vine’s attributes, keeping in mind the re- crossvine has the ability to reach the roof quirements of the intended planting site, of a three-story house and will attain eliminates impulsiveness and enhances the heights of more than 50 feet on a big tree. likelihood of a durable relationship. Look for ‘Tangerine Beauty’, an especially floriferous cultivar with blossoms that EVERGREEN VINES are more orange than the species. Flowers Where a vine’s location demands year- bloom sporadically in autumn. round visibility—near an entrance, for ex- In the coastal plain of the southeastern ample—persistent and relatively attractive United States, Carolina jessamine foliage is paramount. Grow evergreen (Gelsemium sempervirens, Zones 7–9, 9–1) climbers only on durable structures that do scrambles up tree trunks in the piney not require upkeep. Something sturdy and woods. It, too, thrives on attention in a gar- utilitarian, such as non-rusting tubular den setting, and its bright yellow, one-and- steel or masonry, works best. Although one-half-inch, funnel-shaped flowers are they are evergreen, they need severe prun- sweetly fragrant in early spring. The lus- ing as they age to remove accumulations of trous, dark green foliage is attractive all dead foliage and encourage the growth of year. ‘Margarita’ is a more cold tolerant se- new stems. If pruned just after they flower, lection. This rampant grower needs a wide established plants recover rapidly. berth, and many homeowners make the In its native habitat in eastern North mistake of planting it near a mailbox. In- A favorite in Southern gardens, star jasmine America, crossvine (Bignonia capreolata, stead, let it travel unfettered across a per- bears fragrant white flowers in mid-spring. Zones 6–9, 9–5) often rambles aimlessly on gola to create a shady retreat or use it to the forest floor, where it seldom blooms. cloak an ugly chain link fence. As a bonus, need a little initial support. It requires But when it scales a woodland tree or jessamine is deer-resistant. deep, moist soil and protection from sun grows in a sunny or partly shaded garden, Shade gardens are particularly en- and harsh winds, making it ideally suited it produces abundant two-inch-long, red- hanced by evergreen foliage. Kadsura vine to a sheltered patio. Its fragrant flowers are dish-orange trumpets in spring. (Kadsura japonica, Zones 7–9, 9–1) is an inconspicuous, and the variegated forms Crossvine climbs by means of tendrils Asian native with two- to four-inch-long are more ornamental. The cultivar with small discs that self-attach, which tapered leaves. The thick foliage quickly ‘Fukurin’ displays white-edged leaves of makes it an ideal climber to soften an im- covers a structure, and a fair amount of fo- variable width that are outstanding in win- posing masonry retaining wall or to cam- liage persists at the base of the vine. It ter. ‘Chirimin’ has subtle white marbling. ouflage an unattractive structure. Don’t be climbs by means of twining stems that Though slightly more tender, star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides, Zone 8–10, 10–8) is a signature vine in Southern gardens, where its fragrance is intoxicating in May. White, one-inch, starlike flowers sit atop dark green foliage. It is a somewhat lazy climber, so tie it to a trellis, a metal handrail, or even a down- spout. In Savannah and Charleston gardens, wire mesh is used to train it against a wall. The cultivar ‘Madison’ exhibits the greatest cold tolerance. DECIDUOUS VINES Don’t overlook deciduous vines that slip into dormancy with the frost. Carefully consider their placement, however, so unsightly brown stems are not an eyesore in winter. Plant them where you don’t need year-round coverage but want to create shade in summer—on a poolside pergola or a west-facing deck. Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla, Zones 5–8, 8–4) is a vigorous twin-

Carolina jessamine is a vigorous vine that is useful for hiding or softening the look of fences. er native to the eastern United States from TOP: PAULA REFI; BOTTOM: CATRIONA T. ERLER

28 the American Gardener TOP LEFT: DAVID CAVAGNARO, TOP RIGHT: CATRIONA T. ERLER; BOTTOM: SAXON HOLT low-flowered selection.Thehybrid C. flourishes tothisday. ‘Flava’ isalovely yel- urban schoolyard where Iplayed asachild chainlinkfenceinthe a two-story-tall creeperalong railroad tracks.Atrumpet on tolerant ofabuse.It willtumblehappily coverage isrequired. No speciesismore it’s anexcellent choicewhere lushsummer is notaclimberforsmallgardens, although from June untilSeptember. Thissun-lover shaped orangeflowers growth onnew that produces three-inch-long trumpet- Zones 5–9,9–5)isarampantnative vine it willreceive afternoonshadeinsummer. winter toearlyspring.It grows bestwhere blooming before theleaves emergeinlate ca, California Dutchman’s pipe(A.californi- ing inspring.For West Coastgardeners, year. Keep itincontrol withahard prun- A. macrophylla terfly. Adaptable shade, tofullsunorpart ferred hostofthepipevineswallowtail but- and habitatgardeners value itas the pre- blossoms are produced inearlysummer, cally drapedporches. Its oddpipe-shaped leaves have10-inch) heart-shaped histori- Pennsylvania toGeorgia. Its large(four-to- ✕ prized for more than a century foritsrich prized formore thanacentury tagliabuana Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans, Zones 8–10,10–8)grows to15feet, ‘Madame Galen’ hasbeen can grow 20to30feeta creeper isbestsuited tolargegardens. Because ofits rampantnature,trumpet wisteria, withitspendulousclustersoffra- the care thisvineneeds. in latewinterisaboutall pruning erwise, moved annuallywithasharpspade.Oth- suckers—root sprouts—that needtobere- Be aware creepers thatalltrumpet produce andlongbloomperiod. orange trumpets No climberevokes romance more than American wisteriarequireslessmaintenancetokeepitundercontrol. leaves. Above:Whilenotasshowyitsmore-popularAsiancousins, Left: Dutchman’spipeiseasilydistinguishedbyitslarge,heart-shaped drangea in warmerregions. One isclimbinghy- dappled orafternoonshade,particularly couple ofgoodchoiceswillsucceedwith ed forgoodflowering. summer. At leastahalf-dayofsunisneed- age, withsporadicrepeat bloomthrough tion ‘Amethyst Falls’ bloomsfrom ayoung arbor, column,orpicketfence.Theselec- early spring.It iseasytoconfinean in can betamedwithadisciplinedpruning current season’s growth, Americanwisteria Because itbloomsinearlysummeronthe smaller, four-tosix-inchflower clusters. Southeast, ismore refined, producing frutescens, control. Americanwisteria(Wisteria tokeepthemunder need vigilantpruning 5–9, 9–3)andW. sinensis(Zones 5–8,8–5), Asian species,Wisteria floribunda grant lilac-purpleflowers. Theassertive Schizophragma shade. drangea andalso toleratespart woodystemsof climbinghy- protruding hydrangeoides, Japanese hydrangea vine(Schizophragma can overwhelm anaverage residence. romantic statement oncastlewalls,butit laris, Most vinesdobestinfullsun,buta Similar inhabitandgarden useis Zones 4–9,9–1),whichmakesa (Hydrangea anomala Zones 5–9,9–5),native tothe Zones 6–9,9–6).It lacksthe climbs by rootlike holdfasts May /June ssp. petio- 2008 (Zones 29 that are produced where the growing tip provide luscious color in summer. These into a mixed border to grow with a shrub comes in close physical contact with a sur- twining climbers produce showy three- companion or training on a small struc- face. Trees make fine hosts; masonry walls inch, funnel-shaped flowers in a range of ture for summer effect. are ideal. Plant young vines at the base of pinks, crimson, or white, set against dark The genus Clematis contains too many the wall and train new shoots so they touch green foliage. Dozens of named selections species and cultivars to address in detail. the supporting surface. Tape works very are available, including the popular pink But C. integrifolia (Zones 4–11, 7–1), in well for this purpose. Once attached, the Mandevilla ✕amoena ‘Alice du Pont’ particular, merits mention. This clematis vine’s growing tip will cling on its own. (Zones 10–12, 12–10). Depending on the is virtually trouble-free and one of the eas- The selection ‘Moonlight’, introduced by plant explorer and nursery owner Barry Yinger, has attractive silver shading. Flat- topped clusters of creamy white flowers occur in early summer, and in winter the exfoliating bark is exposed. ANNUAL AND TROPICAL VINES Like bedding annuals, the annual vines are inexpensive to grow from seed and they bloom all summer until frost. Once temperatures soar, the tender tropicals begin to blossom. Because they succumb to the first frost, these vines allow you to try something new every year. The list of easy-to-grow, sun-loving annuals and tender perennials is extensive, but some of my favorites are climbing snapdragon (Asarina scandens), black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata), hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus), moonvine (Ipo- moea alba), scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus), and Mexican flame vine (Senecio confusus). All will quickly smoth- In this romantic garden vignette, designer Conni Cross uses 'Alice du Pont' mandevilla to er a fence or arbor with lush foliage and create a pink-flowered arch over and on a decorative bench. beautiful flowers. Mandevilla is a genus of tropical vines cultivar, vines range from four or five feet iest perennials to grow. Its smaller, bell- native to Central and South America that up to 10 feet in height, so mandevillas are shaped flowers lack the in-your-face effect an ideal choice for a sunny mailbox. Or of the large-flowered clematis but will train it on a tripod as the major plant in a bloom all summer. Though it is unable to large container. climb on its own, C. integrifolia and its Sky vine (Thunbergia grandiflora, cultivars love nothing better than to cozy Zones 10–11, 12–10) thrives in the heat. Its up to a shrub. A shrubby rose is ideal. three-inch, trumpet-shaped flowers are Clematis ‘Arabella’ is soft blue and flow- waxy pale blue with a yellow throat. Twin- ers for several months. I grow it with the ing woody stems grow rapidly, with leath- tough-as-nails yellow polyantha rose ‘Baby ery green, heart-shaped leaves. Sky vine Love’. Not knowing that I live on a street appreciates a long sultry growing season, called Durand Drive, plantsman John El- which results in vines that exceed 20 feet sley recommended I plant C. ✕durandii for and the most abundant bloom. its deeper blue color. Appreciating the co- incidence, I happily combined it with the HARDY HERBACEOUS VINES shell-pink heirloom rose ‘Perle d’Or’. Next A small group of hardy herbaceous vines I introduced the pink C. integrifolia that die back to the ground every fall de- ‘Heather Herschel’ to purple smokebush, serve wider use in gardens. These climbers Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’. Another behave just like herbaceous perennials: match made in heaven. their roots persist, but every vestige of the A yellow bleeding heart (Dicentra scan- Climbing snapdragon is a quick-growing vine above the soil line disappears. These dens, Zones 4–8, 10–1) seems like a color

annual vine with deep purple blossoms. climbers are uniquely suited for inserting contradiction. This is a shy vine that waits SUSAN A. ROTH (2)

30 the American Gardener BEWARE THESE VINES Resources As with all types of plants, there are a few vines whose unrestrained growth or high Flowering Vines: Beautiful Climbers seed production makes them weedy or downright invasive. The extent to which edited by Karan Davis Cutler. Hand- they become a problem in a garden, or even a community, depends on the region book #158 in 21st Century Gardening of the country where they are planted. Always check local invasive plant lists be- Series. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Inc. fore introducing a rampant climber. The following vines, often sold as ornamentals, Brooklyn, New York, 1999. are listed as problematic in certain regions of the United States. Manual of Climbers and Wall Plants by ■ Akebia quinata (fiveleaf akebia) is considered weedy or J.K. Burras. Timber Press, Portland, invasive in the Pacific Northwest and on the East Coast. Oregon, 1994. ■ Ampelopsis brevipedunculata (porcelain berry) is invasive in natural areas of the Midwest and Northeast; on prohibited list in Massachusetts. Sources ■ Clematis terniflora (sweet autumn clematis) can be Arrowhead Alpines, Fowlerville, MI. weedy or invasive in much of the eastern and central Unit- (517) 223-3581. www.arrowhead ed States and Canada. alpines.com. Print and online catalog. ■ Hedera helix and cultivars (English ivy) escapes gardens readily if not managed carefully; listed as noxious weed Ipomoea quamoclit Brushwood Nursery, Unionville, PA. in Oregon and Washington State. (617) 444-8083. www.garden ■ Ipomoea coccinea (red morning glory) self-sows and is con- vines.com. Online catalog. sidered weedy in much of eastern and central U.S. ■ Ipomoea quamoclit (cypress vine) self-sows readily, es- Forestfarm, Williams, OR. (541) pecially in warm climate regions; many Ipomoea species 846-7269. www.forestfarm.com. are on the noxious weed list in Arkansas and Arizona. Catalog $5 or online. ■ Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle) is widely invasive in the eastern, south central, and southwestern U.S. Kartuz Greenhouses, Vista, CA. and is banned or prohibited in four New England states. (760) 941-3613. www.kartuz.com. ■ Lygodium japonicum (Japanese climbing fern) is con- Print and online catalog. sidered invasive in the Southeast and Hawaii; it’s on the noxious weed list in Alabama and Florida. —P.R. Lonicera japonica One Green World, Molalla, OR. (877) 353-4028. www.onegreenworld.com. Print and online catalog. until summer to emerge. Its stems are pale frost. The flowers are especially effective green and fragile. Dainty tendrils help it scrambling over a dark green boxleaf holly Sunlight Gardens, Andersonville, TN climb. Odd appendages project from the (Ilex crenata). This vine’s delicate stems are (800) 272-7396. www.sunlight stem like tiny frog legs, looking for some- vulnerable to injury, but once established gardens.com. Print and online catalog. thing to cling to. Once anchored, lemon- in a protected location with some sun, it yellow heart-shaped flowers bloom until returns faithfully every year. Woodlanders, Inc., Aiken, SC. (803) Firecracker vine (Manettia cordifolia, 648-7522. www.woodlanders.net. Zones 8–11, 12–10) is usually listed as hardy Online catalog. to USDA Zone 8, but specimens have persisted for decades in Zone 7 locations such as Greenwood, South Carolina. This their inherent beauty, we value vines for South American native bears two-inch- their ability to conceal unsightly struc- long tubular flowers in vivid red-orange tures, emphasize an entry, introduce tan- beginning in midsummer. Its stems are talizing fragrance, shade a sunny space, wiry, and fine tendrils reach out to snag attract wildlife, or decorate a shrub. any available support. Frost kills it back to In my experience as a designer and gar- the ground, where it slumbers until sum- dener, the cultivation of vines in particu- mer. With age, firecracker vine makes a lar appeals to our happiest, most romantic larger clump, but it is not invasive. inclinations. Plant a climber, and you just might lose your heart. VINES IN THE GARDEN The flowers of yellow bleeding heart shine Even when a garden seems full, there’s al- Paula Refi is a garden designer, lecturer, and

TOP TO BOTTOM: COURTESY OF LARRY ALLAIN @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS DATABASE; COURTESY OF ERICA ASAI @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS DATABASE; SUSAN A. ROTH TOP TO BOTTOM: COURTESY OF LARRY ALLAIN @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS DATABASE; ERICA ASAI SUSAN when paired with dark-leaved companions. ways room to plant a climber. Aside from writer based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.

May / June 2008 31 Lilies, Glorious Lilies

Growing and breeding lilies is the passion of Dave Sims of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, whose garden is a tribute to both the diversity and potential of this genus.

BY BRIAN BELL PHOTOGRAPHS BY JERRY PAVIA

32 the American Gardener N THE CREST of a wooded hillside that overlooks the meandering Koote- nai River and the small community of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, sits a garden dom- Oinated by lilies, the passion—some might say obsession—of Dave Sims. Sims is well known for his lilies around Idaho’s aptly named Boundary County, located in the narrow, northern panhandle of the state where it borders Montana, Wash- ington, and British Columbia. Strangers find his abode at the end of a dead-end lane throughout the growing season, seeking impromptu tours of the grounds and a glimpse into a world of diversity seldom encountered in a private garden. THE LILY SPECTRUM It’s the overwhelming variety of sizes, shapes, and fragrances of the genus Lilium that compels Sims to spend almost all of his spare time in the spring and summer in the garden. “There are so many, and they’re all so different,” says Sims, for whom identifying a favorite type of lily is simply impossible. “It’s like picking a favorite between your children. A lot of times your favorite lily is the last one that you saw blooming.” Among the lilies Sims grows are trumpet lilies that reach heights of up to nine feet, with large, fragrant white, pink, yellow, and apricot flowers. Martagons, native to northern Europe and parts of Asia, are oddly scented—“some people like it and some people don’t,” observes Sims—but their turkscap flowers, available in whites, creams, and mauves, are among the earliest bloomers. And martasians, a name Sims coined himself to describe the result of crossing European martagons with Asiatic hybrids from China. Above: Surrounded by a forest of Ponderosa Sims considers the native American species, with their smaller, typically downward- pines and vine maples, lilies of all kinds facing flower petals that are curved almost into a ball shape, elegant and refined, in con- dominate David Sims's one-acre property in trast to conventional cut flower varieties—the Asiatics and Orientals. Then there’s Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Above right: Dave and glowing Lilium pumilum, with its heavily scented, orange-red flowers the size of a dime, Stephanie Sims stand beside one of their or the alpine species that only get three or four inches off the ground. (For a listing of many lily beds. recommended varieties, see “Dave Sims’s Favorites,” page 35). EARLY INTEREST A gardener from an early age, Sims was already growing and propagating flowers when he was four or five years old. “My mother and her mother were flower growers. My father’s father was a vegetable gardener, and we had wild lilies growing in the yard.” His interest in lilies was piqued by an item he saw in a catalog from the Rex Bulb Farm in Oregon when he was about nine years old. “There was a description of the trumpet lilies that said they would grow to be eight feet tall, and the flowers were huge

May / June 2008 33 as you can keep organic material in the soil and keep them wa- tered, they’ll thrive.” (For more about growing lilies, see “Basics of Lily Culture,” below.) Today, the house is surrounded by a combination of lawn and garden, including some 10,000 square feet of flowerbeds throughout the one-acre property augmented by terrain that slopes toward a forest of Pon- derosa pines and vine maples. More than half of Sims’s lilies compared to our native lilies.” grow in free-form display beds So he ordered one trumpet lily situated for their high visibility and one Asiatic lily. That trum- from inside the house. pet lily only grew about a foot One large, boomerang- tall, bloomed with a single shaped bed, enclosed by a low flower, and disappeared. But rock wall on the far side, and the setback didn’t discourage several smaller free-form beds the young Sims. “The Asiatic are integrated into the fringe of lilies grew for 30 years. When the woods and a row of black- my parents passed away [in the early Above: In the free-form beds surrounding berry bushes. It is in these beds that Sims 2000s], we still had one variety growing Sims's home, the slender stems of Lilium grows western American and martagon in their garden,” he says. pumilum and several martagon lilies share lilies that thrive in part or dappled shade. In 1982, Sims left Idaho to attend Rens- space with Digitalis lanata and Echium Lilies that do well in full sun—trumpets, selaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New russicum. Above left: The flowers of lemon orienpets, and Asiatics, for example—are York, where he obtained a degree in ma- lily (Lilium parryi) are delightfully fragrant. featured in beds close to the house. terials engineering. When he returned to Bonners Ferry in 1986 to run the family’s think, one shrub and two trees here when SHARING SPACE John Deere tractor business, he resumed I bought it,” he recalls. “There was real- After some false starts with daylilies and his gardening hobby full bore. And in ly nothing but lawn.” irises—“I just couldn’t keep enough 1992 he bought a home just a few blocks The sandy soil required the addition of water on them,” says Sims—he settled from where he had grown up. hundreds of yards of organic material on peonies as a companion plant for his such as grass clippings, leaves, shredded lilies, which take up 70 percent of his DESIGNING THE GARDEN pine bark, and compost. The conditions growing space. The property wasn’t much to look at suited lilies, which need excellent “The peony plants are low and have a when Sims moved in; the yard required drainage. “If you grow them in soil that spreading habit and they have com- substantial rehabilitation. “There was, I doesn’t drain, they’ll rot quickly. As long pound leaves, while the lilies have a lin-

BASICS OF LILY CULTURE ■ Unlike many bulbous plants, lilies do not have a dormant ■ Most lilies grow best in full sun. In areas where summers are period and their bulbs must not be allowed to dry out. If nec- hot, however, plant them in a location with afternoon shade. essary, they can be stored for short periods in the refrigerator. ■ Lilies appreciate fertile soil and will reward you with taller ■ Planting in fall is preferred over spring to allow time for new stems, and more and larger flowers if well fed. roots to form well before stem growth occurs. If planting in spring, ■ Botrytis is a fungal disease that infects lilies, typically result- plant as early as possible. ing in brown spots on the leaves. To minimize botrytis, plant ■ Lilies require good drainage and grow best in a friable soil lilies in areas with good air circulation and avoid overhead wa- with a high humus content. Amend clay soil with organic mat- tering. Botrytis can be controlled with fungicides; check with ter to improve its tilth. Sandy soil should be amended with or- your local Extension service for recommendations. ganic matter to improve its moisture-holding capacity. ■ After blooming, cut off the flowers but leave the stem to nour- ■ In areas with poor drainage, constructing raised beds may ish the bulb for next year. Cut the stems to the ground after a be the only way to ensure success. hard frost or after the leaves have died in the fall. —B.B.

34 the American Gardener DAVE SIMS’S FAVORITES Here is a short list of some of Dave’s favorite lilies, selected both for their beauty and their dependability in the garden.

ASIATIC LILIES SPECIES LILIES: ‘Iowa Rose’ (USDA Zones 2–7, Lilium pumilum (Zones 3–7, 8–5; one to two feet tall). One of AHS Zones 7–1; three to four feet the first lilies to bloom in the spring, it has small, reddish-or- tall). A fine variety with outfacing ange flowers and narrow, grasslike foliage with a unique scent. flowers of salmon pink blending Native to eastern Russia and Asia, it thrives in full sun and ap- with yellow in the center of the preciates drier soil than most lilies. The variety ‘Yellow flower, set off by dark spots. Of- Bunting’ has daffodil yellow flowers and is one of the gems of ten a winner on the show bench. the early season lilies.

‘Ariadne’ (Zones 3–8, 8–1; four to L. henryi (Zones 2–7, 7–1; three to 10 feet tall). This de- six feet tall). A unique hybrid with ‘Iowa‘Iowa Rose’Rose’ pendable lily has an abundance of small orange flowers with turkscap-shaped flowers, deli- heavily recurved petals, decorated with papillae (small cately colored in pale pink and cream and set off with small bumps) and delicate purple penciling. Native to China, it dark spots and penciling. blooms late in the season on tall, graceful stems.

ORIENPETS L. martagon (Zones 3–7, 7–1; three to six feet tall). Native to Orienpets are hybrids between Oriental and trumpet lilies, of- Europe and northern Asia, the common turkscap is usually fering the flower colors and forms of the Orientals with much found in woodlands greater vigor. They thrive in areas that have warm summers and is well-adapted but can be grown in much of the United States. for growing in part shade. Its leaves are ‘Black Beauty’ (Zones 3–8, 8–1; four to six feet tall). The first arranged in sets of orienpet, hybridized by famed lily breeder Leslie Woodruff whorls instead of be- more than 50 years ago, is still an excellent variety with ing scattered along tremendous vigor and dependability. It has dark red recurved the stem, giving it a flowers and blooms late in the season. unique appearance. It blooms early and the ‘Leslie Woodruff’ (Zones 3–8, 8–5; five to seven feet tall). De- turkscap-shaped flow- veloped by USDA breeder Robert Griesbach using tetraploid ers, which range from forms of two of Woodruff’s hybrids (‘Black Beauty’ and ‘White pale pink to deep pur- Henryi’) as parents. It has the great vigor of its parents, and ple, have a heavy, produces large, cherry-red flowers with a generous white edge. unique scent. A white-flowered variety ‘Northern Carillon’/‘Silk Road’ (Zones 3–8, 8–1; five to nine (var. album) is partic- feet tall). This great lily is offered under two names in the ularly fine in the trade. It has large, bowl-shaped white flowers with a stunning shade garden. red center. A well-grown specimen can produce more than 20 flowers. L. regale (Zones 4–7, L. martagon ‘Maroon King’ 8–5; two to six feet ‘Scheherazade’ (Zones 3–8, 8–1; six to eight feet tall). An ex- tall). Native to China, this is the first trumpet lily to bloom tremely dependable selection with recurved crimson flowers each season. It has heavily scented, white trumpet-shaped edged in yellow. It can reach tree- flowers with yellow centers. It is easy to grow from seed and like proportions and is often a very dependable, deserving a place in every garden. show winner. TRUMPET LILIES: ‘Anastasia’ (Zones 3–8, 8–1; six ‘White Henryi’ (Zones 4–8, 8–1; to eight feet tall). A cross be- feet tall). The flat, pale pink flow- tween Lilium henryi and a white trumpet lily. It has flat, ivory ers set this lily apart from most of flowers with orange centers, decorated with cinnamon pen- the orienpets. It has the flower ciling. A very dependable selection, it has been widely used color and shape of an Oriental lily ‘Scheherazade’ in hybridizing. but is much easier to grow. —B.B.

May / June 2008 35 ear form with linear leaves, so it’s a nice the North American Lily Society. Hybridizing season follows blooming contrast,” he says. Both grow well in his The payoff for Sims is in seeing what and runs until about the third week of sandy soil, and their flowering season characteristics his latest cross will produce. July. Embryo cultures occur 60 days after overlaps slightly, providing a shifting dis- “It’s always a mystery to go out in the making a cross. Sims freezes the seeds in play of colors and textures. “The peonies morning—the lilies usually open in the plastic envelopes until planting time, any- I grow are mostly early species and they morning—and see the brand-new where from the end of December to early peak in early May, while the peak season seedlings and find out what the color is March, when he plants the seeds in a com- for the lilies is the first week of June to and the flower shape,” he says. mercial seed starting mix in three-and-a- the second week of July.” A few of Sims’s Most won’t be anything special. In fact, half-inch pots. The seedlings that sprout lilies don’t bloom until September. Sims estimates as few as one in a thousand are grown under grow lights in Sims’s His gardens include other compli- hybrids possesses the right blend of traits basement until they are transplanted into mentary species such as roses, foxgloves, to make it worth introducing to the mar- the garden in late June or early July. chrysanthemums, hardy cyclamens, and ket. But he is always looking for the trait Sims grows his new hybrids in a dozen epimediums. that makes a selection special, “either a seedling beds—surrounded by chicken color that doesn’t exist, outstanding dis- wire to keep out the deer—for three to six EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES ease resistance, long blooming time, or years before selecting the ones he wants to Sims not only grows lilies, he creates new some unique combination.” keep for further breeding. varieties as well, mostly employing a low- tech hybridizing process carried out on his kitchen counter. He makes between 20 and 50 new crosses and produces a thousand seedlings every year. Perhaps no one appreciates Sims’s breeding work more than Larry Diehl, president of the North American Lily So- ciety. A retired NASA engineer, Diehl knows what it’s like to face steep challenges while exploring new territory. “I’m not sure that lily hybridizing quite mea- sures up to rocket science in terms of com- plexity,” says Diehl, “but there is a theme that is similar. Both have a strong element of pushing the boundaries forward in terms of what we are able to achieve.” For example, when parent plants are not closely related, they can be genetically incompatible, resulting in non-viable seed. To help circumvent such instances, Sims engages in a technique called embryo rescue—extracting an embryo from an unripened seed and growing it in a sterile, nutrient-rich solution. This technique has “allowed the creation of whole new class- es of lilies which are the result of crosses between lilies that could not produce off- spring by conventional pollination and seed growth methods,” explains Diehl. Although some large-scale commercial growers, particularly in Holland, pump large sums of money into crossing incompatible lilies for the cut flower trade, not many engage in embryo rescue to produce garden variety plants. And few amateur hybridizers go to the trouble of setting up Several of Sims's yet-unnamed hybrids await his evaluation: the tall lavender blooms in the a home-based mini-lab, as Sims did. Diehl center are the result of a cross between L. martagon var. album and a white Asiatic seedling. estimates there may be as few as a couple The orange-flowered seedlings are products of his crossing L. pardalinum with an dozen among the 1,000 or so members of interspecific hybrid (L. pardalinum ✕L. humboldtii).

36 the American Gardener Resources The North American Lily Society, www.lilies.org.

Lilies: A Guide for Growers and Collec- tors by Edward Austin-McRae. Tim- ber Press, Portland, Oregon, 1998.

Lily Disease Handbook by Edward Austin-McRae. North American Lily Society, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, 1985. Sources B & D Lilies, Port Townsend, WA. (360) 765-4341. www.bdlilies.com. Catalog $3; free online.

Estate Perennials, Stony Plain, Alber- ta, Canada. http://estateperennials. com. Catalog free.

The Lily Garden, Vancouver, WA. (360) 253-6273. www.thelilygarden. com. Catalog online.

The Lily Nook, Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada. (204) 476-3225. www.lily A fine choice for the edge of a woodland or garden in part shade, Lilium tsingtauense is a mid- nook.mb.ca. Catalog $2 or online. season bloomer that produces upright flowers, two to three inches across. Valley K. Greenhouses, Alberta, Cana- SHARING THE PASSION versity with each cross. “We will probably da. (780) 877-2547. www.plantlilies. Vacations with his wife, Stephanie, and look back at these times as almost the com. Catalog $3 or online. their two daughters revolve around— golden years of lilies because of the num- what else?—lilies. Sims makes biannual ber of species that are available,” he says. junkets to all corners of the continent for Sims is also active with the Species Lily “‘Rare,’ of course, is relative; but the North American Lily Society’s annu- Preservation Group, a conservation group among gardeners as a whole, such a pas- al summer show and winter meeting. affiliated with the North American Lily sion as Dave’s is by no means common,” Stephanie plays an integral role as the or- Society whose concern is the roughly 100 Kroell says. As Kroell sees it, cultivating ganization’s secretary. species that occur naturally in the wild, 20 a wide variety of garden plants well is Sims is among 200 participants in the or so of which are native to North Amer- admirable, but, he suggests, “it is better lily society’s exchange program, trading ica and about two dozen of which Sims yet to love one genus of plants above all with lily enthusiasts in Russia, Latvia, himself has grown. others, to delve more deeply into its his- Germany, Holland, and the United tory, associated literature, attributes, Kingdom, as well as Australia and New A RARE BREED and mysteries. Of those who subscribe Zealand. He swaps or gives seeds away, Charlie Kroell, a retired General Motors to such a philosophy, there are, of but never sells them. engineer and fellow lily hybridizer, wit- course, differing degrees to which each “Now is a good time to be growing nessed the beauty of Sims’s gardens first- gardener’s ardor is expressed. In this re- lilies,” Sims says. “The Internet has made hand in July 2007, with Alan Mitchell of gard, Dave is far out on the curve and as communication so much easier. Even 15 Scotland, soon to be editor of the Royal such is, indeed, a rarity.” years ago, the things that were so difficult Horticultural Society’s biannual yearbook. and almost impossible to get your hands Very impressed with what he saw, Kroell Brian Bell of Creston, British Columbia, is on are now common.” The bottom line says Sims’s contributions to the horticul- co-owner and editor of Look Magazine, a for Sims is more variations with which to tural world extend far beyond the Koote- monthly publication serving the Creston hybridize, expanding the spectacular di- nai River Valley of northern Idaho. Valley/Bonners Ferry corridor.

May / June 2008 37 38 ness, andsummer-long bloom—the which are bred for uniformity, compact- covering garden-worthy new plants. toresearchersimportant asthethrillofdis- isas such cases,theissueofconservation deforestation orchanginglanduses.In cases, theirexistencemaybethreatened by out-of-the-way placeswhere, insome creeping. Many ofthesespeciesare from forms, from bigandbushytolow and their tropical-looking flowers andvaried an impactassensationalplantsbecauseof species being“rediscovered”—are making impatiens species—alongwitholder diversity.traordinary Newly discovered todrawnoticeforitsex- whole isstarting members ofImpatiens, butthegenusasa Busy lizziesmaybe themostpopular ATTHEFAMILIARA FRESHLOOK F proved breeding. garden designpossibilities,thankstoim- are thatofferever-broader starperformers a workhorse forshade,beddingimpatiens America today. No longerregarded asjust called, themostwidelysoldannualin selections ofI.walleriana It’s thisqualitythatmakes“busylizzies,”as relax. Few diseasesorpestsbotherthem. ing, notrimming,justplantthemand they don’t needcosseting.No deadhead- the Super Elfins andrelated hybridsisthat duce bushelsoftwo-inch-wideblooms. bushy plants,eightto10inchestall,pro- the entire growing season.Compactand temperatures, out theybloomtheirhearts enriched soil,steadymoisture, andT-shirt Given filtered shade,friable,moderately five flatpetalsthatmeetinagracefulspur. teeing, andmosaicpatterns,paintedon tween, someembellishedwithstars,pico- inbe- red, fuchsia,andeverything cherry shades from apricot,salmon,andlilacto now comesin23colors,softandbright impatiensbreeder ClaudeHope,endary Elfin hybridseries,created by theleg- sheets ofcolor. createway theyeffortlessly wonderful complicated flowers whosecharmisthe understand theirattraction.Theyare un- until Iactuallygrew themthatIbeganto Unlike mass-marketed impatiens— For busygardeners, the great benefitof The championofthemall,theSuper the American Gardener OR YEARS, (Impatiens walleriana). ubiquitous beddingimpatiens I hadlittleinterest in are sometimes It wasn’t adding totheirallure. rare plantsavailable inlimitedquantities, mercially grown onamassscale,butare wider colorrange.Some are notcom- selections feature improved forms and foot-wide swatheinasingleseason.New growth rateenablethemtofill outasix- formed wildhabitandtheirexuberant weird spurs.Theirunre- andwonderful topuffy,sign—from butterflylike with oftheflowered by de- thequirky artistry different are snappingthemup, fascinat- tors andgardeners looking forsomething leaves. Despite theseflaws,plantcollec- ers are hiddenunderneath partially habits. In sometypes,thestrikingflow- tently andsomehave rangyorscruffy lesser known species bloomintermit- Impatiens balsamina Impatiens of shade-lovingplants. barely scratchedthesurfaceofthislargeandintriguinggenus If theonly beyond busy Impatiens beyond busy Impatiens Impatiens ‘Camellia Mix’is adouble-floweredcultivaravailable invibrantcolors. you’ve grownarebusylizzies, it wasusedasabalm.For instance, thesap ofthisgenus’sproperties sap;historically, 1753. Its species namereflects thesoothing scribed by botanistCarolus Linnaeusin several impatiensspeciesoriginallyde- crevices, andeven ontree branches. and ferns,alongstream banks,inrock tions incool,dampplacesamongmosses thrive inecological nichesathighereleva- America andEurope. Many impatiens speciesareand Asia.Afew native toNorth subtropical, andtemperateareas ofAfrica al speciesoriginatingprimarilyintropical, contains some1,000annualandperenni- ly (Balsaminaceae), thegenusImpatiens Part ofthetouch-me-notorbalsamfami- A GEMOFGENUS Balsam (Impatiens one of balsamina)is lizzies lizzies BY JOANNGARDNER

DAVID CAVAGNARO from the stems of the North American native jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) has long been used as a folk remedy for bee stings and poison ivy. The succulent, often translucent stems of impatiens arise from fleshy tuberous or rhizomatous roots. The foliage ranges from oval to round—and glossy to hairy—with finely toothed margins. Impatiens flowers tend to come in two general forms: one is open-faced and flat with a narrow spur curving down behind; the other has a pouchlike spur shaped like a horn of plenty (cornucopia). Flower shape determines the type of pollinators, which range from butterflies and moths to bees and hummingbirds. Seeds form in capsules that are gener- Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) often grows along the shady banks of creeks. ally linear or spindle-shaped. The name of a European and Asian species, I. noli-tan- growing to two-and-a-half feet with flow- policeman’s helmet because of its large gere, literally “touch-me-not”, character- ers—white, yellow, or dark red, often spot- hooded flowers, is undeniably show-stop- izes the way all ripe impatiens seedpods ted—that grow close to the main stem ping, but has proven invasive in some re- explode at the slightest touch, flinging under saw-toothed leaves. Breeding has gions and is considered a noxious weed in seeds up to 20 feet away. produced double flowers in scarlet, soft Connecticut, Oregon, and Washington rose-pink, deep violet, and white, often state. Reddish stems to six feet bear a pro- OLD STANDBYS lightly scented. This old-fashioned cottage fusion of pink, raspberry, and white flow- The hybridization of impatiens has been garden plant self-sows readily and tolerates ers, held in dangling clusters, spotted hampered by several factors, among them heat and humidity. within and lightly fragrant. Impatiens bal- seed viability. Impatiens balsamina (USDA Impatiens glandulifera and I. balfourii fourii (Zones 0–0, 12–3), commonly called Zones 0–0, AHS Zones 12–3) has been have been around a long time, too, but are poor man’s orchid, is daintier and less ag- cultivated for centuries because its seed re- experiencing something of a renaissance. gressive, growing two to three feet tall and mains viable for a long time and, in com- Annuals from the Himalayas, they self-sow two feet wide with small, orchidlike laven- mon with I. walleriana, germinates readily. prolifically once established and bloom der and white flowers. Native to India and the Himalayas, bal- generously in summer. Impatiens glan- There are six impatiens species native sam has a branching and bushy habit dulifera (Zones 0–0, 12–3), also known as to North America, but jewelweed (I. capensis, Zones 0–0, 10–2) and pale touch-me-not (I. pallida, Zones 0–0, 9–1) are the most familiar because they have the broadest natural range. Found widely in shady moist woodlands and along streambanks, jewelweed grows two to five feet tall with attractive, glaucous leaves. Its orange to yellow flowers, which bloom in drooping clusters from midsummer to frost, are often speckled with brown dots. Jewelweed self-sows readily and can become weedy if given the right garden conditions. Pale touch-me-not is found in damp forests and meadows from North Dakota and Saskatchewan south to Oklahoma and east to the Atlantic Seaboard. Its

Poor man's orchid (Impatiens balfourii) mixes well with white calla lilies and pale- leaved Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy' in

TOP: DAVID CAVAGNARO; BOTTOM: JERRY PAVIA this lush border.

May / June 2008 39 40 stronger-stemmed thanearlierdoublesand chance mutation.Newer introductions are semble miniature roses were theresult ofa seed farminCostaRica. from theoriginalcrosses Hope madeathis troduction ofSuper Elfins are allderived selections thathave emergedsincethein- are familiarwithtoday. Thehundreds of was soonfollowed by theSuper Elfins we in 1966by George J. Ball, Inc. Thisseries flowering hybrid‘Elfin’—was introduced ny. His breakthrough—the dwarf, free- forms forhisPan AmericanSeed Compa- Claude Hope wasdevelopingcolor new were lookingfor. By theearly1960s, walleriana this species.Thesevariants are whatgave countries were eventually grouped with white flowers inneighboringEastAfrican findings ofimpatienswithred, pink,and coast ofEastAfrica,in1896.Subsequent discovered inZanzibar, anislandoffthe I. walleriana The lankythree-foot-tall tenderperennial, HYBRID FAVORITES fall onfour-tosix-footstems. speckled andbloomfrom midsummerto small, paleyellow flowers are brown- Impatiens withdouble flowers thatre- the American Gardener the gene-power edgebreeders (Zones 10–11,12–1),wasfirst I. interspecific hybrid ‘SeashellYellow’. ‘Tempo Cinnamon’ minglewiththe ‘Double UpOrange’andsingle-flowered Double-flowered Salmon’ bearsextra-largeflowers. Left: Above: TheNewGuineaimpatiens ‘Light and heattolerancewasaddedtotheimpa- eri, anative ofNew Guinea—in 1972,sun pany’s Fiesta more compact.Ball Horticultural Com- bles makegreat accentplants. pearance. In containers, theseandthedou- have extrapetalsthatgive themafrillyap- and white.In theFanciful lavender, burgundy-rose, salmon,pink, less self-cleaningbloomsinshadesof with a12-inch-widespread, produces end- patiens—developed ashybridsof With theintroduction ofNew Guinea im- SELECTIONS SUN-TOLERANT Beautiful and hasnaturalizedinsomeareas. I. glandulifera I. ™ series, 10to16inchestall Impatiens walleriana Impatiens self-sows readily ™ series, flowers I. hawk- green foliage. bright flowers are setoffby gleaming weather andsomesunexposure. Its large spreading impatienstolerantofhot impatiens andI.flaccida.It isavigorous, interspecific cross between New Guinea Ball’s Fanfare breeders For are alwaystrying. instance, ficult tointerbreed butcommercial plant wise, theycanbewaterguzzlers. morning sunandafternoonshade.Other- bestwhereThey perform theyreceive large, flatflowers usuallyinbrightcolors. green, bronze, orvariegated foliageand forms withsharplytailored, gleamingdark have beentransformedintobranching tiens profile. Theoriginalspindlyplants trying them.Where theyaretrying frost tender where, notjustinmildclimate areas, are Richmond, California,gardeners every- agator atAnnie’s Annuals&Perennials in cording toClaire Woods, impatiensprop- atwww.ahs.org.)article special linktotheonlineversion ofthis growing exotic impatiens,seetheweb plant nurseries.(For more onPitman and known selectionsthroughselect afew impatiens, distributesmanyofthelesser tion tothegenusandhiscollectionof170 known as“Mr. Impatiens” for hisdevo- perennial gardeners. Derick Pitman, er regions are makingagreat stiramong USDA Zone 7or8andself-sow incold- Impatiens thatare reliably hardy to SPECIES COLD-TOLERANT cot, andonewithvariegated foliage. dark pink,peach,andapri- cherry-pink, est setting.Other flower colorsinclude create astrikinghedgetolightthedark- soft yellow orchidlike flowers of‘Glow’ When grown intheshadeofhostas, foot wide,bushyandmoundinginform. and branching,10to16inchestalla sought yellow gene.Plants are vigorous from Madagascar, features thelong- the latterhasvariegated foliage. colorsarenew lavender andlightsalmon; Twothat canbeusedasannualshrubs. traordinarily robust landscaping plants treme heat,andhumidityinstride,are ex- Sakata seedcompanyto takedirect sun,ex- crossing The SunPatiens Impatiens speciesare notoriouslydif- Who’s growing thesetreasures? Ac- Ball’s Fusion I. walleriana ™ series istheresult ofan ™ ® series, theresult of series, developed by with I. auricoma

TOP: LYNNE HARRISON; BOTTOM LEFT: ALAN AND LINDA DETRICK, BOTTOM RIGHT: DAVID CAVAGNARO MORE EXOTIC IMPATIENS TO CONSIDER Botanical Name Height/ Attributes Origin USDA Zones, Width (ft.) AHS Zones Impatiens hoehnelii 1/1 Trailing species with pink flowers Kenya 9–11, 12–1 and red stems; tolerates part sun. Impatiens kilimanjari 2/2 Tender perennial or self-seeding Tanzania 9–10, 12–1 annual in colder climates with hooded scarlet flowers. Impatiens nana 1–2/2 Tender perennial or self-seeding Tanzania 10–11, 12–1 annual in colder climates. Prolific pink flowers. Tolerates part sun. Impatiens niamniamensis 2/3 Erect tender perennial with unusual Africa 10–11, 12–1 red and yellow curly-spurred flowers and large glossy foliage. Impatiens nyungwensis 1/2/3 Rare tender perennial with a Rwanda 10–11, 12–1 I. kilimanjari creeping habit, soft hairy foliage and bright red, curly-spurred, bearded flowers. Impatiens pseudoviola 1/2 Semi-trailing species with prolific Kenya, 10–11, 12–1 ‘Alba’ white flowers. Evergreen in Tanzania warmer climates. Impatiens scabrida 2–4/1–2 Self-seeding annual with large, Himalayas 0–0, 12–1 pale yellow, orchid-shaped flowers. Fast growing and self-seeding. Impatiens sodenii 4–6/3 Fast-growing tender perennial or Kenya, 10–11, 12–1 ‘Flash’ self-seeding annual in colder Tanzania climates. Large white flowers I. niamniamensis streaked with pink.

(or their hardiness is undetermined), gar- Pitman’s introduction, I. arguta ‘Blue In the right conditions it can reach four deners grow them in pots and winter them Dream’ (Zones 7–11, 12–1) stands out for feet tall and sprawl as wide in a single sea- over indoors where they make good house- its lilac-blue two-inch long flaring, tubu- son. His ‘Blue Angel’ is more upright and plants. “Part of the fun of growing them,” lar flowers, well displayed horizontally ‘Snow Angel’ is a white form. observes Woods, “is their air of mystery. from their stems. Unlike many other im- Native to Thailand and southern We don’t yet know all about them.” patiens, it is tolerant of both cold and heat. China, I. mengtszeana (Zones 7–11, 12–4) takes morning sun. Blooming in late summer and fall, its two-inch, hooded golden peach-blushed flowers feature a prominent spur. This is a good choice for a large tub or hanging basket, because it tends to have a trailing habit with stems that reach 15 inches long and spread to three feet. Don Jacobs of Eco-Gardens in De- catur, Georgia, discovered hardy I. omeiana (Zones 7–11, 12–5) in 1983 in China, growing among rhododendrons and foamflowers (Tiarella spp.). Its showy three-inch-long leaves are enhanced by a broad band of creamy white along their midribs. A cultivar of I. omeiana called ‘Ice Storm’ blooms more prolifically.

The soft yellow flowers of Fusion™ ‘Glow’

BOTTOM LEFT: ALAN AND LINDA DETRICK. TOP RIGHT: RAYMOND J. MORGAN / COURTESY OF TIMBER PRESS; DAVID CAVAGNARO can light up a shade garden.

May / June 2008 41 Shaped something like a white-and-yellow Ray Morgan, a British impatiens aficiona- cornucopia, flowers are set off by silver- do who maintains the National Plant Col- Resources frosted foliage. lection of Impatiens. Morgan, who is the Impatiens: The Vibrant World of Busy Evening fragrance gives I. tinctoria author of a newly published book on the Lizzies, Balsams, and Touch-Me-Nots (Zones 7–11, 12–5), native to northeast- genus (see “Resources,” this page), raised by Raymond J. Morgan. Timber ern Africa, added charm. Plants grow up six plants, and the rest, as they say, is his- Press, Portland, Oregon, 2007. from tuberous roots to five feet in tory. Plants are compact to two feet tall and height, spreading three feet across. bear loosely round and spurred true-blue Blooming from midsummer to fall, its flowers, making it the only known blue- Sources eye-catching white flowers are flared flowered impatiens species. The color Annie’s Annuals, Richmond, CA. and hooded, their deep throats high- changes with temperature and exposure, (888) 266-4370. www.annies annuals.com. Catalog online.

Glasshouse Works, Stewart, OH. (740) 662-2142. www.glasshouse works.com. Catalog online.

J.W. Jung Seed Company, Stevens Point, WI. (715) 341-8939. www.jungseed.com. Free print and online catalog.

Kartuz Greenhouses, Vista, CA. (760) 941-3613. www.kartuz.com. Catalog $3; free online.

Pinetree Garden Seeds, New Glouces- ter, ME. (207) 926-3400. www. superseeds.com. Catalog online.

Plant Delights, Raleigh, NC. (919) 772-4794. www.plantdelights.com. Catalog online. Impatiens namchabarwensis may be the next rising star among impatiens selections. The so- called Blue Diamond grows to two feet tall and wide and produces true blue blossoms.

lighted in magenta. It thrives in a site notes Claire Woods, from deep purple to that gets afternoon shade. ultramarine. The deep-green, ornately Collected in China by American plant veined leaves are also very attractive. Its hunter Darrell Probst, ‘Sichuan Gold’ hardiness is yet to be determined, but (Zones 5–11, 12–4) is an as-yet-unidenti- plants self-sow. In his book, Morgan pre- fied species that grows from underground dicts that the plant, now available in the stolons to 18 inches tall. Adrienne Roeth- United States as Blue Diamond impatiens, ling, curator at Juniper Level Botanic Gar- “is destined to become a great addition to den at Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, the summer garden.” North Carolina, says its large yellow flow- Will plant breeders be able to isolate ers bloom for a month in summer. In tri- the blue gene? Should we care? Blue Dia- als, it has survived minus 18 degrees mond is a fabulous plant in its own right. Fahrenheit without winter protection. These are exciting times, as gardeners are If there’s a rising star among the new offered ever wider choices among the tame impatiens, it seems to be I. namchabar- and not-so-tame members of this intrigu- wensis (Zones 7–11, 11–1), which owes its ing genus. daunting specific epithet to the deep ravine in a remote area of Tibet where it was dis- Jo Ann Gardner is the author of several gar- Impatiens omeiana, discovered in 1983 in covered in 2003 by a Chinese botanist. dening books, including Herbs in Bloom

China, is hardy in USDA Zone 7. Seeds collected from the plant were sent to (Timber Press, 1998). BOTTOM: LYNNE HARRISON; TOP: RAYMOND J. MORGAN / COURTESY OF TIMBER PRESS

42 the American Gardener

44 by JohnFiege Harold Pellett, Breeding PlantsthatSurviveinaTough World year, aboutcreating plantsformoderngardens new andthefuture ofwoodyplantbreeding inAmerica. plants attheUniversity ofMinnesota inChanhassenformore than30years, developed theacclaimed M palette fornorthern gardeners. Is developing plantstobroaden the Much ofyour earlycareer focusedon cold endurance. plains, wherenorthern theyare testedfor drought andheattoleranceortothe Southwest, where theyare testedfor evaluation. Theymightbesenttothe for cations around thecountry ond generationoffspringare senttolo- then crossed witheachotherandthesec- mature inthefavorable climate.Theyare our farminOregon, where theyquickly First-generationpertise. plantsare sentto and theLPDCprovides thebreeding ex- parent plantsand spacetogrow them, breeding research more efficiently. poolingresources toconduct the country botanical gardens anduniversities across breeding. It ofmany isacooperative effort shrinking ofuniversity programs inplant breeding landscapeplantsaswell asthe counter alackoffundingatuniversities for Harold Pellett: and how doesitwork? Landscape Plant Development Center John Fiege: Editorial Intern John Fiege talkedtoPellett, whoreceived Hyde theAHSLiberty Bailey Award this The participating arboretaThe participating provide the American Gardener beauty oftheirlandscapetoplantbreeder Harold Pellett. Pellett, whotaughthorticulture andbred ANY GARDENERS What ledyou tocreate the LPDC wascreated to Star’ clematis,whichwere developed tohave lastingvalue inthelandscape. include ‘Silver Ball’ pear, ‘CenterGlow’ ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) Oregon andatCornellUniversity inIthaca, New York. Recent LPDCintroductions thrive inchallenging environments. Based inMinnesota, LPDCalsohasoperationsin which hefoundedin1990,continueshisquesttobreed more woody plantsthatwill ecutive Director ofthenon-profit LandscapePlant Development Center(LPDC), sericea),‘Northern(Cornus Sun’ forsythia,andmanyothertrees Now andshrubs. Ex- cold-hardy ‘Northern Lights’ seriesofazaleasaswell as‘Cardinal’ red osierdogwood in northern climesmaynotknowin northern him,butchancesare, theyowe someofthe from LandscapePlantDevelopmentCenter. ‘Center Glow’ninebarkisanewintroduction that maybefound invarious regions tolerances ofall theenvironmental factors vironmental factor. But theLPDCstudies ty ofMinnesota, anditisstillamajoren- during myyears teachingattheUniversi- My interest incoldtolerancedeveloped your majorgoals? breeding forcoldtolerancestilloneof N NOEWITH ONE ON ONE C … fest adesired trait. long eachgeneration willtaketomani- aging thestatisticsofparents how tofigurethe parents out by aver- andtry ics—in breeding woodies,you lookat what mightIget?Knowledge ofgenet- cycle. Imagination—if Icross AandB, Patience—woody plantshave alonglife be successful? characteristics breeders musthave to be alifetimepursuit.Whatare the Breeding woodyplantsisoftensaidto bad drainage. which alsocontributestocompactingand due togradingby heavyequipment, soil thansurrounding undisturbedareas stressed siteswith completelydifferent various conditions.Urban sitesare often ness andstretching planttolerancesfor tolerant plants—breeding forcoldhardi- It wasmore myinterest inbreeding stress- ing plantsforurbanenvironments? What aboutyour interest indevelop- todevelop itinplants. are trying drought, especiallyintandem,isvital.We the Southwest, atoleranceforheatand around theUnited States—for example,in , and‘Silver

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LANDSCAPE PLANT DEVELOPMENT CENTER Is the introduction to the marketplace cially in woody plants. There is probably of woody plants with serious structur- only a handful of full-time woody plant For more information about the al deficiencies, such as the Bradford breeders in the United States, whereas Landscape Plant Development Center, pear, evidence that the horticultural there are more than 600 breeders of corn visit www.landscapecenter.org, call industry is going for short-term gains alone. I am most concerned the univer- (952) 443-1505, or send an e-mail to over developing plants that are better sities are cutting back on plant breeding [email protected]. long-term investments? programs, depriving young people of an It is really a question of how long it takes avenue to pursue an interest in it. to evaluate a plant before it is ready to be As for notable plant breeders, I’m hes- very specific soils; they might grow in released to the market. In the case of the itant to name names for fear of over- one location, but not survive if moved Bradford pear, it was 20 to 30 years be- looking anyone, but there are several only a short distance away. Although fore the structural weakness was evident. people who come to mind. There is Tom precipitation and temperature general- If you waited that long before putting a Ranney of North Carolina State’s Moun- ly are consistent in a small area, soil can plant on the market, you’d never get any- tain Research Center. There are Richard vary greatly. thing to the consumer. Olson and Margaret Pooler at the Na- On the other hand, exotic plants that The evaluation time depends on how tional Arboretum; Sandy Reed, who is are grown for their adaptability to a wide much we know about the parents. We with the National Arboretum’s Floral and range of conditions pose the opposite evaluate the weakest link of both parents Nursery Plants Research Unit in problem. Their adaptability makes them likely to be invasive, and this has to be factored into breeding any stress-tolerant plants. To counter this potential problem, we try to develop sterile varieties. We can observe how these types of plants spread to determine the best way to control them. If a plant produces lots of small seeds that are easily dispersed—say, by birds eating them—it will be more difficult to control than a plant that has large seeds that aren’t as easily transported. In an urban setting, where plants are surrounded by asphalt or concrete, they are less likely to spread where they are not wanted.

Have plant breeding techniques changed since you started your career? The big advances are in the use of biotechnology. We have the ability to take a gene for one trait, such as disease resistance, from one plant and insert it into another plant. We can also create a ‘Lemon Lights’ is part of the cold-hardy ‘Northern Lights’ azalea line bred by Harold Pellett. sterile plant this way, as well as control size and color. and subject that quality to extra testing. McMinnville, Tennessee; and Peter Po- With the Bradford pear, its weakness was daras at the LCPD plant breeding oper- Do you have a garden of your own? unknown because it was so new to the ations at Cornell. We have more than four acres of land, landscape trade. It’s a tree that needs to some of it planted in perennials. I’ve had be pruned while it’s young so the branch- As a plant breeder, what is your per- to give up growing vegetables because of es are properly spaced out. spective on the native-versus-non-na- competition from wildlife. Of course, I tive-plants debate in horticulture? have trees and shrubs, but like the shoe- As a longtime university professor, Natives have the advantage of tolerating maker in the old proverb, whose own you’ve had the opportunity to teach our climate. However, it’s important to children are unshod, my research on or- and inspire the next generation of note that they are adapted to natural namental plants takes precedence over plant breeders and horticulturists. Are rather than manmade conditions. So design, so, unfortunately, the layout is there up-and-coming plant breeders when you are talking about plants for a not very aesthetic. we should be watching for? new housing development or a shop- Unfortunately, there is not a lot of inter- ping center, native species aren’t always John Fiege is an editorial intern with The est in the field of plant breeding, espe- the answer. Some natives are adapted to American Gardener.

May / June 2008 45 46 potatoes inPeruanefforttodeterminetheoriginsofmodern potato. Agricultural ResearchServicebotanistDavidSpooner,right,and acolleaguecollectwild place them. Chilean potatoes were brought intore- 1845, itkilledalltheAndeancultivars so potato crops inEurope beginningin blight—a fungaldisease—devastated in thelate1500s.Then when late to Argentinabefore arrivinginEurope originated intheAndesfrom Venezuela eral decades,isthatEuropean potatoes generally acceptedoneforthelastsev- native hypothesis, whichhasbeenthe pean potatocamefrom Chile.Analter- one explanationisthat,ergo,theEuro- genes mainlyfrom Chileanpotatoes,so played intheEuropean potatoblight. role different regional strainsmayhave America thepotatooriginatedandwhat long debatedaboutwhere exactlyinSouth South America.However, scientistshave a “European” potato,itisactuallynative to you’re consumingiscommonlyknown as consider this:Althoughthetastytuber Next timeyou’re noshingonaFrench fry, SPUD SLEUTHSREWRITEHISTORY Horticultural NewsandResearch ImportanttoAmericanGardeners All modernpotatocultivars contain the American Gardener sisted upuntil1892.” eliminated theAndeanpotato,whichper- breeding stockto combatthisdiseaseor troductions ofChileangermplasmas ginning inEurope in1845stimulatedin- the “ideathatlateblightepidemicsbe- rived inEurope by 1811,thereby refuting also reveals thatChileanpotatoeshadar- pean potatodidoriginateintheAndes.It Journal ofBotany, the February 2008issueoftheAmerican the early1700s.Thestudy, publishedin from herbariumsamplesdatingbackto cultural Research compared Service DNA ofAgriculture’sthe U.S.Department Agri- agency responsible forregulating and Health Inspection (APHIS), Service the aging theUSDA’s AnimalandPlant this, theNature isencour- Conservancy known invasive potential.To remedy a screening systemforplantswithun- Currently theUnited States doesn’t have FORINVASIVES URGED SCREENING SYSTEM GARDENER To settlethequestion,scientistsfrom C confirms thattheEuro- ’ NOTEBOOK S ated over seven years fortraitssuchas daisy daisy cultivars, oxeye includingafew er Luther Burbank in1901.In all,36 al, introduced by Californiaplantbreed- rated selectionsofthispopular perenni- ‘Amelia’ and‘Becky’ emergedas thetop Chicago BotanicGarden (CBG), American context.” fulness andapplicabilityinaNorth ist Polly Lehtonen,“as well astheiruse- weaknesses,” saysSenior Import Special- with regard totheirrelative strengths and screening tools used around theworld inunder24hours.” intoacountry entry whether ornotaplantshouldbeallowed anddetermine proposed forimport plants system canbeusedtotestallnew one ofthestudy’s WRA authors.“The ture Conservancy’s Florida chapter and associate director ofsciencefortheNa- up toeightweeks,” saysDoria Gordon, species are testedandtheprocess cantake climates across islandsandcontinents. effective inbothtemperateandtropical known invasive potential,andthatitis rectly acceptingorrejecting aplant ofun- had an80percent accuracyrateforcor- utions, issue ofthejournalDiversity andDistrib- In thestudy, publishedintheMarch 2008 Hawaii, Florida, andseveral otherareas. to a studythatfocusedonimports and University ofFlorida collaboratedon other locations,theNature Conservancy Australia andNew Zealand. effective inscreening potentialweeds in system,whichhasprovenment (WRA) States, toadopttheWeed RiskAssess- plants andanimalsintotheUnited ofexotic monitoring theimportation themum In anevaluation ofShasta daisy GARDENS DANDY DAISIESFORNORTHERN APHIS iscurrently “examining allthe “Under thecurrent U.S.law, few To determinetheWRA’s efficacyin (L. vulgare) the researchers reported thatWRA ✕ superbum) selections, were evalu- cultivars at the (Leucan-

LEFT: ALEJANDRO BALAGUER / COURTESY OF USDA. and landscapes.” In this section, you will WORLD’S #1 TOP find helpful articles on topics such as PLANT SUPPLY flowers, vegetables, lawns, pests, and soil. If your question is still unanswered, PLANT there’s also an “Ask an Expert” option #1HEALTH EXTRA LIFE Greatest Guarantee-Offer PROOF Ever and a searchable bank of already an- 65YEARS, unchallenged, $5,000. GUARANTEED to be swered questions. World CHAMPION #1 Activator, #1 Trans/ #1 Extra #1 REVIVER, PLANTER, GROWER, ALL-AMERICA ROSE SELECTIONS FOR 2008 WORLD’S FAIR SCIENCE-MEDAL-WINNING #1 Perfecter VI TMs ™ 50 As All-America Rose Selections cele- IN brates its 70th anniversary this year, the ONE organization has chosen two 2008 AARS VITAMINS-HORMONES USED BY U.S. –– FERTILIZER GUARANTEED Departments of –– PESTICIDE –– POLLUTING BioUSABLES As Advertised in AGRICULTURE, ARMY, NON TM Better Homes & Gardens Winners with a festive flare: Dream NAVY, AIR. Etc. TO ADD TO FERTILIZING for growing Landscape Architecture ALSO BY STATES, Horticulture CITIES, COUNTIES, DOUBLE MONEY-BACK Come True™ (‘WEKdocpot’) and Mardi UNIVERSITIES RECOMMENDED TOP VALUE BY EXPERTS OF TV, RADIO, BOOKS, EXTREME Concentration MAGAZINES, Dozens Drop-A-CupTM or Gras (‘JACfrain’). CONFERENCES Drop-A-GalTM OF THE ‘Amelie’ Shasta daisy excelled in a trial Dream Come True is a grandiflora WORLD’S SCIENCE & INDUSTRY conducted at the Chicago Botanic Garden. rose that produces yellow flowers with a ONLY GOLD MEDAL WORLD’S FAIR 1940 science ADD to any fertilizingTM reddish blush that starts at the tips of • 50 INSTANT BioUSABLES NORMAL PURE COMPLEXES • From Carbon-Hydrogen-Oxygen MIRACLES natural organic crystals hardiness, disease and pest resistance, and the petals, then completely turns ruby • Save plants from waiting while IN EACH trying to make them • Unique. Nothing is “like” it. DROP! SEE TO BELIEVE–– ornamental qualities. red. According to the AARS, “the big, HEALTHIER, FASTER plants Shasta daisy and oxeye daisy both bushy, vigorous plant yields long- BEAUTY and CROP yieldADDED TO 21 FERTILIZERS by 21 Growers YOU CAN produce white ray flowers with yellow stemmed, long-lived blooms with mild ORDER PINT, QUART, discs over a long season of bloom. tea fragrance, making it lovely in the GALLON, Billions–PROVEN or DRUM B A L A N C E D ORIGINAL However, the flowers of oxeye daisies landscape and a great choice for bou- ADDED TO 18 FERTILIZERS, by 18 Growers are typically smaller and appear about four weeks sooner than Shasta daisies. Oxeye daisies also tend to spread ag- gressively and have naturalized in some regions of North America. Two cultivars NEARLY 1000 BOOKS, CONFERENCES, RECOMMENDED BY MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS,TVs, RADIOS of oxeye daisy, ‘Filigran’ and ‘Maikoni- USED BY gin’, also received the top rating, but FIVE U.S. DEPARTMENTS TO HELP WIN WORLD WAR II Richard Hawke, CBG’s plant evaluation OF GOVERNMENTS, STATE UNIVERSITIES, LEADING THOUSANDS ARBORETUMS, BOTANICAL GARDENS, PARKS SYSTEMS U.S. STATES and CITIES IN MULTIPLE-DRUMS LOTS manager, notes that the oxeye daisy cul- FLOWERING PLANTS SHOW WINNERS – “everywhere” HEALTHY, TOXICS-FREE FOODS GROWERS tivars “are cautiously recommended be- UNIQUE. Far easier plant success cause of rhizomatous habits and prolific seed production.” Other highly rated Shasta daisy cultivars include ‘T.E. Killin’ and ‘Wirral Pride’, both with crested flowers, ‘Switzer- land’ with a “reliably full habit,” and ‘Snowdrift’, with flowers that vary from single to double with short, curly rays. To obtain a copy of the trial report (Plant Evaluation Notes, Issue 30), call the Chicago Botanic Garden at (847)

835-5440 or visit www.chicagobotanic.org. 11 XMAS TREES 17 HYDROSEEDING 22 FLOWERING PLANT 12 REFORESTATION 18 LANDSCAPING COMPETITIONS 13 HYDROPONICS 19 PROPAGATION 23 INTERIORSCAPING 14 FIELD CROPS 20 ANTI-EROSION 24 CUT FLOWERS 15 BONSAI 21 ENVIRONMENTAL 25 WEATHER DAMAGE NEW ONLINE GARDENING RESOURCE 16 TISSUE CULTURE IMPROVEMENT 26 WATER GARDENS Got a gardening question that has you AT CONSCIENTIOUS PLANT DEALERS WORLDWIDE stumped? You might want to check out Used, tipped to, and supplied by thousands of conscientious plant-selling firms. On every continent, without salesmen. www.extension.org, a recently created online resource that taps into the expertise REFUSE “just as good,” false, cheaply made, unbalancing substitutes – often 991/2% water. of Cooperative Extension professionals NOTHING IS AT ALL “LIKE” at more than 70 land grant universities 50 VITAMINS-HORMONES Dream Come True, top, and Mardi Gras, V across the country. The website current- Made in U.S.A. by VITAMIN INSTITUTE I ly provides information on 16 “resource above, are the two All-America Rose 12610 Saticoy Street South, North Hollywood, CA 91605 Website www.superthrive.com

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May / June 2008 47 PEOPLE and PLACES in the NEWS

American Phytopathological Society Centennial New Center for Public Horticulture Founded in December 1908, the American Phytopatholog- Four years of planning and feedback from more than 100 ical Society (APS) is a non-profit, professional scientific or- horticultural professionals have gone into the creation of the ganization that is devoted to the Center for Public Horticulture study and control of plant dis- at the University of Delaware, eases. The APS plans to celebrate which officially opens this its 100-year “history of excellence June. “The Center was created and a future of promise,” in a as a hub of education, infor- number of ways, including its mation, and research in the Centennial Meeting from July 26- field of public horticulture,” explains Associate Director Ed- 30 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ward Moydell, whose thesis project for the Longwood Grad- “We’ve seen the growth and ma- uate Program formed the basis for the Center. Its leadership turity of the land-grant university system, the USDA Coop- also includes Executive Director Robert Lyons, who currently erative State Research, Education, and Extension Service is the director of the Longwood Graduate Program. system, and the National Science Foundation,” notes APS “The first phase is making the existing body of research eas- President Ray Martyn as he looks back at the things that ily accessible to professionals and students, mostly through have influenced plant pathology since the society came into our new website,” says Moydell. “This research and informa- existence. “We’ve gone from small family-owned farms to tion is from several universities and allied institutions, not just large cooperatives. We’ve gone from identifying bacteria and the University of Delaware.” The Center also will focus on pro- viruses as plant pathogens to exploiting their biology for re- moting careers in public horticulture through several initiatives. combinant DNA technology. And through it all APS has re- “The Center has great potential to initiate, foster, and encour- mained strong, viable, and relevant.” age professional partnerships among educators and re- For more information about the Centennial Meeting and searchers,” says Lyons. Learn more at www.publichorticulture. APS, visit www.apsnet.org or call (651) 454-7250. udel.edu or call (718) 499-2860. quets.” It was bred by John Pottschmidt varieties and salad greens, were reported personal and property damage, and protect from Cincinnati, Ohio—who is only to be particularly popular. homeowners from legal ramifications.” In the third amateur hybridizer to achieve Correspondingly, in a nationwide sur- an effort to raise awareness about this re- this distinction in 67 years—and intro- vey conducted by the Garden Writers As- source and to celebrate the hotline’s first duced by Weeks Roses in Rancho Cu- sociation Foundation in February, 39 anniversary, the CGA has designated this camonga, California. percent of 1001 households planned to May to be “Safe Digging Month.” For Mardi Gras is a floribunda developed spend money on vegetable or fruit plants more information, visit www.call811.com. by Keith Zary with Jackson & Perkins this spring, up from 32 percent last year. from the 1995 AARS winner, Singin’ in This percent was higher than spending HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE the Rain. It earned top honors for its vig- on annuals, trees and shrubs, and peren- AWARDS GRANTS FOR 2008 orous growth up to four feet and flam- nials; only spending on lawn and grass Since its establishment in 1962 as the re- boyant yellow-orange blooms that appeared to be a bigger priority at 54 per- search division of the American Nursery & become increasingly pink with a light, cent. The report also found that approx- Landscape Association, the Horticulture peppery fragrance. imately one third of the households Research Institute (HRI) has distributed Both of these roses are disease resistant surveyed were “most inclined” to buy $4.9 million to more than 600 research and hardy to USDA Zone 5. For more products labeled as organic or natural. projects “covering the full range of pro- information, visit www.aars.org. duction, environmental, and business is- DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG sues important to the trade.” For 2008, SURVEYS REVEAL EDIBLE Before you wield a shovel for a spring gar- HRI has awarded $425,000 in grants and GARDENING REVIVAL dening project, make sure you pick up the scholarships to fund more than 20 research Vegetable gardening appears to be expe- phone and dial 811, a national hotline projects around the country. The projects riencing an increase in popularity. A re- maintained by the Common Ground Al- range from investigating management cent Mailorder Gardening Association liance (CGA). According to the CGA, an strategies for invasive species and pests to survey revealed a 10 percent or more in- association of utility companies dedicated developing biodegradable containers and crease in vegetable seed sales from last to public safety, environmental protection, new plants. For more information, visit year for their member companies. Or- and damage prevention practices, “this step www.anla.org/research. ganic seeds and seeds that were not ge- will ensure that all underground utility netically modified, along with tomato lines in the work area are marked, prevent Written by Associate Editor Viveka Neveln.

48 the American Gardener

GREENC GARAGE®

Protecting Yourself from Mosquitoes and Ticks by Rita Pelczar

OSQUITOES AND TICKS can turn a pleasant summer evening stroll into a mad race for cover. M But these pests are more than a nuisance; they are known carriers of several serious illnesses including West Nile virus, malaria, dengue fever, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrli- chiosis. Anyone who spends time outside during the warm months—including gardeners—is at risk for a bite that could carry one or more of these diseases. Taking precautions to avoid, repel, and control these bloodthirsty pests can save you a lot of grief.

AVOIDING CONTACT Since mosquitoes are most active at dusk PRECAUTIONS FOR USING and dawn, minimizing the time you INSECT REPELLENTS spend outdoors during these hours will reduce the risk of getting bitten (for tips on ■ Always follow the directions for use on avoiding bites, see “Mosquito and Tick the label. Avoidance Strategies,” page 51). ■ Apply only to exposed skin and/or Wearing long-sleeve shirts and long clothing—not under clothing. pants creates a barrier between the mos- ■ Never apply on cuts or irritated skin. quito or tick and the skin of your arms Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) ■ Don’t apply to eyes or mouth, and use and legs. To protect your face and neck, sparingly around ears. consider wearing a hat with bugproof ■ Don’t spray directly on face; spray it netting like the ones from Concealment on hands and then apply to face. Industries. The netting stashes into a ■ Don’t allow children to handle the re- zipped pocket when it’s not needed. pellents. Apply on your hands and spread If you are planning an outdoor activ- on child’s skin. ity in a limited area, a mosquito-repelling ■ Avoid applying to children’s hands; lantern called ThermaCELL® might be they often rub their mouth or eyes. worth investigating. Its single butane car- ■ Avoid heavy applications. tridge heats a mat that releases the repel- ■ After returning indoors, wash treated lent allethrin. When tested by the U.S. skin with soap and water. Deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) Army and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it provided 98 percent protection against mosquitoes and other For water sources that you can’t A CHOICE OF REPELLENTS biting insects in a 15-by-15-foot area for dump—such as water gardens, gutters, According to research reviewed by the Cen- up to four hours. and water troughs—you can use a mos- ter for Disease Control (CDC) repellents quito larvicide such as PreStrike® Mos- that contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-tolu- PATROLLING THE ENVIRONMENT quito Torpedo™. Each treatment lasts up amide) or picaridin (KBR 3023) are the Female mosquitoes lay their eggs—100 to 60 days. A biological option for treat- most effective for long-lasting protection. to 300 at a time—in water, and just a ing standing water is Mosquito Dunks, The higher the concentration of active in- thimbleful is sufficient. For the eggs to produced by Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, gredient, the longer it provides protection. develop, the water must remain stagnant Inc. These donut-shaped units, designed In recent years, however, concerns have for at least four days. You can reduce the to float in water, contain a bacterium that been raised about the safety of DEET, par- number of mosquitoes in your yard sim- kills mosquito larvae but will not harm ticularly with children. According to the ply by eliminating sources of standing fish, amphibians, and other animals. American Academy of Pediatrics Com- water, from buckets and birdbaths to Keeping lawns mowed, discouraging mittee on Environmental Health, DEET your dog’s water bowl and the saucers deer, and treating pets for ticks will help is safe for children over two months of age

under potted plants. reduce tick infestations in the yard. when used according to directions. Be- COURTESY OF ARS / USDA (2)

50 the American Gardener MOSQUITO AND TICK AVOIDANCE STRATEGIES Resources By placing physical barriers between you and the pests and minimizing their breeding sites, Center for Disease Control, “Insect you can reduce the likelihood of getting bitten. Repellent Use and Safety” factsheet: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/ ■ Stay indoors when mosquito activity is at its peak—the hours just before and after qa/insect_repellent.htm. dawn and dusk. “Stop Ticks” factsheet: www.cdc. ■ Wear clothing that covers your skin—long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks. Light- gov/Features/StopTicks. colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks. ■ Tuck pants into socks when walking in tick-infested areas. ■ When hiking trails, stay toward the center to avoid brushing against vegetation. Sources ■ Keep grass mowed. All Terrain Products, www.allterrain ■ Be sure that your window screens are in good repair. co.com. ■ Empty all sources of standing water. ■ Cover water barrels and cisterns with screens. BugBand, www.bugband.net. ■ Burn citronella candles to repel mosquitoes. ■ After outdoor activities, check yourself, family members, and pets for ticks, and re- Buggins Insect Repellent, move any tick you find with tweezers. www.buggspray.com. ■ Use repellents according to directions on the label.

Concealment Industries, www.concealmentindustries.com. BOTANICAL ALTERNATIVES Home Gardening Club’s Seal of Ap- Several plant-based mosquito and tick proval for effectiveness and consumer Effective Environmental Solutions, repellents are available. The most effec- value, combines the oils of citronella, www.bugband.net. tive, according to the CDC is oil of peppermint, cedar, lemongrass, gerani- lemon eucalyptus, which has been shown um, and soybean for a repellent that can Mumz Insect Repellent Garden Apparel, to provide similar protection against be used on skin or fabric and remains ef- mumzgarden.com. mosquitoes as repellents fective for four hours. with low concentra- Researchers continue to seek effective, Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, tions of DEET. But less toxic means of protecting people from www.rinconvitova.com. like chemical repel- mosquitoes and ticks. Last year, scientists lents, it is important to with the Agricultural Research Service in Sloggers Garden Outfitters, follow label directions. Oxford, Mississippi, isolated two com- www.sloggers.com. Products containing oil pounds from the American of lemon eucalyptus, beautyberry (Callicarpa amer- ThermaCell, www.thermacell.com. which include OFF!® icana) that appear to repel Botanicals™ insect re- both mosquitoes and ticks. pellent and Repel Beautyberry has long cause it can last for up to eight hours, it Lemon Eucalyptus, been used as a folk reme- should not be combined with sunscreen, should not to be used on children under dy for protecting both which needs to be applied with much three years of age. humans and animals greater frequency (see “Precautions for Another plant-based repellent, geran- from a variety of biting Using Insect Repellents,” page 50). iol, is extracted from geranium (Pelargo- insects. The isolated Another effective, long-lasting repellent nium spp.) oil. This is the active compounds, callicar- is Permethrin, but it is intended to be ap- ingredient in BugBand™ Wristbands, penal and intermedeol, plied only to clothing and gear, not direct- which are designed to repel biting insects may provide options for ly to skin. Insect-repelling garden apparel within 15 feet of the wearer. The same in- developing new repellents. is being introduced this year from garden gredient is used in BugBand’s Pump Although mosquitoes and ticks are gear outfitters, including Sloggers and Spray and Towelettes. Buggins Insect likely to continue to plague our sum- Mumz. These products use the patent- Repellent combines geraniol with pep- mers, employing a combination of the pending Buzz Off Insect Shield technol- permint, lemongrass, and clove oils. Bite strategies described above will help you ogy that binds the fabric with permethrin. Blocker™, which comes in separate for- protect yourself and your family from The hats, bandanas, shirts, pants, socks, mulations for children and for adults, uses annoying bites and the potential spread and other outdoor apparel provide invisi- geranium oil in combination with soy- of disease. ble, odorless protection from biting insects bean, vanillin, and coconut oils. including mosquitoes and ticks. Many of All Terrain’s Herbal Armor™, which Rita Pelczar is a contributing editor with the items provide sun protection as well. was recently awarded the National The American Gardener.

May / June 2008 51 BOOKC REVIEWS

Recommendations for Your Gardening Library

Viburnums Big Book of Garden Designs Michael A. Dirr. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2007. 264 pages. Marianne Lipanovich and Tom Wilhite, editors. Sunset Publishing Cor- Publisher’s price, hardcover: $39.95. poration, Menlo Park, California, 2008. 192 pages. Publisher’s price, softcover: $19.95. SIMPLY PUT, Michael Dirr is regarded as the guru of trees and shrubs both in the United States and abroad. For decades his Man- Professional Planting Design ual of Woody Landscape Plants—now in Scott C. Scarfone. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. its 5th edition—has been the “bible” for 2007. 272 pages. Publisher’s price, softcover: $60. college students, avid gardeners, or professionals who wanted an encyclopedic THOUGH BOTH OF these books focus on garden design, reference for species and cultivars of their approaches are quite different. Nevertheless, they each be- trees, shrubs, and woody vines. Dirr has long on the bookshelf of any avid now authored Viburnums, a complete gardener. Big Book of Garden De- and informative monograph on one of signs does most of the work for you the most used and beloved genera of gar- with garden plans that are easily den shrubs, written in a concise and in- adaptable to your own specific cli- credibly well researched format. mate and site. On the other hand, Viburnum is a vast genus, ranging from the very hardy, de- Professional Planting Design tells ciduous species of the northeastern woods such as Viburnum you how to create from scratch the dentatum and V. acerifolium to the evergreen Asian species such kind of designs that are found in as V. awabuki and V. davidii, which thrive in the warmer cli- the Sunset book. mates of the southeast and northwest, respectively. With any All garden designs start with inspiration and ideas, and Big genus as complex as this one, there are both nomenclatural and Book of Garden Designs provide plenty of both. The editors in- taxonomic issues which need to be distilled and explained. Dirr clude more than 100 garden plans, from front yard gardens that takes this highly scientific subject and explains it in a way that make big impressions to innovative solutions for those impossi- is clear and comprehensible. ble, narrow side yards. Planting designs range from antique rose Then, species by species, Dirr covers identification, orna- gardens to a tropical paradise to match a modernistic house. Each mental uses, and cultural considerations in explicit detail, along plan also includes the dimensions of the garden, a very useful fea- with his personal reflections. For many of the popular species ture often omitted in books of this type. such as V. dentatum, V. dilatatum, V. plicatum, V. tinus, as well The designs are accompanied by drawings or photographs as the hybrid groups, Dirr describes several historically signifi- and complete plant lists that show the exact location of each cant cultivars, as well as the newest selections and hybrids. tree, shrub, perennial, or annual. Not every plan will fit every The impact Viburnum has had on the world of ornamental garden, obviously, but the ideas easily can be tweaked to bet- horticulture would not have been as significant without the ter suit various situations. breeding work of the late Donald Egolf at the U.S. National The great mysteries of successful planting design are un- Arboretum in Washington, D.C. Dirr makes a point of ac- raveled by landscape architect Scott Scarfone in Professional knowledging this in a brief chapter that describes one of the Planting Design: An Architectural and Horticultural Approach most monumental and interesting ornamental breeding pro- for Creating Mixed Bed Plantings. Scarfone sets out the guide- grams in the last 100 years. lines to allow anyone from an avid The text is supported with wonderful photographs, all by Dirr amateur gardener to a professional himself. There are close-ups of flowers, foliage, and fruit, as well landscape designer or architect to as great images of viburnums used in the landscape. create a living work of art with I hope that the genre of genus-based books will continue to see plants. As James van Sweden notes more contributions from Dirr on important ornamental shrubs. in the introduction, “After reading —Andrew Bunting the book, you will be able to ex- periment with nature, and use its Andrew Bunting is a curator at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore myriad of facets to make your own College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. original statement.”

52 the American Gardener Scarfone tackles the standard principles such as form, scale, and rhythm, but also covers the details that can make a real difference in a standout landscape—leaf shape; bark and twig characteris- Flower Power tics; flowers and seed heads; fruits and berries—and how to use The eye-catching colors, various shapes and sizes, and al- plants to take advantage of their best features. luring scents of flowers present endless possibilities in the He also urges readers to pay attention to the changing na- garden. Once you whip out your ture of their medium. “Growth cycles vary widely among plant shears to gather a few blossoms to types, from the natural rhythms, such as the opening and clos- bring indoors, it’s a whole new ad- ing of flowers, to the emergence of new foliage and the chang- venture. However, as floral designer ing of color in the fall as plants prepare themselves for winter and gardener Linda Beutler points dormancy,” he writes. “Designers need to understand the dis- out in Garden to Vase: Growing and tinctive characteristics of each stage in the life cycle of the plants Using Your Own Cut Flowers (Timber they are using and how environmental factors will influence Press, 2007, $29.95), “Both gar- and affect those living entities.” den design and floral design are There are sections on bed depth and bed lines, development about creating a dramatic big pic- of successful design themes, and time and color grids that help ture while simultaneously focusing on the intricate details.” you plan a garden with four-season interest. The book is filled Illustrated with beautiful photographs by Allan Mandell, with scores of illustrations and beautiful photographs that clear- this book leaves no petal unturned as it delves into the horti- ly depict the brilliance of suggested combinations. cultural and aesthetic aspects of getting the most out of a cut- The Sunset book may be more practical for gardeners who de- ting garden. Whether it’s planning, maintenance, harvesting, sire quick solutions or a straightforward starting point; Professional increasing the life of cut flowers, or ideas for special occa- Planting Design allows you to tap your inner artist to integrate sions, Beutler reveals the tricks of the trade and takes a fresh your favorite plants into your own original designs. look at this enjoyable and rewarding art. The book also in- —Jane Berger cludes a listing of more than 200 plants with tips for their culture and conditioning for use in arrangements. Jane Berger is a landscape designer based in Washington, D.C. and the —Associate Editor Viveka Neveln publisher of www.gardendesignonline.com.

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May / June 2008 53 GARDENERC’S BOOKS

Regional Gardening Books

MERICAN GARDENING certainly has its own dis- Tapping into local expertise, these hand- tinctive ethos, as compared to European or Japanese books take the concept of state- or region- A gardening, for example. However, identifying the exact based information one step further by essence of American gardening presents a quandary since gar- honing in on the intricacies of a specific dening in the Southwest varies greatly from the Northeast or type of gardening. Selling for $19.95, they Midwest. So perhaps, like much else in this country, one thing include brief sections on design, mainte- that characterizes American gardening is its diversity—not only nance, and pests and diseases. The bulk of in terms of environmental parameters but also its variety of these books is devoted to a plant directory styles, traditions, and ideas, many contributed by or borrowed that lists suitable species and recommend- from other countries. Here are some recently published books ed cultivars along with their growing re- that cover the climate, soils, and plant palette—not to mention quirements and helpful tips for using them effectively. Color pests and other challenges—American gardeners will encounter photographs on nearly every page help to bring concepts to life. in specific regions or states. In Cutting Edge Gardening in the Intermountain West Adding to its Gardener’s Companion series for individual (Johnson Books, 2007, $29.95), Colorado-based author Mar- states, begun last year, Globe Pequot Press’s latest editions in- cia Tatroe notes that “drought and ongoing water shortages clude Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia on the East Coast, are forcing all of us in this region to Missouri and Michigan in the Midwest, and Montana in the rethink long-held garden and land- West. Retailing for $14.95, each is writ- scape conventions.” Rather than ten by an expert on gardening in that limiting options, she argues that state who can explain and explore the this “has become the catalyst for techniques proven to be effective in each creating a new garden aesthetic— locale. From soil preparation to dealing one where gardens speak strongly with drought and from growing vegeta- about where we live and who we bles to maintaining a lush lawn, these are.” Tatroe gives an unvarnished guides contain the basics needed for suc- description of the challenges presented by this region’s semi- cess. Black-and-white line drawings and arid climate and variable soils, while offering innovative so- plentiful sidebars with pithy tips supple- lutions for achieving beautiful gardens nonetheless. Vivid ment the text. color photographs by Charles Mann help to prove Tatroe’s Similarly, Cool Springs Press’s Month- points and provide further inspiration. By-Month™ series, published since 1998, One strategy for embracing a region’s unique aesthetic is to now offers several new editions covering use plants native to it. For those in the Pacific Northwest, En- various southwestern, intermountain cyclopedia of Northwest Native Plants for Gardens and west, and midwestern states. This year Landscapes by Kathleen A. Robson, they also have released a revised edition Alice Richter, and Marianne Filbert for the Mid-Atlantic region. Ranging in (Timber Press, 2008, $49.95) describes price from $19.95 to $24.95, these books more than 500 species from which to provide a roadmap for “what to do each choose. While “native” can mean differ- month to have a beautiful garden all ent things to different people, the au- year.” Additionally, Cool Springs Press thors include only species that were has a new series on vegetable gardening found in the region “when the first non- in various states with 17 editions focusing indigenous human explorers collected on midwestern and southern states so far. and catalogued them.” For each plant, Priced at $12.95, these books include the book lists its characteristics, cultivation requirements, and planting information for vegetables as native habitat and range, along with other pertinent informa- well as herbs and fruit along with recipes. tion such as propagation tips and uses by indigenous people. Among Lone Pine Publishing’s new Most plants are represented in color photographs and black-and- spring releases are titles on container gar- white line drawings. A final section provides plant lists for spe- dening and herb gardening for the Mid- cial situations such as bogs and beaches. west and for Washington and Oregon. —Viveka Neveln, Associate Editor

54 the American Gardener Rare finds… found here.

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Horticultural Events from Around the Country

JUNE 14. Savage Plants: How to Grow Carniv- NORTHEAST Events sponsored by or including official orous Plants. Workshop. Callaway Gardens. CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT participation by AHS or AHS staff members Pine Mountain, Georgia. (706) 663-2281. RAP THROUGH JUNE 15. Darwin’s Garden: are identified with the AHS symbol. www.callawaygardens.org. An Evolutionary Adventure. Exhibition. New York Botanical Garden. Brooklyn, New York. Events hosted by botanical gardens and RAP JUNE 18. Cycads and Other Prehistoric (718) 817-8700. www.nybg.org. arboreta that participate in AHS’s Reciprocal Plants. Harry P. Leu Gardens. Orlando, Flori- Admissions Program are identified with the da. (407) 246-2620. www.leugardens.org. RAP MAY 31. Playing in the Fields of Our RAP symbol. Current AHS members showing a Imagining. Workshop. Wave Hill. Bronx, New JUNE 28. Bog Dish Garden Workshop. valid membership card are eligible for free or York. (718) 549-3200. www.wavehill.org. UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens. discounted admission to the garden or other Charlotte, North Carolina. (704) 687-2555. JUNE 5. The Secrets of Success: Why Her benefits. Special events may not be included; http://gardens.uncc.edu/calendar.htm. Garden Looks Great but Yours Doesn’t. Tour. contact the host site for details or visit Garden Education Center of Greenwich. ww.ahs.org/events/reciprocal_events.htm. NORTH CENTRAL Cos Cob, Connecticut. (203) 869-9242. IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI www.gecgreenwich.org. Pennsylvania. (610) 566-9134. RAP MAY 24–OCT. L2. Tree-ology. Exhibition. JUNE 12. The Art of Cottage Gardening for www.tylerarboretum.org. University of Minnesota Landscape Arbore- Classic Gardeners. Class. New Canaan Nature tum. Chaska, Minnesota. (952) 443-1400. Center. New Canaan, Connecticut. (203) JUNE 5–7. Native Plants in the Landscape www.arboretum.umn.edu. 966-9577. www.newcanaannature.org. Conference. Millersville, Pennsylvania. (717) 872-3030. www.millersvillenative RAP MAY 31. Emerald Ash Borer Public Ed- RAP JUNE 17. Deciduous Azaleas in the plants.org. ucation Seminar. Gardens of the Fox Cities. Spotlight. Tour and lecture. Polly Hill Arbore- Appleton, Wisconsin. (920) 993-1900. tum. West Tisbury, Massachusetts. (508) RAP JUNE 29. Tidewater Daylily Society’s www.gardensfoxcities.org. 693-9426. www.pollyhillarboretum.org. Flower Show & Plant Sale. Norfolk Botanical Garden. Norfolk, Virginia. (757) 599-5272. RAP JUNE 14 & 15. Dwarf Conifer Garden JUNE 27–29. The Newport Flower Show. www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org. Grand Opening. Chicago Botanic Garden. Newport, Rhode Island. (401) 847-1000. Glencoe, Illinois. (847) 835-5440. www.newportflowershow.org. Looking ahead www.chicagobotanic.org. JULY 12 &13. Potomac Lily Show. Brookside JUNE 29. Architecture and Landscape as Art. Gardens. Wheaton, Maryland. (301) 962- RAP JUNE 14 & 21. Ecosystem Restoration Tour and symposium. Silvermine Guild Arts 1400. www.brooksidegardens.org. Workday. Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Center. New Canaan, Connecticut. (203) Nichols Arboretum. Ann Arbor, Michigan. 966-9700. www.silvermineart.org. (734) 647-7600. www.lsa.umich.edu/ SOUTHEAST mbg/default.asp. AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN Looking ahead JULY 13-19. Ecologically Based Landscape RAP MAY 20 & 21. 20 Bloomin’ Years. RAP JUNE 21. Battle Creek Garden Tour. Design in Arboreta, Preserves, and Gardens. Flower show. Huntsville Botanical Garden. Leila Arboretum. Battle Creek, Michigan. Seminar. Humboldt Field Research Insti- Huntsville, Alabama. (256) 830-4447. (269) 969-0270 ext. 120. www.leila tute. Steuben, Maine. (207) 546-2821. www.hsvbg.org. arboretumsociety.org. www.eaglehill.us. RAP MAY 28. Cooking in the Garden: Looking ahead Can’t Get Enough Herbs! Class. State Botan- JULY 3–7. Collaboration…Floral Education. MID-ATLANTIC ical Garden of Georgia. Athens, Georgia. Symposium. American Institute of Floral De- PA, NJ, VA, MD, DE, WV, DC (706) 542-6014. www.uga.edu/botgarden. signers. Chicago, Illinois. (410) 752-3318. MAY 22. Water in the Garden. Lecture. Scott www.aifd.org. Arboretum. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. RAP MAY 30–JUNE 1. Potters Guild Show & (610) 328-8025. www.scottarboretum.org. Sale. Memphis Botanic Garden. Memphis, RAP JULY 11. Olbrich Home Garden Tour. Tennessee. (901) 576-4100. Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Madison, Wis- MAY 31. Maymont Mornings: Magnolias and www.memphisbotanicgarden.com. consin. (608) 246-4550. www.olbrich.org. Muffins. Lecture and walk. Maymont. Rich- mond, Virginia. (804) 358-7166, ext. 310. RAP JUNE 4. Gardening With Personality: JULY 20. Annual Dearborn Garden Walk. www.maymont.org. Finding Your Garden Style. Lecture. North Dearborn Association. Chicago, Atlanta Botanical Garden. Atlanta, Georgia. Illinois. (312) 632-1241. www.dearborn RAP MAY 31–SEPT. 28. Totally Terrific Tree- (404) 876-5859. www.atlantabotanical gardenwalk.com. houses. Exhibit. Tyler Arboretum. Media, garden.org.

56 the American Gardener SOUTH CENTRAL AR, KS, LA, MO, MS, OK, TX Kinetic Sculptures at Atlanta Botanical Garden RAP MAY 24. Floral Designs with Native FROM MAY 3 TO OCTOBER 31, the Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG) in Georgia Plants. Class. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower will host “Sculpture in Motion: Art Choreographed by Nature,” the most extensive Center. Austin, Texas. (512) 292-4200. outdoor kinetic sculpture exhibit ever presented. This exhibit of more than 25 sculp- www.wildflower.org. tures features the work of 16 artists and includes pieces such as a 10-ton slab of granite RAP MAY 24–SEPT. 1. Exploring Trees Inside so finely balanced that a child could set it in motion. All of the sculptures are designed and Out. Family event. Ridgway Center. Mis- to move under natural forces such as wind, water, sun, and sound. souri Botanical Garden. St. Louis, Missouri. (314) 577-9400. www.mobot.org.

MAY 31. Louisiana Native Plants for the Landscape. Lecture. New Orleans Botanical Garden. New Orleans, Louisiana. (504) 483-9473. http://neworleanscitypark.com/ nobg.html.

JUNE 6–NOV. 27. Passport to Plants: Interactive Exhibit. Myriad Gardens. Okla- homa City, Oklahoma. (405) 297-3995. www.myriadgardens.com.

JUNE 17. Birding at Botanica. Walk. The Wichita Gardens. Wichita, Kansas. (316) 264-0448. www.botanica.org.

JUNE 25. Industry Plant Trials Field Day. Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Dallas, Texas. (214) 515-6500. www.dallasarboretum.org.

SOUTHWEST AZ, NM, CO, UT Sculptures in the Atlanta Botanic Garden’s new exhibit include Jeffrey Laudenslager’s “Mikoshi,” left, and Tim Prentice’s “Yellow Zingers.” RAP MAY 27, 29, & 31. Shrubs Inside and Out. Workshop. Desert Botanical Garden. “These kinetic works of art connect to the environment in compelling ways,” says Desert Botanical Garden. Phoenix, Arizona. ABG’s Executive Director Mary Pat Matheson. “They are powered by natural forces; (480) 941-1225. www.dbg.org. their large scale complements the spectacular gardens in which they are displayed; and RAP MAY 29. Vegetable Container they often interpret natural forms such as leaves and petals.” Gardening. Class. Red Butte Garden. On Thursday evenings the gardens will be open and the sculpture will be dramati- Salt Lake City, Utah. (801) 581-4747. cally lit, providing a spontaneous performance of dancing shadows and reflections. www.redbuttegarden.org. From May to September, refreshments and light fare will make Thursday evenings even more enjoyable. For more information on this unique exhibit, visit www.atlanta AHS JUNE 19 & 20. Gardening with Native botanicalgardens.org or call (404) 876-5859. Plants. American Horticultural Society —John Fiege, Editorial Intern Garden School. Workshop. Denver Botanic Gardens. Denver, Colorado. (703) 768-5700. www.ahs.org. RAP JUNE 12–28. South African Plants WEST COAST RAP JUNE 21. Summer Plant Sale and for a California Garden. Quail Botanical Gar- CA, NV, HI Garden Fair. The Arboretum at Flagstaff. dens. Encinitas, California. (760) 436- Flagstaff, Arizona. (928) 774-1442. AHS MAY 30 & 31. Global Climate Change in 3036. www.qbgardens.org. www.thearb.org. Your Yard. Conference. University of Califor- nia. Davis, California. (530) 752-6642. RAP JUNE 14 & 15. Los Angeles Internation- JUNE 26–30. National Convention and Rose http://ccuh.ucdavis.edu. al Fern Society Fern and Exotic Plant Show. Show. American Rose Society. Denver, Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Colorado. (303) 691-2790. www.2008ars JUNE 12. Growing Cycads. Lecture. Gardens. Arcadia, California. www.laifs.org. denver.com. Southern California Horticultural Society. Los Angeles, California. (818) 567-1496. RAP JUNE 26–JULY 31. Creating Low-Mainte- Looking ahead www.socahort.org. nance Gardens with Mediterranean-Climate JULY 7–13. Crested Butte Wildflower Festival. Plants. Class. San Francisco Botanical Gar- Crested Butte, Colorado. (970) 349-2571. JUNE 12 & 13. Integrated Pest Management den. San Francisco, California. (415) 831- www.crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.com. Conference. California Polytechnic State 2700. www.sfbotanicalgardensociety.org. University. San Luis Obispo, California. (805) 756-2830. http://hcrs.calpoly.edu. RAP JUNE 29. Geraniums. Lecture. South COURTESY OF ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN 92)

May / June 2008 57 58 the web. around thecountry. Callorvisituson control costs.Help usplantthatidea costs and$50millioninairpollution to $5billioninstormwatermanagement Trees are helpingareas likeyours save up the American Gardener P.O.Box 2000, Washington, D.C.20013 water storageplant? Can you spotthe $5 billion 800-545-TREE JUNE 6–8. Cheyenne, Wyoming. (307)637-6458. Talk andtour.CheyenneBotanic Gardens. Washington. (206)527-1794. of WashingtonBotanicGardens.Seattle, Landscape &Garden. e.Prln,Oeo.(0)223-1321. den. Portland,Oregon.(503) Garden. www.botanic.org. RAP www.japanesegarden.com. JUNE 14–30. www.northwesthort.org. JUNE 11. www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org. sula, California.(310)544-6815. Coast BotanicalGarden.PalosVerdesPenin- 305-1008. Defiance Park.Tacoma,Washington.(253) information, visitwww.santafebotanicalgarden.org rainwater collection. servation, irrigation,and effect bycombiningcon- water canbeusedtogood ings, willdemonstratehow among thediverseplant- elms, roses,andevergreens walking tour,featuring toric oldSantaFe.This gardensinhis- eastside feature fourexceptional be included. perennial gardenswillalso shrubs, alushorchard,and try estatewithflowering niscent ofanEnglishcoun- a traditionalgardenremi- Moorish Spain.Incontrast, aqueduct originatingin tered byan etation, andagardenwa- in TesuquewillfeatureapanoramicviewofnorthernNewMexico,beautifulxericveg- den tourcommittee. theSFBG’sgar- year willbebothinspiringandeducational,”saysCarolJohnsonfrom different gardens,andparticipantsmayjoineitherorboth.“Thegardensontourthis nual gardentoursonJune1and8.Thetwoseparatewilleachvisit SANTA FEBOTANICALGARDEN Santa Fe Garden Tours The proceedsfromthetourswillbenefitSantaFeBotanicalGarden.Formore The June8tourwill Celebrating thenativecharmofNewMexico,June1tourfourprivategardens JUNE 21. Exhibition. PortlandJapaneseGar- New &UsefulPlantsforthe Flower andGardenShow. www.ptdefianceflowershow.com Frozen Music:Glassinthe AK, ID,MT,OR,WA,WY Growing RosesinCheyenne. NORTHWEST acequia, an Lecture. University The tourwillfeatureseveralprivateSantaFegardens. Point (SFBG) inNewMexicowillofferits12than- . Garden. Boise,Idaho.(208)343-8649. British Columbia. (604)936-1514. VanDusen BotanicalGardens,Vancouver, (519) 824-4120ext.52113. University ofGuelph.Guelph,Ontario. Grafts. www.vandusengarden.org. JUNE 22. RAP JUNE 7&8. www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum. JUNE 3. www.idahobotanicalgarden.org. RAP 6733. Garden. Boissevain,Manitoba.(888)432- and demonstrations.InternationalPeace (250) 479-6162. & Woodland.Victoria,BritishColumbia. the Community. JUNE 14–18. JUNE 22. or call(505)428-1684. www.peacegarden.com. Workshop. Arboretumatthe Plant Propagation:GrowingGreat Vancouver RoseSocietyShow. Gardening BootCamp. —John Fiege,EditorialIntern Garden Tour. Course. GlendaleGardens CANADA Horticultural Therapyin www.hcp.bc.ca. Idaho Botanical Lectures

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May / June 2008 59 60 by SonjaNelson Rhododendron occidentale: plorers andgardeners alikewithitsexquisite flowers andtheabilitytogrow intoughenvironments. A Coast inpursuit ofavariant withmore traveled upanddown thePacific West dentale. ship W. Beechy, captainoftheEnglish ical annalsin1827,whenFrederick Western azalea,entered the botan- commonlyknown asthe 9–7), Zones 7–9,AHSZones (USDA of southernOregon. 2002 intheSiskiyou Mountains six-month-long Biscuit Fire of thedevastating icacy thatsurvived I have seenplantsofsupreme del- plants growing inthewild.In fact, have seenflowers asbeautifulon long, upsweeping stamens.Yet I pink-and-yellow flowers with unfold toreveal fragrant,light Memorial Day, dark pinkbuds andirrigation,sobywith fertilizer border ofmygarden are coddled species growing onthesouthern in thegenusRhododendron County, California.Gray laterplacedit based onaspecimenfrom Nevada Asa Gray occidentalis named itAzalea 1855, whenbotanistsJohn Torrey and onwww.ahs.org.)version of thisarticle on theweb speciallinkedtotheonline more click aboutthese hybridizingefforts, including theKnapHill azaleas. (For bridizing ofdeciduousazaleasinEurope, rolespecies played inthehy- animportant England around 1850.From here, the and sentseedstotheVeitch Nursery in William Lobb, introduced ittocultivation the Pacific. AnotherEnglishman, California ononeofhisvoyages in Rhododendron occidentale Granted, thefive plantsofthis The Americansbecameinvolved in HMS Blossom, the American Gardener PLANT OFDELICATEPLANT cidentale, Since then,plantexplorers have discovered itin native tothePacific Northwest andCalifornia,issuchaniron lady, beguilingplantex- as R. occi- beauty alsocanbeahard-as-nails survivor. ThespeciesRhododendron oc- Native tothePacificNorthwest, flowers andsturdyconstitution. dron occidentale dron had previously been discovered. beautiful flowers, form,andfoliage than LN NTESPOTLIGHT THE IN PLANT One Tough Beauty all livingdescendants ofthatancestor. meaning thatallspeciesofthe group shareacommonancestorandtheincludes is inthesame“clade”asbig leafrhododendrons.Acladeisamonophyleticgroup, R. occidentale R. Rhododendron The evolutionarystoryofhow Changing Taxonomy falconeri. ered onlyadistantrelativeofthe “bigleaf”rhododendrons,suchas New DNAstudies,however,have concludedthatsectionPentanthera,towhich C belongs, alongwithmostoftheNorth Americaneasterndeciduousazaleas, is stillunfolding.Infact,untilquiterecently is knownforitsdelicate Rhododendron occidentale Rhododendron Rhododen- ranges from goldtored. it iscovered withhair. Fall foliagecolor glossy, although,insouthernCalifornia, isusually long. Theuppersurface half-inch wideanduptofourinches toa fromLeaves aboutaquarter- vary ear oralmostorbicular(round). bases), buttheyalsocanbelin- near theirtips,taperingto usually oblanceolate(widest its fragrance. on theoutside.One constantis edges, picoteed,orbearred veins flower atthe petalscanberuffled inches wide.In addition, the The flower size canbeuptofour yellow blotchonthedorsallobe. dish toyellow, withorwithouta from pure whitetopinkred- tubular, andthecolorcanvary flowers canbefunnel-shapedto clusters known The as trusses. flowers, produced incompact greatest variation occursinthe found withinthespecies.The the variation inflower andfoliage populationsofthisplantis new The enginedrivingthesearch for VARIATION WITHINTHESPECIES is relatedtoothersinthegenus The shapeoftheleaves are R. occidentale R. R. sinogrande R. was consid- and R.

COURTESY OF DEBRA TEACHOUT-TEASHON Plants normally have a mounded in the west to the Sierra Nevada moun- habit, but are variable in height, ranging tains in the east, R. occidentale grows in anywhere from two to 15 feet tall. bogs and desertlike hillsides, beachfronts, Sources Variation is greatest where the climate and mountains. Buggy Crazy, Lebanon, OR. (541) is optimum: high humidity, moist but Within the distribution area, the cli- 258-5590. www.buggycrazy.com. well-draining soils, and absence of ex- mate varies considerably. In the rich area treme heat and cold. These conditions of Del Norte and Humboldt counties of Forestfarm, Williams, OR. (541) 846- occur mainly along northern coastal areas, northern California about two miles from 7269. www.forestfarm.com. where Britt Smith of Kent, Washington, the coast, the growing season is 328 days and Frank Mossman of Vancouver, Wash- long, with plentiful rainfall and high hu- Singing Tree Gardens, McKinleyville, ington, cataloged some 200 clones in the midity. The average January temperature CA. (707) 839-8777. 1960s and ’70s. Many of their selections is 47 degrees Fahrenheit and the average www.singtree.com. are growing in a special section at the Lake July temperature is 56 degrees. In con- Wilderness Arboretum in Maple Valley, trast, the species has been found in the Sierra Nevada mountains Resources in California at 9,000 feet American Azaleas by L. Clarence Towe. in desertlike conditions Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, where the growing season 2004. is short and winters cold. In yet another contrast, in American Rhododendron Society. (416) southern California in the 424-1942. www.rhododendron.org. San Jacinto Mountains near Idylwild, specimens Rhododendrons in the Landscape by have been found where Sonja Nelson. Timber Press, Port- relative humidity is often land, Oregon, 2000. below 10 percent, summer showers are few, and summer temperatures can hybrids. Fungicides may be effective in reach 91 degrees. controlling the problem, but a better so- The soil of this plant’s lution is to situate plants in well-aerated natural habitat is derived soil and avoid damp shade. from serpentine rock, On the East Coast, R. occidentale is which tends to be alkaline difficult to grow successfully, possibly be- and nutrient-poor. Not cause of the long, hot summers, high many plant species will night-time temperatures, and high levels tolerate these conditions, of humidity. However, the late Fred so R. occidentale is often Galle, an azalea expert who lived in Rhododendron occidentale usually grows in found in a unique plant community Hamilton, Georgia, was successful in a rounded shape, but its height can vary adapted to this soil. However, in keeping growing heat-tolerant plants from seed considerably—from two to 15 feet. with its accommodating nature, R. occi- collected in the San Jacinto Mountains. dentale will grow in a variety of soils pro- Whatever its ancient evolutionary ori- Washington. Among the named selections vided there is sufficient moisture. gins are, Rhododendron occidentale over is ‘Leonard Frisbie’, which has a compact time has managed to survive in the wild truss of deep pink flowers with an orange- GARDEN CULTURE over a large geographic area, in a variety yellow blotch. Another is ‘Stagecoach In West Coast gardens, Rhododendron oc- of climates, in diverse soil conditions, Frills’ with white, wavy-edged flowers, a cidentale grows best in partial shade, in an and through devastating fires. At the yellow blotch, and tinged pink on the out- acid and moist but free-draining soil. Al- same time, it is perfectly at home min- side of the flowers. though cold hardiness may vary accord- gling with ornamental plants in the tame ing to the origin of the parent plant or surroundings of a garden. Through it all, NATIVE RANGE AND ADAPTABILITY seed, the minimum temperature is gen- Rhododendron occidentale has kept its On their quest for more variations of erally stated to be –5 degrees Fahrenheit. charm intact, luring explorers and gar- Rhododendron occidentale, plant explorers It is known to survive temperatures of 90 deners alike with its radiant beauty. also have witnessed the species’ ability to degrees and higher, but optimum tem- perform in the best and worst of environ- peratures are lower. Sonja Nelson is the editor of the American ments. From southern Oregon in the In general, the species and its hybrids Rhododendron Society Journal. She has north to the arid San Jacinto Mountains are disease and pest resistant. Powdery made several visits to Oregon and California to

SONJA NELSON in the south and from the Pacific Ocean mildew may affect some selections and see Rhododendron occidentale in the wild.

May / June 2008 61 PRONUNCIATIONSC AND PLANTING ZONES

Most of the cultivated plants described in this issue are listed here with their pronunciations, USDA Plant Hardiness Zones, and AHS Plant Heat Zones. These zones suggest a range of locations where temperatures are appropriate—both in winter and summer—for growing each plant. While the zones are a good place to start in determining plant adaptability in your region, factors such as exposure, moisture, snow cover, and humidity also play an important role in plant survival. The codes tend to be con- servative; plants may grow outside the ranges indicated. A USDA zone rating of 0–0 means that the plant is a true annual and completes its life cycle in a year or less. To purchase a two-by-three-foot glossy AHS Plant Heat Zone Map for $9.95, call (800) 777-7931 or visit www.ahs.org.

A–C G. maculatum G. mak-yew-LAY-tum I. namchabarwensis I. nam-chah- L. parryi L. PAIR-ee-eye (4–8, 8–1) bar-WEN-siss (7–11, 11–1) (7–11, 11–7) Akebia quinata uh-KEE-bee-uh G. ✕oxonianum G. ok-so-nee-AN- I. nana I. NAH-nuh (10–11, 12–1) L. pumilum L. PYEW-mih-lum kwin-AY-tuh (USDA Zones 5–9, um (4–8, 8–1) I. niamniamensis I. nyam-nyam- (3–7, 8–5) AHS Zones 9–5) G. phaeum G. FEE-um(4–8, 8–1) EN-siss (10–11, 12–1) L. regale L. ree-GAL-ee (4–7, 8–5) Ampelopsis brevipedunculata G. pratense G. pray-TEN-see I. noli-tangere I. NO-lie TAN-jeer- L. tsingtauense L. tsing-taw-EN-see am-peh-LOP-sis brev-ih-peh-dunk- (4–8, 8–1) ee (0–0, 10–1) (3–7, 8–1) yew-LAY-tuh (5–8, 8–2) G. psilostemon G. sy-LOS-teh-mon I. nyungwensis I. nyung-WEN-siss Lygodium japonicum lie-GO-dee-um Aristolochia californica uh-ris-toh- (5–8, 8–5) (10–11, 12–1) jah-PON-ih-kum (10–11, 12–9) LO-kee-uh kal-ih-FORN-ih-kuh G. sanguineum var. striatum I. omeiana I. oh-may-AN-uh Mandevilla ✕amoena man-duh-VIL- (8–10, 10–8) G. san-GWIN-ee-um var. stry-AY- (7–11, 12–5) luh a-MEE-nuh (10–12, 12–10) A. macrophylla A. mak-ro-FIL-luh tum (3–8, 8–1) I. pallida I. PAL-ih-duh (0–0, 9–1) Manettia cordifolia muh-NET-ee-uh (5–8, 8–4) G. wlassovianum G. vlah-so-vee- I. pseudoviola I. soo-doh-VY-o-luh kor-dih-FO-lee-uh (8–11, 12–10) Asarina scandens ah-SAH-ree-nuh AN-um (4–8, 8–1) (10–11, 12–1) Phaseolus coccineus fas-see-O-luss SKAN-denz (9–11, 12–9) I. scabrida I. skay-BRID-uh kok-SIN-ee-us (10–11, 12–10) Bignonia capreolata big-NO-nee-uh H–K (0–0, 12–1) Physocarpus opulifolius fy-so-KAR- kap-ree-o-LAY-tuh (6–9, 9–5) I. sodenii I. so-DEN-ee-eye pus op-yew-lih-FO-lee-us Campsis radicans KAMP-siss Hedera helix HED-er-uh HE-liks (10–11, 12–1) (3–7, 7–1) RAD-ih-kanz (5–9, 9–5) (5–11, 12–6) I. tinctoria I. tink-TOR-ee-uh Rhododendron occidentale ro-doh- C. ✕tagliabuana C. tag-lee-ah-byew- Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris (7–11, 12–5) DEN-dron ahk-sih-den-TAL-ee AN-uh (5–9, 9–5) hy-DRAN-juh uh-NOM-uh-luh ssp. I. walleriana I. wah-leh-ree-AN-uh (7–9, 9–7) Clematis ✕durandii KLEM-uh-tiss pet-ee-o-LAIR-iss (4–9, 9–1) (10–11, 12–1) dur-RAN-dee-eye (5–11, 9–5) Ilex crenata EYE-leks kreh-NAY- Ipomoea alba ih-po-ME-uh AL-buh S–Z C. integrifolia C. in-teg-rih-FO-lee- tuh (5–7, 7–5) (9–11, 12–10) uh (4–11, 7–1) Impatiens arguta im-PAY-shenz Schizophragma hydrangeoides I. coccinea I. kok-SIN-ee-uh C. terniflora C. tur-nih-FLOR-uh ar-GOO-tuh (7–11, 12–1) skiz-o-FRAG-muh hy-DRAN-jee- (0–0, 12–1) (5–11, 9–1) I. auricoma I. aw-rih-KO-muh OY-deez (6–9, 9–6) I. quamoclit I. KWAM-oh-klit Coreopsis verticillata kor-ee-OP-sis (10–11, 12–1) Senecio confusus seh-NEE-see-o (10–11, 12–6) vur-tih-sih-LAY-tuh (4–9, 9–1) I. balfourii I. ball-FOOR-ee-eye kon-FEW-suss (10–11, 12–7) Kadsura japonica kad-SUR-uh Cotinus coggygria ko-TY-nus (0–0, 12–3) Thunbergia alata thun-BUR-jee-uh jah-PON-ih-kuh (7–9, 9–1) ko-JEE-gree-uh (5–9, 9–3) I. balsamina I. ball-suh-MEEN-uh ah-LAY-tuh (10–11, 12–10) (0–0, 12–3) T. grandiflora T. gran-dih-FLOR-uh L–R D–G I. capensis I. kuh-PEN-sis (10–11, 12–10) (0–0, 10–2) Lablab purpureus LAB-lab per-PER- Trachelospermum jasminoides Dicentra scandens dy-SEN-truh I. flaccida I. FLA-sih-duh ee-us (9–11, 12–9) tray-kell-o-SPUR-mum jaz-mih- SKAN-denz (4–8, 10–1) (10–11, 12–1) Leucanthemum ✕superbum NOY-deez (8–10, 10–8) Gelsemium sempervirens jel-SEE- I. glandulifera I. gland-yew-LIF-ur- loo-KAN-theh-mum soo-PUR-bum Wisteria floribunda wis-TEER-ee-uh me-um sem-pur-VY-renz uh (0–0, 12–3) (3–8, 8–1) flor-ih-BUN-duh (5–9, 9–3) (7–9, 9–1) I. hawkeri I. HAWK-er-eye L. vulgare L. vul-GAH-ree W. frutescens W. froo-TESS-enz Geranium ✕cantabrigiense juh-RAY- (6–10, 12–6) (3–8, 8–1) (5–9, 9–5) nee-um kan-tuh-brij-ee-EN-see I. hoehnelii I. ho-NEL-ee-eye Lilium henryi LIL-ee-um HEN-ree- W. sinensis W. sy-NEN-sis (5–8, 8–5) (9–11, 12–1) eye (2–7, 7–1) (5–8, 8–5) G. cinereum G. sih-nuh-REE-um I. kilimanjari I. kih-lih-man-JAR- L. martagon L. MAR-tah-gon (5–9, 9–1) eye (9–10, 12–1) (3–7, 7–1) G. macrorrhizum G. mak-ro-RHY- I. mengtszeana I. meng-tsee-AN-uh L. pardalinum L. par-duh-LY-num zum (4–8, 8–1) (7–11, 12–4) (5–8, 8–5)

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