Feature Article Old and New Favorites at Brandywine Cottage by David L. Culp t is hard to believe that twenty I began this article on a 100° day which feature in the winter garden, their main Iyears have passed since my partner followed a winter that had four feet of bloom time coming before hellebores and I started making a garden here snow. With our Mid-Atlantic weather in March. Both plants are perfect cures at Brandywine Cottage. Our garden extremes, it’s important to take note of for chlorophyll withdrawal in the late never ceases to be rewarding. That is those plants that perform well, instead winter. not to say that it is without challenges. of concentrating on the plants that have I am currently adding cultivars with Perhaps the easiest part is putting in died. yellow markings and yellow ovaries. the garden; maintaining and refining Another group of plants of Galanthus ‘Ecusson d’Or’ (Shield of the garden is both the challenge and the particular interest to me are those that Gold) is a good example. A nivalis fun. Time and space limitations only up have an off-peak bloom time. They add form, it blooms a little later in the the ante. If you could do it all at once, further interest by extending the garden galanthus blooming season. Galanthus would you really want to? seasons. Among the plants that I am ‘Spindlestone Surprise’ is a good I am a plantsman first and, as still planting and want more of after grower for me which is a definite plus one, I enjoy watching plants grow and twenty years are many of my familiar when it comes to the yellow-marked express themselves. As a garden maker/ favorites. They have earned a place Sandersii Group. I sometimes have designer, I enjoy playing with colors in my heart and garden. Perhaps you difficulty with this group. Of course, and textures to achieve the desired are familiar with some of these plants, I would recommend the Galanthus effect. It is always an interesting tight or perhaps it is time to take a second ‘David L. Culp’, a tall plant with well- rope to walk—plantsmanship vs. look. You may find a forgotten favorite formed flowers and refined markings. designer, but I wouldn’t have it any or find that “special one” to add to the It, too, is a strong grower. I am dividing other way. I am always refining the garden. and planting more of this one, you can picture, whether editing out plants or be sure. The yellow-marked galanthus (more likely in my case) adding plants. Galanthus are especially useful when making color This becomes tricky as the garden Surely there is always fills in. Making selections for the room for minor bulbs. garden becomes more rigorous with For me, galanthus are time. However, I do not look at this major players in the as a negative. Instead, I select plants garden. Some species that work with me, those that exhibit such as Galanthus a general willingness to live in the reginae-olgae start location I have chosen, and those that blooming in October, are adapted to their environment. Aside and if you add other from giving a sense of place, this is one species and cultivars, of the important lessons the native plant you can have galanthus blooming movement teaches us. Diane Mattis Plants that look good even under from fall through © stress are plants I tend to want more of. spring. These plants photo This is particularly evident considering are an indispensable Green hillside at Brandywine Cottage. Vol. 24, No. 5 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group 3 combinations in the garden. The yellow once established. C. pensylvanica, H. ‘Albo-striata’) is a good companion markings repeat other yellows found in with its fine hair-like texture, seems for plants with white or cream the garden at this time of year, such as to be the most drought tolerant once it variegations. The species H. macra is Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’, mahonia is established and spreads into a sizable equally beautiful in an understated kind flowers, early daffodils, yellow-berried clump. One is almost tempted to of way. With the same arching habit hollies, and yellow-flowered hellebores. comb it. indicative of the species and its darker Yellow is useful any time of the Carex plantaginea with its pleated green foliage, it is even more serene year—not only is it cheerful, but it also leaves gives an added texture to and looks great in a mass in a more can provide a pleasing contrast. I am plantings. It is also semi-evergreen formal setting, or as an edging plant. always interested in adding new forms which gives another season of interest. Recent introductions of H. macra, of galanthus and try to make selections Both C. flaccosperma and C. laxiculmis such as ‘Beni Kaze’, ‘Nicolas’, and based on flower form, distinct ‘Bunny Blue’ offer a glaucous, ‘Naomi’ give us a red color note to use. markings, and foliage that does not hide gray-blue color note to contrast or I especially like ‘Beni Kaze’ (Japanese the flower. I like the flower presented complement other shade plants in your for red wind) because it shows color well above the foliage—contorted garden. Gray is such a good color to earlier. ‘Nicolas’ and ‘Naomi’ show red oddities are not my cup of tea. lighten up dark-shaded areas. only late in the season in my garden. Every year I find more uses for Hellebores Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’. Hydrangeas I am still planting hellebores. I consider I would place it in my top ten favorite I have used hydrangeas even before them the ultimate shade plant. Helle- plants because of its multi-season living here at the Cottage. These old- bores’ strongest features are their sea- use alone. Its “ever purple,” almost fashioned plants have recently enjoyed son of bloom and the variety of flower black, foliage can be used in a variety a renewed interest and popularity. They colors available. An additional bonus is of situations. Because of its texture bloom in late June through July and that no slug or deer repellent is needed. and color, I always seem to be adding some into August. The first flush comes I keep a lookout for new colors— more of this plant, or creating new after the roses and becomes a dominant good clear colors that catch my eye or combinations with it. It’s also a good feature after other plants are taking a that add accents to existing plants are bridge color, uniting other brighter breather from the spring rush. Flowers important characteristics. When I find colors, and it mimics the patterns of that age gracefully can extend the show a color I like, I add more to enlarge the light and shadow on the forest floor. even longer. It was a nice surprise color drift. You need both accent plants Colors, other than green, add to the for me when I found H. quercifolia and color drifts to keep your collec- excitement level of the shade garden. to be drought tolerant. Three plants tion interesting. Recent introductions Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ was became fifteen and then I added more of Helleborus argutifolius x H. niger the Perennial Plant Association’s Plant cultivars—that is usually how it works hybrids are very popular. These hybrids of the Year in 2009, a well deserved for me. If one performs well, I know have large outward-facing flowers and accolade. Its graceful texture and that it adapted to my site, and more are are great performers in winter pots and arching mounded habit is beautiful added. containers. as a specimen or in drifts. H. macra Hydrangea serrata is one of my ‘Aureomarginata’ with its yellow favorites because it blooms on new Vertical Elements wood. This can prove to be invaluable Verticals are an important key element variegation sparks up the after a cold in the shade garden. Mother Nature has winter. Its lace- given us many bold shapes for shade— shade. H. macra ‘All Gold’ is, cap blossom is wide-leaved hostas and hellebores, more delicate along with lacey ferns, are the first two as its name suggests, all in form and textures many think of as shade garden serves as a foil features. The challenge is always to find gold. It will grow in full against the vertical or grass-like shapes to add to heavier shaped your combinations. All three textures sun as well as part shade. H. macrophylla. are needed. I grow them Both cultivars photo ©Diane Mattis Carex, especially native both in the species like Carex pensylvanica, are easy to use Assorted Hellebore Flowers with yellow or garden and C. plantaginea, and C. flaccosperma are use them as container plants as well, forgiving of dry situations in the garden yellow-variegated shade plants. Slightly larger H. macra ‘Albovariegata’ (syn. especially the less hardy forms. 4 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group September 2010 There are many species, cultivar I added S. rostrata, a Chinese species, ‘Floating Clouds’ are on the acquisition variations, and combinations of colors which is early to bloom, similar to our list. ‘Floating Clouds’ is much more of hydrangea. native Stewartia ovata, but much easier scorch resistant than C. canadensis H. macrophylla ‘Ayesha’ has to grow. ‘Silver Cloud’ and has the same classic delicate, cup-shaped individual flowers, It is a magical time of the year magenta pink flowers. C. canadensis forming striking flower heads. Like when dogwoods and redbuds, the ‘JNJ’ (The Rising Sun™) has yellow many other hydrangeas, its color signature understory trees of the East to peach foliage on its new growth saturation may depend on your soil’s Coast, are in bloom.