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Heuchera ‘Rachel’

22 Jul

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Summer

Eventual Height: 40cm

Eventual Spread: 40cm

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Saxifragaceae

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ is a semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its red/ purple leaves are chordate and with shallowly lobed margins, up to 10cm across and 8cm long. It pale pink flowers are tubular, appear in sprays on wiry stems above its leaves.

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ Flower (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ is commonly known as Alum Root, Coral Flower or Coral Bells.

The etymological root of the binomial name Heuchera was named for Johann Heinrich von Heucher, the 18th century professor of medicine and botanist at Wittenberg, Germany.

The Landscape architect may find Heuchera ‘Rachel’ useful as an effective low ground cover when planted en mass. If grown in full sun this plant requires a constantly moist soil to look good.

Ecologically, Heuchera ‘Rachel’ flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ Leaf (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ prefers moist, fertile, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Heuchera ‘Rachel’ requires little maintenance. If desired flower heads and foliage may be removed if looking untidy. Large clumps may be divided in autumn.

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Categories Alum Root, Coral Bells, Coral Flower, Evergreen, garden, Herbaceous, Heuchera 'Rachel', Perennial, Plant of the Week, plants, Summer interest, Winter interest

Crinodendron hookerianum

18 Jul

Crinodendron hookerianum (07/06/2014, Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye, Scotland)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 6m

Eventual Spread: 4m

Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Family: Elaeocarpaceae

Crinodendron hookerianum is an evergreen shrub with a dense, upright habit . Its dark green leaves are lanceolate with fine serrulate margins, up to 7cm long and 15mm wide. Its dark red flowers are lantern shaped, pendant and up to 25mm long. Its fruit is a capsule with up to 5 valves.

Crinodendron hookerianum Flower (07/06/2014, Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye, Scotland)

Crinodendron hookerianum, commonly known as Chile Lantern Tree or Lantern Tree, is native to Chile. In its native habitat it grows in humid shady places, usually near streams.

The etymological root of the binomial name Crinodendron is derived from the Greek krinon meaning ‘Lilly’ and dendron meaning ‘tree’. Hookerianum is named after Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785 – 1865).

The landscape architect may find Crinodendron hookerianum useful as a large evergreen shrub with attractive flowers suitable for acidic soils. Its flowers may be damaged by a late frost, therefore a sheltered position would be favoured.

Ecologically, Crinodendron hookerianum is likely to be attractive to humming birds.

Crinodendron hookerianum Leaf (07/06/2014, Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye, Scotland)

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Crinodendron hookerianum their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Crinodendron hookerianum prefers moist, fertile, humus rich, well-drained soils. It prefers an acid pH of soil. This shrub dislikes dry soils.

Crinodendron hookerianum requires little maintenance.

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Categories Chile Lantern Tree, Crinodendron hookerianum, Evergreen, garden, Lantern Tree, Plant of the Week, plants, Shrub, Summer interest, Winter interest

Eriophorum latifolium

9 Jul

Eriophorum latifolium (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Late spring to early summer

Soil: Wet, poorly drained

Eventual Height: 50cm

Eventual Spread: 30cm

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

Family: Cyperaceae

Eriophorum latifolium is an evergreen herbaceous perennial with a clump forming, upright habit. Its dark green leaves are grass like and up to 8mm across. Its wind pollinated white flowers appear in groups of up to five as a masses of cotton at the ends of its leaves. Its seeds, attached to the cotton mass are dispersed by wind.

Eriophorum latifolium Flower (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Eriophorum latifolium, commonly known as Broad Leaved Cotton Grass, or Cotton Sedge, is native to the temperate northern hemisphere, including the UK. In its native habitat it grows in moorland, fens and dunes.

The etymological root of the binomial name Eriophorum is derived from the Greek meaning ‘wool bearing’. Latifolium is derived from the Latin Latus meaning ‘broad’ and folium meaning ‘leaf’.

The landscape architect may find Eriophorum latifolium useful as a native plant for planting in boggy or at the edges of water bodies. It is also a suitable spices for rain gardens. Once established this perennial is drought tolerant.