Fennel
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday August 3, 2008
Common name: Fennel
Light: Full sun
Height: 5 ft.
Spread: 18 in.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5
Origin: Mediterranean
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a plant worth growing in either the herb or
perennial garden. This perennial and sometimes biennial is a tall
attractive plant with glossy thread-like leaflets, which offer a fine
texture in the garden. In summer, umbels made of many small yellow flowers
will appear, which will later produce gray to brown seeds. All parts of
fennel are aromatic and edible. Its seeds and leaves are widely used in
fish dishes and its bulbous stem can be chopped and cooked as a vegetable.
Fennel plants are ideal for the butterfly garden as they are the host plant
for several swallowtail butterfly species and will attract beneficial bees.
The oils produced from this plant are found in several products such as food
flavorings, toothpastes, air fresheners and soaps. Using fennel as a gargle
to aid in gum disease and sore throat are two of the many medicinal uses of
this plant. The variety ‘Purpureum’, also known as Bronze fennel, has
bronze- purple foliage and is slightly hardier that the species.
Swallowtail butterfly larvae on fennel are a welcome site in the Education
Garden at the Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
Anise hyssop
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday August 10, 2008
Common name: Anise hyssop
Light: Full sun
Height: 24-36 in.
Spread: 18-24 in.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5
Origin: North America
Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a member of the mint family. This
aromatic herbaceous perennial is ideal for the perennial or herb garden.
The small violet-colored tubular flowers grow on spikes that have branched
near the plants base. The four-inch long leaves are arranged opposite on
square stems, two traits of plants in the mint family. From mid to late
summer butterflies, hummingbirds and bees lavish the nectar-filled blooms.
The plant is considered a “honey plant” and makes a mild-tasting anise
honey, as the leaves taste of anise. The leaves are often used in flavoring
teas, added to various seasonings and added to salads.
Anise hyssop has a multitude of medicinal uses. Native Americans used it to
make cough medicine. Externally, it is beneficial for burns, wounds,
bruises and infections. This is one of the few “mints” that can withstand
some drought. It is adaptable to various soil conditions. Several
cultivars are available on the market (Agastache ‘Blue Fortune” pictured).
Large masses of Anise hyssop are used in planters to fill the air with
fragrance on The Grove rooftop garden at the Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
Dwarf Mondo Grass
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday August 17, 2008
Common name: Dwarf mondo grass
Light: Part sun
Height: 3 in.
Spread: 3-6 in.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-10
Origin: Japan
Dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nana’) is a low-growing evergreen perennial that adds a fine texture to the garden. Its small white to lilac flowers appear in August and followed by attractive metallic blue colored berries. This tough plant is sometimes used as a grass substitute in shadedareas. It is ideal for woodland and rock gardens and adds interest when planted in between stepping-stones or rock wall crevices. It can be grown as a bog plant but will not flower as readily. It is often sold as an aquarium plant but is short-lived, as it is not a true water plant. Dwarf mondo grass makes excellent accent plants for bonsai and is useful for soil erosion control. This plant prefers sandy soil but will thrive in any well-drained soil. The roots are edible and have many medicinal uses. Dwarf mondo grass is utilized architecturally in the Bride’s Garden at the Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
Magic lily
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday August 24, 2008
Common name: Magic lily
Light: Full sun
Height: 18-24 in.
Spread: 18-24 in.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5
Origin: Japan
The Magic lilies (Lycoris squamigera) are always a welcome site to the garden in mid to late summer. These curious plants start their growing season in the spring by growing their gray-green strap-shaped leaves. These leaves are rather short-lived and are withered by early summer. The bulbs then take a brief rest before their rapid-growing flower stems emerge. These sturdy leafless stems produce 4-7 pinkish purple fragrant funnel-shaped flowers. Magic lilies are sometimes confused with the Belladonna lily (Amaryllis belladonna), which is a South African winter flowering bulb. Magic lilies are eye-catching when planted in random clumps throughout the perennial border. They also naturalize well in the woodland garden, as they will thrive in partial shade. The bulbs should be planted 5-6 inches deep and 6 inches apart, planting in masses for optimum impact. As the clumps will continue to grow they can be divided, however these plants are very long-lived when left undisturbed. Records show that original plantings in the 1940’s still continue to perform well. Magic
lilies are located in the Education Garden at the Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
Cornelian Cherry
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday August 31, 2008
Common name: Cornelian cherry
Light: Full sun
Height: 20 ft.
Spread: 12-18 ft.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4
Origin: S. Europe, SE Asia
The Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is a deciduous small tree or shrub that has much ornamental value in the landscape. Its common name is misleading, as it is a dogwood and not at all related to the Cherries (Prunus). It’s considered a four-season plant as it’s gray and tan exfoliating bark adds winter interest. Clusters of many small yellow four-petalled flowers appear in spring before the forsythias. One-inch oblong dark red fruit ripen mid to late summer and are often lavished by birds. The bitter-tasting fruit are best when cooked. Cooking them down with sugar and orange gives them a taste reminiscent of cranberry and sour cherry. They are sometimes used in jam making. The two to four inch glossy dark green leaves turn yellow with purple-red highlights in the fall. Cornelian cherries are ideal for the mixed shrub border, for screens and specimens. Avoid planting where the branches will grow over sidewalks as staining from the fruit may occur. They prefer moist and rich well-drained soil and can withstand partial sun. A grove of Cornelian cherries is located behind the Pergola at the Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
