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Six on Saturday: Slim Pickings

There are not as many flowers to take pictures of now as there were earlier in the year. I suppose that there will be fewer later into winter.

1. Prunus persicaria, nectarine proves that we do experience autumn here by its orange foliar color. It will defoliate soon. Several other species are likewise showing foliar color.

2. Bergenia crassifolia, pigsqueak prematurely proves that we also do experience winter here by its pink winter bloom. Actually, this proves nothing, but almost sounds credible.

3. Canna X generalis ‘Stuttgart’ canna is growing when it should not be growing, as the weather cools. It made this almost completely white leaf, which looks like a papal mitre.

4. Campanula americana, American bellflower is finishing its bloom and drying out for autumn. It disperses its seed so profusely that it seems to naturalize where it is irrigated.

5. Punica granatum, pomegranate reddens as it ripens through autumn. This fruit is the largest of only three small fruits, but it is more than I expected from a small potted tree.

6. Hibiscus X rosa–sinensis, tropical hibiscus is brighter yellow than it looks here in this picture, which was taken a bit too early on Thursday morning. It was still dark out there.

Anyone who would like to participate in this meme should peruse this participant guide for Six on Saturday.

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Dutch Iris

Dutch iris is a spring bulb.

The only thing Dutch about Dutch iris, Iris X hollandica, is the location of its breeding. It is a hybrid of various iris from Morocco, Algeria, Spain and Portugal. It became popular originally for the cut flower industries of Europe. It did not become available to American home gardens until the 1950s. Even now, it remains somewhat rare for home gardens.

Unlike most common iris, Dutch iris grows from bulbs rather than from fleshy rhizomes. They produce narrow leaves that stand about a foot and a half to two feet tall. Their big iris flowers bloom about May, just below the tips of their foliage. Floral color is primarily blue but can be yellow or white. Flowers lack fragrance. Bulbs are conducive to forcing.

Like other spring bulbs, dormant Dutch iris bulbs should go into their garden about now. Bulbs can be set about six inches apart, and about four or five inches deep. If nurseries do not market enough varieties, more are available online. ‘Imperator’ blooms dark blue. ‘Wedgwood’ blooms light blue. ‘Yellow Queen’ blooms pastel yellow. ‘White Excelsior’ is shorter and blooms white. Mixtures of a few varieties are available.

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Spring Bulbs Start In Autumn

Plan now for certain spring flowers.

Autumn is time for planting. This does not apply to all plants, but is certainly relevant to spring bulbs. Many have been available from nurseries for a while already. They all are dormant by late summer or early autumn. So, they are unaware of their relocation from their farms to home gardens. They will learn about it when the resume growth next year.

Actually, though, spring bulbs begin growth sooner than that. It merely does not become visible until foliage emerges above its soil after midwinter. Roots begin to disperse when their soil is dampened either by irrigation or rain. Growth is initially slow because of cool autumn and winter weather. It accelerates as weather warms, as spring replaces winter.

Spring bulbs know how the seasons change from temperature. They adjust their growth accordingly. They know that they can disperse roots early. They delay other growth until after a specific duration of cool weather, or vernalization. From the nursery, many spring bulbs are prechilled, or already vernalized. That is why they are so conducive to forcing.

Summer bulbs prefer later planting because they do not need vernalization to bloom. In fact, some are susceptible to rot if they must overwinter in cool and damp soil. They are more resilient once established, after their first summer. These include gladiola, canna, calla, dahlia, tuberous begonia and most lily. They become available after spring bulbs.

Because winter is so mild here, some spring bulbs are unreliable after their first season. They may not receive the degree of chilling, or vernalization, that they require. Hyacinth and tulip, for examples, may bloom only once for their first spring. Afterward, they might not be reliably perennial. Dutch iris and Dutch crocus are only somewhat more reliable.

Freesia and narcissus, including daffodil, are some of the most reliable of spring bulbs. Within favorable conditions, they can multiply and slowly migrate. Grape hyacinth might actually become slightly invasive. Ranunculus and anemone may be reliably perennial, but may not bloom much. Bluebells are supposedly very reliable but remain uncommon.

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Six on Saturday: First Rain! Etcetera

It feels like autumn now. The first rain of the rainy season has come and gone, and more is predicted for Thursday and Friday.

1. Rain fell from the sky last Wednesday. It was not much, but it was enough to fill a few puddles and delay irrigation. The first rain of the rainy season is major news for us here.

2. Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’ mock orange and Acer circinatum, vine maple needed to be removed from their two other landscapes, so live here in their new landscape now.

3. Salvia elegans, pineapple sage is from the same landscape that the mock orange came from. It is scrawny now because it had been crowded. It should be fluffier next summer.

4. Clivia miniata ‘Variegata’ Natal lily with broad creamy white variegation has the same name ‘Variegata’ as a cultivar with thin yellow variegation. One was likely misidentified.

5. Hedychium gardnerianum, kahili ginger is still blooming. It would likely be blooming more impressively if I had taken better care of it. Pradhan’s ginger is also still blooming.

6. Chrysanthemum X morifolium, chrysanthemum is a bit too refined for my taste. They obviously did not grow here but were added from four inch pots. They sure are colorful.

Anyone who would like to participate in this meme should peruse this participant guide for Six on Saturday.

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Orchid Cactus

Epiphyllum bloom as late as October.

More than seven thousand cultivars of orchid cactus are hybrids of various species. The majority are progeny of the genus Disocactus, which was formerly Epiphyllum. They are of the family Cactaceae, but are very different from familiar cacti. Most are from tropical forests of Central America where they grow as epiphytes. They literally hang from trees.

Orchid cactus, like all cacti, lack conventional foliage. What seems to be foliage is really their flat green stems. Their white, pink, red, orange or yellow flowers bloom for summer or about now. Flowers are about five or six inches wide or possibly wider, and alluringly fragrant. Some cultivars bloom only at night, then close their big flowers during the day.

Orchid cactus, unlike other cacti, prefer partial shade. They might burn if too exposed to direct sunlight during warm weather. They are also vulnerable to frost. Irrigation should maintain soil moisture, except during winter. A dry resting period of about two months in winter stimulates bloom. Nitrogen fertilizer can inhibit bloom. Orchid cactus propagates very easily from stem cuttings in loose media.

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Family Trees For All Plants

Sequoia sempervirens of the family Cupressaceae.

Botanical nomenclature is a standardized system of naming plants. It can be confusing since it is all Latin. Some of it is Latinized from other languages or is Latinized names of botanists. For home garden applications, it includes the name of a genus and a species. Variety names are more specific. A less specific botanical classification is that of family.

Hence, varieties are classifications within a species. Species are classifications within a genus. Genera (which is plural for genus) are classifications within a family. It should be no wonder why common names are more common than botanical names. However, the problem with common names is that they are regionally variable. They are not universal.

Taxonomy is the standardized system of classification for all biological organisms. It can be more involved or confusing than nomenclature. Families fit into orders, which fit into classes, which fit into divisions, which fit into kingdoms. Any average garden enthusiast certainly does not need to know all these categories. Such is for professional botanists.

Familiarity with certain botanical families might be useful, though. It provides insight into characteristics of some or most members of particular families. Different species of one genus are generally similar to each other. Similarly, different genera of one family might be similar to each other. Such similarities are not likely as obvious, but they are helpful.

For example, coastal redwood, or Sequoia sempervirens is of the family Cupressaceae. All members of this family are coniferous. With only three exceptions, all are evergreen. Incense cedar, or Calocedrus decurrens, is also of the extensive family Cupressaceae. Therefore, without prior experience, it is easy to assume that it is an evergreen conifer.

Some families are very diverse, though. The Rosaceae family includes strawberries and apples, which do not seem related. The Cactaceae family is famously endemic to desert climates. However, several of its genera are conversely endemic to tropical rain forests. Therefore, expertise with botanical families is useful for some but not all generalizations.

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Six on Saturday: Six Mix

My Six again lack a common theme. These are just random pictures.

1. Coleonema pulchellum, breath of Heaven is supposed to bloom for spring but actually blooms whenever it wants to. This was supposed to be a low grower but is a large shrub.

2. Salvia greggii ‘Hot Lips’ autumn sage might actually be Salvia microphylla. I learned it as Salvia greggii. It is blooming right on time but it also blooms whenever it wants to.

3. Salvia greggii, autumn sage also might actually be Salvia microphylla. It blooms for autumn only but is more colorful than ‘Hot Lips’. Its bloom is the color of perennial pea.

4. Lathyrus latifolia, perennial pea grows and blooms through spring and early summer to then die back through late summer. A few that get water may bloom until about now.

5. Trifolium pratense, red clover happens to be a weed, but blooms with these delightful pale pink flowers. Bees are fond of them. It would be nice if more weeds were this pretty.

6. Echinops ritro, globe thistle is beginning to bloom again. It is relatively new to me, so I am unfamiliar with its bloom season or life cycle. I am pleased that it is so happy here.

Anyone who would like to participate in this meme should peruse this participant guide for Six on Saturday.

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Pradhan’s Ginger Lily

Pradhan’s ginger lily is alluringly fragrant.

Ginger lilies prefer spring planting to autumn planting. This is because they are in bloom for autumn. They grow through summer to get ready. Pradhan’s ginger lily, Hedychium spicatum ‘Pradhanii’, for example, is blooming now. After bloom, deadheading neatens remaining foliage until later in winter. Then, such foliage is tired enough for cutting back.

Pradhan’s ginger lily grows by dispersing thick and vigorous rhizomes. Foliar canes are about five feet high, and lean towards sunlight. Leaves extend from side to side of each cane. Floral trusses of inch wide flowers are about seven inches high, and three inches wide. Flowers are peachy pink and fragrant like Southern magnolia bloom, but stronger.

All gingers enjoy warm and humid situations. Within local semiarid climates, they prefer partial shade through midday. Sunlight promotes bloom, but may burn exposed foliage. Soil should be organically rich and loose. Irrigation should be sufficient to maintain even moisture within such soil. Fertilizer enhances green foliar color and may promote bloom. Pradhan’s ginger lily blooms somewhat earlier than other ginger lilies bloom.