#evergreen herbaceous

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Sunday 2 April 2017

An Aspidistra elatior (cast iron plant, bar room plant) forms a green fountain of foliage at the base of this lantern in a small park in Tokyo, Japan. This resilient, evergreen rhizomatous perennial has glossy dark green, leathery, lance-shaped leaves. It produces inconspicuous dull brownish-cream flowers borne at soil level in early summer. Aspidistra requires a shady, sheltered, ideally frost-free environment to thrive (it will cope with down to -5C) and is tolerant of some neglect. There are variegated forms.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day Saturday 18 February 2017 In the Winter Garden of Cambridge Botanic Garden, UK, the evergreen leaves of Bergenia ‘Bressingham Ruby’ (elephant’s ears) have turned a burnished maroon forming an excellent contrast to the Galanthus (snowdrop) flowers. In spring the Bergenia will have clusters of rosy-red flowers on sturdy stems that will rise above the glossy green foliage.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 16 December 2016

Here the evergreen British native fern Polypodium vulgare (common polypody) has colonise this shaded woodland setting. This fern is highly versatile being able to grow in most soils, damp or dry, as long as it has some shade. It will thrive in walls, where there is little soil, or in humus that has collected in the fissures of tree bark producing a rain forest appearance. This species will spread but never seems to become a problem as an invasive plant.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 11 June 2016

Dryopteris wallichiana (Wallich's Wood Fern) is a magnificent fern from the Himalayas and Japan named after the Danish botanist Nathaniel Wallich. The young unfolding fronds are a golden green in the Spring contrasting with the black hairy midrib and stems. This semi-evergreen fern needs moist but well drained conditions.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 13 April 2016

Euphorbia mellifera (Canary spurge, honey spurge) produces a dome-shaped evergreen shrub with narrow, bright green leaves with a pale mid-vein. It produces honey-scented, brownish flower-heads in spring, these flowers are early due to the mild winter and a sheltered courtyard. The sap can cause skin irritation so care should be taken when handling this plant.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 8 April 2016

Pachyphragma macrophylla (caucasian pennycress) is an evergreen herbaceous perennial with masses of white flowers in the spring. It makes good ground cover in a shaded location and woodland garden. Here it is in the shade of a wall and the evergreen shrub Fatsia japonica (false castor oil).

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 26 March 2016

Bergenia emeiensis (elephant's ears) was flowering spectacularly in the Alpine House at Cambridge Botanic Garden, U.K. This herbaceous perennial is from the limestone cliffs of Sichuan, China, where it grows under overhangs, deriving the moisture it requires from water that seeps through the rock. Though first collected in 1935 this Bergenia remained unnamed until 1988. It certainly looked beautiful whatever the name on a sunny spring day.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 25 November 2015

The dark, evergreen grass-like leaves of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' (black mondo) form a dense groundcover. This plant can add texture and here contrasts with the smooth spheres. Spikes of small purplish flowers are followed by glossy black berries.

Jill Raggett