#seedcases

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 21 March 2026

The slender bean-like pods of Catalpa bignonioides (Indian bean tree, catawb, Indian cigar, smoking bean) have survived through the winter and still create a display. Soon the tree will be covered with large leaves, produce white flowers with orange and purple markings and more pods.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 14 January 2023

The seed pods of Lunaria annua (honesty, grandpa's specs, money in both pockets, moon seed, penny flower, silver plate, silver dollar) provide great winter interest. This plant can be a hardy annual but is usually a biennial, with large, heart-shaped leaves in the first year and open clusters of purple flowers in late spring of the second year.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 19 October 2022

At the end of the season for the annual plant Hibiscus trionum (black-eyed Susan, flower-of-an-hour, bladder hibiscus, modesty, shoofly, Venice mallow) the bladder-like capsules are full of seed for next year’s plants.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 15 November 2021

In the Systematic Beds of Cambridge Botanic Garden, UK, the sculptural five chambered seed cases of Blumenbachia insignis (electric shock plant) are all that remains of this unusual hardy annual. This species has fine, stinging hairs which cover all parts of the plant which contribute to the common name. The plant was introduced to British gardens in 1826 from Argentina.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Thursday 9 December 2021

A seasonal display of fruit cases and seeds adds colour to the garden in winter and is probably Euonymus europaeus ‘Red Cascade’ (spindle). This deciduous shrub provides vivid autumn colour of yellow and finally a reddish-purple foliage. It will grow to a height of 3m but responds well to pruning.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Thursday 18 November 2021

Catching the winter sunshine are the branches and seedcases of Colutea persica (bladder senna). This deciduous shrub from Southern Iran has delicate pinnate leaves and small pea-like yellow or deep orange flowers followed by translucent, inflated fruits.

Jill Raggett


[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 26 February 2019

This Paulownia tomentosa (foxglove tree, princess tree) was covered in the round, bronze buds that will develop into fragrant, lilac-purple flowers on large panicles in summer. This broad, deciduous tree also had the remains of the thin, woody seedcases from last year’s flowers.

Jill Raggett