Pathway slope in back yard

Podophyllum pleianthum - Chinese May Apple. Usually the flowers on this plant are hard to see but for some reason (probably all the winter rain) it is taller than ever. You can tell by the character in one of the photos how tall they are. The foliage is usually what people really like.

Facts:
Common Name: Chinese May Apple
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Berberidaceae
Native Range: Central and southeastern China, Taiwan
Zone: 6 to 8
Height: 1.50 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Description: Maroon red
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Fruit: Showy
Tolerate: Heavy Shade

Culture
Easily grown in moist, acidic, organically rich, leafy, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. With consistent and even moisture, the leaves of this mayapple usually remain attractive in the garden until first fall frost (unlike P. peltatum of eastern North American which goes dormant in summer). Avoid dry soils. Plants will spread by rhizomes over time. Plants may self-seed in the garden.
Podophyllum pleianthum, commonly called Chinese mayapple, is native to central and southeastern China. This is a shade loving, clump-forming perennial that typically grows to 3' tall. Each plant bears a single stem crowned with one or two, large, very glossy, umbrella-shaped leaves. Flowers are quite showy, but unfortunately are usually hidden beneath the large leaves. Flowers give way to berry-shaped fruits that mature to yellow or red.

Common Name: dysosma

Type: Herbaceous perennial

Family: Berberidaceae

Native Range: Central and southeastern China, Taiwan

Zone: 6 to 8

Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet

Spread: 0.75 to 1.50 feet

Bloom Time: April to May

Bloom Description: Maroon red

Sun: Part shade to full shade

Water: Medium

Maintenance: Medium

Suggested Use: Naturalize

Flower: Showy, Fragrant

Fruit: Showy

Tolerate: Heavy Shade

Garden locations

Culture

Easily grown in moist, acidic, organically rich, leafy, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. With consistent and even moisture, the leaves of this mayapple usually remain attractive in the garden until first fall frost (unlike P. peltatum of eastern North American which goes dormant in summer). Avoid dry soils. Plants will spread by rhizomes over time. Plants may self-seed in the garden.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Podophyllum pleianthum, commonly called Chinese mayapple, is native to central and southeastern China. This is a shade loving, clump-forming perennial that typically grows to 18-24" tall. Each plant bears a single stem crowned with one or two, large, very glossy, shallowly-lobed (6-10 lobes each), umbrella-shaped leaves (to 12-16" wide). From the crotch (leaf axil) on two leaved plants, a pendulous cluster (5-9 flowers each) of large, nodding, bell-shaped, malodorous, maroon-red flowers blooms in spring (May). Flowers are quite showy, but unfortunately are usually hidden beneath the large leaves. Flowers give way to berry-shaped fruits that mature to yellow or red. Synonymous with and at one time know as Dysosma pleiantha.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Protect from spring frosts. Susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils.

Garden Uses

Shady areas of borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens and woodland areas. Elevated plantings, such as along a bank, permit easier viewing of the flowers and fruits.

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Hydrangea - PeeGee Pink

Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandifora' produces white blooms aging to pink from July to September. Performing best in organically rich well drained soil. Rapid Grower.

Full Sun to Partial Shade

4 - 6 feet

Blooms in summer

Size: 2 years

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new plant

Cardiocrinum giganteum

Common Name: 

Giant Himalayan Lily

Season: 

Spring

Summer

Location: 

Station 2 - Olmsted Drive

Station 9 - Tennis Court Green

Cardiocrinum giganteum, a lily relative from Western China, is always a show stopper in the garden. This photograph shows the plant in active growth. By June the plant has reached six to eight feet in height and the flowering commences. While the individual flowers are short lived, two to three weeks of bloom time is typical. The white flowers (maroon interior markings) are beautiful and fragrant. After pollination the petals fall off and the swelling ovary lengthens and turns upright from its formerly pendant position. The flower stalks age beautifully in the fall and on a dry day, the seed pods split open and shimmering drifts of delicate seed float down to the ground. This year, for the first time, we have some seedlings coming up. In another seven years these seedlings should flower and start the cycle over.