Blossom Season Flower Collection
Table of Contents
Prunus Mume
4
Lotus
6
Yoshino Cherry
8
Lycoris Radiata
10
Convallaria Majalis
12
Rose
14
Lavender
16
Epiphyllum
18
Wisteria Sinensis
20
W
inter hardy to USDA Zones 6 -8 where it is grown in average, medium moisture, well drained, acidic loams in full sun to part shade. Best flowering is in full sun. Foliage appreciates some part afternoon shade in the hot summers of the deep South. Avoid heavy clays and poorly drained wet soils. Prune if needed immediately after flowering. This plant is marginally winter hardy to the St. Louis area where it should be planted in a protected location. Unfortunately, protected locations may encourage the flowers to open early and succumb to freezing temperatures.
in summer. Apricots are technically edible fresh from the plant (some say bitter and inedible), but are at any rate of very poor quality in comparison to commercially sold common apricots (Prunus armeniaca). Fruits may be harvested for use in making jams and preserves. Broad-oval leaves (2-4� long) are sharply-serrulate.Genus name from Latin means plum or cherry tree.Specific epithet is a variant of the Japanese name umi for a species of Prunus.
Prunus mume, commonly called Japanese apricot, is primarily grown for ornamental purposes, and in particular for its mid to late winter bloom of pink flowers. It is native to China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan. It is an upright, fast-growing, deciduous tree that typically grows to 15-20’ tall with a rounded form. It may be trained as a large shrub. Spicily fragrant pink flowers (solitary or in pairs) bloom in winter before the leaves emerge. Flowers have red calyxes and yellowish stamens. Flowers are followed by fuzzy-skinned, green to yellow apricots (to 1� diameter) with clinging stones. Apricots ripen
better in the southern parts of their growing range than in the northern parts including St. Louis. If fruits appear, they can be rather messy if allowed to drop to the ground. Potential insect pests include aphids, scale and borers. Potential disease problems include bacterial canker and brown rot.
4 Blossom season
Cold temperatures in late winter may damage the flowers and subsequent fruit. Plants generally flower
In St. Louis, plants are best sited in sunny but protected locations in the landscape such as areas on south side of a house. Excellent along walkways or near decks or patios. Specimen or groups.
Prunus Mume
15-20’
tall Blossom season 5
The showy flowers can be up to
6 Blossom season
20
centimeter in diameter.
LOTUS The roots of lotus are planted in the soil of the pond or river bottom, while the leaves float on top of the water surface or are held well above it. The flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the leaves. The plant normally grows up to a height of about 150 cm and a horizontal spread of up to 3 meters, but some unverified reports place the height as high as over 5 meters. The leaves may be as large as 60 cm in diameter, while the showy flowers can be up to 20 cm in diameter. Researchers report that the lotus has the remarkable ability to regulate the temperature of its flowers to within a narrow range just as humans and other warmblooded animals do. Dr. Roger S. Seymour and Dr. Paul Schultze-Motel, physiologists at the University of Adelaide in Australia, found that lotus flowers blooming in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens maintained a temperature of 30–35 °C (86 –95 °F), even when the air temperature dropped to 10 °C (50 °F). They suspect the flowers may be doing this to attract coldblooded insect pollinators. The study, published in the journal Nature, is the latest discovery in the field of thermoregulation, heat-producing, plants. Two other species known to be able to regulate their temperature include Symplocarpus foetidus and Philodendron selloum. An individual lotus can live for over a thousand years and has the rare ability to revive into activity after stasis. In 1994, a seed from a sacred lotus, dated at roughly 1,300 years old ± 270 years, was successfully germinated. As mentioned earlier, the traditional Sacred Lotus is only distantly related to Nymphaea caerulea, but possesses similar chemistry. Both Nymphaea caerulea and Nelumbo nucifera contain the alkaloids nuciferine and aporphine.
Blossom season 7
Y
oshino cherry is initially believed to be native to Yoshino District, Nara. In 1900, Kimei Fujino gave Yoshino cherry a name Somei-yoshino after the famous place of cultivation Somei village (current day Toshima). In 1901, Yoshino cherry was given a scientific name Prunus Yedoensis by Ninzo Matsumura. However, after Ernest Henry Wilson suggested Yoshino cherry is a hybrid between Prunus subhirtella var. ascendens (Edo higan) and Prunus lannesiana (Oshima zakura) in 1916,Yoshino cherry became to be called Prunus Yedoensis. As for the Korean native cherry called king cherry which was given a scientific name Prunus yedoensis var. nudiflora by a German botanist Bernhard Adalbert Emil Koehne in 1912 continues to be called Prunus yedoensis. Yoshino cherry has no scientific cultivar name because it is the original cultivar of this hybrid species Prunus edoensis. A new name, ‘Someiyoshino’ is proposed in accordance with other cultivars of Prunus edoensis.
8 Blossom season
Yoshino Cherry P
runus yedoensis is a small, deciduous tree that at maturity grows to be 5 to 12 metres, rarely 15 metres tall. It grows well in hardiness zones 5–8 and does well in full sun and moist but well drained soil. The leaves are alternately arranged, 6 to 15 centimetres long and 4 to 7 centimetres broad, with a serrated margin; they are often bronze-toned when newly emerged, becoming dark green by summer. The flowers emerge before the leaves in early spring; they are fragrant, 3 to 3.5 centimetres in diameter, with five white or pale pink petals. The flowers grow in clusters of five or six together. The fruit, a small cherry, is a globose drupe 8 to 10 millimetres in diameter; they are an important source of food for many small birds and mammals, including robins and thrushes. The fruit contain little flesh and much concentrated red juice, which can stain clothing and brick. The fruit is only marginally sweet to the human palate.
B
ecause of its fragrant, light pink flowers, manageable size, and elegant shape, the Yoshino cherry is often used as an ornamental tree. Many cultivars have been selected; notable examples include ‘Akebono’, ‘Ivensii’, and ‘Shidare Yoshino’. From the Edo period to the beginning of the Meiji period, gardeners and craftsman who made the village at Somei in Edo (now Komagome, Toshima ward, Tokyo) grew someiyoshino. They first offered them as Yoshinozakura, but in 1900, they were renamed someiyoshino by Dr. Fujino. This is sometimes rendered as ‘Somei-Yoshino’. The Yoshino cherry was introduced to Europe and North America in 1902. This tree, along with the cultivar Kwanzan (derived from the related Prunus serrulata), is responsible for the spectacular pink show each spring in Washington D.C. and other cities. Several of 2000 Japanese cherry trees given to the citizens of Toronto by the citizens of Tokyo in 1959 were planted in High Park.
5
white or pale pink petals
Blossom season 9
Lycoris radiata
W
inter hardy to USDA Zones 5b-10 where bulbs may be grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best flowering is in part shade. Plant bulbs 9� apart in fall with the top 1/4" of the neck of each bulb exposed. Plants appreciate even moisture
in St. Louis, harsh winters may greatly diminish 'flower' hardiness, thus preventing the bulbs from flowering the following summer. Lycoris radiata has thrived outdoors at the Missouri Botanical Garden Bulb Garden (USDA Zone 6a), and the culture recommendations set out herein follow
during their growing season, but may be best sited in areas where soils remain relatively dry during the summer dormant season. Plants will naturalize by bulb-offsets and form small colonies over time. Plants are best left undisturbed in the soil. Plants have naturalized in several states in the southeastern U. S. In St. Louis, bulbs should be planted in a sheltered location to prevent winter freezing of their foliage which emerges in fall and remains evergreen throughout winter before dying back in late spring. Although completely 'bulb' hardy
the procedures currently in use at the Garden. It should be noted that standard Lycoris culture requires that bulb necks be above ground level for floral bud development in the bulb, so burying the bulbs below ground level will discourage flowering. Pot culture also has problems unless the containers are unusually large and deep so that the bulbs can establish deep and extensive root systems. If containers are too small, plants may suffer from failure-to-thrive syndrome and fail to flower.
10 Blossom season
1-2 feet R
ed spider lily is a late summer-blooming bulb of the amaryllis family. Strap-like grayish-green leaves appear in fall only after bloom is finished. Leaves overwinter and remain in the landscape before eventually disappearing in late spring. Naked flower scapes emerge from the ground in late summer to early fall, each bearing an umbel of 4-6 showy coral-red flowers. Each flower (to 2� long) has significantly reflexed tepals and exceptionally long stamens resembling spider legs, hence the common name. Scapes typically rise to 1-2’ tall. Leaves reappear in fall after the flowers bloom. Plants of this species have a short flower tube
resulting in the sometimes-used common name of short tube lycoris. Plants are also sometimes commonly called hurricane lily, especially in Florida, because the flowers bloom in hurricane season. Plants in the genus Lycoris are sometimes commonly called resurrection flower, surprise lily, magic lily or naked ladies because the leaves disappear in summer with the flower spikes seemingly rising from the dead in late summer. Genus name comes for the name of the Roman mistress of Marc Antony. Specific epithet from Latin means "spoke" in reference to the spreading flower tepals.
Blossom season 11
Convallaria Majalis
5
More than flowers on the stem apex
C
onvallaria majalis is a herbaceous perennial plant that forms extensive colonies by spreading underground stems called rhizomes. New upright shoots are formed at the ends of stolons in summer, these upright dormant stems are often called pips. These grow in the spring into new leafy shoots that still remain connected to the other shoots under ground, often forming extensive colonies. The stems grow to 15–30 cm tall, with one or two leaves 10–25 cm long, flowering stems have two leaves and a raceme of 5–15 flowers on the stem apex. The flowers are white tepals (rarely pink), bell-shaped, 5–10 mm diameter, and sweetly scented; flowering is in late spring, in mild winters in the Northern Hemisphere it is in early March. The fruit is a small orange-red berry 5–7 mm diameter that contains a few large whitish to brownish colored seeds that dry to a clear translucent round bead 1–3 mm wide. Plants are self-sterile, and colonies consisting of a single clone do not set seed.
12 Blossom season
Blossom season 13
Rose Some old-timers recommend placing a
14 Blossom season
4
-inch square of gypsum wallboard
Roses prefer a near-neutral pH range of 5.5–7.0. A pH of 6.5 is just about right for most home gardens (slightly acidic to neutral). An accurate soil test will tell you where your pH currently stands. Acidic (sour) soil is counteracted by applying finely ground limestone, and alkaline (sweet) soil is treated with ground sulfur. Before you plant, be sure that you choose varieties proven in your climate. When in doubt, All-America Rose Selections winners are good bets. Or check with your local nursery. Plant roses where they will receive a minimum of 5 to 6 hours of full sun per day. Roses grown in weak sun may not die at once, but they weaken gradually. Give them plenty of organic matter when planting and don’t crowd them.
Roses can be cut back and moved in either spring or fall, but not in midsummer, as they might suffer and die in the heat. Large rose canes can be cut back by as much as two thirds, and smaller ones to within 6 to 12 inches of the ground. When you transplant your roses, be sure to dig a much bigger hole than you think you need (for most types, the planting hole should be about 15 to 18 inches wide) and add plenty of organic matter such as compost or aged manure. Some old-timers recommend placing a 4-inch square of gypsum wallboard and a 16-penny nail in the hole to provide calcium and iron, both appreciated by roses.
Wear sturdy gloves to protect your hands from prickly thorns. Have a hose or bucket of water and all your planting tools nearby. Keep your bare-root rose in water until you are ready to place it in the ground. Blossom season 15
Grow in average, dry to medium, welldrained, alkaline soil in full sun. English lavender can be difficult to grow in the St. Louis area, primarily because of winter stresses and high summer humidity. Welldrained soils are required, particularly in winter. Root rot commonly attacks plants grown in poorly drained soils. Prefers a light, sandy soil with somewhat low fertility. Remove faded flowers to promote continued bloom. Prune to shape in spring after new leaves appear. Prune back to 8” in spring every 3 years to control plant size and to promote robust, new growth. High summer humidity in the St. Louis
16 Blossom season
area is not appreciated. To combat high humidity, consider using rock instead of organic mulch. English lavender has slightly better winter hardiness than lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) for the St. Louis area, but still may appreciate a sheltered location and winter protection. Lavandula angustifolia, commonly called English lavender, has been a mainstay of herb gardens for many years. Despite its common name, it is not in fact native to England, but comes primarily from the Mediterranean region. It was reportedly named English lavender because of its ability to grow well in the English climate.
This “true lavender” is commercially planted for harvesting its oils for use in perfumes. Lavender flowers and foliage are also popular additions to sachets and potpourris. English lavender varieties are more often used for culinary purposes than other types of lavender. This is a semi-woody plant that typically grows to 1.5-3’. Narrow, gray-green leaves (to 2 1/2” long) on square stems. Purple flowers appear in terminal spikes in late spring to early summer. Both foliage and flowers are highly aromatic. Leaves are evergreen in warm winter climates.
Lavender
8�
Prune back to in spring every 3 years
Blossom season 17
1 18 Blossom season
Epiphyllum night only
Epiphyllum "upon the leaf " in Greek) is a genus of 19 species of epiphytic plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), native to Central America. Common names for these species include climbing cacti, orchid cacti and leaf cacti, though the latter also refers to the genus Pereskia. The stems are broad and flat, 1–5 cm broad, 3–5 mm thick, usually with lobed edges. The flowers are large, 8–16 cm diameter, white to red, with numerous petals. The fruit is edible, very similar to the pitaya fruit from the closely related genus Hylocereus, though not so large, being only 3–4 cm long. The broad-leaved epiphyllum (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) is particularly well-known. It bears large, strongly fragrant flowers that bloom for a single night only. Epiphyllum species are added to some versions of the hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca. The plants known as epiphyllum hybrids, epiphyllums or just epis, which are widely grown for their flowers, are artificial hybrids of species within the tribe Hylocereeae, particularly species of Disocactus, Pseudorhipsalis and Selenicereus. In spite of the common name, Epiphyllum species are less often involved.
Blossom season 19
W
isteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria) is a woody, deciduous, perennial climbing vine in the genus Wisteria, native to China in the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Yunnan. While this plant is a climbing vine, it can be trained into a tree-like shape, usually with a wavy trunk and a flattened top. It can grow 20–30 m long over supporting trees by counterclockwise-twining stems. The leaves are shiny, green, pinnately compound, 10–30 cm in length, with 9-13 oblong leaflets that are each 2–6 cm long. The flowers are white, violet, or blue, produced on 15–20 cm racemes in spring, usually reaching their peak in mid-May in the northern hemisphere. The flowers on each raceme open simultaneously before the foliage has expanded, and have a distinctive fragrance similar to that of grapes. Though it has shorter racemes than Wisteria floribunda (Japanese wisteria), it often has a higher quantity of racemes. The fruit is a flattened, brown, velvety, bean-like pod 5–10 cm long with thick disklike seeds around 1 cm in diameter spaced evenly inside; they mature in summer and crack and twist
20 Blossom season
open to release the seeds; the empty pods often persist until winter. However seed production is often low, and most regenerative growth occurs through layering and suckering. It is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9, and prefers moist soils. It is considered shade tolerant, but will flower only when exposed to partial or full sun. It will also flower only after passing from juvenile to adult stage, a transition that may take up to 20 years. It can live for over a hundred years. All parts of the plant contain a glycoside called wisterin which is toxic if ingested and may cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, and diarrhea. Wisterias have caused poisoning in children of many countries, producing mild to severe gastroenteritis. It was introduced from China to Europe and North America in 1816 and has secured a place as one of the most popular flowering vines for home gardens due to its flowering habit. It has however become an invasive species in some areas of the eastern United States where the climate closely matches that of China.
20
It will also flower only after passing from juvenile to adult stage, a transition that may take up to
years.
Wisteria Sinensis Blossom season 21
Index
appreciates 4 apricots 4 alternately 8 accordance 8 alkaline 15, 16 blooming 7, 11 brownish 12 climate 4, 15, 16, 20 common 4, 11, 16, 19 deep 4 diameter 6, 7 especially 11 float 7 gypsum 15
horizontal 7 herbaceous 12 hylocereus 19 gastoenteritis 20 Mediterranean 16 notewoethy 4 normally 7 perennial 12 recommendarions 10 summer 4, 10, 11 temperatures 4, 7 winter 4, 10, 12, 16, 18 wallboard 15 zone 4, 7, 8, 10, 20