6 minute read
Big and Small
BIG & small
By Abby Lapides
YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR NATIVE BEAUTY
Hydrangea ‘Firelight Tidbit’
Just like the standard and the teacup poodle, we like some of our plants big and we like some of them small. Explore these beauties that come in contrasting sizes. With its whopping 7” diameter flowers ‘Betsy’ Shasta daisy’s flowers are the largest of all daisies! White petals surround sunny yellow centers on plants that reach up to 2’ tall. While ‘Betsy’ stuns with its mammoth flowers and form, ‘Carpet Angel Daisy’ wows but on a smaller scale. The first-ever ground cover Shasta daisy, ‘Carpet Angel Daisy’ grows only 8” tall, but can spread almost to 2’. Adorable white pom-pom flowers top this tiny plant in summer.
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The Genus Thalictrum is home to many interesting and underutilized plants. The completely adorable Missouri native rue anemone, Thalictrum thalicroides grows about 6-8” tall and wide and forms into a small sweet thicket under trees. On the opposite spectrum, Giant Meadow Rue, Thalictrum rochebrunianum, can grow upwards of 6-7’ tall. In summer masses of small purple flowers top this tall plant, looking like a purple cloud. Cousin to columbine, Thalictrum’s frilly delicate leaves thrive in welldrained soils and part shade. Offering big color for shade the ruby red plumes on ‘Mighty Chocolate Cherry’ Astilbe make a bold statement. Growing almost 4’ tall, ‘Mighty Chocolate Cherry’ is one of the tallest astilbes in the world! Lacy olive green leaves form into tight clumps under the giant plumes. If you’re looking for a more petite display, ‘Pumila’ is a perfect astilbe for the front of the shade garden growing only 10” tall when in bloom. Slowly forming colonies via rhizomes the foliage on ‘Pumila’ grows into a dense weed-smothering
Giant Meadow Rue
Rue Anemone
Astilbe ‘Mighty Chocolate Cherry’
cont’d on next page
Abby Lapides is owner and a speaker at Sugar Creek Gardens Nursery. She has degrees from the University of Missouri, and is a member of the Landscape and Nursery Association of Greater St. Louis. You can reach her at (314) 965-3070.
the trailblazer
REBECCA HANKINS
You cannot love what you cannot name” is a motto that Rebecca Hankins follows on her journey to a deeper understanding of environmental and social justice issues. In learning names of plants, and subsequently issues facing our industry, Hankins’ passion grew.
How would you describe your experiential journey into the plant world?
I worked for an outdoor recreation company for 16 years. Still, reading The Last Child in the Woods shook me out of my sense of complacency, and left me with a sense of urgency.
Is there a project that defines or describes you?
The Social Justice in Horticulture Conference last March. About nine months prior I had begun having conversations with alumni of the Horticulture Program at STLCC Meramec about the lack of diversity in horticulture, which led to us forming the Coalition for Equity and Inclusion in Horticulture. Other professionals in the industry felt the same way and were supportive. At the time, I was President of the Botanical Society on campus. With sponsorship from the Earthways Center — the Shaw Series, USGBC, and other local organizations — we hosted the well-attended conference. I’m grateful to the program for creating such a welcoming and supportive environment for such a huge undertaking.
Where do you find yourself now?
I’ve started a position as Partnership Coordinator at Forest ReLeaf. This position is brand new and seeks to build diverse partnerships within the region as we plant trees and enrich communities. Honestly, I feel like everything I have done the last three years has been leading to this moment. I’m so excited to see where it leads me personally, the organization and the region in terms of environmental justice.
Where do you look for balance on difficult days?
My backyard. Do you notice how nature never looks cluttered? Not ever?
Life theme song?
“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. It’s what we’re each striving for, enjoying this beautiful world.
A comparison of Shasta daisy ‘Betsy’ in the background, and ‘Carpet Angel Daisy’ in the foreground.
mat. Named after the one of the largest animals on the planet and one of the smallest, the hostas ‘Humpback Whale’ and ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ both feature thick blue-green leaves and thrive in the shade garden. That’s about where their similarities end. ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ forms into a dense groundcover of rounded leaves with purple flowers in the summer on small scapes. Growing 8” and 12” wide ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ thrives in the front of the garden or tucked between rocks. ‘Humpback Whale,’ on the other hand, can spread up to 8’ in diameter and its massive corrugated leaves dwarf most other plants in the garden. Beebalms are some of the most sought-after and delightful flowering perennials. Their charming firework-like flowers attract many butterflies and hummingbirds. The flaming red flowers on ‘Jacob Klein’ are a long-time favorite. But ‘Jacob Klein’ can become a little unwieldy in the garden. Not only is it tall, growing 3-4’ tall, it can sometimes bully out other plants as well. Recently smaller and much better behaved varieties have been introduced, and ‘Cherry Pops’ takes the cake. Growing only 20” tall and about the same width, this well-contained beauty fits well into any mixed garden. A personal favorite ‘Zinfin Doll’ panicle hydrangea features plump cones that change from bright white to cherry pink. This large shrub, growing about 5-6’ tall and wide, is a perfect backdrop plant for the garden. Packing the same punches of flower power but in a teeny package is ‘Firelight Tidbit’. Growing only about 3’ tall and wide, it easily fits in the garden or a container. Panicle hydrangeas are versatile showy shrubs perfect for hedges, focal points, cutting gardens and privacy walls. When designing a garden it is always recommended to repeat colors and textures throughout. Using similar plants but with different sizes is an easy way to get the job done.
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Photo credits: Hydrangea ‘Firelight Tidbit’ courtesy Proven Winners; Astilbe ‘Mighty Chocolate Cherry’ courtesy De Vroomen Garden Products; Leucanthemum ‘Carpet Angel’ Daisy courtesy Growing Colors; all others by Ann Lapides.
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