Bergenia
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday December 6, 2009
Common name: Bergenia
Light: Full sun
Height: 10-12 in.
Spread: 15 in.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4
Origin: Siberia, Mongolia
There are 8 species of Bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia). These are rhizomatous herbaceous perennials that grow in a rosette having leathery oblong leaves. These incredibly hardy and easy to grow perennials are a low spreading and ideal for mass plantings or along a walkway. Bergenia ‘Pink Dragonfly’ (pictured) have narrower leaves than most bergenias, which turn tones of dark red or purple in late fall and early winter adding winter interest. In mid spring, tall stems of nodding coral pink flowers appear. This rabbit and deer resistant plant will tolerate shade and do well in woodland gardens. There are many varieties available on the market, including ‘Eroica’ having dark pink long lasting flowers and ‘Winter Glow’with attractive cabbage-like foliage. Bergenia ‘Pink Dragonfly’ adds winter interest to the Fragrance Garden in the Community Garden Campus at Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
Banana
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday December 13, 2009
Common name: Banana
Light: Full sun
Height: 15-18 ft.
Spread: 12-15 ft.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 10
Origin: Tropical Africa, Indo-Malaysia, N. Australia
Forty species of bananas (Musa nana) are included in the genus. Bananas are large growing tropical herbaceous perennials that lack bark, which classifies them as plants and not trees. After 10 to 15 months of vegetative growth, a pendulous flower spikes grows from the terminal. Each day a bract (modified leaf) will lift upwards to reveal a cluster of flowers. The first few rows are female flowers, which will produce fruit. The middle and end section of the spike contains sterile and male flowers, which result in the shedding of them. After flowering, that portion of the plant will eventually die and is regenerated by offsets, which grow from the base of the “parent” plant. Bananas are relatively common to grow in temperate climates. They can be planted directly in the ground during the summer and will grow rapidly with copious amounts of water. They may be cut down above soil level before frost and stored dry indoors during the winter
and replanted after all danger of frost. Many varieties are available on the market, including dwarf varieties. Bananas fruit throughout the year in the South Conservatory at Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
Tapeworm plant
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday December 20, 2009
Common name: Tapeworm plant
Light: Part shade
Height: 3ft.
Spread: 2ft.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 10
Origin: Solomon Islands
The Tapeworm plant (Homalocladium platycladum) is the only plant in this genus. This tropical shrub gets its attention from its unique flattened and jointed stems. This plant is a prime example of a cladode, a plant having flattened stems that resemble leaves. The small pointed leaves are very short-lived and grow on new stems. Some new stems are more rounded and sturdy which will support side branches. In late fall and winter, the
Tapeworm plant will produce clusters of small greenish flowers at the joints and may be followed by red berries. This plant is often seen growing in conservatory plantings, as it prefers humidity above 50 percent. When growing in the home, tip dieback often occurs in the winter when the air is much drier. They prefer a well-drained moisture-retentive soil and although they like evenly moist soil, they can take some periods of drought. A
specimen Tapeworm plant is located near Annie’s Koi Pond in the South Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
Eastern cape blue cycad
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday December 27, 2009
Common name: Eastern cape blue cycad
Height: 36-48 in.
Spread: 4-6 ft.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 9
Origin: South Africa
Twenty-five species are included in the genus encephalartos. This plant reproduces by means of seed that are formed within a cone. Cycads existed before flowering plants and coexisted with ferns and other lesser-developed plants such as mosses and lichens. The unique Eastern cape blue cycad (Encephalartos horridus) is easily recognized by its blue-green arching stems that emerge from an exposed trunk which are heavily armed with sharply pointed leaflets. Cycads reproduce my means of cones, much like that of evergreens. The Eastern cape blue cycad produces both male and female cones on the same plant, unlike many species that are considered either male or female. Birds and some mammals will eat the fleshy skin surrounding the toxic seed and drop it, which allows for seed distribution. This species has been over collected in their native range and is classified as “vulnerable”. Specialty plant nurseries have produced this plant from seed as an alternative for collectors to obtain such a plant that could eventually become extinct in the wild. An Eastern cape blue cycad specimen is located in the North Conservatory at Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
