Giant saguaro
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday March 7, 2010
Light: Full sun
Height: 30 ft.
Spread 6-8 ft.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 9
Origin: SW US, N Mexico
The Giant saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) grows on rocky slopes and flat lands of the Sonoran Desert. They begin their life growing under a “nurse plant”, a shrub that provides shade while young. This slow growing cactus grows approximately an inch per year and begins growing “arms” or side branches after 75 years. Flowering occurs in April and May. Each flower opens at dusk and closes by noon the following day. Their chief pollinator is the Lesser long-nosed bat. After pollination, fruits are produced containing up to 2,000 seeds. Native Americans used the flesh, seeds and pulp for food. Flickers create new holes in the upper stem for nesting each year. Other bird species, such as the Elf owl, use these existing holes for nesting. The Giant saguaro flower is the state flower of Arizona. Law protects them and special permits must be had if land development will affect them. A Giant saguaro specimen is located in the Desert biome at Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
Golden pothos
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday March 14, 2010
Common name: Golden pothos
Light: Part sun
Height: 6-8 in.
Spread: 6 ft.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 10
Origin: Solomon Islands
Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of eight species included in the genus. This common houseplant is often referred to as philodendron. Although it is in the same family as philodendron (araceae) it is not in the same genus. This is one of the few plants that have both juvenile and adult leaf stages. When young, or grown as a houseplant, the heart-shaped leaves remain small and continue to scramble horizontally. In it’s native habitat or in a conservatory, the plant begins to climb upwards on structures such as trees or rocks. As the plant climbs, the leaves begin to grow larger (18-24 inches across) and begin to split. In Latin, epipremnum translates to “upon trunk”. ‘Marble Queen’ is the most common variety having dark green leaves heavily marbled with creamy white and if often used in interiorscapes. Like other plants in this family, Golden pothos contains calcium oxalate crystals and is listed as toxic to cats and dogs and should be kept out of reach of young children. Golden pothos is naturalized in the South Conservatory at Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
False aralia
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday March 21, 2010
Common name: False aralia
Light: Part shade
Height: 6-8 ft.
Spread: 2-3 ft.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 10
Origin: New Caledonia
The False aralia (Schefflera elegantissima) was formerly in the genus dizygotheca and is sometimes referred to its prior genus name in the horticulture trade. Their dark purplish-green fine textured leaves are commonly seen in foliage dish gardens as seedlings. Larger plants are readily available as floor plants. False aralias rarely branch so many individual plants are grown in the same pot for a bushier affect. Older specimens develop larger trunks and adult leaves, which are longer, much wider and leathery. They prefer higher humidity than most houseplants and will shed leaves if kept too wet, dry and sometimes when moved from one location to another. They also resent cool temperatures. Both juvenile and adult False aralias are located in the South Conservatory at Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
Dutch crocus
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday March 28, 2010
Common name: Dutch crocus
Light: Full sun
Height: 3-5 in.
Spread: 1-2 in.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4
Origin: E. Europe
The Dutch crocus (Crocus vernus) is one of the earliest spring flowering bulbs often emerging through the snow mid to late March, following Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis). Their brightly colored blooms are white, lilac or purple and white striped. Although often called “bulbs”, they grow from a food-storing structure called a corm. During the growing cycle, the plant “saps” all energy from the corm that becomes very small and grows a “new” corm to produce next years flower. Dutch crocus are planted in the fall and are very effective when naturalized in sunny woodland gardens, near sidewalks or scattered in clumps throughout the lawn. Saffron spice is derived from the stigma of the fall-flowering Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus). Thousands of flowers are used to produce one ounce! Dutch crocus are naturalized in the lawn in the Pollinator’s Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
