Franklin Park Conservatory John F. Wolfe Palm House Franklin Park Conservatory address and Contact information
Links
PAST PLANTS OF THE WEEK Plant of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Plant of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Plant of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Plant of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Past Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Link to Plant of the week from July 2009 Link to Plant of the week from August 2009 Link to Plant of the week June 2009 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Link to Plant of the week from July 2009 Link to Plant of the week June 2009 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Link to Plant of the week June 2009 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Plants of the week February 2009 Link to Plant of the week Link to January 2009 Plants of the week Link to Plants of the week from March 2009 Link to Plants of the week from 2008 Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to Giving Planned Giving Link Link to Endowments Link to Special Programs Link to Tributes & Memorials In-kind Spport Link Link to On-line Donations Link back to Join/Support Community Gardenig Link Link to Garden Workshops Earth Hour Link Exhibitions Link Link to how to become a MemberLink to Membership Benefits Link Link to Member levels Frequently asked Questions Link Link to Donations

May apple
Plant of the week
Photo by Dave Brigner

Sunday May 3, 2009

Common name: May apple

Light: shade

Height: 12-15 in.

Spread: 12 in.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4

Origin: E. North America


The May apple (Podophyllum peltatum) emerges from the ground in April. Their large solitary deeply lobed leaf remains folded until the stem elongates. They are sometimes referred to as the Umbrella plant as when fully expanded they are reminiscent of umbrellas. This perennial native is commonly seen growing in large colonies in woodlands before the trees leaf out. For the first four years from seed, the May apple grows a single leaf from a long vertical root. It’s fifth year the root will begin to grow horizontally into a creeping rhizome and will produce new plants each year. It is also mature enough to flower. The stem will split and produce two leaves. This leaf axil is were the large white nodding cup-shaped flower with bright yellow stamens will develop. When fully ripe (yellow and soft) the fruit can be eaten. All other parts of this plant including the unripened fruit are poisonous. Podophyllum ‘Kaliedoscope’ is a fairly new variety with striking colors and patterns that produce small clusters of red
flowers. May apples are a welcome sign of spring in the Demonstration Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory.

- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory

White redbud
Plant of the week
Photo by Dave Brigner

Sunday May 10, 2009

Common name: White redbud

Light: Part sun

Height: 20-30 ft.

Spread: 25-35 ft.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9

Origin: Eastern North America


The White redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Alba’) is starting to gain more popularity each year as a landscape tree. The more commonly seen native Eastern redbud has dark pink flowers whereas the cultivar “Alba” has white. These trees branch at a young age near the ground causing a low spreading growth habit as the tree matures. The flowers appear in late April and early May and are followed by large attractive heart-shaped leaves which turn yellow in autumn. Two to three inch long flat seedpods last through
the winter. White redbuds are especially attractive when planted in a grouping and under planted with white daffodils, as they bloom simultaneously. Although often seen growing in woodland or shaded areas, they will grow in full sun. They will adapt to different soil types with sufficient drainage. Eastern redbuds came into cultivation in 1811 and were declared the state tree for Oklahoma in 1937. Like other members in this tree’s family (Leguminosae or bean/pea family) they will use nitrogen from the air for nutrients. Mass plantings of White redbuds line the entrance to the Brides Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory.

- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory

Slender deutzia
Plant of the week
Photo by Dave Brigner

Sunday May 17, 2009

Common name: Slender deutzia

Light: Full sun

Height: 2-4 ft.

Spread: 3-4 ft.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4

Origin: Japan


The old-time favorite Slender deutzia (Deutzia gracilis) has been regaining popularity in recent years. This compact deciduous mounding shrub is ideal for foundation or mass plantings as well as the mixed shrub border. The 1-3 inch narrow leaves are medium green and set the backdrop for the numerous mildly fragrant 3-inch clusters of pure white flowers, which appear in early May. These drought-tolerant shrubs prefer a well-drained soil and can pruned after flowering to maintain size and shape. They respond well to extreme pruning for those shrubs that have been left unattended and that are in need of rejuvenation. The cultivated variety ‘Nikko’ or ‘Nana’ are dense and grow to only 2 feet, making them a suitable “groundcover”. This shrub was named after the 18th century botanist, Johann van der Deutz, who collected many plants from Japan and introduced them to the Western World. The name gracilis translates to “graceful”. Slender deutzia is located in the Native Butterfly Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory.

- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory

False indigo
Plant of the week
Photo by Dave Brigner

Sunday May 24, 2009

Common name: False indigo

Light: Full sun

Height: 48-60 in.

Spread: 36 in.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 3

Origin: Cultivated variety


False indigo ‘Twilite Prairie Blues’ is a striking hybrid between Baptisia australis and Baptisia sphaerocarpa, two species that are native to the United States. Jim Ault from the Chicago Botanical Garden is the hybridizer. Unlike the more common blue-flowered False indigo, this variety has coppery-purple flowers with a canary-yellow edge. These long-lasting flowers then fade to violet-purple. In optimum growing conditions and once established, the flower spikes can grow up to 36 inches with over 100 flowers per spike. Flowers are held high over handsome blue-green mounds of foliage. False indigo attracts butterflies and is rabbit and deer resistant. This plant has a long taproot and is best left undisturbed once planted. They prefer well-drained soil and are drought tolerant. If spent flower spikes are left on the plant, attractive seedpods will develop turning black and add winter interest. False indigo ‘Twilite Prairie Blues’ is located at the Entrance Gate Beds at Franklin Park Conservatory.

- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory

Eveline sage
Plant of the week
Photo by Dave Brigner

Sunday May 31, 2009

Common name: Eveline sage

Light: Full sun

Height: 18-20 in.

Spread: 12-18 in.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 3

Origin: Cultivated variety


Salvias, both annual and perennial, have gained much popularity over the years. The Eveline sage (Salvia pratensis ‘Eveline’) is a desirable herbaceous perennial to add to any flower garden. Through the spring and summer, sturdy spikes of two-toned pink and purple claw-shaped flowers will attract butterflies and bees. This plant is rabbit and deer resistant. Dozens of spikes will appear above the attractive gray-green wrinkled and scented leaves, which grow in upright clumps. The Eveline sage is ideal for naturalizing in cottage or woodland gardens, mixed perennial borders or in containers and make good cut or dried flowers. Yarrow, coreopsis and ornamental grasses make excellent companion plants. Once established, this plant is drought tolerant. If the spent spikes are promptly removed, they will send up a second flush of flowers. Clumps can be divided in early spring or fall. Eveline sage is planted in mass in the Entrance Gate Beds at Franklin Park Conservatory.

- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
Franklin Park Conservatory Sponsors: City of Columbus, Franklin County Board of Commissioners, The Columbus Foundation and Scotts Miracle Gro
   
Community Gardenig Link Link to Membership Benefits Link Frequently asked Questions Link Link to Donations Link to ContactsDriving directionsLink to home page Link to home page Link to membership Link to Calendar Link to exhibitions Link to City of Columbus Link to The Columbus Foundation Link to Franklin County Link to Scotts Miracle-Gro