My Favorite Plants

Malus floribunda (Japanese flowering crab apple)

 

Pronunciation: MAY-lus flore-ih-BUN-duh

Family: Rosaceae

Plant type: Deciduous Tree

Origin: Japan

Zone: 4

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Mature size

  Height: 7-10 m

  Spread: 7- 10 m 

Habit: spreading

Form: oval horizontal

Texture: medium

Exposure - full to part sun

Preferred soil - acidic well drained

Landscape uses - specimen plant, spring interest, fall interest, food, fragrance

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Leaves

Arrangement: simple alternate

Shape: elliptic, ovate

Size: 4-6 cm x 1-1.5 cm

Margin: serrate

Characteristics: sometimes slightly lobed, pinnate venation, soft flexible, acute, crunate

Colour: green 

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: floriferous

Colour: warm colors

Size: 1.5 - 2.5 cm 

Time: may

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Fruit type: pomme 

Colour: yellow, orange, red 

Time: August September 

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Stem

Description: silver smooth bark

Colour: grey brown

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Propagation - seed, cuttings, grafting

Comments - fruit can be used to make jelly's and pectin 

Pests -  fungal leaf spot, mites rust, scale

Chaenomeles speciosa (Flowering Quince)

 

Pronunciation: kee-NOM-uh-leez spee-see-OH-suh

Family: Rosaceae

Plant type: deciduous shrub

Origin: SE Asia, Japan, China 

Zone: 5

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Mature size

  Height: 2-3 m

  Spread: 2-4 m

Habit: dense, spreading, twiggy upright

Form: oval, horizontal 

Texture: medium

Exposure - full sun (for fruit)

Preferred soil - well drained

Landscape uses - erosion control, dryland, rock garden, mixed borders, urban agriculture

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Leaves

Arrangement: simple alternate

Shape: ovate

Size: 1.5 - 3 inches long, stipule is half the size

Margin: serrulate

Characteristics: glabrous lustrus

Colour: reddish new growth to green

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: cyme

Colour: red orange 

Size: 3-4 cm

Time: March 

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Fruit type: pome (2 inches)

Colour: yellow red green

Time: September - November

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Stem

Description: smooth, multi stemmed trunk

Colour: brown

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Propagation - softwood cuttings, seed

Comments - fruit is delicious Membrillo Paste recipe
- cut back to 6 inches in winter/fall to promote new spring growth
- has thorns

Pests - rust, scale, apple pest

Vitis vinifera hybrids and cvs.

Pronunciation: VYE-tiss vin-ih-LIFF-ur-uh

Family: Vitaceae

Plant type: Vine, climber

Origin: Europe, garden

Zone: 5

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Mature size

  Height: 2-3 m

  Spread: 3-4 m

Habit: Pendulous, spreading

Form: climbing

Texture: coarse

Exposure - full sun, part sun

Preferred soil - humus rich, well drained

Landscape uses - espalier, urban agriculture, wildlife food, vineyards 

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Leaves

Arrangement: lobed, simple, alternate 

Shape: orbicular, cordate base

Size: 3-5 inches 

Margin: dentate, palmately lobed

Characteristics: palmate venation, soft flexible 

Colour: light green

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: floriferous, pannicle 

Colour: not showy , green

Size: 3 cm x 6 cm clusters

Time: June July

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Stem

Colour: brown, chocolate cured 

Description: exfoliating

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Fruit type: berry

Colour: green, black, purple, red, maroon 

Time: August to October 

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Propagation - softwood, hardwood cuttings

Comments - How to care for grapes

Pests - mold, scale, mites

Echinops bannaticus (Globe Thistle)

 

Pronunciation: eh-KYE-nops ban-nah-TEE-kus

Family: Asteraceae 

Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial, Cut Flower

Zone: 2

Origin: Europe

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Mature size

  Height: .7-1.3 m

  Spread: .3-.6 m

Habit: Stiffly upright

Form: oval vertical 

Texture: medium coarse

Exposure - full sun

Preferred soil - rocky, gravelly, dry, well drained

Landscape uses - specimen plant, perennial boarder, rock garden, attract butterflies, cut flower, fall, winter interest 

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Leaves

Arrangement: Alternate

Shape: elliptic, ovate 

Size: 10-20 cm

Margin: pectinate 

Characteristics: glandular hairs, tomentose, 

Colour: blueish 

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: floriferous head, capitulum 

Colour: Blueish purple

Size: 10-18 cm

Time: July - August

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Stem

Colour: green brown

Description: spines, stiffly upright

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Fruit type: achene + calyx 

Colour: brown black

Time: September, October

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Propagation - separation, seed

Comments - medicinal facts

 - Aid and Plague for Gardeners

Pests - aphids, adelgids 

Echinacea purpurea (Cone Flower, Echinacea)

Janette Williams

Pronunciation: eck-ih-NAY-see-uh pur-PUR-ee-uh

Family: Asteraceae

Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial

Zone: 3

Origin: US Northeast 

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Mature size

  Height: .7-1.3m

  Spread: .6-1 m

Habit: spreading

Texture: medium

Form: mounded

Exposure - full sun

Preferred soil - Well drained

Landscape uses - accent plant

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Leaves

Arrangement: simple, alternate, basal

Shape: lanceolate, ovate

Size: 2-9 cm

Margin: dentate, serrate

Characteristics: pubescent, pinnate venation, soft flexible, granular hairs, tomentose, 

Colour: blueish green, black speckling

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: floriferous, capitulum, head

Colour: violet orange, purple pink

Size: 6-10 cm

Time: July-September

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Stem

Colour: green

Description: strong stiffly upright

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Fruit type: Achene 

Colour: Black

Time: September, October 

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Propagation - separation 

Comments - Can use medicinally in tea Echinacea Medicinal Facts

Pests - pest and disease resistant 

Monarda didyma (Bergamot, Bee Balm, Monarda)

Pronunciation: muh-NAR-duh DID-ih-muh 

Family: Lamiaceae

Plant type: herbaceous perennial 

Zone: 3

Origin: Canada - US

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Mature size

  Height: .7-1.3 m

  Spread: .3-.6

Form: oval, vertical

Texture: medium

Habit: arching, upright vertical, dense, spreading

Exposure - full sun to part sun

Preferred soil - Wet marshy soils

Landscape uses - attracts hummingbirds, bugs, bees, pollinators, waterside planting, marshy, cut flowers, dried flowers, fragrant, perennials, mixed borders

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Leaves

Arrangement: simple opposite 

Shape: ovate

Size:3-12 cm

Margin: serrate 

Characteristics: cordate, acute, heavily veined, glabrous, pubescent 

Colour:

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Flowers

Inflorescence type:  verticillaster 

Colour: red

Size: 6-10 cm

Time: July - September

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Stem

Colour: green

Description: square stem 

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Fruit type: nut

Colour: brown

Time: September, October

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Propagation - seed, rhizome division, dig up and divide every three years and toss the center

Comments - natural antiseptic, used for mouthwash, bergamot used in earl grey tea 

 - dead head to encourage blooms 

 - in fall cut a few inches above ground

Pests - mildew, needs good air circulation 

Viola x wittrockiana (Pansy)

Pronunciation: VYE-oh-luh x wit-rok-ee-AH-na

 

Family: Violaceae

Plant type: Biennial

Zone: 7

Origin: Garden Origin 

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Mature size

  Height: 20-40 cm

  Spread: 30-60 cm

Form: mounded

Texture: medium

Habit: stiffly upright

Exposure - full sun

Preferred soil - acidic, well drained

Landscape uses - bedding plant, cut flower, winter interest

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Leaves

Arrangement: simple alternate, basal

Shape: elliptic, lanceolate, ovate

Size: 4-6 cm

Margin: Crenate

Characteristics: Soft flexible, glabrous, lustrous, rounded, obtuse

Colour: green

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: solitary

Colour: showy, white, violet, blue, yellow, orange

Size: 3.5- 5 cm

Time: Jan-June

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Fruit type: capsule

Colour: brown

Time: June-August

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Propagation seed

Comments medium maintenance, moderate water use, moderate growth rate

Pests, aphids

Sepervivum tectorum (Hens and Chicks) 

Pronunciation: sem-pur-VYE-vum teck-TORE-um

 

Family: Crassulaceae 

Plant type: evergreen succulent, ground cover

Zone: 4 

Origin: Mountains S of Europe 

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Mature size

  Height: 10-20 cm

  Spread: 30-60 cm

Form: mounded

Texture: medium

Habit: spreading 

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Leaves

Arrangement: whorled, simple

Shape: obovate (egg shaped)

Size: 2cm wide x 4-5 cm length 

Margin: entire

Characteristics: pubescent

Colour: various greens, purples, silvers

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: cyme

Colour: showy, pink, purple, red

Size: cluster = 10-12 cm

Time: summer to late fall

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Stem

Colour: leaf color

Description: basal

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Fruit type: 

Colour: brown

Time: September October

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Exposure - full sun

Preferred soil - rocky gravelly dry, anywhere, extremely drought tolerant 

Landscape uses - potted plants, green walls, garden space, replace lawn, green roofs, rock garden 

Propagation - division   

Comments - sempervivum - derives from ever green 

- romans used this as a "Love Medicine" to make someone fall in love with you 

Pests - pest resistant 

Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo)

Pronunciation: nan-DYE-nuh doe-MESS-tih-kuh

Family: Berberidaceae

Plant type: Broadleaf evergreen

Zone: 7

Origin: Asia

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Mature size

  Height: > 2 m

  Spread: 1-1.5 m

Form: oval- vertical

Texture: medium fine

Habit: stiffly upright, twiggy

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Leaves

Arrangement: compound, alternate

Shape: elliptic, lanceolate

Size: 4.8-6.2 cm

Margin: entire

Characteristics: leathery, glabrous, tripinnate, attenuate, cuneate, acuminate

Colour: bluish, green in summer, green red in fall

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: floriferous, panicle

Colour: showy, white

Size: 0.4-1.2 cm

Time: September, October, November

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Stem

Colour: grey, green, red, tan

Description: moderately fissured

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Fruit type: berry

Colour: red

Time: persistent November - December

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Exposure - part shade, part sun

Preferred soil - well drained

Landscape uses - containers, cut flowers, mass planting or group, interest all year round

Propagation - Ryzomes, layering by seed

Comments - demesticated, used in gardens
- beautiful red accent near houses
- would use near front steps or wrap around of house

Pests - fungal leaf spot, root rot, virus, wilt

Ceanothus gloriosus 'Point Reyes' (Point Reyes Creeper)

Pronunciation: see-uh-NOE-thus glore-ee-OH-sus

Family: Rhamnuaceae

Plant type: Broadleaf evergreen

Zone: 7

Origin: US Southwest

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Mature size

  Height: 20-40 cm

  Spread: 1.5-2 m

Form: Creeping/mat-like

Texture: Medium-Fine

Habit: Horizontal, spreading

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Leaves

Arrangement: simple opposite

Shape: Oblong

Size: 0.6-5.4 cm long x 0.9-2.6 cm wide

Margin: serrate

Characteristics: heavily veined, leathery, pinnate venation, blabrous, pubescent, obcordate or retuse, rounded

Colour: dark-green year round

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: floriferous cyme

Colour: showy, violet, blue, purple

Size: 5-6 mm

Time: June

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Stem

Colour: purple, brown

Description: herbaceous, stemmy 

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Fruit type: capsule

Colour: brown

Time: August, September

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Exposure - full sun

Preferred soil - rocky gravelly, dry, well drained

Landscape uses - alpine, attract beneficial insects, container planting, dryland, ground cover, rock garden, spring interest

Propagation - seed, cuttings, layering, division

Comments - trailing ground cover, modified runners/stolons, fragrant,

Pests - dieback, fungal leaf spot, root rot, scale insects

Forsythiaz intermedia (Forsythia)

Pronunciation: for-SYE-thee-uh ex in-tur-MEE-dee-uh

http://www.photos-public-domain.com

Family: Oleaceae

Plant type: Deciduous shrub, flowering cut plant

Zone: 6

Origin: Garden Origin 

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Mature size

  Height: 2-3 m

  Spread: 3-4 m

Form: irregular, vase

Texture: medium fine

Habit: arching, stiffly - upright

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Leaves

Arrangement: simple, opposite

Shape: lanceolate, ovate

Size: 11-13 cm

Margin: serrate

Characteristics: glaborous, soft flexible, pinnate venation 

Colour: green

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: floriferous, solitary flower

Colour: yellow, showy

Size: 1.5-1.8 cm

Time: March, April

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Stem

Colour: brown

Description: prominent lenticels, multi-stemmed

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Fruit type: capsule

Colour: brown

Time: September, October

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Exposure - filtered shade, full sun

Preferred soil - well drained

Landscape uses - mixed shrub boarder, tall background, sheered hedge

Propagation - greenwood cuttings, softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings, layering

Comments - needs frequent pruning, superposed leaf bud, one of the most noticeable spring flowering plant

Pests - die back, fungal leaf spots, galls, nematodes, root rot and virus

 

Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter Flowering Jasmine)

Pronunciation: JAZZ-mih-num noo-dih-FLORE-um

Family: Oleaceae

Plant type: Shrub - Deciduous, Vine or Climber

Zone: 6

Origin: China

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Mature size

  Height:2-3 m

  Spread: 2-3 m

Form: Irregular

Texture: fine

Habit: Arching

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Leaves

Arrangement: Compound, Opposite

Shape: Oblong, orbicular, ovate

Size: 2.2-3.1 cm

Margin: Serrulate

Characteristics: Palmate venations, Tomentose, Trifoliate (ternate), Acute, rounded, upper leaf surface and margins with rough texture

Colour: green in summer, yellow in fall 

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: Floriferous, flowers solitary

Colour: yellow, fragrant 

Size: 3-3.4 cm

Time: January, February

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Stem

Colour: olive

Description: smooth

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Fruit type: insignificant

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Exposure - full sun, part sun/shade

Preferred soil - well drained

Landscape uses - arbors or trellis, erosion control, spring interest, winter interest

Propagation - cuttings, layering

Comments - prune after flowering and heavily every 3-4 years

 - "A palatable syrup can be made from the flowers of many Jasminum species. It is an excellent medicine in coughs, hoarsenesses and other disorders of the breast. An infusion of five or six ounces of the flowers picked clean from the leaves, in a quart of boiling water, being strained off and boiled in a syrup, with the addition of a sufficient quantity of honey."

- Create a simple syrup from the flowers of the winter jasmine and try a Strawberry and Jasmine Coctail

Pests - fungal leaf spot, rootrot, scale insects, virus

Lithodora diffusa 'Grace Ward' (Blue Lithospermum)

Pronunciation: lith-oh-DOR-uh dy-FEW-sa

Family: boraginaceae

Plant type: broadleaf evergreen, ground cover

Zone: 5

Origin: Europe, garden origin

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Mature size

  Height: 20-40 cm

  Spread: 1.5-2 m

Form: creeping mat like, weeping

Texture: fine

Habit: spreading, twiggy 

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Leaves

Arrangement: simple, alternate

Shape: elliptic, linear, oblong

Size: 0.8-1.6 cm

Margin: entire

Characteristics: leathery, pubescent, obtuse, rounded, truncate

Colour: dark green

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Flowers

Inflorescence type: floriferous, cume

Colour: showy, blue violet 

Size: five petals, 1.5 - 1.8 cm

Time: April, May, June, July, August

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Stem

Colour: green, brown

Description: herbaceous and shrubby material

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Fruit type: nut, insignificant 

Colour: brown

Time: July, August 

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Exposure - full sun, part sun, part shade

Preferred soil - acidic, well drained

Landscape uses - alpine, container planting, erosion control, ground cover, perennial border, shrub border, small garden space, spring interest

Propagation - seed, softwood cuttings

Comments - low maintenance and low water

Pests - disease resistance, mites