Plant of the Month – Rutgers Gardens

February Plant of the Month: One Hot Flower!

Arum italicum

02/01/2020 by Bruce Crawford

With the chilly temperatures of winter well entrenched in our Gardens, evergreen foliage clearly plays an important role in providing interest at this time of the year. Conifers serve an important role in providing the bones for the garden, but there is still a need for detail plantings as we walk about our walkways and paths. One plant I have enjoyed using over the past 30 years for winter foliage and form, as well as for its “hot” flowers come spring is the Italian Arum, Arum italicum.

cluster of ruffly, pointed light green foliage

Italian Arum is a member of its own family of Araceae—the Arum family—and is native to Southern Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. The genus name was crafted in 1753 by the Swedish Botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) from the Greek word Aron meaning poisonous. Plants within this genus contain calcium oxalates, which when ingested result in the swelling of the throat, tongue and eventually cause difficulty in breathing and even death for children. The species epithet was penned by the English botanist Philip Miller (1691-1771), meaning “of Italy,” giving homage to one of its native regions. The subspecies italicum is the most commonly cultivated form as the foliage has very distinctive and attractive white venation (pictured at right in November).

Typical to the genus, Italian Arum grows from a tuber, with the sagittate or arrow-shaped foliage beginning to emerge in late September or early October and typically remaining attractive until the following June (photo at left was taken on February 10^th). During severe winters, the foliage can scorch if located in an exposed location, but fret not as it will be refreshed with new foliage come spring. The straight species features glossy, deep green foliage or foliage with white splotches while the previously mentioned subspecies is laced with white venation. The leaves usually grow to 12” tall by 6-8” wide, but can be larger if conditions are ideal. The foliage certainly provides great winter interest, but come spring, it is the flower that makes the plant all the more fascinating!

tall, pointed, pale green spathe emerging from base of foliage

The flowers appear in May. They consist of a central club-like spadix, appearing in front of and slightly surrounded by a creamy white bract or modified leaf called a spathe. The spathe grows 8-10” tall while the spadix reaches a more demure 4-5” long. The urn-shaped base of the spathe wraps around the lower portion of the spadix and is called the spathe tube. This spathe tube encloses the fertile flowers which appear in whirls, encircling the spadix. The fertile pistillate or female flowers are located at the base of the spadix, with the pollen releasing staminate flowers perched above, with sterile female flowers called pistiloide florets separating the two. Atop the staminate flowers and located near the narrow neck of the urn-like spathe tube are the infertile staminode flowers that produce slightly downward oriented filaments that stretch outwards and nearly touch the neck of the spathe tube. Arum flowers are termed protogynous, whereby the female flowers mature first and are no longer receptive to pollen when the staminate flowers mature and begin to release pollen. This staged maturation prevents the flowers from self-pollinating, resulting in inbreeding depression. To further aid in pollination, the male flowers are thermogenic, whereby they actually go through periods of releasing heat and can become upwards of 50 degrees warmer than the ambient air! Initially, this makes little sense, until one realizes that the flowers are pollinated by flies and the heating of the flowers releases volatile chemicals that smell like rotting meat or even stale urine! None to worry though, since the odors are too faint to be noticed by the passing gardener. Attracted by the odor, small flies are able to push past the filaments of the staminode flowers in search of the source of the odor but, due to the slightly downward orientation of the filaments, the flies are not able to escape. The filaments remain resilient against any attempts of escape for around 24 hours, allowing the incarcerated flies to hopefully deposit pollen from a previously visited flower onto the stigmas. After one day passes, the stigmas become unreceptive to pollen while the staminate flowers begin to shed pollen and the staminode filaments become limp, allowing the pollinators to collect pollen as they move upward and out of the spathe tube. An incredible scenario!

several green stalks with clusters of bright red berries at top, growing amongst ferns

Shortly after the flowers fade the foliage withers, leaving the fruit to develop. The peduncle or stem of the flower proceeds to elongate to 6-12” tall and is topped by an oblong cluster of developing fruit that is covered by a papery tunic. As the tunic dries, it splits open revealing the attractive cluster of red fruits that remain ornamental well into August (pictured below). In the southeastern and northwestern parts of North America, along with Australia, New Zealand and the UK, the dispersal of seeds by birds and even ants have caused this plant to be listed as an invasive, which outcompetes various native plants. I have always kept a watchful eye on this plant in garden settings and although I have seen seedlings produced around the mother plant, it has not proven to be a worrisome self-seeder in NJ. Of course, planting one plant or removing the fruit before it matures will negate any worries about invasiveness and allow the gardener to simply enjoy its winter and early spring beauty.

Hardy from zones 5-8, the plants prefer to be located in a humus rich, shaded location where the soil does not become excessively dry throughout the growing season. They can even be located in fairly wet soils, as I witnessed at the Cornell Botanic Gardens where they are planted along a stream. The tubers readily produce offsets during the late fall, allowing an individual plant to gradually increase into a substantial clump with time. It is also interesting to note the tuber produce two types of roots: vertically oriented contractile roots during the early fall that help to pull the tubers ever deeper into the soil, followed by a mat of horizontal roots whose purpose is to absorb nutrients and water. Available as a container plant or as tubers from bulb companies, Italian Arum is not any easy plant to find; most nurseries do not like to stock container plants since there is nothing to see following June. However, it is an amazing plant for the garden, providing nearly year-round interest with a flower that literally becomes warm to the touch during pollination. Truly one hot plant that needs to grace more mid-winter gardens!

August Plant of the Month: Trumpets from the Heavens

Brugmansia

08/15/2019 by Bruce Crawford

A “tropical” is a term used for plants that are a perennial in their native regions that typically hover somewhere close to the equator. Due to their lack of frost tolerance, they serve more as annuals in temperate gardens. Of course, plant lovers try to make them perennials by bringing them indoors for the colder months. Personally, I think it is more to see if they can show off their horticultural acumen by actually saving the plant than saving the cost of buying anew come the spring. There are in fact numerous tropicals that the gardener can overwinter indoors, but none is probably as spectacular in size or bloom as is Brugmansia or Angel’s Trumpet!

a leafy branch with downward facing peach colored trumpet flowers dangling below

Brugmansia is a member of the Solanaceae or Nightshade family of which the tomato, pepper, and eggplant are very renowned members. Currently, there are seven known species that were originally native along the Andes from Venezuela to Northern Chile and SE Brazil; I emphasize originally, since the seven species are no longer found in the wild and are now classified as extinct! The cause for extinction is possibly due to the loss of the animal or insect responsible for seed dispersal or perhaps the result of over-harvesting of the species for the powerful Tropane Alkaloids found in the plants tissues. Brugmansia is closely related to another alkaloid-bearing plant named Datura. In fact, Angel’s Trumpet was initially named Datura by the Swedish Botanist and Physician Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) in 1753. It was not until 1805 that Christiaan Hendrik Persoon (1761-1836), who resided for most of his life in Paris and was most noted for his classification of mushrooms, properly classified this plant. The genus honors the Dutch botanist and physician Sebald Justin Brugmans (1763-1819). The common name of “Angel’s Trumpet” comes from the dangling, 6-10” long trumpet shaped flowers that resemble musical instruments pointed downward from Heaven (as seen above and at right). On the flipside, Datura is often called Devil’s Trumpet, since its 4-6” long flowers point upwards, resembling trumpets blaring up from the depths of the underworld. Clearly, Brugmansia received the more marketable name!

close up of downward facing peach colored trumpet shaped flowers

Aside from the orientation of the flower, there are numerous other differences. Unlike Datura, which consists of several herbaceous species reaching 4’ tall, Brugmansia species and hybrids are woody plants that have the potential to reach impressive heights of 10-30+ feet, depending upon the cultivar or species. The ovate foliage is arranged alternately and typically is lightly pubescent. For the selection ‘Snowbank’, the foliage is trimmed with a wide white border that nicely compliments the salmon flowers and has a far more robust border than the selection ‘Variegata’. The flowers have a lemony fragrance in the early evening to attract pollinating hawkmoths and bats, with the flower persisting for 2-6 days. The individual colors range from white to pink, yellow, orange, and even maroon. The flowers typically appear in waves, separated by a 2-3 week rest period, allowing the plant to store up reserves for the next floral flush. By contrast, Datura features white or purple flushed flowers that occasionally appear as double. These flowers also open in the evening and are attractively fragrant.

large leafy shrub in a container, with dangling white trumpet shaped flowers

With its impressive size and relatively rapid rate of growth, it is no wonder that Brugmansia requires nutrient-rich soils and sustained irrigation. Containers are a nice way to elevate and display the flowers on younger plants, since it brings the flower up to the gardeners and allows one to peer upwards into the flower (as seen at left with ‘Cypress Gardens’ and below with ‘Frosty Pink’). When using containers, it is important to situate the plants in slightly larger containers, reducing the chance of the pot becoming root bound and drying out more rapidly. Flowering is greatly reduced should the plant experience drought! Container plants should also be on a weekly regiment of liquid fertilizer, since slow-release pellets do not provide a sufficient amount of nutrients for the plants. Locate Brugmansia in full sun for optimal growth, although light shade will also provide respectable results. If you are among those dedicated gardeners who wish to overwinter the plant, allow the plant to be defoliated by the first few autumn frosts before bringing the plant inside for the winter. Allowing the plant to become frosted induces dormancy in the plant. It also results in the leaves dropping from the plant, which removes the food source for white fly, aphids, mealy bug, and scale. Bring the plant indoors into a cool, dark location such as a basement, an attached but unheated garage, or a cool closet and reduce the watering such that the soil remains only lightly moist. The lack of sunlight will aid in keeping the plant dormant and the dry soils will prevent root decay. Come spring, reintroduce the plant to light, prune off any dead wood, up-pot into a larger container and restart the fertilizing regiment!

close up of a large, pink, star-shaped flower with wavy, pointed petals

Most of the plants available for the garden are hybrids, rather than a species, which explains the obvious absence herein of species descriptions. Plants will also root fairly easily from cuttings, should a friend have a selection that you are envious of growing in your garden! Although far from dangerous in a garden display, care should be taken when handling cuttings. The Tropane Alkaloids mentioned earlier include strychnine, atropine, and scopolamine, which in small quantities yield a numbing effect on the brain while larger quantities result in violent hallucinations and death. Obviously, great care and plastic/rubber gloves needs to be used while working with cuttings! Fortunately, the presence of the alkaloids does make the genus very resistant to deer browse.

A plant with great presence, intriguingly beautiful flowers, and a sincere note of respect, Brugmansia has proven to be a wonderful plant for decorating the garden and “wowing” visitors. Should you be looking for a tropical that provides the visual equal of horns sounding from the heavens above, this the plant for you!

June Plant of the Month

Paeonia

06/17/2019 by Bruce Crawford

Some plants are a mere “flash in the pan,” appearing at nurseries for a season, only to vanish from shelves and catalogues, never to be seen again. Other plants are perennial favorites, relished not only by us and our parents, but also by our grandparents and their parents before them! Peony, botanically named Paeonia is one such timeless beauty. I vividly remember the Peonies that lined my grandparents’ driveway, and as I was contemplating a design last summer at Rutgers Gardens, that memory served as the inspiration for the new planting.

Paeonia is the sole member of the family Paeoniaceae, which features around 33 species native to Asia, Europe, and Western North America. The Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) officially ascribed the genus name to the plant in 1753. Rooted in Greek mythology, Paeon was the physician of the Greek gods and, as the story is told, he was responsible for discovering the medicinal qualities of Peonies. Paeonia officinalis is the type or model Peony by which all the other species are compared. Also described by Linnaeus in 1753, it is native to France, Germany and Italy, and was well renowned for its curative properties. In fact, its root had been used for well over 2,000 years in the treatment of epilepsy and uncontrollable convulsions. The species epithet of officinalis was a term that Linnaeus originally coined in 1735 and used repeatedly throughout his career. It stems from the Latin officina, which initially meant workshop or place of work. Later, it transitioned to the name of a storage room in monasteries where medicines and medicinal plants were stored. Officinalis means “belonging to an Officina” and Linnaeus affixed this epithet to plants or animals that were known to have medicinal benefits. In a similar vein, the Chinese native Paeonia lactiflora was a staple in ancient Chinese medicine for reducing inflammation and arthritis. Once again, it was described by Linnaeus in 1753 and is a species with many garden worthy selections,

Clearly, Peonies are best known for their fragrant flowers and Paeonia lactiflora is certainly responsible for a good number of selections. The species epithet literally means milk-white flower, but the blooms also come in pink, red and bicolor forms. Adding to the dizzying array of colors are the number of forms available, with the flowers broken into six categories, based upon the arrangement of the petals, stamens and carpels. Stamens are the pollen-generating portion of the flower, consisting of the anther and their supporting stem or filament, while the carpel is the seed-yielding organ, consisting of the pollen receiving stigma and ovary. Lured by the promise of fuller flowers, the double flowered forms are the most popular with gardeners. With these selections, the anthers have become petaloid, meaning they have assumed the appearance of a petal. The resulting flower is large, billowy and far too heavy for the stem to support, especially during heavy rains when the stems collapse under the floral weight. As a child, I took great delight in running the lawnmower over flowers laying in harm’s way as the resulting shower of petals shooting forth from the mower deck was ever so colorful! Somehow, my mother never shared my glee. The plants can be staked to reduce the impact of the weather, but the flowers still tend to hand down or dangle over any supporting string or wire mesh. With time, I came to the realization that the single flower, which feature 1-2 rows of petals and a central boss of yellow anthers were just as attractive and far more weather tolerant. The remaining four classes of “Japanese,” “Anemone,” “Semi-double,” and “Bomb” feature stamens that are either slightly fattened as in the Japanese category to narrow petaloid in the Bomb series. Certainly more than enough variety for a gardener to choose a favorite! One of the other fascinating properties of Peony flowers are the extrafloral nectaries. Nectaries contain sugar rich fluids intended to attract pollinators. On Peonies, the nectaries are also located on the calyx or leafy bracts that surround the flower bud, with the intended purpose of attracting ants! As one knows, ants never appear one at a time, but in teams! Although this trait that may not appeal to many gardeners, the team of ants actually serve to protect the flower and their food source from insects that could potentially damage the flower bud or flower! Simply genius!

Most Peonies grow to 24-48 inches tall and are herbaceous, dying to the ground in late autumn. The 8-12” long by 4-6” wide foliage is compound, with each leaf consisting of several small leaflets appearing along a central stem or rachis. The 9 leaflets are a glossy, dark green in color and are typically deeply lobbed. However, there are always exceptions, such as Paeonia tenuifolia. Named again by Linnaeus, the name comes from the Latin Tenuis, meaning thin, fine or slender, which aptly describes the leaflets as they are very narrow and much reduced in size, giving the plant a very lacy appearance. In regions with high humidity or poor air circulation, Peony leaves often develop powdery mildew in late summer. Come fall, plants can develop an attractive, deep red fall color, especially if located in full sun. Come December, the stems can be cut back to the ground.

Paeonia suffruticosa, commonly known as Tree Peony, is another anomaly in this family, since it develops into a woody shrub, growing upwards of 4-6’ tall and wide. Native to China and capable of living to over 100 years of age, the woody stems allow the plant to nicely display the large 4-8” diameter flowers without the flowers drooping or ending up on the ground. In 1948, after countless attempts, the Japanese horticulturist Toichi Itoh successfully crossed the yellow ‘Alice Harding’ Tree Peony with the peach colored P. lactiflora ‘Katoden’ and created the Intersectional Peonies, otherwise known as the Itoh Peonies. Oddly, the series did not gather much notoriety in the US until over 60 years later when several major nurseries finally began to promote and offer the plants for sale. They feature stems that stretch to 36” tall and are woody towards the base yet fleshy near the top, combining the traits of both parents. The stems annually die back to the woody part of the stems and it is often tricky to determine where to trim the stems each spring. If you cut the stems back too far, the flowers buds are also sacrificed for that year, so it is best to wait until new growth begins before removing any dead material. The foliage is glossy green with red highlights and the lightly fragrant flowers are typically semi-double in colors ranging from yellow, to apricot and pink. The flowers appear throughout the month of May into June and are well supported by the stems.

Most species prefer a full sun location in well-drained soils. Two exceptions are Paeonia japonica and Paeonia obovata, which prefer shade. They both have rather unremarkable single white and pink flowers respectively, but the interest is actually comes in late summer when the seed pods split open; the seeds are deep purple, which contrasts nicely with the supporting bright red stems, connecting them to the seed pod. Very striking! Although Peonies rarely require division, the thick tuberous roots are best lifted and separated in late August or early September if division is desired. When replanting the roots, make certain that the large ‘eyes’ or buds for the ensuing year’s stems are located within 1” of the surface. If they are located too deep or mulched too heavily, the plant will fail to flower in the future.

Clearly, the various species of Peony provide solutions for many design challenges that a gardener may face. Deer resistant, low maintenance needs, attractive flowers with nice fragrance and good overall structure, it is clear to see why this plant has remained popular for so many generations. Hopefully generations to come will continue to appreciate this plant, allowing more burgeoning young gardeners to aim their lawnmowers at collapsed flowers and begin their humble path to becoming a gardener!

May Plant of the Month: No Longer Never-used, but Ever-used!

Neviusia alabamensis

05/15/2019 by Bruce Crawford

shrub with long arching branches covered with fluffy white flowers

Some plants are the brunt of poor jokes, and I always wonder if that impacts their use and notoriety with gardeners. For example, the plant Neviusia alabamensis has the “official” common name of Alabama Snow Wreath. Unfortunately, it has also picked up the misfortunate name of “Never-used” as an obvious play on words with the genus name. Much like many people I suppose, I had never seen it bloom before until last May. Yet, after seeing it in flower, I came to wonder why this plant remains so obscure!

Closeup view of a fluffy white flower spike

Neviusia is a member of the Rosaceae or Rose Family and resides within the subtribe Kerriae. It is only represented by two species native to North America. The genus was named by Asa Gray (1810–1888), who was a professor of Botany at Harvard University. The name honors the American botanist and Episcopal Rector Ruben Denton Nevius (1827–1913). Rev. Nevius had been botanizing with his friend Dr. William Stokes Wyman (1830–1915) along the Black Warrior River in Alabama near Tuscaloosa. At the time, Wyman was a professor of Latin at the U. of Alabama, but become President in 1901! Nevius sent samples of the plant to Gray in an effort to determine its identity. Realizing that it was an entirely new and undescribed genus, Gray wished to honor Nevius with the genus name. Nevius initially resisted and wanted the plant named Tuomeya in honor of another botanizing friend Michael Tuomey who had recently died. Dr. Gray was not apposed, until he discovered that the name Tuomeya had been used to describe an algae, and under The International Code of Nomenclature, once a name had been granted for one plant, algae, or fungi, it cannot be used again—although it can be used to describe an animal or mammal. Upon hearing of the conflict, Nevius consented to his name being used, and in 1858, the name was published. Oddly, it turns out there were a couple of inaccuracies in Nevius’ story. First, it was actually Wyman who initially discovered the plant during their expedition since he walked ahead and Nevius took up the rear. In addition, his wish to honor his old friend Michael Tuomey may not have been as virtuous as his letters to Gray initially appeared, since he was dating Tuomey’s daughter Margaret at the time, who he eventually married. Often, there is always a fun and hidden story behind a plant! The species epithet obviously honors the state of Alabama.

Close up view of fluffy clusters of anthers and bright green leaves

Aside from the interesting story behind the naming of the plant, the plant is really quite fascinating in its own right. It is rare in the wild and has been seen in only 16 locations in Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, southern Missouri and, of course Alabama. It appears that these occurrences represent individual remnant populations that survived glacial advances over the past 20,000 years. Each location may, in fact, consist of simply one suckering plant, since the seed is challenged to germinate and no young seedlings have been found in the wild. Fortunately, the stems root easily for the purposes of propagation. Young plants are upright in form, transitioning to a gracefully arching habit as they approach their mature heights of 4–6’ (pictured). The bark is golden brown and becomes lightly exfoliating on the older stems. In late April through early May, the flowers appear in clusters or cymes of 3–8 flowers. The flower display consists of a very prominent and showy cluster of ½” long anthers, subtended by leafy, light green sepals. For a family that is renowned for their showy display of petals, Neviusia is quite obviously lacking in this department. The 2-3” long foliage is clean and attractive with a corrugated appearance from the noticeably depressed venation. Its leaves bear a striking resemblance to the other two members of the subtribe Kerriae, which it shares with two Asian species: Kerria japonica or Japanese Kerria and Rhodotypos scandens or Black Jet Bead. Interestingly, both genera also have a very small family with only one species per genus and all are equally deer resistant.

Neviusia is easily grown in sun or shade, although flowering and the overall appearance of the plant is superior in the sun. Plants prefer evenly moist soils, and the leaves will appear tattered during periods of drought. In Alabama they are found on limestone ledges, but they thrive equally well in the more acidic soils of NJ. Although it currently has a more southern provenance, the plants are fully hardy through zone 4, indicating it may once have had a more northerly range, prior to glacial advances. The plants do surprisingly well without pruning and make an excellent natural hedge. If pruning is desired, do so just after blooming, allowing the new wood to develop flower buds for the following year.

The sister species is Neviusia cliftonii, so named after Glen Clifton who, along with Dean Taylor, discovered the plant growing in Shasta County in Northern California in 1992. Hardy to zone 6, its flowers look amazingly similar to its sister species, although the foliage appears less puckered and corrugated. Having seen Neviusia alabamensis in bloom at several different locations last year, I am convinced its carefree nature and attractive bloom could benefit more Gardens. Whether used in a massing or blended into the mixed border, this rarity in nature—which could be near extinction, yet has a very human connection with its discovery—should no longer be considered “never-used,” but “ever-used!”

April Plant of the Month: A Poppy Sparks a Career in Horticulture

Stylophorum diphyllum

04/01/2019 by Bruce Crawford

Perhaps my professional interest in horticulture is to blame, but there are several plants that trigger fond memories of my youth. Celandine Poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum used to line the shady edge of the lawn adjacent to my parents’ house. I found it very entertaining to break the stems and see the orange latex sap flow forth. The sap originally evolved to prevent predation, but I found it to be a fine alternative to ink! Little did I know, the rather caustic liquid can create welts if it comes in contact with the skin, can seriously burn the eyes and was used by the Native American Indians as a dye and as war paint.

Stylophorum diphyllum (see Photo 1) is a member of the Papaveraceae or Poppy Family and is native to Eastern North America. A rather small genus, it only contains two additional species native to China. The plant was originally named Chelidonium diphyllum in 1803 by the French botanist André Michaux (1746-1802). The name was published posthumously in his book Flora Boreali-Americana (The Flora of North America). Chelidonium is a very closely aligned genus in Europe, with smaller flowers and stature. It is also biennial in nature verses being a true perennial. In 1818, the English botanist Thomas Nuttall (1786-1859) noticed the numerous differences and published the plant under a new genus in his book Genera of North American Plants. The name comes from the Greek Stylos, meaning style and Phoros for ‘bearing’, referencing the very dominant style at the center of the blossoms (see Photo 2). A style is the stalk that connects the stigma where the pollen alights, to the ovary. The species epithet means two leaves, describing how the foliage appears in pairs. Each green leaf grows to 6” long and 2 ½” wide and is divided into 5-7 lobes, giving the plant a decided fern-like appearance (as seen in Photo 1).

Photo 3: Celandine Poppy growing out of a Black Locust tree.

Photo 4: Celandine Poppy at the Rutgers Gardens.

In late April, the initial flowers of Celandine Poppy appear as the foliage is just beginning to emerge from the rhizomatous root system. Flowering continues into early June as the plant expands to its full height and width of 18”. During summers with ample rainfall, intermittent flowering will continue through September. The flower buds emerge from between the two leaves at the tip of the stems in umbels of 2-4 buds, although they can also appear singularly. Each oblong bud is covered with protective hairs and opens to 4 golden yellow petals. Each flower measures 1-2” in diameter with a central boss of anthers, through which the long style with its rather bulbous stigma protrudes. As the flowers fade, they are replaced by an oval, four-chambered seedpod or capsule that hangs below the foliage and once again sports short protective hairs. Come mid-summer, the capsules spilt open to release the seeds which in turn are moved about by ants! Each seed has a white, carbohydrate and lipid rich elaiosome attached to the surface of the seed coat. The function of the elaiosome is to actually attract the ants, who will take the seed with the attached elaiosome back to their colony as food for their young. Once the elaiosome is eaten, the seed is deposited in a trash chamber or outside the colony to prevent bacteria or fungus from plaguing their home, where the seed is free to germinate. This interaction with ants explains how I saw a Celandine Poppy growing out of an opening in a Black Locust tree located 8’ above the ground (see Photo 3). Typically, ants with colonies in trees drop the seeds to the ground, but I suspect one ant missed his mark! Unlike the toxic nature of the orange sap, the seeds are eatable and serve as a food source for a number of wildlife, ranging from snails and slugs to mice, chipmunks and even deer.

Celandine Poppies are hardy from zones 4-9 and thrive in moist forest conditions, where the plant is protected from the midday sun. Although the plants will spread around with ease through the activity of the ants, plant populations can quickly be compromised if the shade trees are thinned or removed. Plants relish humus rich soils that are resistant to summer droughts and will naturalize rapidly (as in Photo 4). During prolonged periods without rainfall, the foliage will become tattered and the plants may go dormant, although new foliage often reappears with autumn rains. It should also be noted that the invasive Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolate) has been known to outcompete the seedlings.

Stylophorum is not a plant that is typically found in Garden Centers, since its retail appearance becomes quickly compromised if it does not receive constant shade or moisture. Still, it is a much welcome plant for the spring woodland garden and I always relish the early golden blooms. As I look at the plants every spring, I often wonder how many other people are reconnected to their youth through the orange sap. It was a small thing, but it definitely helped to connect me with the world of plants.

Stylophorum in bloom. — Photo 5: *Stylophorum* in bloom.

Bruce Crawford
Director, Rutgers Gardens

February Plant of the Month: One Hot Flower!

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August Plant of the Month: Trumpets from the Heavens

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June Plant of the Month

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May Plant of the Month: No Longer Never-used, but Ever-used!

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April Plant of the Month: A Poppy Sparks a Career in Horticulture

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