Horticulture Report – Fire-wise & Native Flower

Plant Name: Brodiaea elegans
Common name: Elegant Cluster Lily/Harvest Brodiaea
Plant type: Perennial Herbaceous; Grows from a Corm
Height: 2’
Spread:  6”
Bloom Time:  Spring – Summer
Flower Color: Pale Purple/Purple/White
Exposure:  Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil Requirements:  Does well in Clay Soil; Medium to Slow Drainage
Water Needs:  Low to Very Low
Attributes:  Supports Butterflies; Drought Tolerant
Note: Plant in Groups; Insect Pollinated
Uses: Containers; Beds & Borders; Rock Garden
Firewise: YES
Native To:  Mountain Ranges of California & Oregon
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7a – 10b

Photo Credit: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Com

Horticulture Report – Fire-wise & Native Plant

Common name: Deer Fern
Botanical Name: Blechnum spicant
Plant type: Fern
Height: .75’ – 4’
Spread:  1’ – 2’
Exposure:  Part Shade to Full Shade
Soil Requirements:  Humusy, Acidic, Evenly Moist, Well-drained
Water Needs:  Medium
Attributes:  Winter Interest; Tolerates Heavy Shade; Two Different Types of Fronds; Deer Resistant
Note: Spreads somewhat slowly by short creeping rhizomes; May be divided in Spring; Leaf Spot & Rust May Occur; May Go Dormant in Winter; Cut back dead fronds in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges; Fertilize Frequently During Growing Season
Uses: Shade Garden; Shaded Border; Rock Garden; Containers
Firewise: YES
Native To:  Temperate Northern Hemisphere
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 8

Horticulture Report: Asarum caudatum, aka: Western Wild Ginger

Native Firewise Plant

Photo Credit: Robert Flogaus-Faust, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Plant Name:  Asarum caudatum

Common name: Western Wild Ginger

Plant type: Evergreen Herbaceous Perennial

Height: 1’

Spread:  6” – 1’6”
Bloom Time:  Spring

Flower Color: Brown Purple to Green Yellow

Exposure:  Full Shade

Soil Requirements: Good Drainage; High Organic Matter; Acidic

Water Needs:  Regular Water

Photo Credit: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Attributes:  Ginger Aroma when Leaves Rubbed; Winter Interest;    Showy Flowers; Attracts Ants as Pollinators

Note:  Spreads by Rhizomes; Flowers are Unique Shape, but Hidden under Leaves

Uses:  Containers; Groundcover; Lawn Alternative; Rock Gardens;    Borders

Firewise:  YES

Native to: Western North America

Oregon Native: YES

USDA Hardiness Zone: 7 – 10

 

 

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Horticulture Report: Little Goblin® Dwarf Ilex verticillata

Dwarf Ilex verticillata

Proven Winners®:  Little Goblin ® (female)   Little Goblin Guy® (male)

Ilex verticillata are dioecious meaning they are male or female plants.  A male plant is needed for female plants to produce berries.  One male plant can pollinate up to 10 female plants. Male plant must be planted within 50 ft of female plants, plus the male’s blooming time must align with female’s bloom time.

Common Name: Winterberry Holly

Plant type: Deciduous Dwarf  Shrub

Height: 3-4 feet        Width: 3-4 feet
Bloom Time: Late Spring

Flower Color:  White (small)
Exposure:  Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours)

Firewise: Yes- Low flammability, 6 feet of structure

Soil Requirements: Prefers rich organic acidic soil, but will grow in average garden soil.

Water Needs:  Moist Areas
Attributes: Vibrant Red Winter Berries; Important food source for American Robins; Winter Interest; Slow growing; Blooms on old wood  
Uses:  Bioswales, Wetland habitats, Native gardens, Bird habitat, Rain garden, Firewise garden, Wildlife gardens, Cutting garden, Container planting, Floral arrangements.
Native to: Eastern North America

USDA Hardiness Zone: 3a-9b

Firewise Plant: Evening Primrose

Plant Name:  Oenothera species

Common name:  Evening Primrose
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial or Biennial
Plant Height: 2’ – 6’
Plant Width:  1’ – 2’
Bloom Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
Flower Color:  Yellow or Pink or White
Exposure:  Sun to Shade
Soil Requirements: Rocky or Sandy Soil; Well-Drained
Water Needs: Low to Medium
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 8 – Plant 30’+ from Structure
Attributes: Attract Moths; Birds Eat Seeds; Attracts Hummingbirds; Fragrant Flowers; Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant
Uses: Full Sun Ground cover; Rock Gardens; Erosion Control; Native Plant Gardens
Note: Flowers Open in the Evening
Native to: Eastern North America
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Firewise Plant: Muscari armeniacum Grape Hyacinth

Plant Name:  Muscari armeniacum
Common name:  Grape Hyacinth
Plant Type: Bulbous Perennial
Plant Height: .5’ – .75’
Plant Width:  .25’ – .50’
Bloom Time: April
Flower Color:  Royal Blue with thin White Rim
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well Drained; Sandy; Loam
Water Needs: Medium
Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 10 – Plant 10’+ from structure.
Attributes: Showy Flower; Fragrant; Good Cut Flower; Deer Resistant; Tolerates Clay Soil; Attracts Bees/Butterflies.
Uses: Mass in Open Areas; Around Shrubs; Under Deciduous Trees; Rock Gardens; Front of the Border; Container Plant.
Note:  Reduce Watering After Foliage Begins to Die Back.
Native to: Western Asia, Southeastern Europe
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member, Master Gardener

Photo by (c)2008 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), GFDL 1.2 http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html, via Wikimedia Commons