September Plant List

The September Plant Availability List is here. What’s missing? A whole bunch of shade and woodland plants that either went dormant early (or possibly died) in the heat or that look so bad I won’t offer them for sale. Let’s hope most of them come back for next spring. What’s new? American spikenard (Aralia racemosa) is back (pictured above). I thought they wouldn’t be ready until next spring. Year-old hop-trees (Ptelea trifoliata) – a Carolinian species that seemed to like the heat.

What prospered in the heat in my garden this summer? Leadplant (Amorpha canescens), a small shrub in the Pea Family from southern Manitoba, didn’t even seem to notice the drought. I sold quite a number of these in the spring – when folks have seen leadplant somewhere they like it – and now I want to sell a lot more. I think this was the most heat and drought resistant plant I offer. It is also beautiful, with fine-textured silvery foliage and lovely purple flower spikes in July. Honestly, it should be in every garden, if there is a sunny spot for it. (I know I say that about a lot of native plants, but only because I truly believe it.)

Remember, the September Natives & Clay sale is happening next weekend at Pine Ridge Pottery Studio, north of Carp. You can pre-order from the September list for pick up at the sale. There will be one more Ottawa pick-up date – Tuesday, September 16th.