The very first flower at Beaux Arbres is almost always a little non-native rock garden Iris, Iris reticulata. Although I discourage the use of many of the little bulbs from the garden centre, because they readily leap from garden to woodlands, I have never seen nor read of any problem with the little Irises. At… Continue reading Blooms for Early Spring
Tag: native plants
New for 2021: Goldthread
The very glossy, evergreen leaves of low-growing Goldthread (Coptis trifolia) are most attractive, but before you start thinking this may be the ideal shade-loving ground cover for your shady garden, be aware that this little cutie demands a cool, acidic organic soil, and is not suited for warm urban conditions. It grows in damp moss… Continue reading New for 2021: Goldthread
New for 2021: Starflower
The tiny white seeds of Starflower (Trientalis borealis) are easy enough to collect but I did not have great success germinating them. So I have only a handful of plant available for Spring 2021. I have no idea how popular this quiet but charming little woodlander will be. I can imagine folks who love the… Continue reading New for 2021: Starflower
New for 2021: Partridgeberry
Partridgeberry is one of the low evergreen vines that cover the forest floor in northern woods. It can easily be distinguished from Twinflower, Trailing Arbutus, and Wintergreen by the distinct pale midrib down the centre of each leaf. Although Partridgeberry comes into its own in damp conifer woods, it is also found in mixed forests,… Continue reading New for 2021: Partridgeberry
New for 2021: Prairie Baby’s Breath
This lovely and little-known wildflower from the western prairies also grows in prairie remnants in south-western Ontario. Although it is not at all related to the florist’s Baby’s Breath (which is considered a noxious weed in the prairie provinces), Prairie Baby’s Breath (Euphorbia corollata) contributes an airy filler effect to a meadow or flower border,… Continue reading New for 2021: Prairie Baby’s Breath
Back for 2021: Virginia Waterleaf
The nodding flowers in mid to late spring are modest to our eyes but extraordinarily attractive to all manner of forest pollinators. Although usually pale lavender in colour, the flowers of Virginia Waterleaf in the wild can be pure white, a nice mid-range purple, or pale pink. The distinctively lobed leaves emerge in the spring… Continue reading Back for 2021: Virginia Waterleaf
New for 2021: Canada Mayflower
Canada Mayflower is such a small, ubiquitous woodland plant, it is easy to take it for granted. It grows in just about every kind of forest, in every kind of soil, and is one of the few natives that manages to eke out some sort of straggly existence in spruce plantations. It is a great… Continue reading New for 2021: Canada Mayflower
New for 2021: Grey Goldenrod
As gardening for pollinators, and insects in general, has become popular, I see many more customers interested in Goldenrods. The bright yellow sprays, differently shaped for different species, are ubiquitous in old fields and along country roads. Their very abundance gives us clues to how important they are for late summer pollinators. Grey Goldenrod (Solidago… Continue reading New for 2021: Grey Goldenrod
Back in 2021: Purple Clematis
Pretty Purple Clematis, a vine of woodland glades, is uncommon and elusive in the woods. We sold out of our original seeding of Purple Clematis last summer, but now that we have plants established in the garden at Beaux Arbres, we are collecting seeds from our own plants. This spring we expect to have a… Continue reading Back in 2021: Purple Clematis
New for 2021: Prairie Crocus
Beaux Arbres has a few bright, lovely Pasque Flowers plants in our rock garden. We grew this beloved European spring flower from seeds from the Ontario Rock Garden and Hardy Plant Society Seed Exchange, and offered some of our surplus for sale. However, we long wanted to get a good supply of the North American… Continue reading New for 2021: Prairie Crocus
Beaux Arbres Plantes Indigènes / Native Plants 