Two weeks ago I went to a howling lecture at the New York Botanical Garden . The speaker was Barry Yinger , a well known plantsman and author who specializes in Asian flora . The topic for the day was “ New Nipponese works for the Garden . Mr. Yinger , who also owns Asiatica , a Pennsylvania retail nursery , is one of those intrepid people who travels all over the world to find oneself new plant coinage and variety . He walks in the literal and figurative footsteps of gravid nineteenth and other twentieth century plant hunters such as E.H. “ Chinese ” Wilson and Reginald Farrar , who were responsible for for introducing the Western world to many of the plants that we take for granted today .
I went to the lecture bear to see an array of dazzling works slide play along by a quite a little of unfamiliar genus and metal money names . I was only half right . The slides were absolutely inspirational , but many of the genera were very intimate . I felt as if I had give out to Japan and range across the long lost cousins of people who experience in my neighborhood .
One of the first names I recognise was Hamamelis , otherwise known as Wiccan hazel tree . heaps of people produce Hamamelis molis , the Formosan witch hazel , others have Hamamelis virginiana , a native North American variety . The shrub are well-fixed to spot in the garden because they are among the first to bloom in the spring . The spidery gold or yellow or Orange River blossoms are , honestly , not much to publish household about . What distinguishes witch hazelnut in general is scent .
Japanese Hamamelis are not reputed to be as fragrant as the Chinese smorgasbord , but the ‘ Falling Star ’ cultivar described by Mr. Yinger makes up for that belike deficiency with reasonably more attractive blossoms . Early in the spring , a small colouring go a retentive way .
genus Arisaema is one of the darlings of the horticultural world at the moment . This is amusing to people who have seen Arisaema triphyllum , the coarse Jack - in - the - pulpit , growing en masse shot in wooded area . Mr. Yinger described several Asian varieties , all of which have the same hooded bloom as the common Arisaema . I am peculiarly intrigue by Arisaema serration , which has a black - striped flower , and the beautiful Arisaema candidissimum , with its pink - striped bloom . The influx of new Arisaema metal money is a definite boon to those with an abundance of shadowiness .
Shade is ordinarily a problem for peony lovers because most variety starve the sunshine . This is less true of Paeonia japonica , the Japanese peony , that thrives in light to medium refinement . Mr. Yinger was especially enthusiastic about the hoar - green foliage and pink exclusive flowers of Paeonia japonica obovata . This peony also has coloured seed heads and showy fall fruit , making it perfect for gardeners in search of three - season interest .
In the spring , damp woodland area are sate with mayapples ( Podophyllum peltatum ) . Their large umbrella - same leave-taking are almost as recognizable as those of skunk scratch , and their white blossoms are easy to recognise . Barry Yinger spoke sky-high about two new Asian varieties , Podophyllum difforme and Podophyllum veitchii . The former with its gray - green leaves that are sometimes almost silvery , and large dark red blossom , sounds perfect for the great unwashed who already like hellebores and other unusual shade plants . Podophyllum veitchii , which is sometimes do it as Podophyllum delavayi , also has fabulous foliation . In his catalog , Mr. Yinger describes “ hazy umbrellas.with dark snakeskin marking , often on a red background , changing to patterned fleeceable . ” The pink , white or red flowers contribute to the show .
hydrangea of all character are feel a vogue right now , and every Japanese varieties of Hydrangea macrophylla var . serrata seem to have enceinte promise . Though the length of the foresightful botanical name is daunting , it tells you just what you are getting . “ Macrophylla ” means , literally , “ big leaves . ” “ Serrata ” mean having tooth - alike edges - think of the sharpness of a knife with a serrated blade . Therefore hydrangeas in this group have large leaves with serrated edges . Mr. Yinger talk about a variety ring ‘ Kiyosumi ’ , that begin the growing time of year with Burgundy wine - touch new growth , then go on to sprout dark-skinned red buds that open up into pink bloom with red picotee edges . Another serrata , ‘ Shichi Dan Ka ’ , features bivalent lavendar florets , and toothed leave that deform orange in the fall .
My heart peach when Mr. Yinger cite Camellia maule’s quince ‘ Korean Fire ’ , a camellia , that has wonderful single blood-red bloom . It is especial because it is much more cold - tolerant than most other camellias . ‘ Korean Fire ’ will , last in a USDA Zone 6 garden , and perchance , said Mr. Yinger , in a Zone 5 garden with protection . Since the creators of the novel cold stout camellia hybrids have yet to come up with a dependable ruby , Camellia japonica ‘ Korean Fire ’ may be something consanguineal to the Holy Grail for camellia lover living far from the sunny south .
modification is hard for most masses , gardener included . Planting the Nipponese or Asiatic versions of old garden favorites is a mode of combining the foreign with the familiar to achieve beautiful resultant role . Most of the plant mentioned by Barry Yinger can be tell from his Asiatica Nursery , PO Box 270 , Lewisberry , PA 17339 , ( 717 ) 938 - 8677 , www.asiaticanursery.com , catalog $ 4.00 ; or from Heronswood Nursery , 7530 NE 288thStreet , Kingston , WA 98346 , ( 360 ) 297 - 4172
by E. Ginsburg
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