Beautifully scented Lonicera pileata

Lonicera pileata berries

Lonicera pileata flowers

The Lonicera pileata hedge that stopped me

Today I was walking through a commercial parking lot, past a low maintenance, uninspired garden.  What stopped me was a beautiful scent wafting through the air, above the smell of traffic on the busy arterial road.  Below the walkway where I was standing was a Lonicera pileata hedge, emitting a beautiful, citrusy fragrance.  The fragrance is not heavy, but light and fresh.

Lonicera pileata has many advantages.  It is a tough plant that can tolerate little water, and full sun to dappled shade.  This Lonicera is evergreen in Vancouver, and its branches grow in long, straight formations.  Branches near the ground will root, making the Lonicera pileata a great erosion control plant.

Although the flowers are insignificant to look at--only about 3mm long--they release a lovely scent.  These flowers give way to an iridescent purple berry in summer.

Lonicera pileata is not a specimen shrub, but creates a good backdrop for other plants, and fills a spot year round with green.  It can be pruned to shape, and usually grows to 2'.

What's blooming now in Vancouver? pt 3

Daffodils

Vancouver is alive with Daffodils of white and yellow right now.  Daffodils are so cheerful, they can make the grumpiest person smile.

Another advantage to Daffodils, or Narcissi, is the bulbs are poisonous to eat.  I am always so disappointed with Tulips because squirrels and raccoons find them delicious, and come spring, many of the Tulips are gone.  Rodents do not eat Daffodils.

Some Daffodils can also tolerate partial shade and shade.  Most Daffodils naturalize in the ground, meaning they come back year after year.  Look for "Naturalizing" on the label of bulb bags and tags.

Heather

Heather, or Erica carnea, is a resilient early bloomer.   E. carnea comes in shades of red, pink, purple and white.  In full sun, the entire small shrub is a mound of tiny flowers.  

These come from the moors, so think rocky, inhospitable soil and sun.

Cut the branches back after blooming to maintain a full shape.  With no pruning, E. carnea get leggy and the centres look dead.

Camellia

Camellias are beautiful in spring.  They do tolerate some shade, but bloom profusely in sun.  Find a variety that does not rust, which is the look when flowers look rusty after a rain.  This is especially important in rainy Vancouver.

Camellias are prone to many little bugs, and subsequently, sooty mold or aphid honeydew, the black that can coat leaves.

Camellias are also evergreen shrubs, so they provide some winter greenery.

What's blooming now in Vancouver? pt 2

Hellebores are a wonderful winter flowering shade plant.  Things to look for in a Hellebore are the subtle shades and tones of the flower, the number of petals, and how much the flower nods.  

Hellebores come in shades from pure white to deep purple.  Between these two extreme colours are flowers in shades of pink, and/or  with green, yellow and pink tinges.

If the flower nods fully, so it faces the ground, the flower will not be fully appreciated unless it is planted in an elevated spot, like on a terrace above a retaining wall.  If you are to plant Hellebores at foot level, why not choose a variety with flowers that point up?

Hellebores bloom in winter, but their palmate leaves are usually evergreen in Vancouver.  Sometimes the leaves have contrasting vein colours, making them an interesting addition to the summer shade garden.

Not only do Hellebores bloom in the shade, but they also like growing in root bound soil under large trees.

Phoenix Perennials in Richmond has the largest selection of Hellebores in Metro Vancouver.  Here is a link to their Hellebore catalogue:  

http://www.phoenixperennials.com/HelleboreHurrahCatalogue2013.pdf  

The catalogue also has a botany lesson on Hellebores, and directions to Phoenix Perennials.

What's blooming now in Vancouver? pt 1

Spring is officially here so I thought I would post some photographs of plants blooming in a Vancouver garden at the start of spring.

Oemleria cerasiformis flowers

Oemleria cerasiformis

Oemleria cerasiformis berries

The first three photos show Oemleria cerasiformis, or Indian Plum, a Vancouver native deciduous shrub.  Oemleria are one of the first blooming plants of the year.  This shrub is an understorey shrub.  Being an understorey shrub means it likes to grow under taller trees, which in turn means it does not like to be exposed to full sun.  Masses of Oemleria grow wild along 4th Ave, by Jericho Park.  The pretty white flowers become plum shaped berries.

Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis

The fourth photo shows Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis, or Dwarf Sweet Box,  behind a Heuchera.  Sarcococca are low, evergreen shrubs with tiny white, but heavily scented flowers.  Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis, Sarcococca confusa and Sarcococca ruscifolia are all varieties of the same genus plant.  S. hookeriana var. humilis is smaller and tidier than the other two varieties so I prefer this one.  

All Sarcococca grow in shade to part shade, and their roots sucker.  Their leaves are glossy dark green and lance shaped.   These shrubs are not remarkable enough to be a specimen plant, but form an attractive background to other plants.  They are also useful fillers for dark corners.  Don't let them dry out.

Sarcococca flowers are insignificant, but strongly scented in February/March.  For this reason, Sarcococca are a lovely addition to a garden in Vancouver come the bleak, grey, rainy days of February and March.  Place them somewhere along the path most used in winter.  Their scent easily travels 10 feet, and is a pleasant surprise in the winter.