Common witch hazel not common at all!

Hamamelis virginiana in a very urban Toronto setting

I think maybe 3 out of 100 people who walk by  a grouping of common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) in a downtown Toronto "parkette" (teeny tiny park/green space) would notice the flowers on display now. And even this number is optimistic. But as your intrepid shrub freak, I gladly took these pictures of this very late blooming shrub on display. It was kind of risky, standing on a subway air grate, with the pungent and distinctive smell of pot wafting from some locals enjoying the sunny and chilly afternoon (and eyeing me suspiciously as I admired the witch hazel). H. virginiana's flowers are not as fragrant, to me, as my "Arnold Promise" witch hazel in February and the scent of marijuana didn't help matters.

Ahh, downtown gardening at its finest!

Witch hazels really get you coming and going, blooming when very little else is (shrub-wise). If I had the space, I would fill it up with members of the Hamamelidaceae family.

H. virginiana is a native species to the Toronto area as well (and most of eastern North America) and, unfortunately, not common at all in most residential landscapes. It takes a more refined sense of horticultural taste to appreciate their understated beauty compared to a mass of "Knock Out" roses. 

Here's H. virginiana in bloom in Toronto, with November around the corner:

Hamamelis virginiana Witch hazel late fall blooms and seed capsules

Hamamelis virginiana Witch hazel late fall blooms

Hamamelis virginiana Witch hazel late fall blooms and foliage 

Hamamelis virginiana Witch hazel late fall flowers
and foliage against a brilliant blue sky 

If this makes me a plant snob, I'm cool with that!




By Paul Jung, author of "garden muses: a Toronto gardening blog"

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A rose (of sharon) by any other name...

The Hibiscus family in late summer Toronto

Quite a few readers who stumble upon this blog through a post from last year titled "Freaking floriferous! (Yes, I admit, Rose of Sharons look nice right now)" are really in love with the Rose of Sharon and perennial hibiscus blooming profusely for about 2 months in Toronto. I kind of see why the love is shown but Hibiscus syriacus hybrids aren't on my top ten list for shrubs. The blooms don't have a scent and turn to mush when they drop, there's no fruit, bazillion seedlings often appear, the shrub doesn't have a strong structure or interesting bark, etc. The H. moscheutos perennials normally bloom late in the year and often need some babying with extra mulching to get it through a harsh winter in our city. And the tropical hibiscus many buy in the spring as standards are doomed by November.

No matter. People still whisk these guys off the garden centre shelves,  like anything else blooming. 


So to satisfy those with Hibiscus fever, here are some shots I took around the 'hood.

Hibiscus syriacus "Red Heart"

Hibiscus syriacus "Lavender Chiffon"

Hibiscus syriacus "Lavender Chiffon" backlit

Hibiscus syriacus "China Chiffon"

Hibiscus syriacus "China Chiffon"

Hibiscus moscheutos "Luna Rose"

Hibiscus moscheutos "Kopper King"

 Hibiscus moscheutos "Luna White"

"High Voltage"  tropical hibiscus at
the Allan Gardens Conservatory 

By Paul Jung, author of "garden muses: a Toronto gardening blog"Google Google Find us on Google+ Find us on Google+

Anemone x hybrida "September Charm": Awww, they didn't name this after me?

I'm in love with a Japanese anemone called "September Charm"

She's charming indeed! Fall-flowering anemones or Japanese windflowers (Anemone x hybrida) shine this time of the year. The little clump shown below is a cultivar called "September Charm" that does its thing reliably every August and September under an oak tree at my clients A and M's garden. I love recommending these fall bloomers (varieties include the classic "Honorine Jobert" and "Queen Charlotte") for their height, transparency and lightness.

Anemone x hybrida "September Charm"

The cute flowers are a bonus to me, even after they become seedheads left for winter interest. Everything about this plant is graceful, refined, and classy. (You can accuse me for being anthropomorphic, there's more to come!)
     
Anemones tend to prefer moist and fertile soil to allow them to "run" but this clump is well-behaved because it shares this bed with the spring blooming snowdrop anemone (Anemone sylvestris). 

It's like a death match between variegated goutweed vs. spearmint (true thugs!) but more refined. Yes, gardeners have a little bloodlust at times!

If the title of the post is a little cryptic, let me explain. My birthday is on the 18th and my wife will be the first to tell anyone that I'm her "September Charm", gag! Well wishes to fellow Virgos and Snakes among you!

A hungry visitor on a Japanese anemone flower