Fuyu Persimmon (Diospyros kaki ‘Fuyu’) 富有柿

Fuyu Persimmon (Diospyros kaki ‘Fuyu’) 富有柿

Fuyu Persimmon (Diospyros kaki ‘Fuyu’) fruit and seeds. 富有柿的果實與種子.

Fuyu Persimmon (Diospyros kaki ‘Fuyu’) seed germination in about 10 days. 富有柿種子約10天左右孵出.

Deciduous fruit tree.  Fruit texture is more like apple, sugar content is high.  Easy to grow.  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location.  Mid spring with white or yellow flowers. USDA Zones:7-11.  Mature size:15′-20′(H) X 20′-40′(W). Propagate by cuttings, budding or grafting.  Seedlings often graft on other type of persimmon seedlings.

會落葉的熱帶果樹.  吃起來果實口感接近蘋果,但是甜度更高些.  容易栽種.  最好栽種在全日照到半日照處. 春開黃白色花.  喜熱不甚耐寒.  成熟株高約15-20呎,寬幅20-40呎. 繁殖方式主以扦插,芽接或嫁接方式來進行.  種子苗通常嫁接在黑棗苗.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Fuyu_Persimmons_9071.php                 https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AF%8C%E6%9C%89                   http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62306/#b

 

Butterfly Bush/Cambridge Bush ‘Ugandense'(Rotheca myricoides ‘Ugandense’) 藍蝴蝶

Butterfly Bush/Cambridge Bush ‘Ugandense'(Rotheca myricoides ‘Ugandense’) 藍蝴蝶

Butterfly Bush/Cambridge Bush ‘Ugandense'(Rotheca myricoides ‘Ugandense’) flowers like flying blue butterflies! 藍蝴蝶的花形如飛翔中的藍色蝴蝶!

Butterfly Bush/Cambridge Bush ‘Ugandense'(Rotheca myricoides ‘Ugandense’) is easy to propagate by cuttings.藍蝴蝶容易以枝條來扦插繁殖.

Butterfly Bush/Cambridge Bush ‘Ugandense'(Rotheca myricoides ‘Ugandense’) flower buds are forming! 藍蝴蝶有花苞形成了!

Butterfly Bush/Cambridge Bush ‘Ugandense'(Rotheca myricoides ‘Ugandense’) cutting survived and now is flowering! 成活的藍蝴蝶枝條開花了!

Tropical shrub.  Prefers growing in full sun to partial shade location. Blue/violet and white flowers in shape as butterflies, blooming from spring to winter, very long blooming time!  Flowers attract bees, butterflies and birds. Mature size:8′-10′(H)/(W). USDA Zones:9-11.  If you live in colder region you will need to move the plants indoors over winter.  Oterwise it is fairly easy to grow and propagate.  Propagate by seeds or cuttings.  Plant is toxic if ingested. In warm region this plant is evergreen.

熱帶開花灌木.  最好種在全日照到半日照處. 藍/紫色與白色的花朵形如蝴蝶,從春開到冬,開花不斷! 花為頗吸收蜂蝶及鳥類的蜜源.  成熟株高8-10呎,寬幅亦同.  喜熱不耐寒.  若居住在較冷天候區,天氣轉涼前就須將它搬進屋. 除此外它很容易栽種及繁殖.  繁殖可以種子或枝條扦插來進行.  植株有毒勿食.  在溫暖氣候區它是常綠的灌木.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotheca_myricoides        http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1874/

Squirting cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) 噴瓜

Squirting cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) 噴瓜

Squirting cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) seeds. 噴瓜種子.

Watch this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yLHhtlwt-s   So wild!!

Not edible though… 😦  But it is so much fun to watch it squirting when the fruit is ripe.  Easy to grow in full sun to partial shade location.  Small yellow flowers in late spring to early winter.   Mature size:1′-3′(H) X 2′-4′(W).  USDA Zones:8-10.   Each fruit is not big.  Medicinal. Propagate by seeds.  Medicinal.

它不是種來吃的瓜. 但果實成熟後會從蒂頭斷掉後自己會將種子和汁噴出倒是蠻有趣的.  容易栽種在全日照到半日照處.  黃色小花從春末開到初冬.  成熟株高1-3呎,寬幅2-4呎.  耐熱不耐寒.  果實不大.  果實的汁是用來抗風濕，心臟病的藥和瀉藥. 藥用.  以種子來繁殖.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

http://practicalplants.org/wiki/Ecballium_elaterium

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54549/

Digiplexis Foxglove (Dititalis ‘Berry Canary’) 毛地黃

Digiplexis Foxglove (Dititalis ‘Berry Canary’) 毛地黃

Digiplexis Foxglove (Dititalis ‘Berry Canary’) 毛地黃

Digiplexis Foxglove (Dititalis ‘Berry Canary’) 毛地黃

A tender perennial/biennial.  This variety is 2 color tones.  Mature size:2′(H) X 2′(W). Not as tall as traditional type so no need to stake!  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location.  Beautiful deep pink outside and creamy yellow inside is very attractive.  Flowers attract bees, butterflies and humming birds.  Good for cut flower.  USDA Zones: 8+.  Toxic if ingested.

美麗不耐寒的多年生/二年生草花.  這個品種是雙色花.  成熟株高2呎,寬幅2呎.  沒有傳統的毛地黃那麼高到需要支架支撐!  以種植於全日照到半日照處為佳.  漂亮的雙色花朵外層是深粉紅色內層是淡鵝黃色,花色很吸引人.  花是吸引蜂蝶及蜂鳥的蜜源.  適合切花.  不耐寒,在溫帶地區當做一年生草花來養.  有毒勿食.

Honeysuckle Fuchsia (Fuchsia ‘Koralle’) 鞭炮吊鐘花

Honeysuckle Fuchsia (Fuchsia ‘Koralle’) 鞭炮吊鐘花

Honeysuckle Fuchsia (Fuchsia ‘Koralle’) 鞭炮吊鐘花

Honeysuckle Fuchsia (Fuchsia ‘Koralle’) 鞭炮吊鐘花

This tropical perennial has cute light bright red flowers for long blooming time from spring to fall.  Flowers attract bees and humming birds.  Very easy to grow and propagate.  Not cold tolerant so will require over winter indoor if you live in cold climate.  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location.  Mature size:3′-4′(H) X 2′-3′(W).  USDA Zones:10+.  Easy to propagate by cuttings.  Leaves and flowers are edible.

它是熱帶多年生的植物,紅色管狀花很可愛,花期非常長從春到秋.  花是吸引蜂類及蜂鳥的蜜源.   非常容易栽種及繁殖.  不耐寒所以若你住在溫帶地區須搬進室內過冬.  以栽種在全日照到半日照處為佳. 成熟株高3-4呎,寬幅2-3呎.  容易扦插來繁殖.  花葉可食用.

Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum) 塊莖金蓮花

Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum) 塊莖金蓮花

Mashua tubers.(Tropaeolum tuberosum) 塊莖金蓮花的球根.

Mashua shoot. (Tropaeolum tuberosum) 塊莖金蓮花長出的芽與葉.

This is a very interesting root vegetable/flowering vine.  A tuberous perennial climber from South America.  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location.  Not cold hardy but it is very easy to grow.  Because it is a flowering vine, it requires a structure or support for the plant to cling on it.   Orange red and yellow flowers in mid summer to fall.  Flowers attract bees, butterflies and humming birds.  Fast growing.  USDA Zones:8-10.  Mature size:10′-12′(H)(L)X 1′-2′(W).  Easy to propagate by seeds, cuttings or bulbs.   As root vegetable, it tastes spicy and peppery when it is raw but it is fine after cooked.

這是很有意思的根莖類蔬菜/開花藤類. 原生於南美的球根多年生開花藤.   栽種於全日照到半日照處為佳.  不耐寒但很容易栽種.  因屬於爬藤類所以需要有穩固的支架以供攀爬.  橘紅帶黃色的花於仲夏到秋末盛開.  花頗吸引蜂蝶及蜂鳥.  生長快速.  耐熱不耐寒.  成熟株高10-12呎高/藤長,寬幅1-2呎. 容易以種子,扦插或球根來繁殖.   做為根莖類蔬菜的話生吃有辛辣味,煮熟辛辣味就消失.

“Medicinal properties

Mashua has putative anaphrodisiac effects. It has been recorded by the Spanish chronicler Cobo that mashua was fed to their armies by the Inca Emperors, “that they should forget their wives". Studies of male rats fed on mashua tubers have shown a 45% drop in testosterone levels." –quote from wikepedia.

“用途

塊莖可以做為根莖類蔬菜食用，由於塊莖金蓮花具有強烈的味道以及被認為有降低性慾的作用，可能是它無法普的原因。

塊莖金蓮花的塊莖被認為有降低性慾的作用，實驗結果顯示，雄性老鼠在餵食塊莖後其體內的睪丸酮含量會減少百分之四十五。印加帝國的皇帝也曾利用這種特性，提供塊莖供軍隊食用，以降低軍人「想家」的念頭。

塊莖金蓮花可以用來治療腎臟病，也可以作為利尿劑使用。" — 資料摘自維基百科.

Reference links: 參考資料的網站連結:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropaeolum_tuberosum

http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Tropaeolum+tuberosum

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/85985/Tropaeolum-tuberosum-var-lineamaculatum-Ken-Aslet/Details

Black fragrant Clematis (Clematis tashiroi) 田代氏鐵線蓮

Black fragrant Clematis (Clematis tashiroi) 田代氏鐵線蓮

Black fragrant
Flowers images see the link below:

http://taibif.org.tw/taibif_search/species_detail.php?name_code=204031

Unique deep purplish-black flowers with fragrance.  It is tender perennial so better to keep it indoor over winter if you live in cold climate.  It prefers in partial shade location.  Medicinal use herb.  USDA Zones:7-10.

田代氏鐵線蓮（Clematis tashiroi）,又名琉球鐵線蓮. 它是毛茛科鐵線蓮屬,有香味的紫黑色花不大但是算是特別,紫黑色的花並不多.  耐寒性不佳,若是栽種在較冷的氣候區需要保護越冬或搬進室內越冬.  它偏好半日照的環境.  它同時也是被用作草藥的多年生爬藤植物.[caption id="attachment_29944" width="1070"] Black fragrant Clematis (Clematis tashiroi) seeds start to germinate after 2 weeks. 田代氏鐵線蓮種子2週後陸續發芽.