Skunkvine (Paederia foetida) 雞屎藤

Skunkvine (Paederia foetida) 雞屎藤

Skunkvine (Paederia foetida) dried mature fruit. Each fruit contains 1-2 seeds. 雞屎藤乾燥的熟果. 每顆果內有1-2顆種子.

Skunkvine (Paederia foetida) seeds. 雞屎藤的種子.

Skunkvine (Paederia foetida) seed germination in only several days. 雞屎藤種子還蠻快孵出的.

Skunkvine (Paederia foetida) seed germination in only several days. 雞屎藤種子還蠻快孵出的.

 

Tender perennial flowering vine.  Whole plant is medicinal and edible.  Leaves can be harvested and cooked as leafy vegetable or as I remembered to chop the leaves and mix with eggs to make omelet.  It is very common used to give a boost for kids or young adults to grow taller.  Also could dry the harvested leaves then blend the dried leaves into powder for storage, when use the powder can mix with rice flour to make dumpling kind of food.  It is a fast growing vine so in some warm countries not eating them will be considered as invasive weed.  The whole plant has an strong scent/odour some people really dislike it hence the common name.

Best grow in full sun to partial shade loction.   Small bell shape, white flowers with magenta inner flower colour in large amount in summer.  Yellow-orange ripe fruit in fall, inside of its fruit with dark seeds. USDA Zones:6-11.   Mature size:20′(L/H) . Self-seed.  Propagate by seeds, cuttings or dividing plants.

多年生草花爬藤.  不甚耐寒.  全草具有藥用及食用價值. 葉片可採來如葉菜類煮食,或切碎後炒蛋吃. 老一輩的人說給小孩吃能幫助長高.   根切小段後燉煮粉腸可以治頑強咳嗽.    中國南方通常藉由乾燥葉片後搗成粉狀來貯存或和麵包餡做成粿或餃或丸形來吃.  由於它生長快速,在某些不吃它的溫暖國家被視為強勢的雜草.  全株有濃濃特殊的味道,有些人很不喜歡所以有臭藤的別名.  易於栽種,不耐寒.  開小花如小鈴鐺,外白內紅,數量多.  果熟呈橘黃色,外有薄硬殼,內有種子1-2枚.  種子約播下後5-7天內發芽.  繁殖以種子,壓條,扦插或分株.  它算是兼具食用與藥用的路邊野草!  非常容易栽種在全日照到半日照處.  夏天開花,秋結橘黃色果實,果實內種子黑色.  容易結子.  成熟藤高/長20呎.

Reference links:  參考資料的網站連結:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paederia_foetida                                             http://www.doctorayur.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=195:paederia-foetida&catid=34:health-guide

Love In A Puff / Balloon Plant (Cardiospermum halicacabum) 風船葛/倒地鈴

Love In A Puff / Balloon Plant (Cardiospermum halicacabum) 風船葛/倒地鈴

Love In A Puff / Balloon Plant (Cardiospermum halicacabum) cute black round seeds with white heart shaped mark. 風船葛/倒地鈴的黑色圓形種子有著可愛的白色心形記號.

This vine is famous for its seeds.  Small black bead like seeds with white heart shape mark!  Cute!  The plant is tropical tender perennial (often are treated as an annual) could be invasive in warm climate.  Very easy to grow from seeds.  Best growing in full sun location.  Tiny white flowers from early/mid summer to fall.  The puffy hollowed “fruit" is ripe in late summer/fall.   USDA Zones:8-11.  Mature size:10′-12′(H)/(L) X 3′-6′(W).    Propagate by seeds.   Medicinal.

此藤以種子聞名. 黑色小圓株狀的種子表面有著白色心形的記號!  很可愛!  它是熱帶多年生藤類多當作是一年生植物.  在氣候溫暖地區是強勢植物.  非常容易落籽繁殖. 以全日照處為最容易栽種.  很小的白花於夏天開放,秋天結小氣球般的小果.  喜熱不耐寒.  成熟株高10-12呎高/長,3-6呎寬幅.  通常以種子來繁殖.  有藥用價值.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiospermum_halicacabum           https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/%E5%80%92%E5%9C%B0%E9%88%B4      http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/648/

 

Turtlehead (Chelone oblique) 龜頭花

Turtlehead (Chelone oblique) 龜頭花

Turtlehead (Chelone oblique) 龜頭花

Turtlehead (Chelone oblique) foliage and ripe seed pods. 龜頭花的葉片與成熟轉黑褐色的種莢.

Turtlehead (Chelone oblique) dried seed pods in late fall/early winter. 龜頭花秋末冬初的乾燥種莢.

Turtlehead (Chelone oblique) seed pod and seeds. 龜頭花種莢與種莢內的種子.

Hardy perennial.  Pink/deep pink flower in late summer to fall.  This wild flowers attract bees and butterflies.  Good for cut flower.  Very easy to grow. Best growing in full sun to partial shade location. Medicinal.  USDA Zones:3-9. Matures size:2′-3′(H) X 1.5′-2.5′(W).   Propagate by seeds or division.

強健的多年生草花.  粉或深粉紅色的花於夏末開到秋天.  這種野花很能吸引蜂蝶. 可做切花. 非常容易栽種.  最好栽種在全日照到半日照處. 藥用. 耐寒也耐熱.  成熟株高2-3呎,寬幅1.5-2.5呎.  繁殖方式以種子或分株來進行.

Reference links:參考網站資料連結:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelone_(plant)

http://www.perennials.com/plants/chelone-obliqua.html

Jessie Starflower (Ipheion ‘Rolf Fiedler’) 藍花韭

Jessie Starflower (Ipheion ‘Rolf Fiedler’) 藍花韭

Flower image see link:  https://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/fallbulbs/starflower/Jessie

Hardy bulbous perennial.  Easy to grow in full sun to partial shade location.  Early spring to late spring with blue flowers.   Good for cut flower. Flowers attract bees and butterflies.   Easy to propagate by seeds, bulbs or dividision.  USDA Zones:5-9.  Mature size: 6″-10″(H).

強健的多年生球根花卉.  容易栽種在全日照到半日照處.  春開藍色小花. 適合切花. 花吸引蜂蝶.  容易以種子,球根或分株來進行繁殖.  耐寒喜熱.   成熟株高6-10吋高.

Floating Heart/Water Snowflake （Nymphoides indica）印度莕菜

Floating Heart/Water Snowflake （Nymphoides indica）印度莕菜

Flower image see: http://www.tropicalplantbook.com/garden_plants/aquatic/nymphoides-indica.htm

Floating Heart/Water Snowflake （Nymphoides indica）印度莕菜

Perennial aquatic plant.  Small single white fringed flowers with yellow center blooming above the water surface in the morning before noon, so cute and delicate!  Photographers should remember this!  😉   Leaves like water lilies floating on the water.  One leaf with one flower.   Long blooming time from late spring to whole summer around 4 months.  Hardy and easy to grow.   Best growing in full sun location rooting in the mud.    USDA Zones:9-11.  Mature size:6′(W).  Propagate by seeds, leaf cutting with the base or division.  Could be invasive in warm region.  Edible. Medicinal.  Whole plant can be animal feed.  Excellent in aquarium tank, big bowl or any pond.

多年生的水生草花.  可愛的白色有毛邊小花出水面而綻放,通常花期於春末到夏季溫暖的時節,於早晨開放到近中午小花就會凋謝. 要拍照的人要記得! 😉 葉如睡蓮浮於水面上,一葉配一花.  花期很長持續一整個夏季約有4個月.  強健易栽種.  最好種在全日照水裡有底泥中.  喜熱不耐寒.    成熟植株的寬幅可達6呎.    繁殖可以種子,葉插法或分株法來進行.  熱帶地區可能變成強勢植物.  可食用及藥用. 全株可當飼料來餵養牲口.  很適合種在水族箱,大碗或池塘.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

http://www.tropicalplantbook.com/garden_plants/aquatic/nymphoides-indica.htm

http://kmweb.coa.gov.tw/Illustrations/detail.aspx?id=730636

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_bd4a55d40101gk7p.html

http://www.victoria-adventure.org/aquatic_plants/david/page1.html

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Water%20Snowflake.html

https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E8%8E%95%E8%8F%9C

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) 漢葒魚腥草

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) 漢葒魚腥草

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) small pink flower and foliage. 漢葒魚腥草的花與葉.

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) flower and seed pods. 漢葒魚腥草的花與種莢.

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) orange red fall foliage. 漢葒魚腥草秋天的橘紅葉色.

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) seedheads and seeds. 漢葒魚腥草的種子與種莢.

Cute dainty pink flowers with beautiful orange red fall foliage!  Very hardy and useful perennial herb.  Very easy to grow.  In fact, it is a natural antibiotic!   It is amazing there are so many useful herbs are in the wild.  🙂  Growing the best in partial shade to full shade location in moist soil.  Excellent in rock garden.  Small pink flowers in late spring to late fall.   USDA Zones:5-9.   Mature size:6″-1′(H) X 6″-1.5′(W).   Medicinal!  Propagate by seeds/cuttings/rhizomes/division.

It is an introduced species, it is considered a weed in warm region. The herb can be steeped in hot water (fresh or dried). Some people may find the herb tea has a pleasant taste with a perceptible hint of strawberry but some don’t.

漢葒魚腥草為牻牛兒苗科老鸛草屬非常耐蔭的多年生草花.  春末到秋末開著粉紅色小巧可愛的花,秋天葉色由綠轉橘紅然後落葉.  非常強健很有用的藥草!  事實上它可是是天然的抗生素的一種呢!  野外常見的野花居然有這麼了不得的功效.  🙂  最好種在半日照到全蔭散光處的溼潤土壤.  挺適合種在岩石花園裡.  耐寒耐熱耐蔭. 成熟株高僅6吋到1呎,寬幅6吋到1.5呎.  藥用.  以種子/枝條扦插/地下根/分株來繁殖.

它原生於歐亞,並非北美原生物種,引進後到如今已多有野生分佈.  全株可泡茶(鮮品或乾燥).  有的人不喜它的味道,有的人覺得它的茶飲用起來有那麼點草莓的風味還不錯.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

http://joebartok.blogspot.ca/2011/07/pics-of-summer-flowers-fields.html

http://www.liveandfeel.com/articles/geranium-robertianum-is-a-natural-antibiotic-with-many-other-health-benefits-3362

http://www.florafinder.com/Species/Geranium_robertianum.php

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/601/

http://frps.eflora.cn/frps/%E6%B1%89%E8%8D%AD%E9%B1%BC%E8%85%A5%E8%8D%89

Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus) 香茅/檸檬草

Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus) 香茅/檸檬草

Lemon Grass is easy to grow from store bought bundle. (Cymbopogon citratus) 香茅/檸檬草很容易從店裡買來的小把來栽種.

Lemon Grass root in a week in warm and moist soil. (Cymbopogon citratus) 香茅/檸檬草溫暖處保濕一週就會發根.

This widely used herb is inexpensive.  Tropical perennial/ornamental grass.   Best growing in warm, full sun to partial shade location.   Whole plant is aromatic with lemony fragrance which is excellent for tea, cooking, insect repellent and medicinal uses.  Fast growing.   Easy to propagate by division.   You can buy a small bundle from supermarket/grocery store and stick them into the rich soil in deeper pot.  Plenty of water to help the stalks to root then water normally.  They will root in just about one week.  Drought tolerant once established.   Very easy to grow!

這個常用於料理的香草價格很親民.  它算是熱帶的草類/觀賞草.  喜生長於溫暖的地區,最好是全日照到半日照的環境.  植株全株有著檸檬香,泡茶很香,料理用或驅蚊蟲或作為藥用,用途廣泛.  易於分株繁殖.  超市上可買一小把來插盆土保濕即可栽種生長. 一週即可長出根來. 根系穩固後植株耐旱.  非常容易栽種!

Carpathian Bellflower (Campanula carpatica ‘Blue Clips’) 矮性叢生風鈴草

Carpathian Bellflower (Campanula carpatica ‘Blue Clips’) 矮性叢生風鈴草

Carpathian Bellflower (Campanula carpatica ‘Blue Clips’) 矮性叢生風鈴草

A hardy perennial.  Easy to grow from seeds or division.  Blue (also has white variety) flowers from late spring to frost if keep dead-heading.    Plants self seed easily.  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location.  USDA Zones:2-9.  Mature size:6″-1.5′(H) X 1′-1.5′(W).  Flowers attract bees and butterflies.  Excellent for edging and rock garden.

強健易栽種的多年生草花.  容易從種子或分株來繁殖.  藍色(也有白花品種)花從夏末開到霜降,如果能一直不讓它結子的話能讓它花期延長到很長.  最好是栽種在全日照到半日照的環境.  太暗會影響到花量也容易造成植株徒長.  耐寒也耐熱.  成熟植株高6吋到1呎,寬幅為1-1.5呎.  花是吸引蜂蝶的蜜源.  很適合作種在花壇的邊緣或岩砌花園的植物.

Bolivian Begonia (Begonia boliviensis) 玻利维亞秋海棠

Bolivian Begonia (Begonia boliviensis) 玻利维亞秋海棠

Bolivian Begonia (Begonia boliviensis) 玻利维亞秋海棠

Bolivian Begonia in large hanging baskets. (Begonia boliviensis) 玻利维亞秋海棠種在大型吊盆中.

Bolivian Begonia (Begonia boliviensis) 玻利维亞秋海棠

Bolivian Begonia male flower. (Begonia boliviensis) 玻利维亞秋海棠雄花.

Bolivian Begonia female flower. (Begonia boliviensis) 玻利维亞秋海棠雌花.

Bolivian Begonia ripe seed pods. (Begonia boliviensis) 玻利维亞秋海棠成熟種莢.

This beautiful begonia with trailing habit.  Very easy to grow.  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location in moist but well drained soil. Tender perennial.  ‘Bonfire’ Mature size:2′-3′(H)/(W).  USDA Zones:9+.  excellent in planters.  In cold region they are treated as annual.

這種很漂亮的秋海棠是枝垂型.  很容易栽種.  最好是種在全日照到半日照處,濕潤但排水佳的土壤中.  喜熱不耐寒的多年生草花. 成熟株高及寬幅為2-3呎. 適於花壇或大盆種植和其它花草搭配.  在耐寒的氣候區多當成一年生草花來種植.

Reference links: 參考資料網站連結:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begonia_boliviensis

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/160830/

按一下以存取 2015%20Garden%20Baskets%20from%20Cuttings.pdf

How to grow bleeding heart from seeds (Dicentra spectabilis )荷包牡丹孵法

How to grow bleeding heart from seeds (Dicentra spectabilis )荷包牡丹孵法

The common pink variety of bleeding heart. 最常見的粉色紅品種的荷包牡丹.

The common white flower variety of bleeding heart. 最常見的白色花品種的荷包牡丹.

This is red flower variety of bleeding heart. 這是紅花品種的荷包牡丹.

Beautiful variety of bleeding heart. 美麗的荷包牡丹金葉品種.

Up-side-down flower looks like ‘lady in bath’. 倒著看花形是不是很像出浴的美人呢?

Bleeding heart seed pods and seeds. (Dicentra spectabilis )荷包牡丹成熟的種莢與種子.

Bleeding heart seeds. 成熟的荷包牡丹種子.

Bleeding heart seedling. (Dicentra spectabilis )荷包牡丹實生小苗.

Best sow in late fall.

以秋播為主.

1.Seeds need be in low temperature to simulate winter period so seeds can germinate.   If you want to grow them in spring time, remember to refrigerate the seeds for 6-8 weeks before that.   Growing medium will need sanitize and not too wet.

1.種子需要一段低溫時間後當溫度提高後才會刺激發芽. 所以如要春播,要先在冰箱做冷層積6-8週. 介質要消毒過,不可太濕.

2.Get a clean pot or container for growing medium.  Place the seeds with space and cover the seeds with growing medium to keep dark.  Keep medium moist but not too wet.  Put the pot or container in partial shade location with good air flow.  If the humidity is low, cover the plastic wrap for few days.

2.種子要覆土. 冷層積後在半日照通風處,保濕但要排水良好,忌過濕積水. 如氣候乾燥可以用保鮮膜包覆以保濕.

3.Transplant seedlings to individual pot or in the ground when seedlings have 4-6 leaves.

3.等種子發芽到4-6片本葉後如要換盆,以腐殖土(酸鹼度一般不挑剔)地植為佳.

Sometimes seeds may take more than a year to germinate if timing is wrong or lack of refrigeration time.

有時種子可能時間點或冷層基積的條件不足會隔年才發芽.