Double Autumn Crocus (Colchicum ‘Water Lily’) 重瓣秋水仙 ‘睡蓮’

Double Autumn Crocus (Colchicum ‘Water Lily’) 重瓣秋水仙 ‘睡蓮’

Double Autumn Crocus (Colchicum ‘Water Lily’) 重瓣秋水仙 ‘睡蓮’

Double Autumn Crocus (Colchicum ‘Water Lily’) 重瓣秋水仙 ‘睡蓮’

Double Autumn Crocus (Colchicum ‘Water Lily’) in early spring. Bulb is growing leaves. Time to fertilize the plant for fall blooming. 重瓣秋水仙 ‘睡蓮’初春長葉要施肥養肥些,秋天才有花可開.

Very hardy flowering bulb.   This is blooming in autumn with lavender pink double flowers, growing large foliage in spring and summer.   Best growing in full sun location in organic soil.  Flowers do look alike water lily.  🙂   USDA Zones:4-9. Mature size:5″(H) X 3″-6″(W).  Propagate by bulbs/corms or offsets.  Toxic if ingested, direct contact may cause skin irritation.

非常強健的球根花卉是少見的秋天開花的植物的一種. 秋開重瓣粉紫色的花,春夏長大片的葉子.  最好是栽種在全日照處用有機沃土來栽培. 花形真的很像睡蓮. 🙂  很耐寒也耐熱.  成熟株高5吋,寬幅3-6吋.  以無性繁殖來進行,球根/子球或側芽來繁殖.  有毒勿食,直接接觸的話可能引起皮膚不適.

Reference links: 參考網站資料連結:

http://www.rainyside.com/plant_gallery/bulbs/ColchicumWaterLily.html#gg    http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d539

Emerald Cedars (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) 北美香柏

Emerald Cedars (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) 北美香柏

Emerald Cedar growing cones in late summer. (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) 北美香柏夏末結滿毬果.

Emerald Cedars cones and seeds. (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) 北美香柏的小毬果及毬果內的種子.

Emerald Cedars cones and seeds. (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) 北美香柏的一個小毬果內的種子,大約有5顆種子.

Emerald Cedars seedling.(Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) 北美香柏第一年的實生苗大小.

Emerald Cedars seedling.(Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) 北美香柏第一年的實生苗大小.

It is very common vertical evergreen tree grow as hedges/screen.  Very easy to grow.  Winter hardy and drought tolerant once established.   USDA Zones:2-8. Mature size:10′-12′(H) X 4′-8′(W).  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location.  Water well after planting until the roots adopt the ground.   It is needed to water them in dry winter.  Trimming once a while to control height and width can keep them the best shape!

非常常見用於綠籬的直立型常綠樹種.  非常容易栽種.  生長適應後很耐寒耐旱.  成熟株高10-12呎,寬幅4-8呎.  最好種在全日照到半日照處. 剛種下要注意給水充份.  冬天乾冷時有必要給水.  偶爾修剪以控制高度及寬幅是必要的以使植株能維持在最佳狀態!

Reference links:  參考網站資料連結:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuja_occidentalis
http://cedarontario.ca/cedar-trees-for-sale/emerald-cedars/

Lavage (Levisticum officinale) 歐當歸

Lavage（Levisticum officinale）歐當歸

Lavage seed packet and seeds.(Levisticum officinale) 歐當歸種子包及種子.

Medicinal perennial herb, winter hardy. Native in Europe and Asia.  This aromatic large plant is very easy to grow in full sun to partial shade location.  USDA Zones:3-7.  Mature size:3′-4′(H) but some says higher up to 7′(H) X 1.5′-2′(W).  Fragrant yellow-green flowers appear in mid summer then set seeds easily.  Very hardy.  You can cook the leaves with stalk as leafy vegetable with food, which gives celery fragrance.   The fragrance is also has been use in soap making.  Medicinal.   One of the low maintenance, winter hardy perennial vegetables!

多年生藥用植物. 很耐寒.  原生於歐亞地區. 這種大型的香氣足的植物,易栽種在全日照到半日照處.  成熟株高3-4呎寬有人說能長到7呎高,寬幅可達約1.5到2呎寬.  黃綠色有香味的花於仲夏盛開然後很容易結子.  非常強健.  莖葉可以同其他食材炒食. 有芹菜的香氣.  由於有清新的香氣所以廣泛用於製皂時加入以增加皂香. 藥用植物.  它也是一種不須管理的強健多年生蔬菜!

Reference links: 參考資料網站連結:

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-725-lovage.aspx?activeingredientid=725&activeingredientname=lovage

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/lovage-plant-zmaz79mjzraw.aspx

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

https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/%E6%AC%A7%E5%BD%93%E5%BD%92

Northern Catalpa/Cigar Tree (Catalpa speciosa) 黃金樹/西美梓

Northern Catalpa/Cigar Tree (Catalpa speciosa) 黃金樹/西美梓

Northern Catalpa/Cigar Tree flowers in summer.(Catalpa speciosa) 黃金樹/西美梓夏天開的花.

Northern Catalpa/Cigar Tree (Catalpa speciosa) 黃金樹/西美梓

Northern Catalpa/Cigar Tree (Catalpa speciosa) 黃金樹/西美梓

They are flowering right now in the city!  It is beautiful when they bloom in late spring to early summer.  Large heart shaped leaves.  Very hardy and easy growing large tree in full sun location.   Long seed pods do look like lots of long cigars hanging among the branches in late summer to early fall.  USDA Zones:4-9.  Mature size:40’+(H) X 10′(W).  Plant parts are toxic if ingested.  Fast growing.  A good shade tree.

西美梓現在正是花期市內到處可以看到它們開花!  很大片的心形葉.  春末夏初開花蠻漂亮的,夏末秋初長長的種莢成熟看起來的確像是一堆長長的雪茄掛在樹上. 很耐寒.  強健. 容易栽種在全日照處.  容易由種子繁殖. 成熟株高40呎以上,寬幅10呎左右.  植株有毒勿食.  生長快速.  很不錯的遮蔭樹種.

Reference links: 參考網站連結:

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

https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A2%93%E6%9C%A8

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2315/

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) 三葉天南星

 Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) 三葉天南星

Flower image see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arisaema_triphyllum#/media/File:Jack-in-the-pulpit.JPG

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) 三葉天南星

Cold and shade tolerant perennial.  Very hardy and easy to grow.  Best in partial shade but also tolerant full shade location.  Unusual flowers in spring.  USDA Zones:5-9.   Mature size:1.5′-2′(H) X 1′-1.5′(W).  Propagate by seeds/rhizomes/corms/ bulbs/offsets.   Whole plant is toxic if ingested.

天南星屬的多年生球根類耐蔭植物.  極其強健易栽培.  最好是種在半日照處,全蔭處亦可生長.  春天開花,花形相當奇特.  耐寒也耐熱.  成熟株高1.5-2呎高,寬幅為1-1.5呎.   繁殖方式以種子/地下根莖/球根.   全株有毒勿食.

Reference links:

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

http://www.finegardening.com/jack-pulpit-arisaema-triphyllum

Asitaba/Ashitiba (Angelica keiskei) 明日葉

Asitaba/Ashitiba (Angelica keiskei) 明日葉

Plant and info see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashitaba#/media/File:Angelica_keiskei_leaves.jpg

Asitaba/Ashitiba seeds.(Angelica keiskei) 明日葉的種子.

Asitaba/Ashitiba seed germination.(Angelica keiskei) 明日葉的種子發芽.

Asitaba/Ashitiba (Angelica keiskei) seedling. 明日葉小苗.

That “ashitaba" in Japanese means literally “tomorrow’s leaf" because it grows so fast that you cut today and tomorrow will grow to recover it.   This plant usually grow for eating its tender leaves and shoots as leafy vegetable.   There are lots of studies show it is very good to treat chronic disease.  Seeds germination normally 50%.

明日葉一名是日文的字面意思.  意指今日採葉明日又長.  它的生長速度驚人. 通常種來當作葉菜採其嫩葉與嫩莖來食用.  有藥效.對許多種的慢性病都有幫助.  種子發芽率約50%.

It is a biennial herb and leafy vegetable. Even though it is normally a biennial, if remove flowers in the early stage can keep the plant live up to 4 to 5 years.   Very common and popular in Asia.  Fragrant flowers.  Flowering in late spring to early summer then set seeds.  Easy to grow from seeds.  Prefers growing in full sun to partial shade location.  Mature size:6′-8′(H) X 2′(W).  USDA Zones:4-9.

雖為二年生草本但是不令其結子的話可以生長到4-5年.  全株可以當葉菜食用或藥用.  成熟株高可達6-8呎,寬2呎.  容易栽種,喜全日照到半日照.  以種子繁殖.  非常耐寒.

Reference links: 參考網站連結:

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

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/188317/

http://baike.baidu.com/view/62894.htm

http://www.mingriye.com/zhongzhipeiyu/62.html

Purple-leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus x cistena)紫葉矮櫻

Purple-leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus x cistena)紫葉矮櫻

Purple-leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus x cistena)紫葉矮櫻

Purple-leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus x cistena)紫葉矮櫻

Purple-leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus x cistena)紫葉矮櫻

Nice flowering shrub flowers in spring with small pink single fragrant flowers.  Very hardy.  Foliage colour is purple-red.   Easy to grow and very hardy.  Best growing in full sun to partial shade location. USDA Zones:4-8. Mature size:4′-6′(H) and (W).  But it is easy to be pruned to desired size.  Propagate by cuttings, grafting or seeds although not often fruit.  Fall foliage is brighter red or purple.

It goes very well in small garden or with evergreen in rock garden. 🙂

小型開花灌木,春天開有香味的粉紅色單瓣小花,葉片為紫紅色.  容易栽種和修剪,強健.  全日照或半日照處為佳. 耐寒性佳. 成熟株高6-8呎高及寬幅.  以扦插或高壓來繁殖.種子也可但不常見到結果. 秋天它的紫葉會變的較紅.

Chinese Artichoke/Artichoke Betony (Stachys affinis) 甘露子/草石蠶

Chinese Artichoke/Artichoke Betony (Stachys affinis) 甘露子/草石蠶

Chinese Artichoke/Artichoke Betony flowers. (Stachys affinis) 甘露子/草石蠶開的花

Chinese Artichoke/Artichoke Betony flowers. (Stachys affinis) 甘露子/草石蠶開的花

Chinese Artichoke/Artichoke Betony edible tubers. (Stachys affinis) 甘露子/草石蠶可食用的塊根.

Chinese Artichoke/Artichoke Betony tubers turn green and grow shoots. (Stachys affinis) 甘露子/草石蠶球根轉綠後長出新芽.

Chinese Artichoke/Artichoke Betony tubers now have leaves. (Stachys affinis) 甘露子/草石蠶球根轉綠後長出葉片.

Very interesting vegetable!  This is an odd looking root vegetable and it is  a hardy perennial!  Yes, the edible roots/tubers/rhizomes do look like jade beads or worm like shape.  Very hardy and easy to grow.  Normally propagate by roots/rhizomes or dividing the plant clumps.  The texture and flavour is similar to Jerusalem artichoke.  But often prepared as pickle as side dish or garnish.  Small pink-purplish flowers in mid-late summer.  Best to grow it in full sun location.  USDA Zones:5-9.   Mature size: 1′-1.5′(H) x 6″(W).  Medicinal herb.

很有意思的植物!  這是有著毛蟲或螺螄或珠串形狀球根的地下根莖類蔬菜.  非常強健易於栽種.  一般是以如圖的小球根來繁殖,但也可用種子或分株來繁殖. 吃起來像是菊芋般的口感. 通常以醬菜的形式或是當作菜餚上的擺飾點綴.  夏天在直立的花串上開紫色小花.  全日照栽培為佳.  耐寒性佳.  成熟植株高1呎到1呎半,寬幅約6吋.  藥用植物.

Reference links: 參考資料網站連結:

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

http://www.dianshu119.com/index.php?doc-view-444.html

Dwarf hardy Hibiscus(Hibiscus moscheutos) 大花扶桑

Dwarf hardy Hibiscus(Hibiscus moscheutos) 大花扶桑

Dwarf hardy Hibiscus(Hibiscus moscheutos) This flower is measured 13.5″. 大花扶桑 此朵花徑有34.3公分.

Dwarf hardy Hibiscus(Hibiscus moscheutos) This flower is measured 32 cm. 大花扶桑 此朵花徑有32公分.

I always happy to see its very large flowers in summer! It always wows my guests. This hardy perennial is very easy to grow in full sun location in any garden. This plant already been in my garden for many years, even though the plant tag said only to 3′ tall but today it is 7′ tall and 5′ wide! I did not do any winter protection for it. It is winter hardy type. USDA Zones:5-9. Mature size:3′-7′(H) x 3′-5′(W). Easy to propagate by seeds or cuttings.

非常大花的扶桑. 多年生夏天開花開到霜降. 來客看到都被它的超大花徑嚇到. 全日照的花園都能種植. 原本的花牌說高度只有3呎可是被我養到7呎高,5呎寬了! 我並沒有幫它做防冬的準備,根本是粗放種植. 喜熱耐寒. 成熟植株高應為3-7呎,寬幅為3-5呎. 容易以種子或扦插來繁殖. 花色基本上有白色,大紅色和粉紅色為主.

Rose Campion(Lychnis coronaria)毛剪秋羅

Rose Campion(Lychnis coronaria)毛剪秋羅

Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria) 毛剪秋羅

Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria) 毛剪秋羅

 

 

This beautiful showy hardy perennial is very easy to grow. Fast growing, drought tolerant and good for cut flower. It is summer flowering with deep pink / red or white flowers which attract butterflies. USDA Zones: 3-9. Mature size: 2′-3′ (H) x 1′-1.5′(W). Prefers full sun to partial shade location. Sometimes need support and dead-headed to keep tidy. Often self-seeds.

石竹科剪秋羅屬的多年生草花. 強健耐旱耐寒,會自行落籽繁殖. 花色豔麗配上銀白色的莖葉很出色. 喜歡全日照到半日照的環境. 夏天開紅色,白色或粉紅色花,頗吸引蝴蝶,花可做切花. 成熟株高為2-3呎,寬為1-1.5呎. 植物瘦高有時需要支撐物和摘除謝掉的花朵讓它看起來總是最佳狀態.