Plants of the Season July-September 2021

BULB: Chinese ground orchid (Bletilla striata). This is a plant that I have enjoyed for several years. It is native to China, Korea, and Japan and is a member of the orchid family. It is a spring flower that is purple or white in color and blooms for several weeks with about 14 flowers per stem which are about 8-15 inches tall. I have the purple one, the color of which is really a deep pink or mauve and is very lovely. Clumps of them will increase from year to year and bloom in profusion. The thin, long pleated leaves are also attractive. They thrive in shade, can take morning sun but avoid afternoon sun. Bletilla striata is hardy down to a temperature of 25°F so no problem growing them in California. It can grow in various soil types and adding some compost or peat will help retain moisture though established plants are fairly drought tolerant. It is a good plant for rock gardens and it does not require much care other than occasional watering. It can also be grown in containers.

There are various cultivars that have been developed in Japan and they can be seen here: http://botanyboy.org/the-only-easy-to-grow-terrestrial-orchid-bletilla-striata/

SHRUB: Chinese Photinia (Photinia serratifolia) is a large, broadleaf, evergreen shrub or small tree in the rose family. It is the largest of the genus reaching 20 ft. to as tall as 39 ft. It is the largest and heaviest blooming of all the Photinias. Plants can thrive in full sun or partial shade. The only reason I know about this plant is that I have many of them coming up in my landscape and then I discovered that my neighbor has a mature specimen that is over 20 feet tall that apparently is sharing its seeds with the neighborhood. The new buds are red and the leaves start out spinose and then change to serrate and end up crenate. The plant does well in full sun to partial shade and in medium moisture, well-drained soil. Established plants are drought tolerant. Its leaves are toxic due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides. The spring bloom of white flowers typically lasts for one to two weeks. The blooms are malodorous. The trees produce bright, red colored fruits less than a half inch in diameter in the autumn and they are a winter food source for various birds and that is no doubt how I end up with lots of seedlings in my landscape; see picture of a seedling.

PERENNIAL: Bear's Breech (Acanthus mollis). I have enjoyed this plant for years although I never planted one. The plant grows from tubers or seeds and need space they grow 5 ft. wide and tall. In doing research, I discovered that the leaves of this plant were used in Greek and Roman art. Most famously, they were used as models for the stone decorations at the top of the classical Corinthian columns. Bear's Breeches produce a striking 5 foot spire of white snapdragon-like flowers topped by purple sheaths. The one pictured here is in my yard and is at the peak of flowering on May 15. It does spread by underground runners and can hence be a bit invasive, but I have not experienced this. It is a Mediterranean native and hence does very well in our California climate. It is very easy to grow and there is little needed in terms of plant care. It tolerates a wide range of well-drained soil types and does best in partial shade with frequent watering. Remove the dead flower stalks after the plants have finished blooming and it is advisable to use gloves as the flower sepals are thorny hence the Acanthus name which means thorny.