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Disporum / Disporopsis (Solomon's Seal)
These related groups of Solomon’s seal occur both in the US and Asia. This year we are pleased to offer several of the best that Asia has to offer. Despite many of these being from warmer Asian climates, we have been amazed at their winter hardiness...some to Zone 5! Disporum/Disporopsis are great, easy-to-grow woodland plants that combine well with both ferns and hostas. |
Disporum flavens (Yellow Fairy Bells)
Part Sun to Shade Zone: 4-9a 30" tall Origin: Korea
(aka: Disporum flavum) One of the most talked-about and easy-to-grow plants in our spring garden is this lovely but rarely seen fairy bell...the best of the genus. As the plant emerges (like a Solomon's seal) in spring, the vivid yellow flowers at the end of the stalk are already visible. As the upright stalk reaches its ultimate height within days, the tips turn outward and the yellow flowers burst forth in a spectacular display...a great upright 2' wide clumper for the woodland garden. In late summer, the clump is covered with dark black berries. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #00691
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Disporum sessile 'Sunray' (Fairy Bells)
Light Shade to ShadeZone: 5-9a 10" tall Origin: Japan
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This amazing fairy bells was brought into the US in 1995 by C.H. Falstad, who obtained the plant from Mrs. Masaoka of Shikoku, Japan. Like D. sessile 'Variegata', it does spread underground from stolons, but unlike the aforementioned, we wish it multiplied faster. The 10" tall stalks arise in midspring, clothed in green leaves heavily streaked in yellow. The streaking changes to white in the summer and often merges together to appear as a solid white leaf center. Also in spring, the clumps are adorned with small white bells. D. 'Sunray' is perfect in a woodland garden or brothel...anywhere a little uncontrolled wandering is permissible.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05037
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Disporum sessile 'Tightwad' (Tightwad Fairy Bells)
Light Shade to ShadeZone: 4-8 6" tall Origin: Korea
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When we came across this unusual variant of Disporum sessile in Korea in 1997, its growth was so tight, we didn't recognize what species it belonged to. After 8 years in our garden, we finally have enough to share of this amazing plant. Growing only about half the height of typical D. sessile, D. 'Tightwad' makes a compact 6" tall stalk of green leaves, adorned with large white bells hanging below the foliage in early spring. Just like D. sessile, it does spread from rhizomes, but it has not become a bother in our garden. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05036
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Disporum smilacinum 'Aureovariegata' (Dwarf Variegated Fairy Bells)
Light Shade to ShadeZone: 5-9a 8" tall Origin: Japan, Korea alternate image
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This selection of the Japanese fairy bells makes a superb specimen in the woodland garden, where it slowly spreads into a nice mass. Each 8" tall stalk is clothed with medium-green leaves, each surrounded by a nice golden margin. D. smilacinum 'Aureovariegata' is adorned in April with attractive creamy-white bells that dangle just below the foliage. This is a rare opportunity to purchase a true collector's plant that also has good garden merit. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04698
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Dracunculus
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Dracunculus vulgaris (Viagra Lily)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5b-8 36" tall Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Hold the phone...hold your nose...cover your eyes...the dazzling Viagra Lily (aka: Dragon Arum) is ready to flower. This amorphophallus cousin from the Mediterranean is equally as bizarre, but much more winter hardy. After cold weather ends, the 3' stalk, clothed with only two three-pedate leaves, emerges from the giant bulb. In late May in NC, the stalk is topped with the 18" flower. Picture a fleshy, purple, ruffled vase, from the center of which emerges a fleshy appendage resembling an upside-down purple carrot...call the botanical artists in your neighborhood for this special treat...(Just tell them to hold their noses for the first day.) Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #02821
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Dryopteris (Male or Wood Fern)
From around the world come fabulous garden performers from the genus Dryopteris. The 225 species of Dryopteris give us the majority of our great garden ferns. Most species prefer evenly moist soils in woodland garden conditions. We strongly recommend planting these fairly near Athyriums (lady ferns)... even plants need a conjugal visit every now and then! |
Dryopteris bissetiana (Beaded Wood Fern)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-8 15" tall Origin: China, Japan, Korea
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This easy-to-grow native to moist, wooded slopes in the Orient makes a fantastic evergreen fern for the woodland garden. The triangular, dark green fronds have a unique beaded appearance on the top. Don't get alarmed in spring waiting for it to start growing, since the new foliage will not occur until June or July. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03927
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Dryopteris celsa (Log Fern)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 5-9 36" tall Origin: USA
New crop available 6-12-2008 This very rare but extremely easy-to-grow native is a naturally-occurring hybrid between D. ludoviciana and D. goldiana. The growth habit is an upright but rotund form with large, coarse, dark green, 1' wide semi-evergreen fronds. Think of this as a "bubba" fern for the moist woodland garden, eventually making a clump 3' tall x 2' wide. Although it is very tolerant of dry sites, a nice damp piece of ground will really produce spectacular results. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01288
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Dryopteris crassirhizoma coll. #A1K-097B (Thick Stem Wood Fern)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-8 36" tall Origin: Asia alternate image
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(syn: D. buschiana) This handsome, tall, Clark Gablesque, vase-shaped fern usually forms a stunning solitary crown and can reach 3'+ tall when happy. The semi-evergreen, thick-textured fronds give a very tropical appearance in the garden. In winter, the fronds remain green but lie flat on the ground, helping to protect those nearby from the ravages of winter. Our plants were grown from spores from 4150' in elevation on Korea's famed Mt. Odae. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05389
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Dryopteris cycadina (Shaggy Shield Fern)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 5-8 18" tall Origin: China
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(aka: D. atrata) This medium-sized, semi-evergreen fern from China is a distinctive addition to the woodland garden with its very dark-green, heavily textured foliage and black stipe (sort of like a petiole)...well, it's awfully hard to describe a fern, but this one is really nice. When it emerges in spring, all of the visitors comment on its beauty, then leave the nursery with several! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01287
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Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' (Brilliance Autumn Fern)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-9 24" tall Origin: E. Asia
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This selected form of autumn fern has brighter red new growth than what is typically seen with spore-grown plants. Frankly, all autumn ferns have great color when the new fronds emerge from the evergreen clump, so this is really something special. Autumn fern is a very easy-to-grow fern making a 2' wide clump that is tolerant of a wide range of garden conditions, including extreme drought, once established. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05293
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Dryopteris erythrosora var. prolifica (Lacy Autumn Fern)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 5-9 12" tall Origin: E. Asia
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This unique fern is a lacy leaf form of the easy-to-grow and popular autumn fern. Each 1' tall drought-tolerant evergreen clump boasts lacily-cut, dark green foliage that emerges cinnamon-red throughout the growing season. In humid climates, the fronds will produce new plantlets along the edges of the leaves...very cool! You'll love the texture as you weave these into the woodland garden. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04754
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Dryopteris filix-mas 'Parsley' (Parsley Male Fern)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 4-8 18" tall Origin: USA, Europe
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This new introduction was discovered in the US as a sporeling with a particularly congested form and occasional crinkled fronds. When fully grown, expect a 18" tall x 2' wide deciduous clump...very attractive. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07782
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Dryopteris formosana (Formosa Wood Fern)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 6-9, at least 18" tall Origin: Japan, Taiwan, Philippines
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This Asian native makes an attractive, easy-to-grow, 18" tall x 30" wide evergreen clump. The airy-textured, 2' long, deep green fronds widen considerably at the base where the last set of pinnules turns downward...quite unique. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04406
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Dryopteris goldiana (Goldie's Wood Fern)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 3-8 48" tall Origin: USA
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This gem is the largest of the US native (MN south to AL) evergreen Dryopteris species. Shaggy brown fiddleheads unfurl in spring until they transform into 4' long fronds of dark green. D. goldiana makes a spectacular clump in a moist, acidic woodland garden, albeit is also quite drought tolerant when the need arises. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01625
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Dryopteris indusiata (Indusiate Male Fern)
Light ShadeZone: 6-8, at least 18" tall Origin: China
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This little-known and little-grown evergreen Chinese native has proven to be a very good and tough addition to the woodland garden. Our 3-year-old clumps are now 18" tall x 18" wide with very sturdy, dark green fronds. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05993
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Dryopteris ludoviciana (Southern Shield Fern)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 6-9, possibly colder 36" tall Origin: USA
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This stately semi-evergreen clumping fern, native to southeastern US, makes a wonderful addition to the woodland garden. The shiny, but leathery 3' tall fronds form a striking upright architectural specimen in the garden. Despite being native to swamps, D. ludoviciana has performed admirably for us in normal garden conditions. According to fern guru Dr. John Mickel, it also occasionally occurs naturally on limestone outcrops, indicating a good tolerance for sweet soils. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #00611
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Dryopteris munchii (Mexican Snack Fern)
Light ShadeZone: 7b-9, at least 18" tall Origin: Mexico
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We have been unable to determine its proper immigration status, but since it has now had babies in the US, this native of 6500' - 8500' in southern Mexico is in our garden to stay. Forming a 2' wide clump, the arching 2' fronds make a superb evergreen specimen clump in the woodland garden. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05046
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Dryopteris tokyoensis (Tokyo Wood Fern)
Light ShadeZone: 5-8 18" tall Origin: Japan, Korea
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The Tokyo wood fern is one of those little-known but very easy-to-grow deciduous woodland ferns, native to woodlands from Honshu to Shikoku and across to Korea. The tight clump of upright, narrow, 2' long fronds provides a nice vertical accent in the woodland garden. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03650
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Dryopteris uniformis 'Cristata' (Petticoat Uniformed Male Fern)
Light Shade to ShadeZone: 5-8 20" tall Origin: China, Japan, Korea alternate image
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The petticoat uniformed male fern gives a new meaning to the expression "fern in drag"...you'll have to buy this simply for the name. From mountainous woodlands comes this easy-to-grow Asian native, which forms a medium-sized tight clump of 2' long, erect, dark evergreen fronds. The tip of each pinnae (leaflet) is, of course, a tiny petticoat. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03516
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Dryopteris varia coll.# CSC009008 (Vari Nice Fern)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 6b-9, at least 24" tall Origin: China
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This little-known semi-evergreen fern makes a nice clump, composed of very wide green fronds that emerge with an attractive bronze coloration. Although slow-growing, Dryopteris varia is quite easy-to-grow when planted in an evenly moist soil, eventually forming a 2' tall x 2' wide clump. These offerings are spore-propagated from original spore collected by Darrell Probst from 3160' in elevation near Jinfo-shan in China's Chongqing Province.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04835
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Dryopteris villarii (Rigid Buckler Fern)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 5-8 16" tall Origin: Europe
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From Central and Western Europe comes this 10" tall deciduous fern. Emerging from the creeping rhizomes are short brown stems carrying the 8" tall, grey-green fronds. In the wild, D. villarii is a limestone lover but seems to adapt well to most garden soils. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03247
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Dryopteris x australis (Dixie Wood Fern)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-9 50" tall Origin: USA
New crop available 5-29-2008 This is a very rare native, a naturally-occurring hybrid between D. celsa and D. ludoviciana. The growth habit is dramatically upright with large, coarse, dark green, semi-evergreen fronds...reminiscent of a giant Christmas fern plugged into an electrical outlet! This is a very structural fern for the moist woodland garden, eventually making a clump 4'+ tall x 2' wide. Although it is very tolerant of dry sites, a nice damp piece of ground will really produce spectacular results. Due to the fact that this fern is practically sterile, propagation is limited to division of the clump. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03546
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| <Dianthus - Disporopsis] | [Echeandia - Ensete> |
