Hey campers. As we face the amazing landslide of Thanksgiving and Christmas materials, we look forward to “the time after,” where we can research our upcoming orders and purchases for the upcoming 2025 gardening season. Today we’re going to investigate three unusual and disparate plants: an aralia, an Anemone, and a trailing foamflower.
We start with Fatsia ‘Spider’s Web’, which was once so rare, it was in the hands of only a handful of collectors in Japan. It was originally a gift to me from MY sensei (Chiba University professor Dr. Masato Yokoi’s) professor! Through the magic of tissue culture, I was able to multiply the pencil-sized cutting to tens of thousands of plants! It is an unusually variegated masterpiece with large, palmate leaves splashed and spotted with white. Moving our sights much further down is this feisty groundcover with dark red-brown splashing. This plant will trail three feet in a single season and fill that niche under the Hosta ‘ghettos’ (thanks, Lauren Springer for that term), spreading over the root zone, rooting wherever it touches soil and keeping weeds out and maintaining moisture at the root-zone. Moving to another zone, we have a new Anemone that fills that late summer/fall period with fresh flowers and beautiful form where most flowers look beat and burnt. What’s wrong with Anemones? They can run. Badly. Terra Nova to the rescue! Our wonderful breeders have isolated a more dwarf form that does not run like the tall varieties. Plants were also selected for masses of bright-colored blooms over an extended period. They are tolerant of most any type of soil and can add a special point of interest to your fall containers.
Come to www.terranovanurseries.com and download our latest catalog (it’s a doozy!) So many cool plants! Let’s have a look!
Fatsia ‘Spider’s Web’
At one time, this was one of the rarest Fatsias in existence! It was named and given to me by my sensei, Dr. Masato Yokoi of Tokyo, Japan. Every plant seen today is derived in tissue culture from a pencil-sized cutting with a single root, washed, inspected, and transported thousands of miles to the US. This desirable rare evergreen has white splashing and dotting on broad, palmate leaves. The variegation changes with the seasons and as the plant ages. Starry, globe-shaped white flowers grace this plant in late fall and early winter. Late-season pollinators never miss this nectar dripping flower. This form is shrubbier than the straight species. It grows up to sixty-five inches tall by sixty inches wide. It’s happy in shade or partial shade, with morning sun being an ideal location. Hardy in USDA Zones seven to nine, and it can be used as a houseplant. Wonderful and showy in large outdoor containers or in a woodland location.
A lovely, rapidly trailing groundcover which sports numerous branches. Well-marked, dark chocolate-splashed leaves have a large splatter pattern. Better marked than 'Running Tapestry'. A great groundcover for shade or in a hanging basket. Short white flowers. Vigorous without getting out of hand. The white flowers rise to six inches high on a spreading but handsome habit, thirty-six inches wide by four inches high. Bloomtime is May through July though you may see flowers in autumn. Excellent in a full shade or partially shady border or for container use. Use with Hellebores in your earliest spring containers. Hardy in USDA Zones four to nine. Try mixing with Hosta, Heuchera or Bergenia.
Another great genetic dwarf with full sized flowers from TERRA NOVA®! Pink daisy-like flowers cover this plant from late July until October. Excellent pot performance. Bred to be slow to run underground and features large, but proportional blooms (this “not crazy” spreading is a Terra Nova feature). Pink flowers rise to fourteen inches high on an upright but compact habit, thirteen inches wide by twelve inches high. Bloomtime is from July through October. Excellent in a mid-border or large container. A wonderful garden or featured pot plant for full to partial sun. Hardy in USDA Zones four to nine.
Dan Heims is an award-winning author who lectures throughout the world. He was recently honored by The American Horticultural Society with the Luther Burbank Breeding Award, as well as the Perennial Plant Association’s Award of Merit. He was also honored in receiving the Royal Horticultural Society’s Reginald Cory Cup for advancements in breeding. You may contact Dan at [email protected] Questions on culture and care or availability for a speaking engagement can be found at this email.
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
Few bulbs are easier to grow than amaryllis-and few bloom with greater exuberance and beauty. But many just toss them at the end of their initial show.
Importantly there are tricks to get them to bloom again. Click here for an informative article about extending the life of amaryllis.
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