New Aquatic Plants A sparkling array of recent introductions and now-in-the-trade -- |
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Saururus chinensis 'Flaming Dragon' (Flaming Dragon Lizards Tail) is a plant that I discovered a few years ago growing amongst the common green lizards tails here at the nursery. It jumped right out at me with its bright golden leaves mixed in with the others. It is more of a shade loving plant as it does have a tendency to burn a bit in full hot sun. I find that it can tolerate more light as a shallow pond plant versus being used as a terrestrial. It is being tested in other parts of the US in various conditions. . |
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It grows to be 1-1/2 feet (.3-.5 meters) tall and will spread as the other lizards tails do though not quite as fast. It also has the same type of drooping white flowers as its sisters but it doesn't bloom very frequently. If it is given warm morning sun and kept out of the hot afternoon sun it will do its best. Great with Black Magic Taro. This is a patented plant (PP #16997) so most of the stock is here at Hughes Water Gardens. |
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Canna glauca 'Davia' (Canna Davia) is a personal favorite, since it is named after my lovely significant other. The blossoms are a pale creamy yellow that are set off quite well by the contrasting grey-blue spear-like leaves this beauty has. It will reach 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5) at maturity and is totally water tolerant. It is a seedling of Canna 'Erebus', the pink Longwood Canna that has been around for years. It seems to be more resistant than most to the virus that sometimes aflicts cannas. Distribution is currently limited to the northwest. |
Cyperus papyrus 'King Tut' (King Tut Egyptian Papyrus, sometimes sold as Cyperus percamenthus) is a great new selection for all aquatic plant growers. It mimics the very large Cyperus papyrus but only reaches 3-4 feet (.9-1.2 meters) in height, yet still has the other characteristics of the larger one. It can be used in many different applications, making it one of the best new tropicals to come along in quite some time. It works fabulously in water bowls or small pond settings and is also an excellent terrestrial garden plant. I have heard that it can scorch in hot summer sun areas but we don't really have that problem here. |
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Kosteletzkya virginica (Seashore Mallow) is a plant you don't often see. I got some seeds a few years back and have been collecting from the mother plants for a couple of years. It resembles the bigger Hibiscus moscheutos (Swamp Mallow) but is smaller. The flowers are 1-2 inches (2.5-5 centimeters) wide and are a clear pink with a yellow center. The leaves are also like its swamp cousin but are also proportionally smaller. It reaches 3-4 feet (.9-1.2 meters) at maturity in the northwest. |
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It is an east coast native that we are just now learning about out west. It seems to winter over fine submerged under the water but as a terrestrial I lost two out of three this past winter. The one survivor is coming on like gangbusters. I think with more winter protection the plants will be fine in the garden. |
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Samolus parviflorus (Water Alyssum) is a great water bowl plant. The blooms are pure white contrasting well with its dark green rosette-shaped form. I got it originally from Walt McCallister from the now defunct McCallister Water Gardens near Napa Valley in the California wine country. It works well in a moist soil garden or as a marginal pond plant. We use it successfully in small floating islands. It does have a tendency to self-sow but it isn't too bad. It just means I get free plants without even trying -- oh darn! |
