by Jackie Bantle and Sara Williams
For the next few weeks, we will be presenting a selection of some lovely perennials, hardy and dependable, which should have a place in every northern garden.
Obtaining them can be a real challenge but well worth the effort. Sadly, they are seldom seen in our nurseries and garden centres. They’re in need of both a marketing agent and a propagation push on the part of the wholesale growers who supply our local nurseries. We have grown some of these species for more than 30 years and recommend them very highly.
Noble fumitory, corydalis (Corydalis nobilis)
Corydalis is one of our earliest perennials, forming leafy mounds of attractive, ferny, pinnately-compound foliage with a blue-green cast. The flowers, in large dense racemes, are bright yellow with a brown tip, each with four petals, one of which is spurred. They appear in early spring on 45 to 60 cm (18-24 in.) stems. By early summer they have entered dormancy, leaving not a trace until the next spring.
They do well in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil with even moisture. Mark their position and take care not to place another plant over them once they become dormant. Place them adjacent to a perennial that will modestly spread into the space vacated by the corydalis by mid-summer. They are a well suited to the edge of a woodland or shade garden.
Note: Although the blue-flowered types are more readily available, they are not reliably hardy in most northern regions.
Corydalis nobilis will self-seed in a very gentle and limited way. Seeds are available from Plant World Seeds (www.plant-world-seeds.com), located in the UK and ships seeds globally. Seeds require a cold period and may take a few weeks or several months to germinate. Plants are available from Lost Horizons Nursery in southern Ontario (www.losthorizons.ca).
‘Rubie’s Choice’ creeping phlox (Phlox borealis)
The genus name is from a Greek word meaning “flame”, referring to the bright pink to red flowers of several species. From 8 to 20 cm (3-8 in.) in height, most have awl shaped, bright green leaves on creeping stems.
Spring blooming, they do best in full sun. Plants can be kept neat by shearing them after bloom.
They are stunning in a rock garden or as edging for a perennial border where the evergreen foliage remains attractive after bloom is finished.
‘Rubies Choice’ is a hybrid of Phlox borealis and P. subulata that originated in Hugh Skinner’s garden in the 1980s. It has bright pink flowers and is more resistant to browning out in winter than any other variety.
Seeds need light to germinate. At 20˚C, seeds should germinate in 7-10 days. Eden Brothers (www.edenbrothers.com) sells seed. Cuttings and plants are available from Wrightman Alpine Nursery in New Brunswick (www.wrightmanalpines.com). Bylands Nursery in BC sells plants. You may want to go directly to the source and contact Skinner’s Nursery and Garden Center in Roblin, Manitoba for plants.
Iris (Iris spp.)
Arctic Iris (Iris setosa var. arctica), native to Siberia and Alaska, thrives under normal garden conditions. Low and grassy, it is 15 to 30 cm (6-12 in.) tall and can be used as a ground cover, at the front of the border or in a sunny rock garden. It has light blue flowers. I. setosa var. indigo has dark violet blue flowers and is a little taller at 30 to 45 cm (12-18 in.).
Spurious iris, bastard iris (Iris spuria), introduced to English gardens as early as 1573, is native from northern Europe to western Asia. The name spuria means false and was given to this species because Linnaeus believed it wasn’t a true species but a group of hybrids.
They are about 90 cm (3 ft) in height with lilac to lavender flowers and erect, glaucous, blue-green foliage.
Hybrids of Iris spuria, available from specialty iris growers, are tall plants to 120 cm (4 ft) with spectacular flowers in an array of colours from yellow to blue, burgundy and brown. They bloom after the tall bearded iris and make excellent cut flowers.
Plant World Seeds sells both of these iris species. Seeds may require a dormant period and can be seeded outdoors in fall for spring germination. Arctic Iris plants are available through Valleybrook Gardens in Abbotsford, BC (www.valleybrook.com). Chapman Iris Farm in Guelph, Ontario (chapmaniris.com) sells Spurious iris plants.
This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (SPS; saskperennial@hotmail.com). Check our website saskperennial.ca) or Facebook page (facebook.com/saskperennial). All Saskatchewan Perennial Society events are on hold until further notice.
