Smoke tree

You can find this smoke tree behind the Horticulture Building at Purdue Horticulture Gardens. It doesn't have a label like most of the plants here so I'll guess that it's the European Smoke Tree, Cotinus coggygria. Still has some nice fall color, these pictures were taken November 21, 2010.

Link to Cotinus coggygria:

Link to Cotinus:

Link to Cotinus coggygria:

Link to Purdue's National Champion Cotinus obovatus:

Japanese barberry

This is Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergia 'Atropurpurea'. This picture was taken November 17, 2010. Japanese barberry has the potential to become invasive.

A closer look at this barberry shrub. This picture taken November 17, 2010.


Another look at the fall colors of this same Japanese barberry shrub, taken November 15, 2010.

Link to Berberis thunbergia:

Link to Berberis thunbergia:

Link to Berberis thunbergia 'Atropurpurea':

Link to Berberis thunbergia:

Nierembergia hippomanica

Pictured is Cup Flower, Nierembergia hippomanica 'Blue Mountain'. Nierembergias are closely related to Petunias, both being in the Petunioideae subfamily of the Solanaceae. Picture taken Nov. 9. 2010.

Link to Nierembergia:

Link to Nierembergia hippomanica

Link to Nierembergia linariifolia:

Hydrangia macrophylla

The Mophead Hydrangia, Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer'. Picture taken November 12, 2010.

Link to Hydrangea macrophylla:

Link to Hydrangea macrophylla:

Link to Hydrangea macrophylla:

Link to Hydrangea macrophylla:

Polystichum tsus-simense

Korean Rock Fern (Polystichum tsus-sinense) at Purdue Horticulture Gardens. Picture taken November 9, 2010.

Link to Polystichum:

Link to Polystichum:

The Polystichum that is native to our Indiana woodlands is the Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides. It stays green through the winter.

Link to Polystichum acrostichoides:

Link to Polystichum acrostichoides:

Link to Polystichum acrostichoides:

Aronia arbutifolia in autumn

This Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) shows red berries and fall color. Picture taken November 9, 2010.

Link to earlier post on this Aronia arbutifolia shrub when flowering:

Link to Aronia arbutifolia:

Banana trees in November

The banana trees are still surviving outside in November. The above picture is the Musa basjoo.

Link to previous post on Musa basjoo:

This smaller banana plant is the Blood Banana, Musa zebrina:

Link to Musa zebrina:

This is the Ensete.

Link to previous post on Ensete

All pictures were taken November 1, 2010.

Here is a link to a picture of a banana tree on the Purdue campus in October of 1892:

Diascia

This is a white form of Diascia barberae. The scrofularaceous Diascias are native to South Africa where Rediviva bees have evolved in curious ways to harvest the oils produced by Diascia flowers. Picture taken October 28, 2010.

Link to Diascia:

Link to Diascia barberae:

Link to Rediviva bees:

Maximilian Sunflower not flowering this year either

The Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) planted behind the Horticulture Building hasn't flowered yet this year either.

Link to last year's post on Helianthus maximiliani:

Looks like it is trying to flower and just not making it. These pictures were taken October 22, 2010.

Link to Helianthus maximiliani:

Link to Helianthus maximiliani:

Link to Helianthus maximiliani:

Link to Helianthus maximiliani:

Calendula officinalis

Pictured is Calendula officinalis 'Citrus Smoothie'. Calendulas are sometimes called Pot Marigolds, but don't confuse them with Tagetes which are also called marigolds. Picture taken October 22, 2010.

Link to Calendula officinalis:

Link to Calendula officinalis:

Link to Calendula:

Fuchsia triphylla

Pictured here is Fuchsia triphylla 'Gartenmeister Bonstedt', growing outdoors in a pot at Purdue Horticulture Gardens. In the same pot but not in this picture is Fuchsia 'Paula Jane', a hybrid Fuchsia. Picture taken October 22, 2010.

Link to Fuchsia triphylla:

Link to Fuchsia:

Fuchsias are members of the Onagraceae family along with the evening primroses.

Link to Onagraceae:

Miscanthus sinensis

This is Zebra Grass, Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'. Picture taken Sept. 28, 2010.

Link to Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus':

This is Eulalia Grass, Miscanthus sinensis 'Yaku-Jima'. Picture taken Sept. 28, 2010.

Link to Miscanthus sinensis 'Yaku-Jima':

Link to previous post on Miscanthus sinensis:

Nasturtium

Nasturtium (Tropolaeum majus). Nasturtiums are edible. The leaves are a good example of leaves that are peltate. Picture taken September 23, 2010.

Link to Tropolaeum majus:

Link to Tropolaeum majus:

Link to Tropolaeum majus:

Feverfew

Feverfew (Chrysanthemum tanacetum). Picture taken September 23, 2010.

Link to previous post on feverfew:

Link to Tanacetum parthenium:

Link to Tanacetum parthenium:

Ornamental Cabbage and Kale

Ornamental kales and cabbages are varieties of Brassica oleracea. The ornamental kale at the top half of the picture is Brassica oleracea 'Peacock Red'. The ornamental cabbage at the bottom half of the picture is Brassica oleracea 'Kamone Red'. Picture taken Sept. 13, 2010.

Link to Kale:

Link to Brassica oleracea:

Link to previous post on ornamental cabbage:

Link to Brassica oleracea:

Candy Lily and Blackberry Lily

Here is a comparison of the fruits of the Blackberry Lily (Belamcanda chinensis) and of the Candy Lily (X Pardancanda norrisii). The above picture is the Blackberry Lily.

Link to previous post on Blackberry Lily:

The two pictures below are of the Candy Lily. All pictures taken at Purdue Horticulture Gardens, September 14, 2010.

Candy Lily (X Pardancanda norrisii) is described as a bigeneric hybrid of Belamcanda chinensis and Pardanthopsis dichotoma but since Belamcanda chinensis is really Iris domestica and Pardanthopsis dichotoma is really Iris dichotoma, the Candy Lily is really an Iris hybrid.

Link to Iris dichotoma:

Link to Iris dichotoma:

Link to Iris domestica:

Link to Iris domestica:

A closer look at the fruits and the flowers of the Candy Lily. The label in the picture refers to the plant to the left, Siberian Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia ternata).

Link to Waldsteinia ternata:

Link to Waldsteinia ternata:

Celosia 'Flamingo Feather'

This group of Celosia has become a quite noticeable section of the gardens. It is Celosia argentea spicata 'Flamingo Feather'. Picture taken September 13, 2010.

Link to previous post on Celosia spicata:

Link to pictures of Celosia spicata 'Flamingo Feather':

Link to Celosias:

Persian Shield with Silver-leaved Swedish Ivy

Here is is display of the distinctive purple-silvery leaves of Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) together with the Silver-leaved Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus argentatus 'Silver Shield'). Several species of Plectranthus are known as Swedish Ivy, despite the fact they are not native to Sweden. Plectranthus argentatus is native to eastern Australia. Picture taken September 5, 2010.

Link to Strobilanthes dyerianus:

Link to Plectranthus argentatus:

Link to Plectranthus verticillatus:

Giant Dahlia

This is a hybrid Giant Dahlia, cultivar 'Zorro'.

Link to previous post on Dahlia:

In the same pot as the Giant Dahlia is an Ivy Geranium, Pelargonium peltatum 'Freestyle Lavender'. Pictures taken Sept. 8, 2010.

Link to previous post on Pelargonium peltatum:

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly on Annual Vinca

Two Giant Swallowtail butterflies (Papilio cresphontes) were fluttering about the Annual Vinca (Catharanthus roseus). I managed to photograph this one while it constantly fluttered its wings. These are big butterflies. The flower it is on is Catharanthus roseus 'Titan Dark Red'. Other Catharanthus roseus cultivars on display in this flower bed are 'Titan Apricot', 'Titan Icy Pink' and 'Cora Apricot'. Picture taken September 8, 2010.

Link to Papilio cresphontes:

Link to Papilio cresphontes:

Link to Catharanthus roseus:

Link to Catharanthus roseus:

Monarch Butterfly on Blood Flower

This Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is feeding on Blood Flower (Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Deep Red'). This is another of the milkweed plants that Monarch butterflies are most attracted to. Picture taken Sept. 5, 2010.

Asclepias curassavica has the milkweed flower typical with other members of the Asclepias genus.

Link to milkweed flowers:

Link to milkweed flowers:

Link to last year's post on Asclepias curassavica:

Ipomoea tricolor

These Morning Glory flowers are Ipomoea tricolor 'Heavenly Blue'. Picture taken Sept. 5, 2010.

Link to Ipomoea tricolor:

Link to Ipomoea tricolor:

Monarch butterfly on Sweet Autumn Clematis

This Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is feeding on the Sweet Autumn Clematis vine (Clematis terniflora) at Purdue Horticulture Gardens. Picture taken Sept. 3, 2010.

Link to Danaus plexippus:

Link to last year's post on this Sweet Autumn Clematis vine:

Hybrid Tea Rose

Hybrid Tea Rose, Rosa 'Knock Out'. Picture taken September 3, 2010.

Link to Hybrid Tea Rose:

Link to roses:

Orange sulphur butterfly on Jupiter's Beard

This male orange sulphur butterfly (Colias eurytheme) is on a white cultivar of Jupiter's Beard (Centranthus ruber 'Snow Cloud'). The Colias eurytheme caterpillars can be a problem in alfalfa fields. Picture taken September 3, 2010.

Link to Colias eurytheme:

Link to Colias eurytheme:

Link to Colias eurytheme:

Link to previous post on Centhranthus ruber:

Ornamental sweet potato vine

One of the ornamental sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) on display at Purdue Horticulture Gardens. Picture taken August 30, 2010.

Link to ornamental sweet potato vine:

Link to Ipomoea batatas:

Passionflower on lavender

Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea) has climbed over a bed of lavender. This lavender is labeled Lavandula spica rosea, which should have rose colored flowers. The current synonym for Lavandula spica is Lavandula angustifolia. Picture taken August 30, 2010.

Link to Passiflora caerulea:

Link to Lavandula angustifolia:

Link to previous post on lavender:

Clethra alnifolia

Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird'. Clethra alnifolia is often called Summersweet. Picture taken August 27, 2010.

Link to Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird':

Link to Clethra alnifolia:

Link to Clethra alnifolia:

Link to Clethra alnifolia:

Clethra has its own small plant family, the Clethraceae.

Link to Clethraceae:

Clethra alnifolia is part of the autochthonous flora of the New Jersey pine barrens.

Link to pine barrens flora:

Link to pine barrens flora:

Rex begonia and Torenia

Begonia x rex-cultorum 'Fedor'.

Link to Begonia x rex-cultorum:

Link to Begonia x rex-cultorum:

With Torenia 'Torrie Blue'. Picture taken August 27, 2010.

Link to Torenia:

Link to Torenia:

Carex elata 'Aurea'

Carex elata is a sedge native to Northern Europe and Asia. This cultivar of Carex elata is used to give a golden yellow color to gardens. This is Carex elata 'Aurea', a.k.a. Bowle's Golden Sedge. Picture taken August 25, 2010.

Link to sedge:

Link to Carex elata 'Aurea':

Link to Carex elata:

Butterflies on Zinnia haageana

The flower is Zinnia haageana 'Sombrero'. The butterfly is a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus). Picture taken August 26, 2010.

Link to last year's post on Zinnia haageana:

Link to Epargyreus clarus:

This butterfly is a female Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes). Picture taken August 25, 2010.

Link to Papilio polyxenes:

Link to Papilio polyxenes:

Silver-spotted Skipper on Lantana camara

The butterfly is a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), feeding on Lantana camara 'Bandana Rose'. Picture taken August 25, 2010.

Link to Epargyreus clarus:

Link to Epargyreus clarus:

Link to last year's post on Lantana camara:

Buckeye butterfly on Zinnia angustifolia

Buckeye butterflies (Junonia coenia) have been swarming this Zinnia angustifolia 'Crystal White'. Picture taken August 22, 2010.

Link to Junonia coenia:

Link to Junonia coenia:

Link to Zinnia angustifolia:

Link to Zinnia angustifolia 'Crystal White':

Ornamental peppers

This is a variety of ornamental pepper, Capsicum annuum 'Black Pearl'.

Link to Capsicum annuum 'Black Pearl':

Link to Capsicum annuum 'Black Pearl':

This is the ornamental pepper, Capsicum annuum 'Purple Flash'.

This is the ornamental pepper, Capsicum annuum 'Calico'.

All pictures taken August 22, 2010.

Link to last year's post on ornamental pepper:

Strawflower

Two varieties of strawflower at Purdue Horticulture Gardens. Pictures taken August 19, 2010.

Link to last year's post on strawflower:

Dwarf goldenrod 'Golden Baby'

Dwarf goldenrod, Solidago 'Golden Baby'. Picture taken August 19, 2010.

Link to Solidago 'Golden Baby':

More on Solidago: