Thursday, November 25, 2010
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.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
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:
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:
Monday, November 15, 2010
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.
Friday, November 12, 2010
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:
Thursday, November 11, 2010
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:
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
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:
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Banana trees in November
The banana trees are still surviving outside in November. The above picture is the Musa basjoo.
Friday, October 29, 2010
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.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Maximilian Sunflower not flowering this year either
The Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) planted behind the Horticulture Building hasn't flowered yet this year either.
Monday, October 25, 2010
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.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
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.
Fuchsias are members of the Onagraceae family along with the evening primroses.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
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.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Nasturtium
Nasturtium (Tropolaeum majus). Nasturtiums are edible. The leaves are a good example of leaves that are peltate. Picture taken September 23, 2010.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
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.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, September 13, 2010
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.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
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.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Giant Dahlia
This is a hybrid Giant Dahlia, cultivar 'Zorro'.
In the same pot as the Giant Dahlia is an Ivy Geranium, Pelargonium peltatum 'Freestyle Lavender'. Pictures taken Sept. 8, 2010.
In the same pot as the Giant Dahlia is an Ivy Geranium, Pelargonium peltatum 'Freestyle Lavender'. Pictures taken Sept. 8, 2010.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
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.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
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.
Monday, September 6, 2010
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.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
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.
Ornamental sweet potato vine
One of the ornamental sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) on display at Purdue Horticulture Gardens. Picture taken August 30, 2010.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
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.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Clethra alnifolia
Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird'. Clethra alnifolia is often called Summersweet. Picture taken August 27, 2010.
Clethra has its own small plant family, the Clethraceae.
Clethra alnifolia is part of the autochthonous flora of the New Jersey pine barrens.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
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:
Friday, August 27, 2010
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.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Butterflies on Zinnia haageana
The flower is Zinnia haageana 'Sombrero'. The butterfly is a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus). Picture taken August 26, 2010.
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.
Monday, August 23, 2010
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'.
This is the ornamental pepper, Capsicum annuum 'Purple Flash'.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Strawflower
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Dwarf goldenrod 'Golden Baby'
Dwarf goldenrod, Solidago 'Golden Baby'. Picture taken August 19, 2010.
Link to Solidago 'Golden Baby':
More on Solidago: