Winter aconite

Winter aconite (Eranthis) is coming up at Hort Gardens. This picture taken March 12, 2011.

Link to previous post on winter aconite:

Winter aconite is in Purdue's Hort Park too. Here is last year's post:

Crocus

These Croci are poking out of the ground. This is near the tulip tree at Hort Gardens. Picture taken March 12, 2011.

Link to previous post on the Hort Gardens tulip tree:

Link to Crocus:

Galanthus in February

The snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) are starting to come up, this picture was taken yesterday, February 23, 2011, at Purdue Horticulture Gardens.

Link to last year's post on Galanthus:

Link to more about Galanthus:

Galanthus and some other plants in the family Amaryllidaceae contain the poisonous alkaloid galanthamine, which has some theraputic uses.

Link to galanthamine:

Colchicum speciosum in January

The leaves on this Colchicum speciosum have come out of the ground and are showing some growth in the middle of winter. Picture taken January 17, 2011.

Link to an earlier post on this plant in September:

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: