China

A crisp October morning at 10000’ on the frozen summit of a mountain in Hubei with small copses of Rhododendron oreodoxa var. fargesii huddled together with leaves curled tubular in the cold. The grassy patches among the rock outcrops were brown and sparkling with frost crystals.  We were there in search of the wee Allium henryi discovered in this area by Irish plant hunter Augustine Henry in the 1880’s but perhaps not introduced as our research indicated it was dubiously in cultivation if at all.  At this point in the season, most herbaceous plants had succumbed to repeated hard frosts and we were left searching for likely maybe could be Allium withered brown foliage and tattered spent seed heads all of 3-4 inches in height.  The view was spectacular although until we could claim a seed or two of a dwarf Allium, we could not give its just due.  At last we found a scant few small plant remains in a weekly-grassed spot and some equally petite remnants in humus pockets on the flanks of a shaded rock cliff.  Less than 10 seeds from each and we could find no more allowing us a moment to soak in the magnificence of lesser mountains marching away before as with precipitous valleys intervening all clad in true firs (Abies fargesii var. fargesii) which was so familiar yet so exotic.  We realized this was one of the great vistas and Kelly said “Mom would like this” and from his pack pulled out a Ziploc of said mom’s ashes and gave them a good scattering.  So what about those onion seeds?  One lot did indeed turn out to be the blue-flowered Allium henryi with flat leaves lined in white underneath while the other, this one, proved to be the thin-leaved and also blue-flowered Allium cyaneum.

A collection by Iris-king Darrell Probst of the well-named bamboo iris. Not the plants of Van Gogh or your grandma, these grow as a series of stout green stems that hold aloft leaves which would be at home in the hands of an aristocratic lady fighting off a summer-time faint. That faint may well have been elicited by the elegant flowers of the palest lilac imaginable which come in small groups. Proof that even classic genera can offer the strange and wonderful.

Our collection from Guizhou in an area famed for its vast diversity and density of Rhododendron species. It was really quite staggering to see the Rhododendrons dominate the landscape even in the fall when all was out of flower. This little Mondo Grass grew as part of the herbaceous understory and had narrow evergreen leaves to 6" with 8" flower stems bearing up to 7 glossy blue-black fruits. Part of our mission here at the nursery is to provide wild-sourced plants in genera that is confused taxonomically in hopes more light can be shed. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy.

Our long-ago (1997) collection of this widespread in nature but poorly represented in cultivation Rhododendron species. This has little to do with its appearance as the petite indumented evergreen leaves and delicate blushing white flowers create quite a handsome overall appearance on a manageably sized plant to boot. Their quickness to bloom and adaptability to various light regimes only add to its garden-worthiness. Unfortunately the hardiness leaves something to be desired, may be doable in a low zone 8 but 8b and up to be safe.

SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY
One of the great Mahonia species or Berberis as they are now sometimes known. We saw this growing on Wawushan in Sichuan where it exhibited it's characteristic waxy white underleaf. Loose sprays of pinky-orange flowers in late summer and early fall are followed by nice fruit. Easy and a connoisseurs foliage plant.