Conservancy Plants

Fern fans we are, fern experts we are not, but we continue to chip away at the imposing taxonomic massif of Pteridophyta in hopes of becoming somewhat conversational in Fern. Currently, we can ask the equivalent of where the restroom is and order beer when talking Asian ferns. This is a creeping fern with long, thin rhizomes ideally suited for weaving through shallow moss on shaded rock faces with small orbicular-ovate evergreen leaves. This should be reasonably hardy as Acer griseum was growing a short distance away.

Extraordinary botanical and ornamental introduction of this evergreen stoloniferous Dogwood.  Allied to the northern deciduous Cornus canandensis, C. unalaschkensis and C. suecica, this was discovered in the 1930's by Frank Kingdon Ward on high ridges in northern Burma, now Myanmar.  This was never introduced to cultivation and it remained the mythical lost Cornus of Kingdon Ward for 80 years until English botanist Keith Rushforth rediscovered it in Myanmar growing in moss under Rhododendrons and Acer wardii and managed to introduce a handful of clones.  We are fortunate to have four clones and we much admire the glossy evergreen leaves and white-bracted flowers with their dark chocolate stamens.  This has proved hardy for us in our Zone 8a garden and we have hope that given its crazy disjunct location not far from the Tropic of Cancer, that this might be adaptable to the warmer evenings and humidity of the Southeast and East Coast but this remains to be seen.  Extremely rare. A Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy Offering. Proceeds from this offering go to support the mission of Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy.

*Limit of 2 per customer*

The first fern offering from our North Vietnam collections, this poor fella has been called as many names as even the most bullied of unfortunates from Lepisorus to Neolepisorus to the sci-fi devilry of Neocheiropteris. Through the torrid taxonomic seas it has clung to its floating board of delightful egg-shaped-ness, keeping its ovate epithet intact and acing that old proto-parenting assignment. The bright green egg shaped fronds with a rough papery texture are wholly unique and make for one of the ultimate pot displays or epiphytic wonders (for milder climes). We recently planted one out in our tufa wall and are eager to see how it performs for us here. Very rarely offered anywhere due to its slowness and I have never seen this pure green form offered anywhere stateside. One for the true botanical connoisseurs.