Taiwan

Very cute dwarf with more floral punch than expected from a plant a mere 8"-12" tall. White powder-puff flowers go on for weeks and are held nicely above maidenhair foliage. This Japanese selection of a Taiwan mountain species correctly suggests growing in the rock garden but is also perfect for that small spot begging for something perfect.

This rarity was collected by Crug Farm near Hualien in eastern Taiwan and has the largest flowers of all the Crug Farm Tricyrtis at over 2" across and so they Asian-named it for its whopping big flowers. Pale flowers heavily spotted in maroon with a slight yellow throat. Layers of flowers on lax stems from Jul-Nov.

A Philip MacDougall collection from central Taiwan of this dainty in appearance species. Small leaves which are reddish when young pair nicely with the small white flowers in spring which are fortunate to have a red spot on the back of each petal which makes them just that much nicer. Upright habit and likes part shade. Although this has been recorded as 25' small trees in Taiwan, you and I won't live long enough to see that so 6'-10' tall is a reasonable height to expect.

A Hinkley collection from Taiwan of this interesting Composite whose deeply dissected foliage carries the day and is especially effective in half sun. Not a genus that leaps to the fore when thinking of flowers, this is a great foliage plant and intriguing in first growth. Collected as S. intermedia, this is most likely the species subglabrata. We have yet to meet a Syneilesis that we don't think highly of - (well, there are the unstable variegated ones) - and when mature, these tough clumping perennials literally force you to stop and admire.

A small evergreen shrub in everyone's favorite family, the Pentaphylacaceae. This was collected in Taiwan by Mark Weathington of the famed Raulston Arboretum and is a rarity in cultivation. Best suited for mild gardens, this will have very small white flowers along the stems under the leaves followed by small black fruit. Best planted in a raised position to better view the flowers.

A Hinkley collection from Taiwan of this surprisingly tough broad-leafed evergreen shrub. We have planted it out in full exposure here in our heinous windy maritime steppe and it survives far better than it should having taken 10F. We should really be brought up on charges. We can imagine if being glorious in a more sheltered position where it can grow 10'-15' tall with rounded clusters of fragrant small yellow flowers.

Collected in Taiwan by gifted plantsman Steve Doonan, this amazing Fern is hardy to at least single digits. This is a locally famous fern frustratingly slow to propagate and always red-lining the Plant Lust meter. We're happy to have some to share. Hard to imagine this is a fern with these big leathery evergreen leaves up to 18" long and with that glorious underleaf when mature. Likes good drainage and not too wet but gently moist. The Pyrossias we've seen in Arunachal Pradesh and China love to grow in moss on top of rocks and really love a good stone wall. Easy in morning sun or light shade. Mulch in winter first year or two.

Evergreen Hydrangea vine which superglues itself to the trunks of Douglas Firs like they were made for each other. This will climb skywards to 20' and lighten the forest shade with its lacy 6" wide white flowers. Best if watered in summer and given good rich soil. Beauty.

We have just a handful of this choice form of the species in which the pinnae are distinctly undulated adding yet another layer of tasteful complexity to a species already awash in attributes. It really isn't fair to be born with gorgeous 6'-7' fronds but do you have to flaunt undulation too? Well, yes.

We're smitten by gesneriads - the African Violet family - and especially those with some hardiness, which can be grown outside in our area with some consideration to siting and winter protection. This was shared with us by Peckerwood Gardens in Texas where it is very happy. White flowers red inside in the fall are bit of flora exotica. This Taiwan native can take dips into the teens especially with some mulch.

From a Crug Farm collection comes this rare woodlander. We are smitten by all the members of this genus as well as it's kith and kin in other genera. This has the pendulous greenish white flowers so familiar yet so intriguing. A shade garden bereft Convallariaceae quietly weeps.