Ypsilandra

A collection by Hinkley from Vietnam of this smaller form of Ypsilandra with narrow leaves in a rosette and smaller compared to Y. thibetica. Ypsilandra are great woodland perennials and we have most often seen them in the wild growing on shaded moist rocks. The usual short magic wand of white flowers in spring. Recent molecular work has moved the Asian genera of Ypsilandra and Heloniopsis to Helonias but we think since these genera diverged from the single line 20 million years ago and have been evolving and speciating ever since, with the only Helonias being in eastern North America, the case for retaining the three genera is pretty good. They will have to pry Ypsilandra from my cold dead fingers.

Fairly recent introduction from China of this superb evergreen perennial. This makes a tidy rosette of evergreen leaves with very attractive scented white flowers in early spring which adds another layer of interest to the shade garden. Makes a nice clump. We say yip-sil-landra by the way. Doesn't mean it's right but we do it so authoritatively that no one questions us. Related to other little treasures like Helonias and Heloniopsis. We saw this on Dayaoshan fall of 2010 where it was growing on little mossy ledges on a shaded cliff face. It is always so exciting to see a plant in habitat when you have gardened with it especially when it is a fairly recent arrival to cultivation.

Our collection where this was growing on a shaded and mossy rock face above a stream. The spider web covered in venomous painful neurotoxin droplets necessitated a frantic wash in the stream. White flowers sporting blue-violet anthers. Great shade plant and unexpectedly lovely in early to mid spring.