Ligularias Like "Wet Feet"

Ligularia 'The Rocket'

Ligularias (ligs) are outstanding summer flowering perennials  Two species and numerous varieties are grown for their bold foliage and showy flowers. Ligs have one special need: consistent soil moisture through the spring and summer months. Don’t attempt to grow either one of these awesome plants unless their water needs will be satisfied. These plants prefer wet, boggy feet (roots).

Their roots must be kept constantly moist so that leaves don’t wilt or "faint". Even after a summer shower, ligs may still go through a brief spell fainting in the mid-afternoon due to summer heat and water loss from transpiration.  By early evening the leaves recover fully hydrated.

Bigleaf ligs (L. dentata) and narrow-spiked ligularias (L. stenocephala), aka "golden ray", grow well in temperate climes (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Tropical species are listed under the genus Farfugium  (zones 7b -10). Favorite cultivars include: 'The Rocket', 'Bottle Rocket', 'Britt-Marie Crawford', 'Desdemona'.

Ligularias (ligs) thrive in part day sun or light shade all day. Site them nearby water features like within the splash-zone of a waterfall. They grow exceptionally well along woodland creeks.
When properly sited, the foliage remains blemish-free season-long. Disease and pest problems are rare if growing conditions are ideal. Deer and rabbits rarely trouble them
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Planting in containers: plant a single crown into a 3 to 5 gallon size container filled with humus-rich potting soil. To restrict most water loss, line the bottom of the container with plastic shopping bags. This reduces irrigation needs that saves on your monthly water bill.

Small Leaved Anise

'Florida Sunshine' anise at Milliken Arboretum in Spartanburg, SC

In recent years there has been lots of interest in the anise (Illicium) shrub group. Anise shrubs (Illicium spp.) are fast growing, evergreen shrubs (USDA zones 7 to 10). They exhibit a multi-stemmed, upright, compact form. Their green foliage  is quite attractive and aromatic, the odor similar to anise spice when crushed. Their shiny, leathery leaves are olive green in color and the 1.5 inch wide flowers are dark red and appear in early spring.

Yellow anise (Illicium parvifolium), aka small anise, is a Southeast U.S. native. Popularity has soared with the introduction of gold leaf cultivars like 'Florida Sunshine' and Banana Appeal®. The cultivar 'Florida Sunshine' grows only 7-8 feet tall. Both cultivars are more tolerant of full day sun and dry soils. Their gold color becomes sharper over the winter months

In the wild, species shrubs eventually grow 10 to 15 feet tall and should be spaced at least 5-6 feet apart in the landscape. Their natural habitat is in the wet, swampy areas or along wooded streams in humus-rich  acidic soil from Florida to Louisiana. However, newer varieties have demonstrated winter hardiness further north into (zone 6) parts of Tennessee, Carolinas, and Virginia.

Illicium grows in partial to full shade, but reportedly will acclimate to full sun if irrigated. The anise shrub world is changing. Watch for new cultivars arriving at local garden centers.

Uniquely Different Franklinia Tree

Franklinia at NC Arboretum in Asheville, NC

Franklinia (Franklinia altamaha) is a U.S. native large shrub or small tree to 10-25 feet tall. Rated hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5-8, the tree seems best suited in zones 6 to 7.

Success with growing franklinia depends on purchasing a quality nursery plant, proper siting, and care, particularly during the first 2-3 years. Franklinia is only available from e-commerce nurseries and is best planted from late winter to early summer.

The species was first discovered growing in 1765 growing along the banks of the Altamaha River in southeastern Georgia by botanists John and William Bartram. The tree has been extinct in the wild since 1803. All franklinia trees are descendants from seedling propagated by the Bartrams in their Philadelphia, PA garden. Franklinia belongs to the tea family (Theaceae) and is closely related to Camellia, Stewartia and Gordonia (loblolly bay). The tree was named to honor Benjamin Franklin.

The tree’s most striking feature is its showy 2 – 3 inch pure white flowers with clusters of golden yellow stamens in the centers. Franklinia’s camellia-like flowers appear from late summer until frost. The blooms are sweetly-fragrant upclose.  Narrow, oblong-obovate, glossy dark green 3-5 inch long leaves turn several shades of orange, red and purple thru the autumn season. Branching is upright and spreading to create an open airy appearance. Ridged grey bark with prominent vertical white striations adds slight winter interest.

Franklinia grows best grown in humus rich, medium moisture, moderately acidic (pH 5.0 - 6.2) and well-drained soils and in full sun (in North) to partial shade (in Southeast). Franklinia prefers sites similar to azaleas and rhododendrons.

Fertilize in early spring with an acidic based soluble fertilizer such as Miracle Gro®, Miracid®, or Hollytone®. Franklinia also favors an annual feeding of Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) @ 1 Tablespoon per gallon of water per tree.

Franklinia is valued as a specimen or a collector’s tree. Wilt and soil root rot (Phythoptera) are the serious problems. Proper siting of this unique tree is absolutely crucial. It is notoriously finicky to transplant because of its sparse fibrous root system.