THE ROGERS PARK GARDEN GROUP

Plant Forum

Meeting:   April 29, 2008

Plants Introduced:   8

  Burning Bush, Euonymus alatus
  Unknown Pine, Pinus sp?,
  Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
  Pansy 'Pandoras Mix', Viola tricolor 'Pandoras Mix'
  Weeping Willow, Salix × sepulcralis
  Geranium, Pelargonium (zonal),
  Amaryllis, Hippeastrum xhybrida
  Jacob's Ladder, Polemonium 

  1. Burning Bush, Euonymus alatus
  Unknown Pine, Pinus sp,
  Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
  Pansy 'Pandoras Mix', Viola tricolor 'Pandoras Mix'
  Weeping Willow, Salix × sepulcralis
  Geranium, Pelargonium (zonal),
  Amaryllis, Hippeastrum xhybrida
  Jacob's Ladder, Polemonium (pictured above)

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Common Name:    Burning Bush
Scientific Name:    Euonymus alatus
Grown in Rogers Park?    Yes
Habit:       Shrub, deciduous
Hardy:      Yes
Month(s) in bloom:    spring over a long period
Time to prune:     Lightly as needed, fall/winter
Height:     8' and often wider
Cultural notes & comments:

Considered to be an invasive species.
Stems are typically square and display 'corky wings' which are cork forming bark cells growing in abundance.
Vibrant red fall color and a traditional landscape favorite.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euonymus_alatus
http://www.invasive.org/eastern/species/3023.html

Brought in by:     Brian Houck

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2. Common Name:    Red Pine, Norway Pine
Scientific Name:    Pinus resinosa
Grown in Rogers Park?    Yes
Habit:       Tree, evergreen
Hardy:      Yes
Month(s) in bloom:    April
Time to prune:     February/March, also candle pruning in April
Height:     young at 20', 75-105'
Cultural notes & comments:

Cutting from lakefront beach near tennis courts and sand dune restoration area
Species unknown at time of cutting.  Looks similar to White Pine but does not have 5 needles in a fascicle but 2.  This is  a long needle pine.

It is one of the most extensively planted species in the northern United States and Canada.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway_Pine
http://www.borealforest.org/trees/tree9.htm

Brought in by:    Brian Houck

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3. Common Name:    Dandelion
Scientific Name:    Taraxacum officinale
Grown in Rogers Park?    yes
Habit:       herbaceous perennial
Hardy:      yes
Month(s) in bloom:    heaviest in spring but throughout summer and fall
Time to prune:     tolerates ground level cutting as herb and weed
Height:     leaves 1-8" high and often wider
Cultural notes & comments:

"While the dandelion is considered a weed by many gardeners and lawn owners, the plant does have several culinary uses, and the specific name officinalis refers to its value as a medicinal herb. Dandelions are grown commercially on a small scale as a leaf vegetable. The leaves (called dandelion greens) can be eaten cooked or raw in various forms, such as in soup or salad. They are probably closest in character to mustard greens. Usually the young leaves and unopened buds are eaten raw in salads, while older leaves are cooked. Raw leaves have a slightly bitter taste. Dandelion salad is often accompanied with hard boiled eggs. The leaves are high in vitamin A, vitamin C and iron, carrying more iron and calcium than spinach."

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandelion

Brought in by:    Brian Houck

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4. Common Name:    Pansy 
Scientific Name:    Viola tricolor 'Pandoras Mix'
Grown in Rogers Park?    no, purchased at Gesthemane
Habit:       cool season annual
Hardy:      no, can take a light frost, some snow and grow well in early spring
Month(s) in bloom:    April to June
Time to prune:     deadhead for increased flowering and remove when finished
Height:     6-8"
Cultural notes & comments:

Flowers edible.  Often used in salads, plate decoration and may be frozen in ice for effect.

Fertilize consistently for maximum flowering.

"The name pansy is derived from the French word pensée meaning "thought", and was so named because the flower resembles a human face; in August it nods forward as if deep in thought. Because of this the pansy has long been a symbol of Freethought[1] and has been used in the literature of the American Secular Union. Humanists use it too, as the pansy's current appearance was developed from the Heartsease by two centuries of intentional crossbreeding of wild plant hybrids. "

One of the many annuals that is sensitive to being planted too deeply.  Should the soil cover the crown of the plant, the stems are susceptible to rot.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_tricolor

Brought in by:    Brian Houck

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5. Common Name:    Weeping Willow
Scientific Name:    Salix × sepulcralis
Grown in Rogers Park?    yes, on the lake front in a group of three by the pier
Habit:       tree, deciduous
Hardy:      yes
Month(s) in bloom:    April/May, called catkins
Time to prune:     late winter, Feb/Mar
Height:     very large, often wider than tall
Cultural notes & comments:

As an urban tree, the willow is problematic due to its large size and aggressive root system.  Willow can easily grow into sewer and water lines seeking additional water. 

"Willows are very cross-fertile and numerous hybrids occur, both naturally and in cultivation. A well known example is the weeping willow (Salix × sepulcralis), very widely planted as an ornamental tree, which is a hybrid of a Chinese species and a European species ? Peking willow and white willow."

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow

Brought in by:    Brian Houck

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6. Common Name:    Zonal Geranium, Geranium
Scientific Name:    Pelargonium ×hortorum,
Grown in Rogers Park?    yes, cutting rooted in water during the winter
Habit:       herbaceous perennial
Hardy:      no
Month(s) in bloom:    all, heaviest in late spring, summer
Time to prune:     as necessary, often becomes lanky but re-branches easily
Height:     up to 3-4'
Cultural notes & comments:

Zonal varieties, also known as P. ×hortorum, are mainly derived from P. zonale and P. inquinans.

Many cultivars are in the commercial trade with a wide range of flower color, leaf shape and size.

Plants that are deficient in nitrogen will lose many of their lower leaves.  Consistent low levels of nitrogen fertilizing will yield a much improved vigorous and leafy specimen.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargonium

Brought in by:    Brian Houck

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7. Common Name:    Amaryllis
Scientific Name:    Hippeastrum xhybrida
Grown in Rogers Park?    yes, indoor during the winter
Habit:       bulb, outside during warm months in partial sun/shade
Hardy:      no
Month(s) in bloom:    any time of year, bulbs can be forced after dormancy
Time to prune:     deadhead as needed, yellowing leaves can support the formation of new bulbs until much of their nitrogen has been depleted
Height:     leaves up to 3'
Cultural notes & comments:

"Hippeastrum is a popular bulb flower for indoor growing. The bulb is tender and should not be exposed to frost, but is otherwise easy to grow, with large rewards for small efforts, especially those that bloom inside during the winter months. The very large, decorative flowers can also be grown outside in temperate areas. "

New bulb offsets are produced at the base of a bulb and can be divided with sufficient root growth and size.  Typically, the larger the bulb, the bigger and more numerous will be the flowers.  Plants grown in more sunlight will be shorter and sturdier.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippeastrum

Brought in by:    Brian Houck

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8. Common Name:    Jacob's Ladder
Scientific Name:    Polemonium sp. (caeruleum ?)
Grown in Rogers Park?    Yes, from Ann Whelan's yard
Habit:       herbaceous perennial
Hardy:      yes
Month(s) in bloom:    May/June
Time to prune:     remove spent leaves in late summer
Height:     1-2'
Cultural notes & comments:

Illinois native

Easy to grow in full sun to partial shade with abundant pale, blue flowers.  Likes being moist and has a mounding habit.  Attracts butterflies and is commonly used as an understory, bedding and/or border plant.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polemonium
http://www.bestplants.org/plantdetail.pl?ScientificName=Polemonium%20caeruleum

Brought in by:    Brian Houck

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