Georama Growers News
Burning Bush – Georama Growers Plant of the Week
Common Name: Winged Burning Bush Botanical Name: Euonymus alatus As we approach the end of summer weather and look forward (some of us anyway) to fall in the Kootenays, we anticipate the changing of the colours in our landscapes. Most of our native deciduous trees and shrubs in the West Kootenays turn shades of […]
Fothergilla – Georama Growers Plant of the Week
Common Names: Witch Alder Botanical Names: Fothergilla major To contine with last weeks theme of introducing lesser known plants, I have selected the Fothergilla. We first came across this great shrub while on a tour of Monrovia Nursery in Oregon with my son Thomas about 14 years ago. Its georgeous fall colours should be better […]
Summer Sweet – Georama Growers Plant of the Week
Common Name: Summer Sweet Botanical Name: Clethra alnifolia In a recent conversation (actually we were text messaging – I’m so with it!) with a college, she mentioned a few plants that are great for our landscape but were quite underrated and not selected enough. After our discussion I agreed to high light some of them […]
Osmanthus – Georama Growers Plant of the Week
Common Name: Varigated False Holly Botanical Name: Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ On a recent trip to Portland Oregon, Imelda and I had a chance to visit the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland’s Chinatown district. Although it was raining at the time (big surprise) this traditional Chinese garden is a must see – even if you […]
Glossy Abelia – Georama Growers Plant of the Week
Common Names: Glossy Abelia Botanical Names: Abelia x grandiflora ‘Edward Goucher’ If I was stranded on a deserted Island and I was allowed only one shrub, I think I would choose the glossy Abelia, ‘Edward Goucher’ – just saying. This hybrid cross was first introduced in 1911 by Edward Goucher of the US Department of […]
Virginia Creeper – Georama Growers Plant of the Week
Common Name: Virginia Creeper Botanical Name: Parthenocissus quinquefolia We had a wonderful few days off last week, and took a few day trips to visit some of our favorite Kootenay places. Fishing on Slocan Lake aboard my good friend Jim’s new boat, and an opportunity to stop in Silverton to swim and walk about this […]
Mountain Laurel – Georama Growers Plant of the Week
Common Name: Mountain Laurel Botanical Name: Kalmia latifolia Known for its abundant, beautiful flowers and glossy evergreen leaves, mountain laurel is closely related to rhododendrons and azaleas, all belonging to the ericacea (heath) family. Native to the eastern US mountainous areas, they produce stunning blooms with crimped edges, in colours ranging from pink to maroon […]
Dwarf Mugo Pine – Georama Growers Plant of the Week
Common Names: Dwarf Mugo Pine, Mountain Pine Botanical Names: Pinus mugo vars. When my dad first started introducing dwarf conifers to the nursery, back in the mid ‘70s, Dwarf Alberta spruce and Mugo pines were about it. Mugo pines had many appealing qualities; they were attractive, adaptable, free of pests, very hardy and best of […]
Japanese Barberry – Georama Growers Plant of the Week
Common Names: Japanese Barberry Botanical Names: Berberis thunbergii Only recently introduced to our area, the colourful and exotic looking Japanese barberries are among the few plants suited to dry, shady areas of the garden. Most cultivars are compact and self contained, with spinney stems that are both deer resistant and which can form a formidable […]
Sunburst Honey Locust – Georama Growers Plant of the Week
Common Name: Sunburst Honey Locust Botanical Name: Gleditsia Triacanthos Here is an award winning tree! First introduced in the 1950’s the Sunburst Locust won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 2002. It is one of the very best yellow foliaged trees you will find. Although originally found in wet or even swampy areas this […]