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December 2004 Telesonix jamesii November 2004 Ranunculus eschscholtzii October 2004 Crocus speciosus September 2004 Arenaria 'Wallowas' August 2004 Scilla autumnalis July 2004 Leontopodium souliei June 2004 Penstemon pinifolius May 2004 Draba rigida v. bryoides April 2004 Vitaliana primuliflora March 2004 Clematis hirsutissima February 2004 Lewisia pygmaea January 2004 Hymenoxis grandiflora Archive 2003 Archive 2002 Archive 2001 Archive 2000 Archive 1999 Archive 1998 Archive 1997

Plant of the Month December 2004 Telesonix jamesii by Iza Goroff Telesonix jamesii belongs to the Saxifragaceae, the saxifrage family, an important family for horticulture which includes the genera of Astilbe, Bergenia, Boykinia, Elmera, Hegemone, Heuchera, Kirengeshoma, Lithophragma, Mitella, Parnassia, Peltiphyllum, Peltoboykinia, Saxifraga, Rodgersia, Tellima, and Tolmiea, plus woody genera which include Hydrangea, Itea, and Ribes. Telesonix jamesii is distributed over the Rocky Mountains from Alberta south through Colorado. It is found both in acid stone in Colorado and in limestone in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming and Montana. The limestone form which is pictured here is sufficiently distinct that it has been named subspecies heucheriformis. Both forms are worthy of cultivation. Telesonix jamesii is a small plant about 3 - 4" (7 - 10 cm) high in leaf, 5 - 8" (13 - 20 cm) in bloom. To grow Telesonix jamesii successfully one can take the cue from nature: Telesonix jamesii is a crevice plant. Where happy it will follow a crevice, filling it as it goes. It would not be happy grown on the flat. Since its crevices in nature are found in vertical rock walls, it does not get the benefit of much snow cover and is likely to be winter hardy throughout the northern states and Canada. It is not a plant for heavy shade, though it would appreciate an eastern or northern exposure. Propagation is by seed or division of a clump.