|
 December
2000
 Chamaecyparis
obtusa
'Kosteri'
November
2000
Epimediums
October
2000
Asplenium
trichomanes
September
2000
Gentiana
paradoxa
August
2000
Allium
cyaneum
July
2000
Geranium
dalmaticum
June
2000
Lewisia
rediviva
May
2000
Sanguinaria
canadensis
'Multiplex'
April
2000
Pulsatilla
slavica
March
2000
Crocus ancyrensis
 February
2000
Cassiope
lycopodioides
January
2000
Corallorhiza
maculata
Archive
2003
Archive
2002
Archive
2001
Archive
1999
Archive
1998
Archive
1997
|
Plant
of the Month
February
2000
Cassiope
lycopodioides
by Iza Goroff
Cassiope
lycopodioides is a member of the Ericaceae, the
family which includes such diverse genera as Rhododendron,
Vaccinium (cranberries, blueberries, ...), Calluna
(heather), and Erica (heath). The genus Cassiope is much
more similar in its characteristics to the last two genera.
These are heather like plants in growth habit. All come from
high alpine or arctic environments.
Cassiope lycopodioides comes
from the upper Pacific rim from Japan through Alaska,
British Columbia, down to one location in Washington
State.
Cassiope
lycopodioides is a very small, slow growing evergreen
shrub. It would be a feat of culture to achieve a plant of
12" (30 cm) diameter in the garden. The pictured plant is
approximately life size. Its small white bells, each with
its tiny red calyx, are incredibly cute.
There are
three keys to successful culture of
Cassiope lycopodioides. The
easiest to provide is an appropriate soil: at least one
third peat, one third lime free sand, and at most one third
loam. That should be sufficiently acid. The next easiest key
is reasonably constant moisture. The hardest to provide is a
cool, but light exposure. Cassiope lycopodioides should be
planted on a north facing slope with a rock on its south
side blocking midday sun.
Although
cassiopes can be grown from seed most commercial propagation
is done from softwood cuttings taken in August or September.
Mounding soil over some the bases of some of the shoots may
result in layers which can be removed.
Cassiope
lycopodioides has proven to be the hardiest of the
cassiopes attempted in garden conditions in the upper
Midwest. Cassiope mertensiana
is almost as hardy. Cassiopes derived from the Himalayan
species are not hardy without much snow cover.
|
