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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
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2003
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2002
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2001
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1999
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1998
Archive
1997
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Plant
of the Month
September
2000
Gentiana
paradoxa
by Sharon Illingworth
Gentiana
paradoxa is a member of the Gentianaceae family, a
group of plants known for intense blue shades. Native to the
western Caucasus, it is a fairly recent introduction to
horticulture.
It makes a soft clump of light yellow-green leaves, very
narrow, in whorls of 5, on upright unbranched stems about 30
cm (12") long. Towards the end of August the first
bell-shaped flowers appear at the ends of the stems. They
are a bright medium blue, with laced plicae, or fringes,at
the mouth of the corolla. The plant lasts in bloom a long
time, at least through the whole month of September, and it
can sail on into October through the early frosts.
It has been hardy for several years on the northern
boundary of USDA zone 4. It is supposed to be lime tolerant,
although it grows well for us in slightly acid soil, well
drained, with just a little shade.
It can be propagated by seed, which generally needs a
cold treatment prior to germination, or by division.
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