Ilex verticillata (Winterberry)

AS OUR HUDSON VALLEY GARDENS go leafless and become more transparent, Ilex verticillata (winterberry) shines. The scarlet-red to coral-orange fruits really pop against leafless, gray-black stems as the foliage yellows and drops.

Winterberries are most colorful and give the best punch from October to December in our region. We share the vibrant fruits with migrating and resident birds. In the last few years, flocks of robins discover our winterberry colonies anytime from Thanksgiving to Christmas when they devour the plentiful fruits in a day-long drunken orgy. The first time this happened I was highly annoyed that birds (particularly robins!) were depriving me of my winter color fix. I’ve learned to be more tolerant and live in better step with nature – Andrew may disagree! Now we depend on other plants like colorful twiggy dogwoods and willows for prolonged winter color.

Ilex verticillata cultivars favored at Loomis Creek:

Winter Red – luscious, 3/8”-diameter, intensely red fruits arranged in spiral patterns along stems; male pollinator = ‘Southern Gentleman’

‘Winter Gold’ – coral-orange, 3/8”-diameter fruits; sport of Winter Red; male pollinator = ‘Southern Gentleman’

‘Sparkleberry’ – robust hybrid with heavy red fruit set; male pollinator = ‘Apollo’

Note: For optimum pollination and fruit set, plant at least 1 male plant within 50 feet of every 10 females.

Growing tips: Ilex verticillata is a wetland species by nature, but readily adapts to most garden soils. If happy, plants will colonize slowly, suckering (sending up new stems) from underground roots. At Loomis Creek, we’ve planted winterberry on our wet, clay slopes above Loomis Creek (yes, there is a “real” creek by that name) where they prosper. Deer like to browse on winterberries, so use deer repellent or fencing.

Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’

‘Honorine Jobert’ Japanese Anemone

ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS of our autumn borders is the old-fashioned hybrid Japanese anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’. Its snow white petals and sepals surround a ring of golden yellow stamens. This Japanese anemone selection wins the customer vote hands down at Loomis Creek.

Basal clumps of three-lobed leaves take a backseat ride for most of the growing season until aerial fireworks begin in late August with wiry flower stems shooting up to 4 feet. The branched stems are covered with popbead-like buds that burst into bloom in early September and continue for a good month in the Hudson Valley.

Loomis Creek stocks other Japanese anemones in its arsenal: Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’ (grapeleaf anemone) with mauve flowers beginning in August, and Anemone x hybrida ‘Prince Heinrich’ (aka ‘Prince Henry’) with semi-double, deep rose-pink flowers.

Growing Tips: partial shade and moist, organic soils are best.

A PERENNIAL REGAINS THE SPOTLIGHT this week, lest you think Loomis Creek has morphed into a “shrub-only” nursery. After all, it’s the marriage of perennials and shrubs (annuals and bulbs, too!) that makes great borders and gardens–the essence of our nursery!

August signals a seasonal change in the Hudson Valley and Kirengeshoma palmata (yellow wax bells) is a premier indicator plant. This late-summer blooming beauty offers exceptional foliage and flowers for shady mixed borders. Sturdy, arching stems clothed with green maplelike leaves on purplish petioles provide accent at the back of borders during June and July. The bonus comes now when dangling clusters of waxy yellow, bell-shaped flowers open from round, peonylike buds.

Kirengeshoma slowly develops a colony of flowering stems rising 4 to 5 feet tall. Plant now or put this perennial on your spring 2010 shopping list.

Native to woodlands in Japan; USDA hardiness zone 5. Protect from hot afternoon sun and shelter from wind. Relishes soils rich in organic matter.

Photo caption: Kirengeshoma palmata with Hosta ‘Abba Dabba Do’ in foreground, Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’ behind.