Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’

Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’ (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Summer to early autumn

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1.5m

Eventual Spread: 40cm

Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11

Family: Cleomaceae

Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’ is a herbaceous annual with an upright habit. Its dark green leaves are spirally arranged, palmately compound with up to 7 leaflets. Its leaflets are lanceolate with entire margins, up to 12cm long and 4cm broad. Its white flowers have up to 4 petals, 6 distinctively long stamens and appear as terminal racemes which are up to 15cm across. Its fruit is a capsule which is up to 12cm long and 3mm broad. This plant may self seed given the right conditions.

Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’ Flower (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’, commonly known as Spider Flower or Spider Plant, is native to south east South America.

The etymological root of the binomial name Cleome is derived from an ancient name of a mustard like plant, in reference to its seed pods. Hassleriana is named after Emile Hassler (1864 – 1937), a Swiss botanist and plant collector.

The landscape architect may find Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’ useful as a useful infill annual plant with a long flowering period. It may also be used as part of a bedding plant scheme. Once established this annual is drought tolerant.

Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’ Leaf (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’ is attractive to nectar loving insects and birds.

Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’ requires little maintenance.

Borago officinalis

Borago officinalis (18/05/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Early summer to early autumn

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 60m

Eventual Spread: 30cm

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11

Family: Boraginaceae

Borago officinalis is an annual herb. Its mid green basal leaves are petiolate to ovate with entire margins, hairy, up to 15cm long and 7cm broad. Its upper stem leaves are smaller. Its stems are erect and branched. Its numerous star shaped hermaphrodite flowers are up to 2cm across an produced at the ends of its stems. The flower colour ranges from blue, pink to white. Its fruit is in the form of black/ brown nutlets and its seed will readily germinate.

Borago officinalis, commonly known as Borage or Starflower, is native to the Mediterranean region. In its native habitat it grows in damp grassy places, ditches and river banks. This plant has a long history of medicinal and culinary use.

Borago officinalis Flower (18/05/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Borago is likely to be derived from the Latin burra meaning ‘shaggy, hairy garment’, in reference to its leaves. Officinalis is derived from the Latin translating as ‘of the shop’.

The landscape architect may find Borago officinalis useful in wildlife gardens due to its attractiveness to pollinating insects. Once established this plant is drought tolerant.

Ecologically, Borago officinalis is very attractive to pollinating insects.

Borago officinalis prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It prefers moist soils. It will tolerate poor soils.

Borago officinalis requires little maintenance.

Fedia cornucopiae

Fedia cornucopiae (23/03/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Spring to summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 35cm

Eventual Spread: 40cm

Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a

Family: Valerianaceae

Fedia cornucopiae is a herbaceous annual ruderal. Its mid green fleshy leaves are ovate with serrate margins and up to 15cm long. . Its hermaphrodite dark pink/ purple flowers and appear in terminal clumps.

Fedia cornucopiae Flower (23/03/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Fedia cornucopiae, commonly known as Cornucopia, Horn of Plenty, Fedia, African Valerian or Blood of Christ, is native to central and west Mediterranean Europe and north west Mediterranean Africa. In its native habitat it grows in open fields and rocky places. Its leaves are used as a salad crop in a number of Mediterranean countries.

The etymological root of the binomial name Fedia may be a corruption of the Greek name for Valerian, reader clarification would be welcome. Cornucopiae is from the Latin meaning ‘horn shaped (an emblem of abundance)’.

Fedia cornucopiae is of little use to the landscape architect, it may be grown for cut flowers.

Ecologically, Fedia cornucopiae is attractive to pollinating insects.

Fedia cornucopiae Leaf (23/03/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Fedia cornucopiae prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Fedia cornucopiae requires little maintenance.