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Plants beginning with 'L'
| Lachenalia -- Cape Cowslip -- The cape region of South Africa is among the most botanically diverse areas in the world, and the flora is not only diverse but unique. Many species and even genera grow nowhere in the world but this small region. Bulbs are especially prevalent in the flora, and the historical Dutch prescence in South Africa explains why the Dutch dominate the world's bulb trade. As usual, we deal in species that haven't been in the trade much, but which have what we think have significant horticultural merit. Many species of Lachenalia fit this bill. They will be indoor forcing bulbs for most of the country, not only because they won't stand much freezing, but because they are winter growers from an area of winter rainfall and summer drought. But they work very well for forcing indoors, being of small size, with flowers that are best appreciated up close. They provide interesting color combinations at a time when there's little color in the garden. Zone 9 outside, with wet winters/dry summers and good drainage. | |
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Lachenalia aloides quadricolor -- Growing to between 6" and a foot, these little plants produce many tubular, pendant, 4-colored flowers. They are winter-bloomers that are good as pot plants for indoor winter color, and also work as cut flowers. Spotted leaves on most individuals, but this is a variable characteristic. |
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Lachenalia
contaminata has quite a different appearance, having round, grassy
leaves and dense spikes of flowers that are smaller but much more numerous
than on the other species. The otherwise pure white flowers are "contaminated"
by rust-colored tips. This is a vigorous, easily-grown species. |
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Lagerstroemia 'Tuscarora' -- Crape Myrtle -- Loads of deep coral flowers adorn this fast-growing tree in the heat of summer, followed in fall by ornamental black seed heads and red, yellow, and orange fall foliage. The summertime leaves are small and glossy, attractive even before bloom. Bred by the the National Arboretum for disease resistance, it's hardy in zones 6-10 and blooms best where summers are hot and it gets full sun. To 20'.
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Lagunaria
patersonii
-- Norfolk Island Hibiscus, Australian Pyramid Tree --
An unusual member of the Malvaceae family; the only species in this genus.
To a height of 25’ under ideal conditions. Rough, shiny, 1x3’’
leathery leaves, olive green on top and silvery beneath, serve as a perfect
backdrop for its profuse 1 1/2’’ diameter waxy, rosy-pink
flowers. Ornamental seedpods are good in arrangements, but seeds are said
to be "itchy". Not winter hardy in most places, but it does do well in
a greenhouse or brightly-lit home. Zone 9. |
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Ledebouria cooperi is a very unique and interesting plant due to its deep green 3-5’’ long leaves which are marked with reddish purple lines from the tip to the base. Short 2’’ spikes of tiny dusty lavender flowers during the spring are the frosting on the cake. We previously listed it as hardy to zone 9 to be on the safe side. Recently, though, it appears that zones 7-9 are ok if the soil is well-drained, as with many other bulbous South African plants. Said to be semi-evergreen, but we find it deciduous even at cool greenhouse temperatures. |
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Ledebouria
socialis -- This species
has spots instead of stripes. It's a zone 9 or 8b plant outside, but often
used as a houseplant in colder zones. It's attractive, easy to grow, and
doesn't require a lot of light, though it will be more compact in bright
indirect light. Flower spikes of up to 25 tiny purplish green flowers
in spring. |
| Libertia
-- Little known in the US, Libertias are Iris family members from
New Zealand and South America. They have narrow, stiffly upright, linear
leaves that overlap near the base. They are fibrous-rooted clump formers
that have panicles of small, saucer-shaped, white or blue flowers. Good
in rockeries, or front of the sunny border specimens. |
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Libertia caerulescens (sometimes incorrectly called caerulea) is a Chilean species that grows to about 2' and bears dense panicles of pale china-blue flowers in umbel-like clusters in late spring. Though hardiness is not thoroughly tested because of the rarity of the plant in cultivation in the US, anecdotal evidence points to hardiness in zone 7, possibly 6.
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Libertia peregrinans 'Bronze Sword' is the least free-flowering of the Libertias we offer, but makes up for this by having the most interesting foliage. In fact, it's mainly grown as a foliage plant, with its showy orangey-bronze leaves striped with dark green. With a little patience, however, you'll also see the panicles of purest white, upright-facing flowers in spring. Grows to a height of 12-20". Zones 8-10 |
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Libertia
ixioides is another New Zealand species, called Mikoikoi by the
Maori, with a fan of swordlike leaves, yellow-tinged, with a yellow or
orange stripe down the center of the leaf. White flowers are followed
by attractive orange fruit. Grows to about 15", with narrow panicles of
white flowers in spring. Zones 8-10. |
| Lilium
is the flagship genus of a very large family (Liliaceae), though not everything
called a lily is in that family, by any means. There are about 100 species
of Lilium, and a seemingly infinite number of lily hybrids, of which we
offer none. The species we offer are generally smaller and less gaudy
than the hybrids; we think the one pictured ought to be gaudy enough for
anybody. Lilies get tall fast. Given new Postal Service shipping policies, we need to keep packages small, so we will cut lilies back for shipping when necessary. This may mean waiting a year for flowers. |
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Lilium
pardalinum, Leopard Lily is a somewhat smaller version of L.
volmeri, below, which some call a subspecies of L. pardalinum. Supposedly
endemic to California, it also grows in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
Grows to about 3', and is tolerant of either shade or sun. Although
it occurs in nature almost always in wetlands, it is very tolerant of
normal garden conditions, with the added feature that it's resistant
to rot. Young plants bloom a little. Older plants bloom a lot. |
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Liriope muscari variegata -- Variegated Lilyturf -- Nice border plant with long, arching, straplike, white-edged, mint-green leaves and prolific spikes of lavender flowers. Easy, low maintenance, sun or part shade. Grows to a foot or 18". Zones 5-10. Evergreen, but foliage declines or browns in colder climates. Flowers yield to purple-black berries that often persist over winter. |
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Lycoris radiata -- Spider Lily looks like a dead, above-ground bulb from spring until fall, when the flower spikes (or leaves on younger bulbs) appear, rising to a height of about 3'. Flowers are similar to Nerine, spidery, deep pink, and quite showy. Hardy in zones 7-10 at least, and some growers put it at zone 6 or even hardier.
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 PPhoto by splhl. GNU Free Documentation License |
Lycoris
squamigera -- Surprise
Lily -- A
more robust Lycoris with a lighter pink flower color. Hardy at least to
zone 6. The surprise is the flower coming from a dormant-looking bulb.
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Click on the initial of a plant A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z or return to the (Main Index). |
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