Polygonatum spp. & cvs.

Polygonatum spp. & cvs.
“Solomon seal”
LILIACEAE

Herbaceous Perennial

Zone: 3 – 8
Native habitat : Northern hemisphere

Conditions
Soil: tolerates a wide range of conditions
Moisture: even moisture, drought tolerant once established
Light: full sun to full shade (prefers full shade, will need lots of water in full sun and may still look poor)
Exposure: general
Plant size (h x w): 12″ – 36″ x 12″ – 18″
Other:

Aesthetic
Shape/stem: slender arching stem
Leaf: simple, alternating, off single arching stem, green, turn better yellow in the fall
Flower: dangling tubular white flowers, followed by small black seeds
Bloom: April
Other: appears out of nowhere as a beautiful rising arch

 

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: same as normal, water for first while
Maintain:  no maintenance; let it die down or cut stalks down (never tug out stalk)
Propagate:  division (rhizomes into pieces in fall); seeds slow to develop (most often get transplant or division)

 

Uses
Landscape: woodland garden, layered in a bed with other early bloomers
Companion planting: trillium, helleborous, ferns, layered in with early blooming bulbs, under shrubs, dicentra, cranesbill, heuchera, tiarella, geranium, brunnera
Medicinal: some traditional medicinal uses in western herbalism, Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda
Other:

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant; snails and slugs may eat as it emerges
Deer resistant: yes, generally
Other animals:

Interest
Local info,: native
Pot size (to purchase): 
Nature: unique interest in how it emerges
Identification (key features): arching stem with raised leaves oval, opposite, with nodding flowers bellow

*Species are hard to tell apart (minute difference between them, eg. flower size, black spot on flowers, variegation, stem color)*
Interesting facts: name comes from greek word for many knees in reference to many rhizomes
Cultivars/Species: 
P. odoratum ‘Variegatum’ 18″ – 24″ h; 2013 perennial of the year by the Perennial Plant Association but in truth is not one you want as it is slow to establish, relatively weak, and needs the perfect conditions to grow well
Comments: 

Cortaderia selloana ‘Aureolineata’

Cortaderia selloana ‘Aureolineata’
aka. C.s. ‘Gold Band’
“Variegated pampas grass”
POACEAE

Evergreen perennial

Zone: 7-10
Native habitat (range): Argentina, New Zealand, Chademallas

Conditions
Soil: average
Moisture: well drained, avg moisture, tolerates dry summer
Light: full sun
Exposure: tolerates seaside
Plant size (h x w): 6′ – 10′ x 3′ – 5′
Other: plant grows better in richer soil

Aesthetic
Shape/stem: arching mound, clumping, upright tall grass
Leaf: 3′ – 7′ high, 1-2cm wide, sharp edged linear leaves, long and slender, green with bright yellow margins (colour intensifies with season), variegated
Flower: silvery white, silky plums (panicles), 8″-16″ long, spikelets on erect stem, stem 6′- 10′ high, taller than leaves
Bloom: late summer
Other:

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: sow seed in spring in fertile sunny spot, protect from winter in first year, water for first 3 years
Maintain:easy care, coppice, cut down in spring (tie rope around then saw 4″ above mound) prior to new growth, every 1 – 3 years; pull away dead leaves; division, as ages divide in spring to rejuvenate
Propagate: does not go to seed in Victoria, purchase seed, propagate,

Uses
Landscape: accent, texture, containor, boarder, screening, specimen
Companion planting:
Medicinal:
Other: cut flowers, sharp edges deter people to walk near it or through it (protection of property)

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: no
Deer resistant: yes
Other animals: rabbit resistant

Interest
Local info,: not native, non-invasive in area
Pot size (to purchase):  1 – 2 gallon
Nature: tall cascading grassy shrub
Identification (key features): variegated yellow margin, plume above leaves,  
Interesting facts: RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Cultivation: is one of a number of cultivars
Comments: grows quickly, highly adaptable, sharp edges will cut you,