Common name: Trost’s Dwarf cutleaf birch, Dwarf European birch Latin name: Betula pendula ‘Trost’s Dwarf’, synonym: Betula platyphylla Plant type: Shrubs & small trees Plant size: 3-4′ high by 3′ wide before pruning USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 (10, given moisture) Cultural needs: Sun; moist, drained, slightly acidic One day a horticulturist noticed a finely divided […]
Common name: Rainbow bush, variegated elephant bush Botanical name: Portulacaria afra f. variegata Plant type: Perennial Plant size: 4′ high x 4′ wide (easily kept much lower) USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11 (protected in other zones) Cultural needs: Gravelly, well drained, neutral, or slightly acidic soil; full sun The elephants and deer-like kudu of South Africa […]
Common name: Trailing spikemoss, golden clubmoss Latin name: Selaginella kraussiana ‘Aurea’ Plant type: Groundcover Plant size: Moist, acidic soil; part or full shade USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9 Cultural needs: Mounding as high as 6″, spreading to 24″ Spikemoss, with its seaweed-like jointed stems, has an other-world appearance, as do the liverworts, when you get […]
Polka dot plant introduction Common name: Polka-dot plant, Freckle face Latin name: Hypoestes phyllostachya Plant type: Annual USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, slightly acidic soil; sun to part shade Plant size: 12-18″ (species), 6″ (hybrids) Who gets to decide how large a leaf is okay for a garden railway? The gardeners […]
Common name: String of beans Latin name: Senecio radicans Plant type: Perennial USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-10 Cultural needs: Sandy, well-drained soil, in sun or part shade Plant size: 1″ high trailing to 2′ or longer String of beans’ succulent bead-like leaves grow from stringy stems and present a unique opportunity for railroad gardeners. The designers, […]
Common name: Brass buttons, creeping gold buttons Latin name: Cotula fallax, C. hispida, or C. lineariloba Plant type: Perennial Plant size: 2″ high x 10″ wide USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-10 Cultural needs: Somewhat xeric, sun or part shade Renamed Cotula fallax, this semi-evergreen groundcover is not to be confused with other popular fern-like Cotulas, […]
Common name: Weeping Norway spruce Latin name: Picea abies ‘Pendula’ Plant type: dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-8 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, slightly acidic soil; sun to part shade Plant height: 18″ if prostrate; 10-12′ if staked Dark, evergreen needles on drooping soft branches make weeping Norway spruce an attractive specimen tree. Garden railroaders […]
Common name: Dwarf crape myrtle Latin name: Lagerstroemia indica ‘Violet Filli’ (Filigree series) Plant size: 6-24″, depending on the miniature variety Plant type: Shrubs and small trees USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-11 (or grown as an annual) Cultural needs: Well-drained, slightly acidic to acidic soil, full sun The miniature crape myrtle in the photo, one of […]
Latin name: Sedum sp. Common name: Miniature sedum Plant type: Groundcover Plant size: Foliage under 2″ tall x 10″ wide, or less USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies Cultural needs: Full sun and dry soil Full size sedums (also known as stonecrops) have long been used as groundcovers for hot, sunny, dry sites. They spread quickly, are […]
Common name: Corsican mint Plant type: Groundcover Latin name: Mentha requienii Plant size: ¼” to ½” high; spreading USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9; annual in other zones Cultural needs: Moist, well drained neutral or slightly acidic soil; sun to part shade Easily one of the flattest groundcovers, with the tiniest purple flowers, Corsican mint is great […]
Common name: Thimble cactus Latin name: Mammillaria gracilis fragilis Plant type: Perennial USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 Cultural needs: Gravelly or sandy well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; full sun Plant size: 1″ high, spreading to 6-12″ As might be expected, this miniature mammillaria cactus hails from south of the border in Central or Eastern Mexico, […]
Common name: Air plant Latin name: Tillandsia sp. Plant type: Perennial USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 Cultural needs: No soil; indirect light indoors or shade outdoors; regular watering; air! Plant size: 2-6″ Obviously they need air but these little air plants also require regular watering and specific amounts of light. In their native South American rain […]
