In the first Flower Gardener column I wrote, I extolled the virtues of visiting and buying garden plantings from local nurseries. It is certainly a joy. But this time, let’s talk about the joy of sharing. In regard to plants, sharing is a favorite pastime here in the South. I imagine the same is true everywhere when people love the gardens they have made, and friends who visit ask, “What kind of flower is that?” The only natural response is, “Would you like a clipping to take home?”
As I sit here writing, my mind sees so vividly the backyard of my childhood. Along the fence, on two sides, luscious beds of Lily of the Valley bloomed all summer. The leaves were green and thick, but the flowers were so tiny and delicate and they bent their heads in such a graceful way. I don’t think my mother ever “bought” a plant in her life unless it was for a funeral. But our yard was so pretty. Those Lilies of the Valley came from her own mother’s yard in Pawnee, Illinois - a small farming town in the middle of the Midwest prairie. Mom and Grandma would carefully dig them up, little clumps at a time, and mom would wrap them in damp newspaper, put them in the trunk of our car, and bring them home to our yard. There they multiplied under the cool shade of a huge Maple tree. It was the same with her red Salvia standing by the front porch, and the Morning Glory vine winding around the back gate…all were flowers shared between family and friends.
Today, many miles south of my childhood home, our yard is also a composite of plants from family and friends. Each spring when the Daylilies bloom, I remember the first ones we planted. They came to us from a friend and coworker whose family farm lies near Cordele, Georgia. Each year, she helps her mother thin out the tubers and, once again in the trunk of a car, she brings the plants to town in cardboard boxes to share with everyone. After all, as my mom used to say, “They are just too pretty to throw out!”
Speaking of throwing plants out (shudder), I have a place in our garden I call my pass away area. Plants that have grown too brown and sickly to admire are given one last chance. I plant them in the far corner of the yard and let nature take its course one way or another. Then I feel no guilt for “getting rid” of something that is living and having a tough time of it. More often than not, this benign neglect works! I have seen amazing transformations take place, especially with ferns!
Here in Tallahassee even our city government joins in the pass along tradition. Small sapling Dogwood and Maple trees are available for free if the resident promises to plant them in the right-of-way. We have three of each along our curb.
Traditionally, the custom of sharing plants, shrubs and trees stemmed (no pun intended) from the lack of professional nurseries in earlier and more rural times. Most gardens, even a generation ago, were primarily born from plants obtained from friends and neighbors. The plants that survived the best became the most popular to trade. Hence, a pass along plant can be defined as one that is easily propagated and given away. These old plants are usually well adapted to their local environment and resilient even to the point of occasionally becoming invasive.
Autumn is a good time for acquiring pass along plants, as many folks thin out flowerbeds in preparation for the coming winter weather. The three most common ways to share a plant are division, seed collection, and stem clipping for rooting in water. When dividing a plant, such as a Daylily, it is good to do so in the opposite season from when it normally blooms. When you are planning to dig up and divide plants, make sure you water the soil thoroughly a day before you take a shovel or trowel to it. This makes the whole process a lot easier and is also easier on the plant being divided or dug out. You may even want to use a large fork to loosen the soil a bit before gently lifting out the roots and bulbs.
Collecting seeds and saving them for spring planting or early starting in a greenhouse (or a warm kitchen) is a fun activity. In our yard, Purple Coneflower and Agapanthus give out seeds that are easily collected and saved. Other seeds to collect are Sunflower and Salvia. I must admit, I have had less luck with seed collecting, as it is important to know when seeds are ready for replanting. Some seeds need to dry out thoroughly in a cool place, and others are ready to plant at any time as long as you keep them in damp soil in a warm spot. Also, I seldom collect seeds because I like to let them fall naturally and watch the new volunteers come up in springtime.
Cuttings are also fun, especially for children who are learning to garden. Watching a stem sprout roots is always amazing. I often clip my Begonias and root the stems in water. I use a clear glass container in a sunny window. This seems to encourage root sprouting and discourage the stem from turning mushy and therefore useless for replanting. When replanting, make sure the soil is moist and very loose. Gently place the plant down in a little pocket of soil and arrange the dirt around it to provide support. It is okay to plant it fairly deep.
I want to share with all of you my two favorite pass along plants. Both came to our gardens from the gardens of Goodwood Plantation in our fair city. Each year, the plantation holds a plant sale and the plantings sold are heirlooms from gardens that have existed on the property for 150 years. From this event we got Ginger-Lily (mixed with a Pinecone-Lily by accident), and Butterfly-Bush (and many more, but they can wait for another article!). Although we purchased these plants, I feel they qualify as pass alongs because they have history and come from a residence we love to visit. Following is a little bit about each.
Ginger-Lily and Pinecone-Lily
Family: Zingiberaceae
The original habitat was Eastern Asia. It can be divided in matted clumps. It dies down in the winter but revives in spring. The flower, which blooms in late summer, resembles a white butterfly. Several single flowers will bloom on a stem, each taking turns so as not to boast too much beauty! It has the most intoxicating, lovely fragrance - even better than a Gardenia! The leaves are tall, dark green, tropical looking and lance shaped. The plant will grow to about three feet. Another version of the Ginger Lily is the Pinecone Lily. In autumn it grows short, bracted inflorescences which closely resemble green pinecones. The cones turn red and are very desirable in fall floral arrangements. If left uncut, delicate white flowers will eventually sprout from these spiny cones. It prefers partial shade and well-drained soil. I love this plant!
Butterfly Bush
Family: Loganiaceae
This is a shrub-like bush that grows to three or four feet. Lilac flowers, in bottlebrush fashion, bloom in mid-winter and early spring and are very fragrant. Ours often continue blooming into summer. This bush attracts lots of butterflies, hence the name. The flowers are tiny and the bush itself is delicate in appearance. It is propagated by cuttage. It grows rapidly; the roots will survive mild winters though it will get frosted to earth. It likes a good bit of sun and well-drained soil.
I hope you will share with us some of your favorite pass along and heirloom plants. Each part of the globe and all the US zones must have their own unique “sharing” plants!
Source
Florida Landscape Plants, Revised Edition, by John V. Watkins and Thomas J. Sheehan, University Presses of Florida, 1975.