By Sarah Cheng
To quote a kindred spirit, Steve Aitken, editor of Fine Gardening magazine: “I have a bit of a collecting problem… I always want to know about something new, something obscure, or something variegated.” And with those thoughts in mind, I would like to share two plants blooming in my June garden.
Angel’s Fishing Rod (Dierama pulcherrimum). This evergreen perennial first caught my eye in the garden of Barbara Flynn, a locally well-known plantswoman. The bright pink flowers catch the breeze, with foliage similar to Japanese iris. The name comes from the choice to plant near a pond, where the arching stems can drape over the water. In addition to pink, these come in a range of colors from white, yellow to dark red. Mine was purchased at a local plant sale. Start your search! I was surprised to spot many growing on a steep bank in Seattle’s Montlake area, speaking to its hardiness and dependability.
Burning Bush or Gas Bush (Dictamnus albus). Why such a strange common name? Per the Missouri Botanical Garden website, the plant secretes volatile oils while flowering. If a match is placed close to the stalk, it becomes a flash of fire! I discovered a $1 packet of seeds at the Center for Urban Horticulture a few years ago…not much of a risk to take a chance on a plant I’d never heard of (fulfilling the “something obscure” obsession). It’s been an investment of three years, but I’m very happy with the results, with colorful stalks of flowers, visited often by bees and hummingbirds. This herbaceous perennial has pinnate foliage, still interesting after the flowering is done. The plants are not eaten by rabbits, deer or slugs, which puts it in a special category in our Sammamish gardens.
Add both these perennials to your “gotta-have” list. Part of the fun is the treasure hunt. Happy hunting and gardening. For information on more ideal plant selections in our growing area, the SBGS recommends the website: Great Plant Picks (www.greatplantpicks.org). Happy gardening!