Ask The Plant Expert

Vermont Hiking: What Are These Wildflowers?

August 17, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Ask The Plant Expert: I just completed backpacking through Vermont. When I reached the VT-NH border, I completed the Appalachian Trail. I took many wildflower photos this past month, and have three that I cannot identify from my limited references. Please help me identify them. One may be showy tick trefoil, but I’m not sure. They may be garden flowers that escaped, but I do not know that for sure. – David

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: I believe the flower is a type of Phytostegia. I’m not sure which species. Phytostegia, also known as Obedient plant, is common throughout most of the United States, especially in Vermont.

What Is This 8 Petaled, Pink and White Flower?

June 30, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Ask The Plant Expert: What is this 8 petaled, pink and white flower growing in my garden??

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: That is a Clematis bloom. Clematis is a perennial vine. Some bloom once a year and some have multiple blooming cycles. It is hard to tell from the picture but it looks like you have a Bees Jubilee variety. which blooms May, June and September.

Filed Under: Flower Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Clematis, Flower Identification

What Is This Mystery Plant Left Behind By Bird??

June 22, 2011 by Jamie Jamison Adams 2 Comments

Ask The Plant Expert: Hi. Was growing an Empress tree in this pot, a bird took the young tree away! Shortly before the tree was taken a small bud came out the soil, this is that bud, now a strong little plant. What is it? – Ray

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

Ray,
Unfortunately at this stage of growth it looks like many things. I will place this question on the blog and ask one of our Facebook fans what they think it is.

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert

What Is This Sun-Loving Succulent?

June 19, 2011 by Jamie Jamison Adams 1 Comment

Ask The Plant Expert: This plant has almost succulent-like leaves. When I purchased it, I was told that it is an annual that will give beautiful blooms all summer if given enough sun. So far it’s doing well in the sun. Can you tell me what it is and perhaps give me more information about it? – Melanie

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
The plant is purslane. It is probably Portulaca grandiflora a sister to rose moss. The succulent-like plant is drought and heat tolerant. It likes a humid environments and is very low maintenance because it doesn’t require dead-heading. It has a creeping growth pattern and is hardy to 30° Fahrenheit. It is consiered an annual in all zones above 9. However in our area (northeast Arkansas zone 6B), I have seen it preform more like a perennial. It needs to grow in full sun with dry to normal water requirements.

Hope this information was helpful.

Response from Melanie: Thank you very much. I really enjoy the blooms on this plant and wanted to know what it was so that I could properly take care of it. I think I’ll be looking for more of these plants for hanging baskets. This is the 3rd plant that you’ve identified for me, and I appreciate your help and the information you share. I love the blog!

Filed Under: Flower Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Flower Identification

Is My Jade Plant Really A Jade Plant??

June 14, 2011 by Jamie Jamison Adams 4 Comments

Ask The Expert: I believe this is a species of jade plant and it’s been flowering beautifully since January but i cant figure out what kind it may be.

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: It looks more like a Kalanchoe blossfeldiana to me.

Response: It had been given to me as a cutling and called a jade but i surely couldn’t find a jade with flowers such as those. Thing is i been raising it like a jade all along so i’m guessing that it’s also a succulent type plant with similar care then? And the flowers look right on to what you said bt the only thing i think looks different is the leaves of the plant mine seem much more rounded and not as “jaggedy” as the Kalanchoe i see on google but i assume this could be because my plant is young and there’s probably many many sub species of this type as well it seems.

Filed Under: Flower Identification, Plant Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Kalanchoe, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Help! What Is This Pink-Blooming Vine In My Garden?

June 3, 2011 by Jamie Jamison Adams Leave a Comment

Ask The Expert: Hi; I need help identifying a beautiful plant that I have in my garden. It is a beautiful Ivy given to me by a friend and I have reproduced it because it is great filler for arrangements and not too common. I have no idea of it’s real name. I was told that the name here in the Dominican Republic is Bride’s Crown but I don’t really know to what type of family belongs or the real name. It has flowers almost all year round, and it does very well in partially sunny areas. I will really appreciate any information about this plant.
Thanks for your help; Rosa Blanco

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: Rosa,

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I was consulting with an expert ( Regina Berryman) who had more knowledge about this plant. The plant is a Clerodendrum thomsoniae. In the United States, it is sometimes referred to as a gloryblower or a bleeding heart vine.

This tropical plant is native to West Africa, but has been introduced to many countries. It prefers partial shade. In fact, it does best when planted in an area that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. Because it it a tropical plant, it must be protected when the temperatures go below 45°. Although it likes a humid environment and moist soil, it doesn’t like soggy soil. It can be pruned to keep it shapely. Pruning should be done after the plant has ceased flowering.

I hope this information has been helpful. Please let me know if I can assist you with anything else.

Filed Under: Flower Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Bleeding Heart, Blooming Vine

What Is This Flower That Just “Popped” Up?

June 1, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Ask The Expert: This flower “popped” up this year and was not here last year. Any help identifying it?? It looks like it could be in the poppy family but we just don’t know. Beautiful bright orange flower with brown poppy-like center and green jagged leaves with a fuzzy appearance.

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: Yes, what you have is a poppy. I believe you have a type of Papaver orientale (Oriental poppy). As for which variety, I am unable to make an exact identification. This species of poppy is a clump-forming type with large cupped shaped flowers and hairy, toothed, lance-shaped leaves. They grow in moist but well drained soil in full sun and can tolerate some shade. These perennials grow best in zones 3 thru 8, where they can be left in the ground year-round. The plant is propagated by seed, root cutting or division.

In the US this species can be found Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin either naturally or in great numbers. In Canada, you can find it in Ontario.

Since I don’t know where you found the plant, I suspect that the wind or birds dropped the seed in your garden and the conditions were just right for germination.

Hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can do assist with anything else.

Filed Under: Flower Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Flower Identification, Poppy

Could This Rare-Blooming Plant Be An Amaryllis? [solved!]

May 31, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell 3 Comments

Ask the Plant Expert: What kind of flower is this? We’ve had this flower for 8 years, and it has only bloomed twice. What is it’s name?

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: I really think this is an amaryllis. My only hesitation is that usually you see the top of the amaryllis bulb and the bloom are usually on a thick stock, also the blooms are usually much larger. This may be a case of plant abnormalities or genetic defects. We will continue to ask around to see if anyone else has any suggestions, but that’s our best guess! Thank you for your submission!

[edit – it’s a CLIVA] Upon further research, actually thanks to our florists on Facebook, we think this plant is actually a Cliva. This plant is very difficult to get to bloom, and can take 6 years or more to bloom for the first time. It requires a cold period to initiate blooming and regular watering during the summer months. However, don’t over water the plant this will cause root rot and the plant will decline instead of flourish. Here is an article from the Chicago Botanical Society on Cliva care.

Filed Under: Flower Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Cliva

Help! What’s Wrong With My Sick Lobby Plant?

May 26, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell

Ask The Plant Expert: [The sick] plant is in the lobby of my business. Gets new shoots, but they turn brown on the edges and get dried brown spots — enclosed picture. Pic has white on the base. Thanks

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: Nancy,

It looks like you have a water issue. Keep the soil for this plant moist, but not soggy. You need to saturate all the soil, not just the soil right beside the plant. Once all the soil is in a moist condition, check to see when it starts to become dry, and saturate the soil again. Soon the plant should put out new shoots.

Hope this information helps.

Filed Under: Plant Care Questions Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert, Brown Leaves

What Is This NY Garden Mystery Plant?

May 13, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell Leave a Comment

Ask The Plant Expert: In the People’s Garden at Riverside Park NYC, I found an odd little bunch of flowers in bloom that were almost hidden from view in our very lush garden. I haven’t the foggiest idea what it is, and I have been learning flowers hard for two years now. It’s quite unusual to me in shape, like a bell with four hornlike extensions beneath the petals. Help! Am attaching a really pretty picture of our little flower garden. I picked the hardest place to get interested in flowers–am crazy about Wave Hill Gardens up in the Bronx, but many of them are rare varieties excepting the wild flower garden. It has really been hard to ID plants there. I hate to bother busy experts, but you can be sure I have spent three hours at least trying on my own between my books and the internet.

-Tess

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: I contacted the New York Botanical Garden to see if they could help identify the plant. I received an answer from them this morning

It appears to be one of the epimediums.

Plants Delights nursery online may have it…Hope this helps.

Filed Under: Flower Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert

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