Quirky-named Plants Bring Oodles of Tasty Color
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."ť
Shakespeare's young heroine Juliet was referring to Romeo, whose family name Montague wasn't too appealing around the Capulet household. A name, she argued, shouldn't affect how you think of a man.
Juliet was somewhat biased, of course. A name shouldn't make any difference, in her opinion. We should judge on substance alone. All very admirable, but names can be very evocative.
This is certainly true when it comes to the names given to plants. Initially, each plant is assigned a legal name through a process known as taxonomy that has been used for more than 200 years. That name is often long, in Latin and hard to pronounce… and quite boring!
Not surprisingly, horticulturists who developed new cultivars soon realized that those “legal” names weren't very inspiring and started giving their creations “nicknames” that described the way they looked and were far more memorable.
For example, which plant would be more likely to appeal to you: Cotinus coggygria x obovatus Grace? Or Grace Smoketree? Then again there's Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' that also has the far more garden-friendly name Black Eyed Susan.
Cheryl and I love finding plants with evocative names that appeal to the senses. And some of these names seem a little weird at first, but in fact do a great job of describing what they look like!
Here are some plants with wonderful names that could add a touch of fun and color to your garden:
Echinacea Tomato Soup
This is a new patented coneflower with a wonderfully comforting name. Remember that hot cup of tomato soup that Mom used to make? This variety really does produce five-inch tomato-red flowers on vigorous plants that grow to a height of three feet. The bright flowers appear around June and usually last through September. The cone of the flower head turns black as the seeds mature adding further interest to the garden and food for the traveling goldfinches that may grace the garden or landscape with their presence.
Echinacea Mac n Cheese
What goes better with tomato soup than a creamy helping of macaroni and cheese? It works in the plant kingdom too, because Echinacea Mac n Cheese perfectly complements the rich red of Tomato Soup in almost any garden. The ideal visual feast for your eyes! Both Tomato Soup and Mac n Cheese are easy to plant and easy to grow as they thrive in average soils, are drought tolerant, shrug off the cold and thrive in full sun to partial shade.
Echinacea Tangerine Dream
Maybe the name reminds you of the tangy taste and bright color of the fruit. Or perhaps you're thinking of the fun and funky music by the 1980s band of the same name. Either way, this aptly-named Echinacea hits the eye with elegant 4" clear orange flowers with wide, overlapping petals. Tangerine Dream holds its vibrant color and has a lovely honey scent. Tangerines and honey? Mmmmm!
All of the above Echinaceas are recommended for USDA zones 4 through 9.
Echinacea White Swan
The words "white swan"ť probably inspire thoughts of grace, elegance and tranquility. That's a very good description of this elegant Echinacea whose pure white, silky 3 to 4-inch wide petals surround dark brown/bronze cones that are butterfly magnets and a food source for small birds in the fall. Zones 3 through 9.
If you're having difficulty finding these relatively new varieties, drop me a line at steve@landsteward.org and I'll send you some shopping information.
So, with all due respect to Juliet, names can make a difference, particularly when it comes to plants. Find a place in your garden for some warm and tasty Tomato Soup and Mac n Cheese or majestic White Swans. They are plants that truly live up to their names.
The Plant Man is here to help. Send your questions about trees, shrubs and landscaping to steve@landsteward.org and for resources and additional information, or to subscribe to Steve’s free e-mailed newsletter, visit www.landsteward.org
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