COMPANION PLANTS

The “white mountain heathers” as they are known, have small “whipcord” branches and white bell‑shaped flowers. A beautiful and very slow‑growing dwarf evergreen shrub, perfect in a trough or rock garden. This clone is a selection from C. wardii × fastigiata with an upright habit, wooly stems and leaves and with masses of white flowers with contrasting bright red calyces. Morning or filtered sun and great drainage but adequate moisture for best results.

This is a hybrid between two beautiful epiphytic species of orchids native to the temperate rainforests of the Himalaya Mountains (Coelogyne cristata x Coelogyne flaccida). Many of the species in this genus grow naturally in the wild alongside Rhododendron species and so this is a genus we feature in the Rutherford Conservatory, etc. as they benefit from the same temperature regimes as most of our rhododendrons (vs. truly tropical orchids which are more familiar and more widely grown - many Coelogyne are toleratant of cooler conditions). Rarely offered and easily grown. Typical orchid cultivation - moist but well-drained and great in a moss-lined or similar hanging basket to highlight the pendant growth habit (as illustrated here). These are large specimens that should bloom within a year.

This is a genus of shrubby plants native to New Guinea where they grow alongside their relatives in the Ericaceae – vireya rhododendrons, blueberries and Gaultheria spp. This genus is most closely related to blueberries (Vaccinium) but unlike their widespread and widely grown relatives, the various species of Dimorphanthera are rarely seen in cultivation. The flowers and fruit are very similar to those of a blueberry but on a vastly larger scale - with the flowers sometimes over two inches in length. These range in color from white to pink, red and bicolor. Best treated like a vireya with excellent drainage and protection from frost. This species features clusters of two-inch long pink flowers and very large leaves. The leaves are covered with short silky hairs.  

I can do no better than to quote my good friends at Far Reaches Farm: “Extreme rarity from the summit of Jinfoshan where this was found growing in moss and leaf litter atop a narrow shoulder of hard limestone napped in snow from the night before. A diminutive species to just 3" tall with small evergreen thumbnail leaves and small white flowers touched in rose on the interior. Light lavender fruit follows. We expect this to be among the hardiest of the Disporopsis and are pleased to be the first to introduce and offer the true species. As a side note of irony, the collection site has subsequently been destroyed by development for eco-tourism.” Thanks to Kelly and Sue for sharing this with us!

This is a tropical epiphytic fern native to the Philippines. It forms a low, spreading clump of evergreen, very glossy and leathery, arrow-shaped fronds. Best grown in a cool, moist, well-drained site with protection from hot afternoon sun. Avoid prolonged drying and excessive heat. Rare in cultivation, this is our first offering of beautiful species.

This is a rarely cultivated deciduous shrub with a strongly horizontal branching habit. In mid-spring, the long and showy racemes of deep red flowers hang from the branch tips. Excellent bright red fall foliage color when grown in sun. This species is native to southern Japan and is typically white-flowered. A rare opportunity to have the rare red form of this choice species. Our first offering.