Peonies and Pasque Flowers

Today we installed a sunny perennial garden on Rutland Street. It was a pleasure to design because we are usually confined to working in shady conditions. Two very interesting plants were part of our design: a newly introduced peony and pasque flowers.

The Itoh peony (shown in the background of the photo) was originally developed in Japan in the 1940's. It's a cross between an herbaceous peony and a tree peony. It has large yellow flowers and long lasting blooms. And it was the talk of the town. People walking up and down the street loved these showy flowers.

Another interesting plant included in this garden is the pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris). These plants have finely-dissected leaves and delicate seedheads (show in the photo) that make for an intriguing addition to a mixed perennial garden. Pasque refers to Easter (Passover), as these plants tend to flower around that time of year. A closely related species to the one that we planted is the state flower of South Dakota.

Something knotty in your backyard?

Many invasive plants that grow in urban environments are easily removed with a little bit of elbow grease. But Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is an aggressive weed that can become a huge nightmare for urban gardeners. In heavily infested areas it forms 6-8 foot tall thickets that will displace overgrow garden plants, and it's really hard to get out of your garden.

Japanese knotweed grows from underground root systems called rhizomes. These strong root systems can damage the foundations of buildings and sidewalks. Once a root system establishes, it is difficult to mechanically remove all pieces of the root system so the plant continues to return even as you valiantly try to remove it. If your neighbor on the other side of your fence has an infestation, you will always have Japanese knotweed popping up in your garden because the roots will grow under the fence.

The best way to remove Japanese knotweed from your backyard is to apply a systemic pesticide, such as glyphosate. The pesticide will travel through the whole plant, and will kill the root system.

(Photo from nycgarden.blogspot.com)