a couple of new plants for me (pics)

17 years ago

just happened to walk over into the garden center of a local hardware store yesterday and found two pretty variegated versions of native plants.

illicium floridanum 'shady lady' is the shrub and, with no-tag on the perennial, i have not been able to identify this particular jacob's ladder.

the anise shrub flowers are pale pink and supposed to be strongly scented. you can see plenty of flower buds developing now. the leaves have a sort of roll-and-twist to them and good substance. i think i have a good spot for it with morning and afternoon dappled sunlight. the lights and shadows through the overhead canopy should set off the foliage well.

(you can click the thumbnails for a larger image)

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Comments (6)

alex_z7
17 years ago
Nice plants, and nice pics.
Josh
17 years ago
That Illicium is a real beauty! Jacob's Ladder nice too but I do love shrubs and if they're variegated...wow! Your filtered sun situation sounds great for it. josh
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razorback33
17 years ago
The JL could be P. reptans 'Stairway to Heaven'(PP). Hope you better luck than I've had. Tried them twice and never bloomed. Soon as temperatures reached about 85 deg., they were gone! The green leaf ones next to them, bloom and stay green all summer.
Rb

Here is a link that might be useful: Polemonium reptans 'Stairway to Heaven'
jeff_al
Original Author
17 years ago
i think you are right, razorback, about the cultivar name.
after purchase, i googled it and that is the closest i can come up with. spring foliage is supposed to have pink margins but fade to green as summer progresses and probably should look like mine at this late date.
hate to hear about your results with it. you're in an area of lower zone so that does not give me much encouragement but it's in the ground and i'll hope for the best. after reading that, i may move it to an area of total shade instead of the site i selected with a lot or morning sun. i will be happy if the foliage looks good and i get no flowers but even better if it blooms.
bamadave
17 years ago
Shady Lady is a beautiful shrub!! Um, if the flowers have the same scent as any other Illicium floridanum, they'll smell like a fish pond!! Not something you want to take a whiff of.
GAAlan
17 years ago
I planted a 'Shady Lady' on October 1, 2004. I was replacing a dying Illicium anisatum. Upon removal I found an old line for the cable TV was directly underneath. I assumed this was the cause of its demise. I removed the line and so far 'Shady Lady' has grown with gusto. It is a great addition to the world of Illiciums! It does have the fishy smell! Despite this, I have a strong affection for floridanums.