Look beyond geraniums and imatiens for gardening bliss
By Thea Steinmetz
happenings
Published July 6, 2005

Plant oddities, be they obedient or rambunctious, will always reel in the gardeners prepared to unwrap the unusual. We delight in hearing "oh, what is that?" or "I never have seen this before."

Even warnings that a particular plant will be very invasive does not deter us from coveting it. It might be the eye-catching or atypical in color, the curious fragrance or the multitude of flowers that seduces us.

Perhaps one of the better examples is the Houttuyni cordata 'Chameleon'. It is better known as the chameleon plant. The allure comes from its attractive tri-colored leaves of yellow, green and a touch of red. The white blossoms add to overall attractive appearance of this plant. The beginning saga is wonderful, but wait a year or two and it can become a nightmare.

This happened a few years ago when I suggested to a neighbor that he keep these plants in pots so they would not invade his whole garden. He did not think that I knew what I was talking about and now he tells me his life is dedicated to get the chameleon plant out of his garden. It started to choke out other plants and pretty much went wherever it wanted to go.

Vowing that it would not get a foothold in our garden, I never bought the plant. As always, I learn from our readers and saw another way of using this handsome specimen. Nancy Dorencott has it in her pool and treats it as an annual. This way the colorful plant adds charm to the water but does not have a chance to invade the rest of the garden.

Now, there is houttuynia in our pond. As it likes a great deal of moisture in the summer months, it may thrive there. It was taken out of its small pot and placed in a deeper one, with rocks to weigh it down. The lower part is submerged on a shelf in the water with the top left out of the water. So far the fish have ignored it and I can only hope we will enjoy this colorful specimen till late fall.

Now and then we have to mention some botanical names although some of our readers don't want to go there. In this case, however, there is no other way to explain this plant. One of my favorite over the years has been a passion vine, Passiflora molissima. One was given to me in a pot by a friend that was moving overseas. It was not hardy and originally had come from a florist as a houseplant. The flowers were spectacular, rose pink with scarlet and soft lavender, The crown was distinct and the flowers plentiful. Non-gardeners remarked about the intricate flower being most unusual.

It was thriving for a few years by taking it outside in the spring and cutting it back for the winter to bring inside. As it bloomed intermittently during the winter, it was a desirable houseplant. Then, to my great chagrin, I loaned this gorgeous plant to a landscaper to be placed in a show. He put it unprotected on an open truck and the wind killed it during transportation. I was crestfallen because I could not find a new one.

I mentioned this to Rich Bartsche at Cahoon Nursery and he found a source. I now have a 'Passiflora x Lavender Lady', (P. Amethyst). The problem is that the tag it came with does not say if it is hardy in Zone 5. It does say that it is fast growing, 15 to 20 feet long and will flower in late summer and fall. There are some hardy passion vines growing in Cleveland gardens, but the flowers are less spectacular than they were on my original plant.

Due to the complexity and the beauty of the flowers, I am placing the passion vine on my list of unusual plants.

Tropical plants are more and more introduced as annuals in our climate. Quite often they are not more expensive than if familiar annuals are purchased in larger containers. So, why not add a touch of drama to the garden? The elephant ear, if only for the sheer size of the leaf, fills this need for plant excitement nicely.

A few years ago I was introduced to the green stemmed Colocasia at a meeting of the Men's Garden Club of Greater Cleveland. It thrived in the house over the winter, making a positive statement in the living room. Planted back outside in the spring, this unusual specimen is now a favorite for a shady corner space.

This spring a black stemmed version, called 'Black Swan' could be found at several garden centers and, of course, it had to join its green relative. This is not a plant for all that insist on colorful flowers. It is the oversized leaf at the end of a graceful stem that commands attention.

A half shaded location is the best setting, but even in more shade it is doing well. This specimen likes to be watered frequently but must be planted in well draining soil.

There are so many avenues to be traveled by the thrill seeking gardener that hankers to go beyond geraniums and impatiens.