On a cold weekend a few years ago, a friend from church and a reader of our column asked me if I used unusual plants in my designs.
If you are unable to get out into your yard, you can begin making plans. I hope this column inspires you to take on some new exotic challenges this coming year.
Years ago, I saw this unusual vine growing in the rails of my sister’s deck in Ontario. We later found out was a Northern Passionflower or Passiflora incarnata.
At the time, we all thought that the northern limit of the Passionflower was Northern Mexico. My parents got a cutting from this plant and grew one in their yard for seven years.
A client and a reader asked me to design a courtyard for the business where she was a supervisor and responsible for bringing a tropical feel to the landscape.
I have a hard time recommending something when I don’t have faith that it will work. In 2007, this lady from Stow asked me to design the tropical garden for her office’s landscape, which I can now provide, and it feels quite accurate.
As I was going about the work of selecting plants and coming up with ideas at the time, I came across an orange that would grow here in Ohio.
Therefore, I had to test this plant before I could recommend using it. This orange tree has been in my yard since 2007 and grew successfully for six years.
Growing an orange tree in Ohio outside in the weather, facing Northwest winter winds, can be difficult and pushes the envelope. I have grown a neck turner in my yard.
Most drivers wonder what I’m doing as they drive by and see my bamboo: I have six different species of bamboo in my yard.
If you tell most people that you can grow bamboo in your yard, they will look at you and wonder what sort of medication you might be taking.
One of the bamboos I grow is native to Ohio.
History shows that this native Ohio bamboo was once grazed by buffalo. This Canebrake Bamboo, or Arundinaria gigantea, has been found to be less invasive than typical bamboos.
The bamboos I find user-friendly are members of the Fargesia family, which are clumpers, not runners. Sharon and I have a spot in the yard that is kind of isolated and could be very interesting in that it has three natural boundaries.
Considering the situation in which I planted this aggressive bamboo full of poison ivy and other serious weeds, I planted a Timber bamboo. This bully is taking over this area and driving out the weeds, including the poison ivy.
Mowing the yard contains this bamboo in the area where I want it to grow. No more weeds or poison ivy.
Years ago, a friend asked me if we could grow bananas here in Ohio. My answer was yes, and you can find this banana grove in Hayesville.
This assurance to my friend was based on the Hardy Banana or Musa basjoo trees that I saw growing by the greenhouse at OSU-ATI in 2011, and had been growing in that location for more than a decade.
I assume they have done something different recently. One key to growing a banana outside is that it first needs to be in a protected area. For bananas to do well here in Ohio, you also need to mulch at least three feet deep over the root system.
Bananas are not a typical tree, as they may grow into a two-story tree from ground level each year. What is so strange is that bananas are more closely related to grass than trees because they start from ground level each year.
Over the years, I have designed many gardens that my clients have enjoyed for many reasons. My enjoyment is seeing the faces of my clients after a successful installation.
If you’re pushing the limits of growing something that hasn’t been known to grow in an area, keep in mind that it can be fun to grow these plants, but use your judgment.
Remember in planting a non-native plant in your garden will effect the ecology in that area.
I hope you enjoyed this tour of unusual plants. If you have any problems in your garden, ask me a question or e-mail me at ericlarson546@yahoo.com.