ORNAMENTAL PLANTS OF HORTICULTURE VALUE

Selection of perennials

Perhaps 150 species in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, of which 100 occur in the FSU with most in the Far East and East Siberia, and only a few in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Some are known in cultivation. All parts, especially the roots, are very poisonous and used for medicinal purposes. Good for the wild garden and perennial borders.

A. baicalense Turcz.

Eastern Siberia and Mongolia. On grassy sites on the plains and mountains, in forests along the rivers.

Rootstock of two oblong tubers. Flower stem erect, leafy, branched, 1 to 1.5 m high. Leaves grey-green to 10 cm x 12-15 cm, 5-parted to the its base, the lobes 2-3-lobulate. Inflorescence a long, lax raceme with widely spaced branches. Flowers large, 3 cm diam., blue or violet. V - early May till October. Fl - June-July, for one month. Fr- August - September. P - by seed or division. Does best in semishade, on moist soil. Z 4 (3). New.

A. nasutum Fisch. ex Reichenb.

Caucasus (northern and eastern regions). In herbage among shrubs in montane deciduous forests.

Roots rounded, tuberous. Stem erect, branched, to 1 m, glabrous. Leaves palmate, lobed, the lobes linear-lanceolate, acute. Inflorescence a long, loose raceme. Flowers numerous, large, 3-4 cm long, light blue or violet. V - (St. Petersburg) early May to October (April - October in the Caucasus). Fl - more than one month, starting June or July. Fr - September - October. P - by division or seed. Does well in semishade on moist soil. Z 4 (3). New.

A. ranunculoides Turcz. ex Ledeb.

Eastern Siberia (southern and eastern regions, adjacent to the Far East). In coniferous forests.

Plant taprooted. Flower stem simple, erect 70 cm. Leaves 2 to 4, long-petiolate, palmately 3-5-lobed to the middle or deeper, the lobes trilobulate. Inflorescence a loose terminal raceme of 7 to 10 flowers. Flowers large, 5 cm across, yellow. V - April to October. Fl - June-July, for one month. Fr - August-September. P - by seed or division. Does best in semishade, on moist soil. Z 4 (3). New.

A closely related species is A. ajanense Steinb., from the Far East. It differs in its larger pale yellow flowers to 6.5 cm. Z 4. New.

A. sczukinii Turcz.

Far East (southern regions), northern China, Japan, Korea. In clearings and valley in forests.

Tubers subconical. Leafy stem ascending or half-climbing 150-250 cm tall. Leaves deeply palmately cleft, with 5-7 lobes. Raceme inflorescence very loose. Flower numerous bright blue 2-3 cm long, frequently recurved. V - April - November. Fl - August - October. Fr - September - November. P - by seed, sawn fresh, by division. Cold-resistant, diseases-resistant, self-sowing. Good for wall decorating in places with low maintanance. Z 4 (3). New.

Two other species from the Far East have been tested and recommended for zones 4 or 3: A. fischeri Reichenb. 150-180 cm tall, leaves deeply palmately cleft, flowers bright blue or white. Shady places. A. raddeanum Regel. 100-130 cm, leaves dissected to base into 5 segments, flowers blue-violet. Shady places. New.