ORNAMENTAL PLANTS OF HORTICULTURE VALUE

Selection of perennials

About 250 or fewer species, depending on the classification used, occur in Eurasia and North America, of which 20 in the FSU. Some of these species are widely distributed and have been known in cultivation for a long time, e.g. A. alpinus L. Nevertheless there are some very ornamental plants hitherto unknown in garden settings.

A. bessarabicus Bernh. ex Reichenb. (A. amelloides Besser).

European Russia (central and southern regions), Caucasus (northern Caucasus, Dagestan, northern Transcaucasus). On dry grassy slopes among shrubs.

Rhizome horizontal, short. Stems 60-70 cm, branched in the upper part, densely pubescent. Lower leaves almost round, upper lanceolate with petiole up to 10 cm. Heads many-flowered. Flowers blue or pinkish-blue. V - mid spring to late autumn. Fl - late summer to late autumn, August to October in the wild. Fr - October, November. P - by seed or division. Prefers sunny place, semi-shade tolerant. Recommended for group planting. Z 6 (5). New.

A. ibericus Stev.

Caucasus (Transcaucasus, Dagestan). In mountain meadows and open deciduous forests.

Rhizomes horizontal, long and relatively thin. Stems 20-80 cm, erect, branched, rough-hairy. Basal leaves broadly lanceolate, tapered into a long petiole, entire or occasionally toothed. Upper leaves sessile with an entire margin. Flower heads large, 5 cm or more diam., in a loose corymb. Ray flowers numerous, large (13-15 mm), blue or pink. V - May to October. Fl - in nature August-September. Fr. - October. P - by seed or division. Z 6 (5). New.

A. spathulifolius Maxim. (A. fauriei Levl. et Vaniot)

Far East (Sakhalin). In moist meadows near the sea shore.

Rhizome branched. Stems erect, 120-150 cm, glabrous at the base, branched only in the flowering shoots. Basal leaves very large, up to 50 cm long, withering before the flowering period. Stem leaves 10-20 cm, elongated-oblong, those on the flowering shoots sessile. Flower heads numerous, 30 to 50, each 4-5 cm diam. Ray flowers lilac, disc flowers yellow. V - mid spring to late autumn. Fl - in wild August-September. Fr - October. Propagated by seed or division. Requires a sunny position and good soil. Z 5. New.