Saturday, March 30, Members 9 am, General admission 10 am- 4 pm

A premier event celebrating spring in the garden!
Featuring :
OVER 20 SPECIALTY PLANT VENDORS!
(Updated vendor list available on PECKERWOODGARDEN.ORG)
Peckerwood Garden’s own exclusive, ultra-rare plant offerings!
Landscape materials and gardening supplies!
Art and craft vendors!      Great Food! Cash Bar!
Music performed by: Hogan and Moss/ The Houston Blenders!

Sponsored by:
Adam’s Notes from the Garden
The garden looks amazing as always this spring, and we are excited to be offering our first major event to share the vernal wonders with the public. Our first annual spring festival, which we are calling our “ Budding Out Festival” is promising to be a great complement to the other great regional plant sales. We have around 20 plant vendors selling a variety of distinctive plants, and we are making available some very limited offerings from Peckerwood’s collections of some species that should excite the most avid plant enthusiast. An array of local artists will be selling their works, and when your pocketbook is a little lighter there will be adult beverages to wash any regret away! Food and music will round out a delightful day as will a relaxing stroll in the garden. 
This special issue of the newsletter will focus on some select rarities that Peckerwood will have available on a limited basis to further entice you to travel from near and far. This is only a fraction of our inventory that will be available, the rest of which is always on our website for review. Plant sales directly support the garden at this otherwise free event, but if you want to ensure you get that rare plant that we, or our other guest vendors only have one of, consider becoming a member so you can get early access in free from 9am – 10am. Otherwise they may be gone by the time the general public is allowed in at 10am! 

Calendar
Select Rare Plants from Peckerwood Garden’s Collections Available at the Budding Out Festival on March 30
By Adam Black
Please note that this list of choice collector plants (priced accordingly) is only a fraction of our entire nursery inventory and highlights a variety of things we are especially excited about. Our general list, which includes many other affordable collector-quality species is always accessible on our website. Some of these special offerings below may not be available again any time soon, if ever. The “tropical” section features plants that are best as container specimens brought in during cold spells. Some are indicated as deserving of trailing in protected microclimates of Houston’s zone 9 by the adventurous collector. As always, we are happy to offer detailed care and advice on all plants we sell. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs
Quercus insignis -Giant-seed Mexican Oak – With the largest acorn of the world’s oak species, how could anyone resist growing this rarity? Until it is mature enough to produce the astonishing, baseball-sized acorns, the velvety crimson emerging leaves will provide quite a spectacle. Best shielded from the afternoon sun in Texas by planting on the northeast side of a neighboring tree. One plant available, a steal at $125.00!
Quercus gilva – Red Barked Taiwanese Oak – The most striking feature of this Taiwanese evergreen oak is the chalky white undersides of the long, dark green-topped leaves with a series of marginal teeth toward the tip. Older trees have bark that takes on a slightly reddish tone as the common name indicates. Very limited amounts available, $25
Quercus corrugata – Wide-ranging through Central America, This offering is from seed from a wild tree in El Salvador. We also grow a tree of Mexican provenance, which Is tender when young but has become hardier with age. It is evergreen in mild winters of zone 9 but will defoliate in colder winters but reliably leafs back out in spring. The new growth is a glossy dark bronze color. Only one available! $75
Quercus spinosa ssp. miyabei – We received this Taiwanese oak under the old name Q. tatakaensis. For the true collector and new to us, so trial it along with us! One seedling available. $25
Quercus porphyrogenita – This tree that John Fairey and Carl Schoenfeld had collected from the San Carlos Mountains was only recently identified confidently with the help of Mexican collaborators. Our mature trees have a wonderful spreading form with foliage that is quite blue-green. From open-pollinated garden seed, so hybridization is always possible, but they look convincing so far. Two seedlings available. $20
Quercus laeta – A lot of visitors get drawn to this Mexican oak in our garden. The foliage looks similar to a narrow, toothy-edged Monterrey Oak (Q. polymorpha) with new growth being a peachy color. Unlike Monterrey Oak, our trees from both Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas tend to have gently weeping branches. From open-pollinated garden seed. Two seedlings available. $20
Lithocarpus edulis ‘Starburst’ – An evergreen Asian oak relative that is rare in itself, this variegated selection has bold yet wispy brush strokes of gold down the center of each rich green leaf. Only a couple of rooted cuttings in gallons available. $35
Malus doumeri var. formosana – Taiwan Crabapple – A subtropical apple that is practically unknown in US horticulture. Our seeds came from a tree growing in Dr. John Ruter’s trial plots at the University of Georgia at Tifton where is flourished for years, flowering beautifully and producing small astringent but ornamental apples. Only a few available – maybe the first offering in the US! $30
Erythrina vespertilio – Batwing Coralbean – This attention-getting shrub has been growing on site here for years, dying back to the woody root system each winter and quickly growing back in spring. A most unusual texture is created with the mass of blue, batwing-shaped foliage. It never produces its red flowers here due to the annual dieback, but in warmer areas of Houston it might attain a size where it does. A few rooted cuttings $30
Daphniphyllum pentandrum – One of two subtropical Asian evergreen species we recommend for this region (the other being D. calycinum, regularly available in our nursery), this one is even more rare in cultivation. I discovered a few old trees growing in a forgotten part of the old Jungle Gardens on Avery Island, LA (where the Tabasco sauce is made!) and was pleased to see they had males and females producing seed. Soft rubbery light green leaves with white undersides and an occasional weak lobe or two giving the leaves an asymmetric look, just to keep things interesting! Two available. $20
Acer buergerianum var. formosanum –Evergreen Trident Maple – Though considered a subtropical Taiwanese variety of the common Chinese trident maple, it is completely different and some have suggested it may be a different species altogether. Thick, evergreen leaves are trilobed to varying degrees. Very rare in cultivation. Several seedlings available in 4” ($20) and gallon sizes ($30).
Acer oliverianum var. formosanum – Another subtropical Taiwanese maple I always recommend as being much more adapted to the gulf coast region than Japanese maple, with reliable intense red to orange fall color yet still having similar five-lobed, almost star-shaped leaves and green bark of a Japanese maple. Gallon sizes $20
Aesculus pavia var. flavescens – Texas Yellow Buckeye – This is an unusual variety of the common east TX red buckeye, but with yellow flowers. It is only found in the southern hill country of central Texas on limestone soils, but is adaptable to more acidic conditions. A few available from wild-collected seed from Uvalde County. $20
Fokienia (Chamaecyparis) hodginsii – A warm climate conifer from south China/Vietnam that has distinctive scaly foliage in fan-like arrangements with a beautiful patterning of white stomatal bands on the undersides. Ours are seedlings off of trees growing at University of Florida’s North Florida Research and Education Center just west of Tallahassee. $15
Torreya grandis – Chinese Nutmeg Yew – The dark green, stiff needles on this yew relative are affixed to the stems at a 90 degree angle. The cone on female trees resembles a large nutmeg seed. One rooted cutting available off our female tree. $20
Lomatia myricoides – One of the few members of the Protea family we can grow here, though its delicate white flowers are less subtle than the larger flowers of Proteas. More of an unusual textured foliage shrub, the serrated edges of the gray-green strap leaves (white underneath) whorled around the upright stems is unmatched by any other plant I can think of that we can grow. One rooted cutting. $15
Afrocarpus falcatus – from South Africa, this podocarpus relative has shorter, thinner foliage, this is the cold hardy species of the otherwise tropical genus. One gallon size rooted cutting available. $20
Cupressus dupreziana – Saharan Cypress - A rare conifer from the Saharan region of Algeria, all wild trees are over one hundred years old with no natural seedling recruitment. The remaining trees are holdouts from when the area was wetter. It is the only plant in existence reproducing through “male apomixis”, in which pollen enters the female cones and divides to become a viable seed genetically identical to itself with no genetic contribution from the female. Reason enough to grow it, right? Two seedlings available. $15
Ilex rubra – Mexican Holly - We have had John and Carl’s collection of this species for a long time, but recently got cuttings of a Lynn Lowrey collection from Lynn’s daughter and son-in-law Patsy and Mike Anderson. Our Peckerwood collection has fine teeth the length of the leaf margin, while the Lowrey clone is smooth except for a few distinct teeth toward the tip of the leaf. One rooted cutting (female) available in a 4” pot. $15
Pavonia bahamensis - Green-Flowered Bahama Mallow– Strange green flowers amid similarly green heart shaped foliage make this hibiscus relative a true novelty. Though subtly colored, the flowers are irresistible to hummingbirds. Do not let this tropical Bahamian fool you – if planted early in the year in full to part sun it will grow to over six feet high before winter freezes cut it to the ground, returning vigorously in spring. $20
Ficus virens – If you can tolerate some winter dieback in the Houston area (or similar parts of zone 9) this Ficus originally introduced by Yucca Do Nursery quickly regrows in spring with reddish new growth and large tropical leaves. In zone 8b it may die to the trunk or to the ground, but still recovers but may remain shrubbier. This is a wavy leaf clone that I propagated off the tree at Orlando FL’s Leu Gardens. $15
Ficus afghanistanica SFA form – Thin Leaf Afghan Fig – Dr. David Creech at Stephen F. Austin University shared this finely cut-leaf form of Afghan fig. Fully hardy and deciduous, it needs well-draining conditions. There is some thought that leaf lobes may get broader with age, but it will still be quite beautiful if it does. Several rooted cuttings in 4” pots. $15
Hardy Perennials 
Pieris phillyreifolia (scrub ecotype) – Scrub Andromeda – A native of the hot, dry sandhill scrub of the western Florida panhandle, it is likely much more tolerant of drought than its swamp-dwelling counterpart in northern peninsular Florida. Makes a low mound of evergreen teardrop shaped foliage that gets smothered with white flowers resembling those of its close relative, the blueberry (but lacks edible fruit). One available $20
Spathicarpa hastifolia- Brazilian Worm Plant– Having always considered this a tropical, I was amazed to see this it has been reliably cultivated in Peckerwood Garden’s shady zone 8b woodland garden for years. After emerging from dormancy in spring, this rare aroid soon begins producing a strange bloom spike that consisting of a row of tiny, congested flowers that combined give the illusion of a worm or caterpillar crawling on the leafy spathe. $25
Capraria mexicana – Tamaulipan Tea– A rare south Texas native that becomes more common in Mexico. A great pollinator and host plant for several species of butterflies. Upright stems with foliage clustered towards the tips from which protrude tubular white flowers. Despite the common name, caution and research should be exercised before attempting to make a tea from it. $15
Veronicastrum sp. DJHC-0611– This woodland shrub, possibly a form of V. tagawae, originally collected by Dan Hinkley in Sichuan, China produces arching stems with lance shaped, corrugated leaves. From the base of each leaf emerges an upright, white and purple inflorescence that looks like a miniature bottle brush. $15
Carex baccans - Red-seeded Sedge– When I first spotted the shocking red seed spikes of this sedge growing along a forested road in the Central Taiwan Mountains, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The two-foot tall clump of emerald green grassy foliage will become dense with age and hold multiple dangling, bold red infructescences in late summer through fall. $10
Remusatia vivipara – A rarely grown aroid somewhat resembling one of the “elephant ears’, but only produces one large leaf per season. After emerging the leaf will have subtle purple markings that become emphasized when backlit. I used to grow it in Florida as an epiphyte in the crotch of a live oak tree since this species can often be found in similar situations in nature. It also does fine in any well-drained, shaded situation. It naturally goes dormant in fall, and might not be quite emerged yet by the sale. $25
Hymenocallis eulae - Naked-Flowering Spider Lily – Unlike any other spider lily, this little-known, drought-resistant native bulb produces blue-green succulent leaves that emerge in late winter. After the foliage dies back in early summer, the real show occurs in late summer when “naked” flower spikes strangely burst from the ground like a Lycoris! $10
Hemiphyllacus hintoniorum – Only recently identified, this Mexican plant has an agave-like form consisting of a clump of rosettes of silvery blue succulent leaves. Small pendulous purple tinged white tubular flowers hang from a branching inflorescence on mature plants. A direct relative of the genus Asparagus despite not looking anything like it! Naturally dormant in winter, dying back to a thick fleshy rootstock. One available – first offering! $40
Saururus chinensis – Chinese Lizard Tail – The Asian counterpart to our native “Lizard Tail” ( Saururus cernuus). Compared to the native, this one gets taller and has very showy white leafy bracts below the curled flower spikes. $10
Dianella ensifolia– Another of my Taiwanese collections, this relative of the commonly grown Blueberry Flax has narrower leaves and electric blue flowers that transition to vivid royal purple fruits. Hardy in zone 9, experimental in zone 8b. $10
Ficus vaccinioides ‘Small leaf clone’ –From my Taiwanese collection, this is a smaller leaf clone than the form most often (but still rarely) encountered in cultivation. A small, hardy, non-climbing groundcover fig looks great growing among or over river rocks or as a spiller from a container planting. $15
Clinopodium coccineum – Scarlet Calamint - A “scrub mint” from north and central Florida, where it grows in the hot dry sandhills. Two inch, bright red, tubular flowers with yellow throats project horizontally from the upright stems. The flowers are disproportionally large compared to the tiny round leaves. $15
Conradina canescens - Florida False Rosemary– Another “scrub mint” native to the xeric sandhills of the Florida panhandle, it also handles the frequent gulf coast wet spells provided it has good drainage. Blooming most heavily in spring among its silvery needle-like foliage, it reblooms occasionally through the remainder of the year. Generally pale purple, we are introducing some nice darker purple selections. $15
Ferns
Adiantum sp. nova – Mexican Maidenhair Fern – A new, undescribed species that John and Carl collected in northeastern Mexico! Looks similar to the common Adiantum capilli-veneris but gets much larger (to 4’ tall when happy) and the most tell-tale difference is the unique pattern of sori on the undersides of the pinnae. Dies to the ground in colder winters for us but vigorously emerges in spring with hot pink new growth! Only a few 4” pots available! $15
Dennstaedtia bipinnata –In the US, this fern is known from only a few populations in Florida. This plant represents a collection from near Orlando. Four foot long fronds are intricately cut with mesmerizing detail. Hardy in zone 9, experimental in zone 8b. $20
Marsilea strigosa – This offering was collected in France and shared with us from Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden. Apparently there is another species offered as this, but this is the verified species. One of the “water clovers” it will quickly fill a small water garden or simply grow it on a windowsill in a cup of water with its floating four leaf clover leaves forming a mat on the surface, or often rising above the water line. Has reliably returned after the water froze solid! $10
Tropicals
Cyanastrum cordifolium – A seasonally dormant tropical from Africa, it has elongated heart-shaped leaves with prominent ridges. Small white spikes bearing purple flowers periodically emerge from the roots under and around the plant. Keep on the dry side and above freezing in winter. Only one available $15
Sauropus spathulifolius – Large, paddle-shaped leaves with silvery herringbone patterno on a blue-green background make this a great foliage plant, and small red flowers emerging en masse from the stem are icing on the cake! Easy in containers, and shows signs of returning from the roots in zone 9 (but reliability uncertain). $15
Tylophora ovata – A relatives of Hoyas, also vining but with less succulent leaves and therefore likes more regular waterings. The curiously hairy, star shaped flowers that radiate on long peduncles also remind of Hoyas and are borne in profusion. My Taiwanese collection. One plant in a 4” pot $20
Begonia salaziensis – One of the rarest species of Begonias, with only a few left in the wild on the island of Mauritius, this one is most unusual in that it is the most primitive, producing orange berry-like fruits, drastically different from the winged papery fruits typical of all the other hundreds of species. Only one being offered $25
Dendrolobium umbellatum ‘Aureum’ – Probably a first offering in the US from what I can tell, a friend in Taiwan shared seed of this plant after I marveled over it in his garden. The intense golden foliage almost hurts to look directly at, and the new growth is a rusty orange color for some nice contrast. Turns into a small shrub but can be maintained in a large container. One only! $30
Hemithrinax ekmaniana – One of the most amazing palms, this Cuban species could easily be interpreted as a yucca at a young size. Young plants form a dense head of leaves and over time it will form a clear trunk. Google it – you will want one. Since some of its relatives have fair cold tolerance it might prove to be a zone 9 plant. Slow growing so can easily be maintained in a container for quite a while. Two small seedlings available. $25
Ficus habrophylla – I was lucky to see this species in the wild in New Caledonia, where its large foliage stands out a bronze-green with red highlights in the petiole and primary veins. One of the more distinctive species! One 1-gallon plant $30
Podocarpus costalis – A tropical conifer species only found on the small island of Lanyu (aka Orchid Island) off the southeast coast of Taiwan. Stout, blunt-tipped leaves make this one of the more distinct species. A few seedlings available. Sensitive to light frost but makes a great house plant in warmer months. A few in 4” pots $15
Podocarpus aristulatus – A small-statured, short, leaved podocarpus from Hispaniola. A true collector’s item. Worth cautiously trialing in Houston’s zone 9ish climate, but unlikely to make it in zone 8b. $20
Podocarpus annamiensis – Another rare tropical conifer from Southeast Asia, this one has intense red new growth that contrasts well with the rich green foliage. $20
Ficus benghalensis ‘Krishnae’ – as mutant form of the common Bengal Fig, the leaves are variably contorted in pleasing shapes, sometimes cupped at the base and often with two “bunny ears” extending from the petiole. Strange! Two rooted cuttings. $20
Ipomoea sp. Madagascar (caudiciform) – I don’t really want to let go of this one plant, but since I have a few I will grudgingly allow it to have a new home. Unlike your typical morning glory vines, this one has a fat, tortuous caudiciform base from which seasonal vines emerge from. Makes beautiful large purple flowers in typical morning glory form and dies back in fall. Keep dry and above 45 degrees in winter. Only one (if I don’t change my mind!) $50
Phyllanthus juglandifolius – Can slowly grow to 8 or more feet tall, but can also be easily maintained in a container protected from cold. Periodic hard pruning will make it branch more. Each stem has a crown of compound leaves that emerge reddish purple, resembling walnut leaves as implied by the species name. A purple hue is retained on the underside of the leaves, but fades by late summer. I saw a neat bonsai made with this rare plant once as it can become somewhat caudiciform with age and regular pruning. Seedlings, just a few $15
Araucaria biramulata – These are seedlings from the first successful coning of the old tree growing at Montgomery Botanical Center in Miami (and the only tree in US cultivation). Native to New Caledonia, it resembles its commonly grown relative, the Cook Island or Norfolk “Pine” ( A. columnaris) but has thicker foliage and different branching habit when older. Being open pollinated, these might be hybrids with the abundant A. columnaris found throughout Miami, or crossed with one of the other rare species of Araucaria (like A. luxurians we are also offering) in the Montgomery collection. Either way you won’t find them anywhere but here! $30
Oeceoclades calcareta – A xeric terrestrial orchid from Madagascar with strap-like leaves mottled with light green emerging from stout, ridged pseudobulbs. Blooms on tall spikes every year with little care after a dry period through winter. Even during the growing season needs perfect drainage. One plant $25
Haemanthus humilis ssp. hirsutus – Another blood lily relative, seasonally bearing only one pair of super-hairy, tongue-like leaves that hug the ground. I haven’t flowered it yet (white flowers like H. albiflos, which we will also offer) but the foliage alone makes it worth growing. It is a winter growing, summer dormant plant, and is on its way to dormancy now so foliage may look ragged by the sale. One available $30
Agave titanota – exaggerated black terminal spines – an offset from a form shared with us by Yucca Do nursery, this robust agave is in a class of its own. Many varieties occur, but this one is quite the standout with its massive black spines that tip the broad, stout leaves. One rooted offset $20
Columnea schiedeana – A relative of goldfish plants, but with long, gaping tubular flowers ornately spotted and streaked with maroon. Normally growing as an epiphyte, it is great for hanging baskets and flowers are best appreciated from below as they emerge in clusters from under the stem tips. Hairy foliage also has a subtle purple veining. Needs well drained soil and likes to dry out between watering. 
Araucaria luxurians – As with the A. biramulata offering, these also came from open pollinated seed off Montgomery Botanical Center’s trees. All these New Caledonian Araucarias look similar when young, but become more distinctive with age. This one is indeed quite luxuriant when older. $30
Pitcairnia calatheoides – A terrestrial bromeliad with broad leaves with rounded tips that resembled a calathea to the botanist who described this species. New leaves have a chalky bloom on the undersides, and has dark brown spines around the base. Forms a colony over time and rewards with a spike of flaming red flowers. One established division in a 6” pot $20
Ficus tannoensis – I am really excited about this smaller shrubby fig that I collected in Taiwan at an elevation that produces other plants hardy to zone 8b. I haven’t experimented with it yet so no guarantees. The uniquely shaped foliage emerges a bright orange, and then the stems get loaded with reddish orange figs that are more ornamental than palatable. Rooted cuttings in 4” pots $15, gallon size $30
Hippeastrum reticulatum var. striatifolium – A tropical amaryllis relative worth growing for the foliage alone! Each dark green leaf has a broad white stripe down the center. Freely offsets to form a tight colony, and though I have heard others say it is difficult to flower, I have flowered it every year without any special care. Typical Amaryllis flowers that are dark pink with purple netting pattern. A few in 4” pots $20
March and April Dates to visit Peckerwood Garden!
March 30 and April 13/27 - 10 am - 3 pm
Special spring highlights will be showcased. Join us for a walk through the garden, with tours leaving throughout the day. 

Register ahead or purchase tickets onsite.
Tours are held rain or shine.
April Peckerwood Garden Insiders Tour
April 6, 10:00 am

Join us April 6 and see the collections located across the creek!
Join us for our spring tour of the collections north of the creek. Seen from afar on our general tours, this is a special opportunity to learn more about the unique plants that hide in the collections of the north dry garden along with rare trees, shrubs and perennials in the surrounding dry woodland garden. This tour is held quarterly, so it is one of the few opportunities to see up close the iconic "Blue Wall" inspired by Frida Kahlo's famous Blue House in Mexico City, integrated among a fascinating array of collector plants. 

There will be one tour at 10 am.
Dr. Yike Gao 
 
Saturday, April 20, 11:30 am, with a tour at 10:00 am.
 
Dr. Yike Gao, visiting from the Beijing Forestry University will discuss different types of Irises for the garden as well as her research breeding different cultivars of "candy irises". 
 
There will be a tour at 10:00 am, followed by a lecture at 11:30 .
Are you coming to the Budding Out Festival
LOCATION
Peckerwood Garden

DATE AND TIME
03/30/19 9:00am - 03/30/19 4:00pm

A premier event celebrating spring in the garden!
Includes specialty plant sales, cash bar, live music, more than 20 vendors.
I'll be there!
Maybe
I can't make it
The Budding out Festival is free entry, please register here.