Horticulture Happenings

The Gardens’ Summer Favorites That Will Work For Oklahoma Home Gardens Nate Tschaenn, Director of Horticulture

Have you ever tried growing a plant that you saw in a gardening magazine or catalog with disappointing results? Maybe the leaves were yellow or burnt to a crisp in summer, the bloom time was disappointingly short or nonexistent, or you were plagued by disease or insects. Growing plants in Oklahoma is much different, and often more challenging than many other areas of the country. It’s easy to be jaded when seeing photos of gardens in other states and think, “I can’t grow that here.”

One of the great benefits about visiting your local public gardens is being able to actually see and evaluate a great variety of plants actually growing in your local conditions. At Myriad Gardens you will be able to see plants not only at their peak but also after a month or two of 90-plus degree days. Part of our mission is to showcase plants that Oklahoma gardeners will be most likely to have success with in their own gardens. We are also planting and trying new things every year, sometimes with great success and sometimes failure.

Here are some of our favorite plants that are new to the Gardens this year and have held up well all summer:

Cherry Skullcap (Scutellaria suffrutescens) This is probably my favorite addition this year. I’ve been blown away by this plant’s performance. It started blooming in April and has not stopped as of mid-August. It is a very low growing perennial, never reaching more than 8 inches in height. It’s planted in full sun in one of the hottest spots in the Gardens and hasn’t shown any sign of stress.

Caradonna Meadow Sage (Salvia nemerosa ‘Caradonna’) ‘Caradonna’ is by far my favorite cultivar of meadow sage. The flowers are dark purple and are held more upright in straighter spikes and bloom longer than most other cultivars, including ‘May Night’, which is much more common but does not perform well in Oklahoma in my opinion. We paired it with the cherry skullcap and it is a knockout combination.

Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) Blackfoot Daisy is a wonderful Oklahoma native prairie plant. I have been tremendously impressed with the nonstop bloom production without any need for deadheading. The low, spreading growth and heavy flower production makes it seem like an annual, but this perennial withstands our cold winters as well as the blistering heat. The dainty white flowers are also fragrant and attract butterflies. Purple Pride Beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Issai’) While beautyberry wasn’t exactly a new addition to the Gardens, we certainly needed more of this awesome native shrub. We added a mass of 16 three gallon plants to the southeast lower lake and I’ve been impressed how quickly they grew and filled in. The graceful arching branches and clusters of tiny pink flowers are nice in summer, but the true show for these shrubs comes in fall. The long, slender branches are currently covered in tiny bright purple berries that will remain long after the leaves fall off.

Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Torch’) Although not a true sunflower, Mexican sunflower is a quick growing annual that can reach impressive heights and is easily grown from seed like sunflowers. The intensely bright flowers are much smaller and more abundant though. Our plants grew to about 5 feet high and 3-4 feet wide. They may require some staking. One plant had a branch bend in half but it still continued to grow and flower. We’ve been so impressed with these plants; you can count on seeing more next year.

Pink Zazzle Gomphrena (Gomphrena ‘Pink Zazzle’) I had never seen this annual before finding it in a garden center this spring. It was so different from any other gomphrena I’ve ever seen that I knew I had to try some. The flowers are huge for a gomphrena, a little over two inches wide. The light green leaves are also bigger and covered in long, thin hairs giving it a delightfully fuzzy appearance. The plants have not spread as much as a typical gomphrena, but have bloomed continuously and work well in flower beds. You can see this cool annual for yourself in the Children’s Garden.

By Roberta Rowland, Conservatory Specialist

Monstera deliciosa, which translates to delicious monster, is one of the few plants in the aroid family (Araceae) that has an edible fruit. The torpedo-shaped fruits take more than a year to ripen and taste like a mixture of banana and pineapple with hints of other tropical fruits, which is why it is often called “fruit salad plant.” However, all parts of Monstera deliciosa are poisonous, except the ripe fruits. Even the unripe fruit causes irritation to the mouth and throat because the plant contains oxalic acid. Additionally, some individuals have sensitivity to oxalic acid and complain of discomfort or pain in their mouths and throat after eating the ripe fruit. Monstera deliciosa

Chocolate tree pod growing in the Crystal Bridge

Monstera is a vine that can grow more than 70 feet when grown on a tall tree or structure. In general, monstera are fascinating specimens and easy to care for. They make a great houseplant if you have the space for it. They only require moderately bright light and humidity. Another common name for this tropical is Swiss cheese plant because the large (3’ long), mature leaves are full of oval-shaped holes. Come see our mature flowering specimen in the Crystal Bridge on your next visit.

Renovations and Replanting Completed for Lake Terraces

By Matt Janda, Gardens and Grounds Manager

If you have visited the Gardens this past summer, you may have noticed construction on the east and west sides of the lower lake. Our terraces have had an erosion problem in the past which made for extensive cleanup anytime our Oklahoma weather blessed us with rain. As of July, the east terraces have been completed and the west side was completed in September.

The process of repairing the terraces began by removing the existing ornamental grasses, erosion control fabric, and drip irrigation lines. Pop-up spray irrigation replaced the drip irrigation, as it was inconsistent and often clogged. The pop-up sprays will provide optimal coverage, make it easier to establish new plant material, and reduce the cost of repairing drip lines that easily get punctured during routine maintenance. A retaining wall was built to replace the aluminum edging and to add more support to the terraces. The walls are capped with limestone to match the existing benches. Next, a cellular confinement system commonly known as geocell was added to the beds, which have a 40 degree incline. The geocell system provides pockets for plants, structural reinforcement and proper drainage. Once the terraces were structurally sound, 75 tons of sandy loam soil was backfilled. The sandy loam soil promotes drainage while providing organic nutrients to the plants.

Lastly, the horticultural team planted more than 1,300 one-gallon Mexican Feather Grasses (Nassella tenuissima) This particular native ornamental grass was selected because it will seed itself and spread. More plants that are well rooted will further help solve our erosions issues. This grass will also add to the aesthetic value of the Gardens year-round with their green and straw-colored flowing feathery tops. Also new to the terraces is a Bermuda grass called ‘Northbridge’. ‘Northbridge’ tolerates heavy foot traffic more so than the Zoysia grass it replaced. These very grassy terraces, once fully grown in, are sure to be enjoyed by all guests.

We are so grateful to two major donors who helped us cover the costs of the east and west terrace renovations. We extend our sincerest thanks to Jean and David McLaughlin and The Kirkpatrick Family Fund whose generous donations made this work possible. Their continued support, and the support of all donors, help us to make continual enhancements to our Gardens to work towards creating a truly worldclass public garden and park space with free access for all.