Perennial ‘Spotty Dotty’ draws notice with its showy foliage
Woodland plant thrives in moist shade as companion for hostas and ferns
Dear Helen: In a garden I visited recently, I saw an unusual plant identified for me as a Podophyllum known as ‘Spotty Dotty.’ It was growing in a pot, which made it easier to see the drooping, oxblood-red flowers tucked under the leaves. Do you know this plant?
K.H. I saw a Spotty Dotty plant a few years ago in a garden on the Cowichan Family Life tour (June 4 this year). It’s a perennial that draws notice with its showy foliage.
Spotty Dotty is a hybrid podophyllum with large, umbrella-shaped, mottled leaves. It’s an impressive foliage woodland plant for moist shade or part shade, and a good companion perennial for hostas and ferns. It is related to mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), a native plant of eastern North America.
The podophyllums are considered rare and unusual, and are sometimes found in specialty nurseries. Dear Helen: Many years ago, I rescued some wild trilliums from a lot being cleared near my home. Every year, they have flowered well. This year, around mid-April, the patch of trilliums produced a double bloom. Can you explain? H.K.
A double flower arising among regular trilliums is most likely a mutation — a spontaneous genetic change, or “sport.” A change in flower colour, or a shoot bearing variegated foliage appearing on a plain-leaved plant, are commonly seen examples of mutations, which can be triggered by factors such as temperature extremes or weedkiller use. It’s a lovely bloom — a good sport maybe? Dear Helen: I am looking for sources, preferably Canadian, for heirloom seeds. Can you help? L.S. Here are some I’m familiar with, and use regularly as seed sources: • Salt Spring Seeds grows all its own heritage seeds — vegetables, herbs, flowers. saltspringseeds.com. Dan Jason is especially proud of his high protein seeds — dry beans and peas, soybeans, lentils, quinoa, amaranth and more. • Florabunda Seeds, Indian River, Ontario. (florabundaseeds.com.) Seeds for heirloom annuals, perennials, vines, herbs, vegetables. • The Cottage Gardener, Newtonville, Ontario. (cottagegardener.com.) Historic perennials, old-fashioned annuals, traditional herbs, heirloom vegetables. • Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa. (seedsavers.org.) Not Canadian, but a wonderful source for unusual vegetable and flower varieties. Gorgeous colour catalogue with many listings not available elsewhere. • West Coast Seeds, William Dam Seeds and T&T Seeds don’t specialize in heirlooms, but point out heritage varieties with an icon. Weekend column. I’ll be taking a break from writing the Saturday column for the upcoming Victoria day weekend. I’m off to plant, trim and weed. I wish you all happy times tending your gardens.