Arborvitae Fern: An Evergreen Beauty

Selaginella braunii is known as arborvitae fern, but it's not a fern. It's also called spike moss, but it's not a moss, either.The only thing I knew about it when I bought it last year was that it was a deeply discounted, dried-up plant. However, the nursery owner assured me was still alive and would be beautiful. I had my doubts, but at a couple of dollars each, I was willing to try.

I bought six of them. I planted three under a large Japanese maple in the front garden, the other three closer to the house beneath some azaleas. The ones close to the house are watered often, as they are a few feet from the water faucet. The other three get watered when it rains. One under the maple died, but the other two survived, though they are growing slowly.

Now this plant has stolen my heart. Yesterday I was strolling around my garden, examining plants to see what winter has wrought and looking for signs of spring. The colors of the arborvitae fern caught my attention. While some fronds remain green, others have taken on silvery bronze colors. I love the effect.

Since last year I have learned a lot about my arborvitae fern. This plant is a lycopod, an ancient relative of plants seen in fossils. The free online dictionary defines a lycopod as a primitive evergreen moss-like plant with spores in club shaped strobiles. The small club shaped cones give the plant another name: club moss.

A native of China, Selaginella braunii will grow in zones 6-9, in shade to partial shade. It needs moist, humus-rich and well-drained soil. A lovely plant for a container, it likes humidity and also makes a good plant for a terrarium. It grows up to a foot high and will spread to about two feet. Eventually clumps will form, and it can serve as a ground cover, eliminating weeds. This is why I originally bought mine, though I will have to wait a few years for that to happen. Little roots form along the stems, and it is easy to propagate the plant by division. They grow relatively slowly, and I don't want to divide mine yet; so I am thinking about buying more. I plan to put several down in the woodland garden, where they will complement the hosta, azaleas, and ferns already growing there. I will fertilize my plants in early spring with an all purpose, slow-release fertilizer, and I promise to keep them - all of them - well watered. 

Evergreens, the regents of winter

"This weather makes me want to curl up in in my pajamas and drink hot chocolate!" 

We were standing outside a funeral home in a cold mist. A friend's father, age 97, had passed away. It was an uplifting service. This great-great grandfather had led a productive, interesting life. He was a good man who loved God. No doubt, right now the weather is much nicer where he is than where we are .

Winter's breath, damp and chilly, is coming over the land, giving me goosebumps which won't go away completely till next spring. I am always cold in the winter. Even inside the house I will wear a sweater or jacket. It is a good thing I live in Alabama, where winter is short and half-hearted. How do people in Canada survive? 

However, there are some things I like about winter:

1. Hot chocolate

2. My sweet husband getting up early to build a fire in the fireplace and to prepare breakfast for me. (He has spoiled me rotten, I know.)

3. Evergreens 

I love evergreens, those regents of winter which offer shelter and food to wildlife. Many are stately trees that stand guard against cold winds. All of them are beautiful and provide color and structure to the winter landscape.

Prior to the funeral today, I was out with my camera to capture some of these beauties before the rain started.

 Osmanthus heterophyllus, also called holly tea olive, has wonderful variegated leaves.

  

Yaupon holly is another one of my favorites. It is native to our area. This is a dwarf variety which is commonly used for hedges and foundation plantings. People pretty much take them for granted, but they should stop and take a good look at their petite leaves. The latin name for yaupon is ilex vomitoris, which describes what happens if you ingest it.

Nandina domestica, or heavenly bamboo, has bright red berries to brighten drab winter days.

Today I found a nandina with white berries, which is unusual, but quite pretty, I think.

This weeping blue cedar is in the woodland garden. I have a fondness for all kinds of weeping trees. This is one of my favorites. It is slow growing. I think it has taken a decade for it to become four feet tall, though it is wider than that.

 The Arizona cypress, despite its name, has grown well here. I love its color and its lacy needles.

The sculptural quality of branches is highlighted against the blue green color of a deodar cedar. 

This little white pine branch is lovely against the fading foliage of a Japanese maple.

I had to take a photo of the bark of this longleaf pine. It is a huge tree near the border of my property.

And finally. below are autumn fern and spreading yew. Both give structure and fresh green color to the woodland garden throughout the year.  Have a great week and Happy Thanksgiving to you all, Deborah