Primula hybrida, colourful harbingers of spring

As we head in to spring, stores all over Toronto are carrying brightly coloured Primula hybrida (primroses, primevère)—these were photographed at Natural Florist, 1852 Danforth Ave.. I am a bit ambivalent about these hybrids; in a way they're pretty, but most of them look so unnatural, which I find a bit disturbing somehow.

Primula is a large genus of 400-500 species native to the northern hemisphere, mostly Eurasia. PLANTS lists four species native to Ontario (P. egaliksensis, P. laurentiana, P. mistassinika, and P. stricta), though I don't know if their natural range extends this far south. I do find the wild types prettier than the technicolour hybrids that one usually sees (click links for pretty pictures from the photo gallery at Primula World by Canadian photographer Pam Eveleigh).

Of course, those primulas at the top of the post must be greenhouse grown, because the primroses that overwintered in Toronto gardens are nowhere near blooming, though last year's leaves stayed green and there's already fresh growth.

By the way, the English name "primrose" has nothing to do with the English word "prim". It comes from the Old French primerose, which in turn came from the Latin prima rosa, i.e. "first rose", because it blooms early in spring, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary.

Hamamelis virginiana in bloom

Although he photographed these flowers in High Park last Monday, Nicky wanted me to post this plant today in honour of Hallowe'en. Hamamelis virginiana, known in English as "American witchhazel" and in French as hamamélis de Virginie, is a deciduous tree native to eastern and central North America. Unlike most of our native trees, witchhazel blooms in autumn, possibly to take advantage of the lack of other flowers vying for pollinators attention. I was thrilled to see this interesting tree for the first time in real life!

Helianthus divaricatus in bloom

Helianthus divaricatus, known in English as "woodland sunflower" and in French as hélianthe à feuilles étalées, is a perennial native to eastern North America. I love the contrast between the clear yellow flowers and the dark green foliage.

My son photographed these plants at High Park.

Agrimonia sp.

Agrimonia spp., known in English as "agrimony" and in French as aigremoine, is a genus of about a dozen herbaceous perennials native to the temperate northern hemisphere, generally with spikes of yellow five-petalled flowers. There are four species found in Ontario, according the USDA's PLANTS database, all of them native:

• Agrimonia gryposepala (tall hairy agrimony, aigremoine à sépales crochus)
• Agrimonia parviflora (harvestlice, aigremoine parviflore)
• Agrimonia pubescens (soft agrimony, aigremoine pubescente)
• Agrimonia striata (roadside agrimony, aigremoine striée)

The agrimonies of Ontario look virtually identical, and Peterson's guide¹ says they can only be distinguished by "technical characters" so I don't feel too bad about not being able to precisely identify this one (though if any of you reading this know which one it is, please let me know!).

The leaves of agrimony are compound, and have distinctive mini-leaflets between some of the larger leaflets.

I photographed this plant in my local ravine.

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1. Peterson, Roger Tory and Margaret McKenny. A field guide to wildflowers: Northeastern and northcentral North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1968.

Descurainia sophia in bloom

The flixweed (sagesse des chiurgiens) is in bloom, and starting to set seed. Now that it has seedpods, I know that this is non-native D. sophia, rather than native D. pinnata (see details on distinguishing the two). A shame. I do like the lacy bluish foliage.

Potentilla norvegica

Potentilla norvegica, known in English as "rough cinquefoil" or "Norwegian cinquefoil" and in French as potentille norvégienne or potentille de Norvège, is an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial native to the temperate northern hemisphere. The dainty yellow flowers have five petals, and five sepals which are longer than the petals and protrude between them. Despite the English common names ("cinquefoil" means "five leaves"), the compound leaves have three leaflets rather than five. If you click the photo to enlarge it you will see they, and the stems, are covered with fine hairs.

Sunflowers! (Helianthus annuus and H. tuberosus

The volunteer sunflower (H. annuus) is in full bloom, and I'm happy to see it's yellow, not that disappointing brownish orange like the 'Velvet Queen' I had last year (which was supposed to be red).

We also have native perennial sunflowers in the garden, probably Jerusalem artichoke (H. tuberosus). I'm not sure, but I think this is just one plant! It grows over 2 metres tall, and has small (for a sunflower) yellow flowers in the autumn. The roots are massive tubers, which are apparently edible, though I haven't tried it.

Coreopsis lanceolata in bloom

These beautiful coreopsis are the star of a neighbour's front-yard wildflower garden. This native plant deserves its popularity in Toronto gardens.

Ranunculus acris

Ranunculus acris, known in English as "tall buttercup" or "meadow buttercup" and in French as renoncule âcre or bouton d'or is a perennial native to Eurasia, Greenland, and Alaska, and widespread elsewhere in North America.

Calibrachoa

Calibrachoa, known in English as "million bells" and in French by the genus name is a genus of tender perennials native to tropical South America, especially Brazil, treated as annuals in Toronto gardens. They look similar to their relatives, petunias, but have smaller flowers. A wide range of cultivars is available.

Tagetes tenuifolia 'Lulu': in bloom!

The 'Lulu' marigolds that I started from seed back in March are just starting to bloom!

I much prefer single marigolds to the double marigolds that have been bred to look like pompoms, though I seem to be in the minority judging from the bedding plants sold around here. It's nice that they're so easy to grow from seed.

Matricaria discoidea: foliage and flowers

Matricaria discoidea, known in English as "pineapple weed" or "disc mayweed" and in French as matricaire odorante, matricaire en disque or matricaire sans ligules, is an annual native to northeast Asia which is now a widespread weed. Its fine foliage and bulging yellow disc flowers are reminiscent of its larger cousin, German chamomile (M. recutita), but it lacks chamomile's white rays. When crushed, the flowers and foliage give off a delicious pineapple scent.

Waldsteinia fragaroides: foliage and flowers

I've posted a couple of pictures of my new barren strawberry plant already, but here is a nicer clump I discovered growing in a garden down the street.

Chelidonium majus: foliage and flowers

Chelidonium majus, known in English as "greater celandine" or "tetterwort" and in French as grande chélidoine or herbe aux verrues, is a perennial native to Europe which is sometimes found growing wild in Toronto forests. (It's not listed on SER Ontario's Invasive Exotic Species Ranking for Southern Ontario (PDF).) Its large leaves are deeply lobed; the four-petalled yellow flowers appear in the spring. This plant was photographed in High Park south of the Black Oak Café.

Waldsteinia fragaroides: flowers

Waldsteinia fragaroides, known in English as "barren strawberry" and in French as waldsteinie faux-fraisier, is a low-growing perennial native to eastern North America. Its three-part leaves and five-petalled yellow flowers are reminiscent of strawberry leaves and flowers (Fragaria spp.), but the flowers are yellow and it does not bear edible fruit.

When I was growing up in eastern Ontario, barren strawberries carpeted the forest floor; i.e. they can make a good groundcover for shade in the right conditions. I bought this plant at the North American Native Plant Society plant sale last weekend.

Caltha palustris: flowers

Caltha palustris, known in English as "marsh marigold" or "kingcup", and in French as caltha de marais, souci d'eau, souci de marais, or populage de marais, is a perennial native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere.

It's been decades since I've seen marsh marigold in real life. I was thrilled to see these gorgeous flowers at Wilket Creek Park.

Viola flowers

Viola hybrids are small annuals grown for their flowers, which are like small pansies. Like pansies, violas are available in a wide range of colours: purple, yellow, blue, mauve, pink, rusty red, orange, and white. These pale yellow violas are 'Penny Primrose'. You can see more violas in the 'Penny' series at Stokes.

Viola 'Sorbet Lemon Chiffon' is from the extensive 'Sorbet' series of violas. I couldn't find the name of this bright purple cultivar.

All violas in this post were photographed at Mimi's Convenience, 1686 Danforth.

Viola x wittrockiana: flowers

Viola x wittrockiana, known in English as "pansy" and in French as pensée des jardins, is a short-lived tender perennial grown as an annual in Toronto gardens. Pansies come in a huge variety of colours, though unfortunately no "true" red, only a dark rusty red like in this cultivar, 'Matrix Red and Yellow'. The five-petalled flowers often have a central blotch and/or are bicoloured.

This is not the best picture, but it does show what a pretty blue 'Matrix Ocean' is. I am regretting not starting some pansy seeds myself. 'Matrix Morpheus' has pretty blue and yellow flowers with whiskers rather than a blotch. There are many other colourways in the 'Matrix' series; you can see many more 'Matrix' varieties at Stokes.

This pansy is 'Delta Premium White Blotch'. I think this is the cultivar Nicky chose last year. (Since Nicky generally hates anything to do with plants and gardening, when he actually likes a plant I usually get it.)

Here's another so-called "red" pansy, 'Delta Premium Red Blotch'. I love truly red flowers like Monarda didyma and Aquilegia canadensis, so I'm always a bit annoyed when nurseries call merely reddish flowers "red". To me this is more of an oxblood colour.

This beauty, 'Delta Premium Neon Violet' is really tempting me. I love the neon glow around the blotch, which you can really see on the flower in the back.

I love the way that the purple blotch on 'Delta Premium Beaconsfield' softly blurs into the white, as though painted in watercolours. There are many other colourways in the 'Delta' series; I especially love this unusual pink and purple pansy from the 'Delta Pink Shades' mix.

All the flowers in this post were photographed at Mimi's Convenience, 1686 Danforth.

Tulipa turkestanica: flowers

Tulipa turkestanica, known in English as "species tulips" and in French as tulipe botanique 'Turkestanica' is a flowering bulb native to Iran and Turkistan. It has 6 pointed petals, white with yellow at the base, and narrow wavy leaves.

This pretty clump is blooming in a talented neighbour's garden.

Matthiola incana 'Vintage' series

Matthiola incana, known in English as "garden stock", "ten-week stock", or "gillyflower", and in French as matthiole, giroflée quarantaine, giroflée des jardins, giroflée rouge, quarantaine or violier, is tender biennial (grown as an annual in Toronto) native to Eurasia. It bears spikes of deliciously fragrent flowers in a variety of colours.

A whole slew of bedding plants, including these 'Vintage' series stocks, have arrived at the corner store (Mimi's Convenience, 1686 Danforth), and are testing my resolve to grow everything from seed this year wherever possible.

I knew I should have ordered some seeds for stocks when I was placing my order with Stokes. (I did pick up some seeds for night-scented stocks, Matthiola longipetala, at Canadian Tire, but I haven't started them yet, and I don't know if they'll smell the same.)

The 'Vintage' series of stocks comes in a wide range of colours, including not only the 'Vintage Yellow', 'Vintage Peach', 'Vintage Lavender', and 'Vintage Copper' in this post, but also 'Vintage Red', 'Vintage Burgundy', and 'Vintage White', and has a height of about 25 cm. I think the "copper" is particularly interesting.