Northshore Magazine

October 2014

Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.

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purple hooded blooms, and glossy dark green foliage. Though delphinium-like in appearance, it is much tougher than the delicate old-fashioned favorite, and hence does not require staking or fussing of any kind. In addition to its royal blooms, a deeply lobed, palmate leaf structure adds architectural interest to the garden. Note: Aconitum is toxic and should be handled with care. Cultivars include 'Newry Blue' and 'Sparks Variety.' Epimedium grandifloru This darling of the plant kingdom is val- ued for its delicate early spring blooms, wiry stems, and gentle, almost lacy foliage. Ideal for use as a ground cover, this dense clump-forming shade lover produces a showy flower in May and grows 10 to 15 inches tall with a 10- to 18-inch spread. Epimedium's popular- ity has led to a great number of variants offering a wide range of bloom colors and foliage characteristics. Cultivars include 'Purple Prince,' 'Crimson,' and 'Purple Pixie.' Cimicifuga racemosa Reaching up to seven feet tall, this grand lady of the woods catches the eye from a distance. Add to its height slender billowy white wands of tiny star-shaped flowers Cultivate ne 32 nshoremag.com October 2014 and ornamental fruit that persists into late autumn, and it's a keeper. Flowers attract butterflies from mid- to late sum- mer, and highly textured deep dark green foliage makes it a good candidate for near year-round interest. Cultivars include 'Brunette,' 'Hillside Black Beauty,' and 'Pritchard's Giant.' For really interesting additions to the shade garden, consider cultivars of these species. Typically, parent plants are hybridized for their unique qualities, re- sulting in particularly pleasing specimens. For true garden enthusiasts, finding good cultivars is half the fun. Shade Bloomers Clockwise, Aconitum is known for its deep purple fl wer; Cimicifuga can grow up to seven feet tall; Epimedium species vary widely in color and shape. photographs by (clockwise from left) gail hampshire, esther westerveld, kristine paulus

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