July Fruit’n’Foliage
Don’t you think Fruit’n’Foliage would make a good name for a breakfast cereal? It could be made with kale flakes and blueberries. Or not blueberries – too common. Kale flakes and açai berries! You heard it here first.
But enough of that. Today I want to look at interesting things in the garden that aren’t flowers.
For instance, there’s this Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana). After it finishes blooming in June, I cut it back and this chartreuse foliage grows back. It catches the light really nicely.
Then there’s the River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium). It’s almost 4′ tall and the seed heads are about full size.
Here’s a closer look at the seed heads. This year I intend to cut them back after they ripen so as to cut down on the self-seeding.
‘Northwind’ Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is standing tall and leafy.
I’ve also got a clump of three kinds of Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). So far this clump doesn’t have a big visual impact, but I hope that will change as the individual plants get bigger. Here’s a close up – hey, I said don’t look at the flowers!
The Wild Blue Indigo (Baptisia australis) is bloomed in early summer, but now has these interesting seed pods. The foliage still looks pretty good, too.
Now let’s walk to the shady back garden. Along the path we see lots of Lady Ferns (Athyrium filix-femina), Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense), and other foliage.
Here’s some more ferns. Not really sure what kind they are.
When I say fruit, I’m really talking about fruit for birds, not people. For instance, there’s this Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum trilobum). The berries eventually turn bright red. Actually, some people make preserves with the fruit, and I think the Native Americans used them as food.
Another plant with berries is Solomon’s Plume (Maianthemum racemosum – used to be Smilacina, the taxonomists strike again). They start out green and turn bright red by the time they are ripe. Here they are sort of a bronzy color.
In our garden, Solomon’s Plume tends to flop from the weight of the berries. And that is why I have Casimir the Concrete Chicken, along with a number of containers, strategically placed to provide support. Casimir is surprisingly helpful around the garden.
Oh, and I should mention that I’ve become quite the Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis) convert. Aside from the flowers, what a great ground covering foliage plant this is.
If you go back into the alley, you’ll see the Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) we have growing over the fence in the far corner. Big white flower clusters have turned into big clusters of green berries, which will ripen in August. After that, they’ll be eaten by birds.
Look, Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla)! After two unsuccessful attempts, I finally got it to grow. It’s a host plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail. I’m hoping that it will grow all the way up a small snag I’ve attached to the back fence.
I’m linking to Garden Bloggers’ Foliage Day, hosted by Christina at My Hesperides Garden. Follow the link to see more great foliage plants!
gardeninacity 
Be wary of the dutchman’s pipe now that you have it established! We are having a heck of a time keeping it under control in a couple of gardens here in the northwest suburbs!
OK, I am fairly warned.
I love the backyard garden. The beds along the shady path are beautiful and restful. And I like how Casimir, the plumey one, is clothed in a Solomon’s plume. Well done. We had a a Dutchman’s pipe for years, and it was vigorous and green, but I never saw the pipes.
I’ve seen pictures of the pipes, they look very interesting. Hoping we see some, though not this year I’m sure.
Your post made me think a bit more about foliage … in your garden it really does provide contrasts of colour & texture, and compliments the flowers …. Even though I know I shouldn’t mention them!
It’s ok to mention them, but only in the right context.
I particularly like the grasses you show us – Switchgrass and Oats. The oat seedheads would look great in a vase when you cut them back…. you should join us all one Monday! 😉 I agree on the Hellebore foliage. I don’t think I had noticed it before, but with such a damp year it has flourished and looks really good as ground cover.
I like the smooth, shiny texture of the Hellebore.
Your path to the back garden is delightful, cool, peaceful and restful, a lovely combination of textures. Like your Amsonia too, why doesn’t mine make a nice clump like that I wonder?
Perhaps it just needs more time. Cutting it back after blooming also keeps it more compact.
Brilliant post Jason highlighting that plants that flower also add a lot to the garden when their flowers are gone with beautiful foliage. That’s why I say we should always consider the foliage even when choosing a plant for its flowers. Do you use the elderflowers to make syrup or sorbet, it’s delicious. I also sometimes add the berries to blackberries to make jelly. Thanks for joining GBFD
We have never tried cooking with the elderflowers. Perhaps we will, I’m curious about the taste.
Such lovely, healthy looking foliage. I didn’t look at the flowers, honest!
Foliage is so important, I particularly love grasses and ferns. You have used then to great effect.
I’m enjoying the grasses and ferns more and more.
A big yes to Fruit’n’Foliage. I imagine walking back along your shady path is good for your health. It looks so restful and calming.
Thanks. I do like how that path has turned out.
Hmmmm, I have tried Dutchman’s Pipe before. I haven’t got it to grow here yet. Where do you have yours? Does it get a lot of sun or a lot of water or the opposite?
Mine is growing in against our fence along the alley, in part shade. This is my third attempt.
You have some plants I haven’t seen before. I will pin some of the pictures so I can refer to them in the spring. Hopefully everything will grow in zone 5.
Absolutely! We are in zone 5b, so everything is hardy to that zone. Some are hardy to zone 4 or even 3.
I’m not sure I’d eat a cereal called ‘foliage’ but it would make grocery shopping more interesting. 🙂 Your garden looks incredible!
Thanks! You never know what will sell!
I love the river oats in the sun. It’s a plant I’ve never grown.
I’ve never seen such big fruit on a cranberry bush viburnum. You must be doing something right!
I planted a Dutchman’s pipe a few years ago and it took off and grows well, but I’ve never found a flower on it.
You’re the second person to say that about the Dutchman’s Pipe. I guess I’ll have to wait and see.
After reading your post, I braved the heat to check the fruit in my yard. Other than the cotoneaster, sadly lacking. Even the Black Haw Viburnum is nearly bare. I took a pic of a ‘Blue Muffin’ Viburnum on the Fling just to prove to myself that they ARE supposed to fruit – mine never has to any significant degree.
My Black Haw hasn’t had fruit for several years (it never had much), and barely flowers.
How lovely! Using the concrete chicken for support is a great idea. Your cranberry viburnum has gorgeous leaves, and the berries are a terrific bonus. You have a lot of fruit and foliage in your garden, and I have to admit, I also love the flowers!
The cranberry viburnum is my favorite viburnum, I think.
Foliage–now that is year round design requirement, no? Beautiful photos! Inspirational foliage! Thank you.
You’re welcome!
I think your cereal idea could be become the new trendy thing. The oats are indeed captivating, but Casimir really steals the show.
What would we do without him?
Love the variety of green foliage. Northern sea oats are gorgeous in a vase; I have to remember to cut them back before they self-seed! Hellebore is probably one of my favorite garden plants and the leaves help out in the summer after it has bloomed. Your garden is looking good!
I’ll have to remember to put the Sea Oats in a vase.
Beautiful photos. I also love foliage –I’ve just added the river oats to my list for next spring. I didn’t know to cut back my Bluestar amsonia –I’ll have to start doing that.
I started cutting them back just to keep them from flopping.
I think you might just have a winner on your hands with that cereal!
I just love the river oat seedheads, lovely and northwind is looking rather majestic too….oh….and I promise, I DIDN’T look at the flowers, not once!xxx
Thanks. Now I need a mascot for the cereal.
Great foliage choices, Jason. I think one of the difficult lessons for new gardeners is the importance of foliage. I planted both Amsonia tabernaemontana and Baptisia australis sight unseen in my Blue and Yellow Border because a gardening book described them as good architectural plants. It turned out to be good advice, and I love the way both look all season long. I’m about to add more of each to my new front garden.
Yup, the Baptisia and Amsonia make good “anchor” plants when they are mature and have gotten nice and big – but they can be massed as well.
Thanks for the foliage tour. Couldn’t help but peek at some of the blooms. Your garden is looking great
Thanks, Mimi.