BrunoCork's Journal

Looks can be so deceiving

Canna Virus

How attractive are the mottling and stripes on the leaves of this Canna? Quite, actually!  Which is why Canna viruses continue to spread far and wide. They may look pretty, but these mottles and stripes will begin to turn brown as the season progresses. You end up with lots of crispy, half-dead leaves.

Unfortunately, there is no cure, and what's even worse is that very few places sell virus-free stock. Growing from seed seems to be the best way to produce virus free Canna. There are suppliers out there who do their best to ensure their stock is virus free. Knowingly or not, others continue to sell us virused rhizomes and plants.

This photo was taken today. I held onto the plant because I wanted to photograph it and spread the word to Garden.ie members. I'll be destroying the plant this evening.

For more info, the best Canna article I've come across can be found here:

http://cannanews.blogspot.com/2008/01/thoughts-on-virus-from-hart-canna.html

Hosta 'Big Daddy'

Hosta 'Big Daddy'

"Hosta 'Big Daddy' has really taken off this year, and looking at it, this blue, puckerd monster in my garden, it's hard to believe it was only purchased and planted last year."

As promised in my last journal, here he is in all his powdery blue glory.

No Ordinary Bramble

Rubus irenaeus

I've got a bit of a thing for big leaves. I think they'll help create the overgrown, jungly look I'm aiming for in my garden. Hosta 'Big Daddy' has really taken off this year, and looking at it, this blue, puckerd monster in my garden, it's hard to believe it was only purchased and planted last year. (I'll add a pic to my albums tomorrow)

Another plant currently producing big leaves is Rubus irenaeus, also known as Bigleaf Raspberry or Persian Bramble. I use the word "known" quite loosely as, although it's known in cultivation, I've never met anyone else who grows it.

I use irenaeus as a ground cover in a spot that never gets any direct sun. Although it seems to tolerate full sun, in my experience it produces bigger and better leaves in shade. Apart from its big leaves and its tolerance of both sun and shade, it's also evergreen, and produces white flowers followed by edible red berries. I've never tried the berries myself, which isn't suprising considering it was only last year I nibbled my first Nasturtium leaf.

This plant may rarely be grown here, but in passing some on to Garden.ie members, I hope I've changed that.