Chameleon Plant

Houttuynia cordata ( Chameleon Plant )
A very fast growing, rhizomatous perennial, reaching up to 24 ( rarely over 15 ) inches in height, that is native to swampy woods and ditches from Nepal to China to Japan; south to mountains of Java.
The scented, heart-shaped leaves are up to 3 x 2.3 inches in size. The foliage is mid-green above, purplish beneath. The foliage is valued both fresh and cooked in the same way as spinach in China and Korea.
The white flowers, up to 0.5 inches wide, are borne during early summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 ( to 3b on protected sites with a heavy winter mulch ) in partial shade on moist to wet, fertile soil. On dry soil the foliage will turn brown and look terrible during summer. Cut back hard during late fall. Slugs may occur, but generally insect pests and disease problems are rare. Propagation is from division or root cuttings during autumn. Due to its invasive spread potential, it is recommended to keep this plant in a contained area.

* photos taken on Aug 15 2014 at Maryland Zoo, Baltimore, MD

* photos taken on June 11 2018 in Odenton, MD

* photo taken on May 16 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Chameleon'
Attractive foliage splashed in white, pink and red, otherwise identical to species.

* photos taken on May 21 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 1 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 24 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 18 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 18 2022 in Clarksville, MD

* photo taken on Oct 24 2022 in Columbia, MD

Mullein

Verbascum
A genus of mostly biennials. They are deer resistant. Most Mullein prefer full sun on sandy, very well drained soil. Winter wetness can be fatal. Mulleins thrive along the seashore as well as in gravelly places such as along railway tracks. They are very tolerant of drought and alkaline soils.

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photo taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photos taken on June 2 2016 in Columbia, MD

Verbascum blattaria ( Moth Mullein )
A perennial, reaching up to 6 x 1.5 feet, that is native to temperate Eurasia. It is locally naturalized in North America to as far north as Lion's Head, Ontario and Quebec City, Quebec. It is found on roadsides and upland pastures in the wild.
The crinkled, glossy deep green leaves form a basal rosette.
The white to pale yellow flowers are borne during summer.
Hardy zones 6 to 8 in full sun on dryish, well drained soil. Propagation is from seed.

* photo taken on July 2 2019 @ Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel, MD

'Albiflorum'
The flowers are pure white with a purple center.

Verbascum bombyciferum
A short-lived perennial, reaching up to 4 x 3 ( rarely 6 ) feet, that is native to Turkey and Asia Minor.
The huge, felted, ovate leaves, up to 18 inches in length, are silvery-white as are the stems. The basal leaves are evergreen.
The bright yellow flowers, up to 2 inches across, are borne during mid-summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun on dry, sandy, well drained soil. Propagation is from seed, division during spring or root cuttings during winter.

'Arctic Summer'
A spectacular vigorous form, with golden-yellow flower plumes reaching up to 8 feet in height.

Verbascum chiaxii ( Nettle-Leaved Mullein )
A thick, clump-forming perenial, reaching up to 5 x 2 ( rarely over 3 ) feet in size, that is native to Europe.
The ovate leaves are hairy, glossy deep green.
The bright yellow flowers are borne during mid-summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun on alkaline, very well drained soil. Very easy to grow.

'Alba'
White flowers, otherwise identical.

Verbascum dumulosum
A low growing, bushy, biennial or perennial, reaching up to 1 foot in height, that is native to Turkey.
The fuzzy ovate leaves are gray.
The yellow ( centered red ) flowers are borne all summer long.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 ( 6 against south facing wall ) in full sun on sandy, well drained soil.

Verbascum 'Helen Johnson'
An evergreen perennial reaching up to 4 x 2.5 ( rarely over 2 ) feet.
The ovate leaves are downy grayish-green.
The pinkish flowers are borne on upright spikes all summer long.
Hardy zones 5 to 8.

Verbascum 'Jackie'
An evergreen perennial reaching up to 3 x 2.5 ( rarely over 2 ) feet.
The ovate leaves are downy grayish-green.
The pale pink ( with purple eye ) flowers are borne on upright spikes all summer long.
Hardy zones 5 to 9.

Verbascum nigrum ( Dark Mullein )
A perennial, reaching up to 3 x 2 feet.
The ovate leaves are deep green.
The yellow flowers are borne mid-summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun on alkaline, very well drained soil.

Verbascum olympicum ( Olympic Mullein )
A short-lived perennial, reaching up to 10 x 3 ( rarely over 6 ) feet, that is native from Greece to Turkey.
The pointed, narrow leaves are grayish-white and woolly. The stems are also woolly and grayish-white.
The bright yellow flowers are borne summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 8 in full sun. Propagation is from seed.

* historic archive photo

Verbascum phoeniceum ( Purple Mullein )
A perennial, reaching up to 6.5 x 2 feet.
The pointed leaves are mid-green.
The flowers are usually in shade of pink or purple but may also be white. The blooms appear during early summer lasting about 2 weeks.
Hardy zones 3b to 8

Gainsborough'
Bright yellow flowers.

;'Mont Blanc'
Silvery foliage and pure white flowers.

'Pink Domino'
Rose-pink flowers.

Verbascum 'Southern Charm'
A perennial, reaching up to 2.5 x 2 feet with a compact habit.
The foliage is mid-green.
The flowers can be either creamy-white, peach or rosy-pink. It often reblooms after deadheading. Hardy zones 5 to 8. If sown during very early spring, it may bloom during the first summer.

Verbascum thapsus ( Flannel Mullein )
A short-lived perennial, reaching up to 6.5 x 1.5 feet, that is native to temperate Eurasia. It is naturalized as far north in North America as Juneau, Alaska to Edmonton, Alberta to Kapuskasing, Ontario to Gaspe region of Quebec to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It is found on sandy wastelands, roadsides and open woods.
The basal leaves, up to 18 ( rarely over 12 ) inches in length, are felted, grayish-white.
The yellow flowers, up to 1 inch wide, are borne mid-summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 7. Propagation is from division or seed.

* photos taken on May 3 2015 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on Jul 27 2015 in Bayfield, ON

* photo taken on Oct 19 2015 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken on July 16 2016 in Bayfield, ON

* photo taken on July 2 2019 @ Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photo taken on June 1 2023 in Ellicott City, MD

False Hellebore

Veratrum
A genus of coarse perennials arising from thick rootstocks that are native to temperate regions around the Northern Hemisphere.
They prefer full sun to partial shade on moist soils.
All parts of plant are poisonous. They are deer and rabbit resistant but can be prone to slugs. Propagation is from ripened seed or division done during autumn or early spring.

* photo taken by J.E. Schwartz @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Veratrum album ( European White Hellebore )
A rhizomatous, upright perennial, reaching up to 6.5 x 5 + feet, that is native from Europe through northern Asia to far eastern Russia and Japan. It is usually found in moist mountain forests in the wild.
The broad-elliptical leaves are up to 12 x 6 inches in size. The very attractive foliage is glossy bright green.
The greenish-white flowers, up to 1 inch wide, are borne on panicles, up to 2 feet in length, during early to mid-summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 6 in full sun to partial shade on moist, deep, fertile, well drained soil.

* historic archive photo

Veratrum californicum ( California False Hellebore )
A perennial, reaching up to 6 x 5 + feet in height, that is native to western North America ( Washington State to western Montana; south to southern California to central New Mexico ).
The cupped leaves, up to 16 x 8 inches in size, are glossy green. The occur along the entire length of the stems up to the flowerhead.
The greenish-white flowers are borne on large heads.
Hardy zones 5 to 8. Propagation is from seed or division.

* photos taken by Jean Pawek @ CalPhotos

* photo taken by Paul Fair @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* photo taken by C.A. Kutzleb @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* historic archive photo

Veratrum nigrum ( Black False Hellebore )
A large, rhizomatous perennial, reaching up to 4 + feet, that is a widespread native to temperate Eurasia.
The very attractive broad-elliptical leaves are luxuriant mid-green.
The small, very dark brown flowers, up to 0.3 inches wide, are borne on panicles up to 3 feet in length.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on moist, deep, fertile, well drained soil, it is tolerant of deep shade.

* historic archive photo

Veratrum viride ( Green False Hellebore )
A perennial, reaching up to 6.5 x 2 feet. It eventually clumps out like Hostas. It is native to moist woodlands and swamps in western North America ( from Bethel, Alaska to Fairbanks, Alaska to western Northwest Territories; south to northern California to Wyoming ) as well as northeastern North America ( from northeast Ohio to Quebec & Labrador; south to the Smoky Mountains to Maryland & Delaware ).
The ovate leaves, up to 13 x 6 inches in size, are strongly ribbed. The luxuriant bright to mid green foliage turns to deep yellow during autumn.
The abundant, yellowish-green flowers, up to 1 inch wide, are borne on panicles up to 24 inches long, during early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in partial shade on a site protected from wind. It does not enjoy extreme heat or hot humid summers.
Phamacology: All parts of this plant are poisonous.

* photos taken on Apr 21 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken by Jean Pawek @ CalPhotos

* historical archive photo

Lizard's Tail

Saururus

Saururus cernuus
A rhizomatous perennial, reaching up to 5 ( rarely over 3.5 ) feet, that forms extensive colonies in marshes, swamps and streambanks. It is native to North America ( from eastern Kansas to southeast Wisconsin to central Michigan to Bayfield, Ontario to Midland, Ontario to Ottawa, Ontario to Montreal, Quebec to Massachusetts; south to central Texas to southern Florida ). It is critically endangered in Kansas and Connecticut; endangered in Ontario; extinct in the wild in Wisconsin and Massachusetts. In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario regions; it occurred locally in the Canard River Valley and south of Amherstburg during the 1800s. It was abundant on the Ohio shore at that time.
The pointed, heart-shaped leaves, up to 6.5 x 3 inches in size, are mid-green.
The fragrant, greenish-white flowers are borne on dense, narrow, curved inflorescences up to 12 inches in length, during early summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on wet soil to water up to 12 inches deep.

* photos taken on June 30 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on June 1 2014 @ Maryland Horticulturalist Society garden tour, Clarksville

* photos taken on Aug 3 2014 @ National Zoo, Washington, DC

* photos taken Aug 2016 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photo taken by Dr. Nick V. Kurzenko @ CalPhotos

* photos taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* historic archive photo

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on July 24 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 25 2024 in Columbia, MD

Saururus chinensis
A perennial, reaching up to 4 feet in height, that is the Asian native counterpart of Saururus cernuus. It is native to swamps from most of southern China to Korea and much of Japan; south to India to Vietnam to Phillipines.
The cordate leaves are up to 8 x 4 inches.
Hardy zones 5 to 8

* photos taken on Aug 1 2022 in Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD