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Features - Plants

Popcorn cassia provides endless interest with unique scents, blooms and texture.

October 11, 2021

Bluntly stated, popcorn cassia (Senna didymobotrya syn. Cassia didymobotrya) offers amazing, impactful flower contributions, textural foliage and a beguiling fragrance out in the garden! I remember my first exposure to this ornamental plant more than 15 years ago. A local nursery donated some small, potted specimens at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin. These plants grew quickly and were not only impressive in stature, but also in bloom. To say that these plants were an instant hit for all the features mentioned above would be an understatement and I’ve been encouraged in seeing increasing availability and use of this plant particularly over the last couple of years.

This member of the Fabaceae family grows quickly and in its native range of tropical central and eastern Africa, this legume is commonly used as a cover crop or green manure. This semi-deciduous, multi-branching shrub or small tree can get as large as 25 feet tall in its native range but is much more compact and refined in cooler locales. Although widely used as a medicinal plant in native locations, it is important to mention that all parts of this plant are poisonous which should be considered in relation to both small children and pets. This plant has also begun to show signs of being significantly aggressive or invasive in tropical climates and select locations outside of natural habitats which would encourage a population balance. Popcorn plant has naturalized in some parts of Australia and is becoming invasive in parts of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Popcorn cassia is a member of the Fabaceae family, and grows quickly in its native range of central and eastern Africa.
ALL PHOTOs courtesy of mark dwyer

Popcorn cassia is an excellent annual in gardens throughout the Midwest and offers bright blooms, textural foliage and a variable array of unique fragrances.

Popcorn cassia’s yellow flower spikes are about 12 inches tall and contain 20 to 30 black buds.

In colder areas, this plant is not of concern in terms of spreading and is appreciated for a quick growth rate, beautiful flowers, textural foliage and scent. Hardy in zones 9-11, popcorn cassia is primarily used as an annual which is how I’ve utilized it in the Midwest. Myriad common names exist for this plant with popcorn cassia likely being most recognized in the nursery trade. However, it is also called African senna, popcorn senna, candelabra tree and peanut butter cassia. (More about the fragrance later!)

The yellow flower spikes are about 12 inches tall with 20 to 30 black buds, opening from the bottom of the spike to the top. Even small plants will bloom. I’ve typically observed two strong waves of blooms in early summer, then again in late summer, although flower color is evident throughout the warmer portion of the growing season. Popcorn cassia loves temperatures over 80° F and the quickest gain in size is seen over the hottest summer months. The flower spikes are quite showy when hovering above the foliage and the contrast between the bright, golden-yellow open flowers and the “yet to open” plump, black buds is quite nice. In longer summers, you may see 5 inch long brown pods form. These pods will typically contain 16 smooth, flattened, “bean-like” seeds.

While most popcorn cassia are purchased as rooted cuttings or more established containerized plants, the seeds will germinate readily if soaked in water for 24 hours or scarified. I should mention that I personally never had success with starting the seeds! There are various ways of trying to overwinter this plant inside although I’ve been aware of only mixed results and frequent disappointments.

This plant’s pinnately compound foliage (up to 18 inches in length) is a showy, blue-green and you’ll see very few insect or disease issues. I’ve observed the foliage remaining almost entirely intact throughout the entire growing season. This leathery foliage acts as a perfect foil for the bright yellow flowers hovering in close proximity. The entire plant is left alone by deer.

While good air circulation around the plant is recommended, , consider some sheltering of the plant or extra staking as needed in areas of more significant wind. The texture of this plant combines very well with large-leaf tropicals like elephant ears (Colocasia, Alocasia, Xanthosoma), bananas and cannas.

The foliage and flowers combine so well with other plants that the popcorn plant can play an effective supplemental or starring role in the garden bed, border or container.

Full sun is required for the sturdiest plants in terms of growing conditions, as too much shade will adversely affect flowering and create a floppy, unsightly plant. The popcorn cassia thrives in deep, well-drained soil high in organic matter. Don’t plant too early as this plant won’t thrive until the soils have started to warm up sufficiently. A good rule of thumb is to plant your popcorn cassia at the same time as you would tomatoes. Supplemental fertilization will stimulate additional growth and create very robust specimens in a short amount of time. I used a balanced fertilizer (20-20-20) every three weeks over the course of the summer and was rewarded with plants (in the Midwest) that grew from 1 foot tall in late May to over 7 feet tall by September! It’s very important not to overwater this plant. While it is drought tolerant once established, popcorn cassia likes ample moisture but in well-drained situations. Heavier soils and/or heavy irrigation can lead to a quick and noticeable decline in plant health.

The fragrance of this plant will continue to be discussed and debated eternally. Scent, of course, being subjective will be perceived differently by the recipient of the scent. While popcorn cassia emits the faintest of scents, rubbing the foliage and flower buds most certainly produces a scent. The common names of popcorn cassia and peanut butter cassia have already hinted at some opinions on the scent. Personally, I felt that rubbing the un-opened flower buds and smelling your fingers produced a “buttered popcorn” scent while the foliage (also being rubbed) produced the smell of peanut butter. Opinions from visitors at the botanic garden varied, but those who engaged the plant were certainly intrigued by the scent ... I’m aware that some describe the scent as “wet dog,” which can be a unique addition to the olfactory garden experience.

Keeping in mind the poisonous nature of the plant, it has found a common use in children’s gardens, sensory gardens and gardens with a focus on scent. At Rotary Botanical Gardens, this plant has a permanent role in offering interest and color. For many years it was an important part of the “Smelly Garden” theme of the children’s garden. We considered this plant a “gateway” plant for kids to engage and hopefully connect with enjoying and possibly growing plants in the future. Placement of the plant, despite the size, was frequently along bed edges or pathways so visitors of all sizes could enjoy the plant. Other specimens were used in more traditional combinations and container situations. Signage would also help direct visitors to engage the plant on a more sensory level and the popularity of this plant at the garden encouraged our acquisition and display of over 200 of these plants on an annual basis. Additionally, the garden even donated popcorn cassia plants to youth summer gardening programs in the area for the same purpose of education, enjoyment and inspiration.

Popcorn cassia in the summer garden will certainly be a conversation piece for its beauty but bringing guests closer to experience the scent is what really makes this plant special, noteworthy and memorable in the garden.

The author was the director of horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens for 21 years. He now operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD. landscapeprescriptionsmd.com

Roses | Brindabella Roses are hardy, fragrant additions to gardens

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At Rockledge Gardens, Brindabella Roses are year-round favorites that are a perfect introduction for new gardeners.

October 11, 2021

At Rockledge Gardens, Brindabella Roses from Suntory offer showy blooms and year-round hardiness perfect for gardeners with any level of experience.

Brian “Norman” Andrews, head of the trees and shrubs department at the Florida IGC, says the first thing customers notice about the Brindabella Rose is its fragrance, which sets it apart from competitors.

“Its fragrance is definitely a more extravagant aspect about this particular series of roses,” he says. “But it’s also very hardy, very disease-resistant and it has big blooms and a high petal count.”

It’s also available year-round, which is a plus, considering that other roses are only grown during specific seasons, he says.

Andrews points out that it takes about 60 days to produce a 1-gallon liner and 90 days to produce a 3-gallon liner, which is relatively quick.

“So generally, when a lot of the rose nurseries start their roses, it takes a certain number of days for the graft to take. It usually comes in around January or February, and that’s when their stock is ready to go out. Now, the Brindabella Roses — those don’t need to be grafted, so they essentially have them ready whenever,” he says.

The tough shrub roses are also disease-resistant, making them an excellent choice for new gardeners. The fragrant doubled flowers are low maintenance and very vigorous.

“I usually recommend the Brindbellas because you’re still getting the fragrance and pretty blooms, but at the same time, you’re getting a great beginner rose,” Andrews says. “It’s a very easy rose. It doesn’t need deadheading or anything like that even though you could do it and it’ll benefit from that.”

Many customers are grateful for his expertise, and they come back with satisfactory results. While any rose in Florida can fall victim to powdery mildew and black spots spurred by the wet climate, Andrews says the Brindabellas don’t experience as many issues as often as other roses.

“Customers usually come back and say, ‘Hey, this was a great rose, thank you so much.’ They’re usually appreciative of the foresight as far as which roses are going to do better,” he says. “You always want to instill confidence in the customer. And what better way to do that with something that they could easily do at the beginning and then work toward?”

He often encourages customers to start with the Brindabellas and work toward other varieties, such as climbing roses.

“It’s a great garden rose; it’s a great shrub rose. It gets around 4 feet tall, so when customers see this rose and see that it’s easy to take care of, it pretty much sells itself at that point,” he says.

Brindabella Roses are a great option for beginner gardeners.

Norm, head of the trees and shrubs department at Rockledge Gardens.

Augers | Planting made easy

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Power Planter augers make gardening faster and more accessible by taking the hard work out of digging.

October 11, 2021

Power Planter is helping gardeners get more plants in the ground with its line of power tool attachments that make planting easy.

Homestead Gardens first came across Power Planter at a trade show, where the pink augers caught their eye. They were the perfect fit for the company’s October Power of Pink breast cancer fundraiser, says Tony Gaughan, category manager of Homestead Gardens’ hard goods department.

Power Planter is even donating to the Power of Pink organization with each auger sold at the IGC. “So this was a no-brainer to us,” Gaughan says.

Gaughan also sees potential for the pink augers as gifts for Christmas, Mother’s Day and Easter. Homestead Gardens currently carries the 7-, 12- and 24-inch augers, and since the IGC is in the midst of selling fall bulbs, they have the Power Planter augers on display as add-on items.

“It’s got good size,” Gaughan says. “From what I can tell, coming from a hardware store background, it’s a much better quality and a heavier-duty product than some planter products I’ve seen in the past. So I feel like it’s a higher price point item because it’s a higher quality product. It’s just a matter of telling people, ‘It’s a premium price, but it’s a premium product and it’s going to make the job easier.’”

Homestead Gardens has two locations in Maryland and Delaware, where the soil has a lot of clay and sand. That can make gardening difficult, but with 33 years of product development behind them, Power Planter augers will stand up over time in all soil conditions. “This is heavy duty. This is going to hold up. It’s not going to be something that’s going to get used once and break down,” Gaughan says.

The fact that 90% of homeowners have a cordless drill makes Power Planter an easy solution for almost anyone.

Plus, they’re a safe option. Power Planter includes vital, easy-to-understand instructions with its products and is family-owned and operated in the U.S. And all products are backed by terrific customer service.

Power Planter’s augers make for great add-on sales when paired with bulb products.

Flower bulbs | Netherland Bulb Company makes marketing a breeze

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At Homestead Gardens, Netherland Bulb Company’s vast library of marketing materials, colorful displays and quality products helps catch their customers’ eyes.

October 11, 2021

As fall descends across North America, gardeners are ready to start their bulb planting. At Homestead Gardens’ two retail locations in Delaware and Maryland, they’re giving customers precisely what they want with the a vast array of bulbs.

Nina Bishop, perennials manager, says carrying Netherland Bulbs is an easy choice for Homestead Gardens, considering the wide selection of bulbs they offer.

“The first thing that comes to mind is their marketing for us. They just make marketing so easy,” she says. “They provide great online capabilities.”

Bishop says the IGC’s marketing team can easily access the Netherland Bulb library of materials, including photos, blurbs for social media, bloom charts and other information that helps capture customers’ attention.

“They provide so much marketing information, and it’s all so well researched. It’s a humongous time-saver for us so we don’t have to look all this stuff up,” she says.

Bishop also praises Netherland Bulb’s eye-catching display racks and colorful signage, which add a nice pop of color to the floor.

“Everything looks beautiful when they’re filled up in the displays. Their signage is so pretty because they have bright colors and little banners and things, which always looks really nice,” Bishop says.

There is currently a high demand for Netherland Bulbs at the garden center, which is a bit of a challenge due to nationwide shipping delays, she says.

“Our customers are calling about them constantly. I mean, every day our customer service reps are fielding calls about when our bulbs will get here. People are just waiting for them to come in!” she says.

She notes that in the two years that she’s been working there, customers have never complained about Netherland Bulb Company. She even has her own testimony: “I buy Netherland Bulbs myself, and I’ve always been pretty happy with them,” she says.

Bishop is also quick to point out that Homestead Gardens choose to carry Netherland Bulb because they have everything the IGC needs from variety to marketing materials, and calls buying from them a “one-stop shop” process.

“Since I am a buyer for four different locations, buying from them just makes my life easier tenfold,” she says.

Bishop also notes the efficacy of Netherland Bulb Company’s sales representatives and praises their attention to detail and quick turnaround times whenever she has a question.

“They have amazing reps. My rep is just amazing — Rene. He is just off the charts. They’re super quick to get back to you. Any time I have a question, I immediately get a response. And he’s a wealth of knowledge because he’s just been doing this for so long,” she says.