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News of Crűg Farm Plants
seed collecting trip autumn 1999 and previous expeditions.
All three countries that we collected this
last trip were fruitful. (We've run out of adjectives that are
worthy of what we are finding). The first of these was
Vietnam. The Taiwan piece was written after our 1996
expedition, while the Korean article was written after our
collecting trip with Dan Hinkley in 1997.
Not a country that springs instantly to mind when one is on
the prowl for hardy plants, but we had been let in on a secret
...
Not the one on how efficient they are at industry or how
prosperous they are becoming, but what a beautiful and well
maintained country still remains after all the ravages of war
and pillaging by occupying empires.
It was Mark Fillan, who was at Spinners of Lymington at
that time, who drew our attention to South Korea. He had been
there briefly in 1989 and had found such gems as the
aristocratic evergreen small tree Daphniphyllum macropodum,
the pink flowering woodland Geranium koreanum and much coveted
Camellia relative Stewartia koreana. All inspirational plants
to goad our desires for more diversity in our gardens. The
flora of Korea on closer inspection, revealed a wealth of
flora, which were in our opinion missing from British
horticulture. Hence on our first jaunt back in 1993, with the
initial help of the Ch'őllip'o Arboretum, we found ourselves
very much at ease in this pleasant country.
The autumn is a truly remarkable time to see
this rugged country. The mountains feature strongly in the
physical composition of the land, they are always a distinct
feature on the landscape, not the lofty heights of the
Himalayas but enough of a challenge all the same. At the time
we arrived in mid September of (last year) 1997.
Whetting our appetite for Korean plants were the balmy
coastal pine covered rolling hills surrounding the arboretum.
They also gave us the perfect respite to recover from our
jet-lag. Soon we were up to our thighs in Disporum uniflorum (
a much confused name, also known as D. flavens & D.
sessile v. flavens) a superb relative of the Solomon's seal.
Forming neat bamboo-like clumps of rarely branched stems,
crowned in early spring by generous quantities of good sized
(large for the genus) pendant butter-yellow flowers, holding their own for
weeks in woodland conditions. We were a little disappointed by the
quantity of blue-black elongated fruit on these, but that was more than
made up for by later collections of this invaluable perennial. There
were however many other members of the Convallariaceae family that we
had been unable to locate on our first trip, which are in need of
introducing. This was our main aim, but by no means only.
As we are now actively
building up a National Collection of Convallariaceae in conjunction
with Treborth Botanic Gardens, part of the University of Wales, Bangor. Not to be outdone all jostling for floor space within these
forests were, copious stands of Convallaria keiskei the Asiatic
form of Lily of the Valley. Aconitum species galore, fruit laden Asparagus
represented by shrubby bushes, Echinops latifolius a tall broad leafed
Globe Flower. The well known Solomon's Seal Polygonatum odoratum and a by
far less well known, in this country P. involucratum, a smaller
species. The latter appealing to us, with their low arching stems of
alternate broad leaves supporting large attending persistent bracts which
had earlier shielded their pendant white green tipped flowers. Climbers
are always a feature when they can find a host to clamber through. Here
we gathered a rich harvest of small black grapes from Vitis flexuosa v.
choii, several sausage-shaped fruit of Akebia quinata and berries of the
black fruiting Smilax nipponica. Fat pods of Codonopsis lanceolata and a
small quantity of a pale yellow flowering climbing-monkshood. Aconitum
albo-violaceum v. purpurascens lightens dark corners of the forest well
into the autumn with their plumes of pale long spurred flowers.
Our first target area was in the north east, a rich area we
had been too late to visit in '93. Sőraksan was basking in late summer
sunshine when we arrived, the chilly nights up in these mountains had
already painted these mountains in their rich autumnal hues. It was of
little effort to spot large vines of Vitis amurense even at a kilometre
away. The bright red foliage was inviting us to collect their small trusses
of black polished grapes. Tripteryngium regelii featured strongly in
this area, with its plumes of papery seed heads radiant in the sun.
These seeds are wind dispersed and tumble into innumerable rocky nooks and
crannies. Normally encountered, all be it infrequently, in our
gardens as a large woody twinning climber.
The contrast of encountering them
on exposed mountains where they are constantly pruned by the elements
and animals, shed new light on their usefulness. Even in hot dry
conditions they could adapt as a free standing deciduous shrubs covered for
months by their persistent plumes.
Aristolochia manchuriensis |
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Another climber in this area which
we were keen to re-collect from was the twining Aristolochia
manchuriensis,
which I had seen in flower for the first time in Harry Hay's Reigate
garden, in the spring of that year. A surprisingly large flower for such a
hardy species, thankfully still in fruit at this time. Long,
strongly ribbed sausage-shaped clusters of pods dangled in the midst of all
those luxuriously large heart shaped felty, bright yellow leaves. |
The kiwi fruits are a strong feature in most of Eastern Asia. Here
was an old friend in abundance, Actinidia arguta now in fruit, a
bounty of top-shaped green-yellowing fruit in large trusses. Our appetite
for these sweet strawberry flavoured delicacies was soon defeated
leaving plenty to send home. Our small pergola at home, had soon been
overwhelmed by this strong growing twiner. Its flood of small spring borne
white saucer shaped flowers with contrasting black stamen, filling the
air with their delicate scent.
North we continued to the DMZ (De Militarised Zone), where
we had seen Michael Palin larking about, on the television series Full
Circle the week before we left. Here at the eastern end of that line
our thoughts were deep into the job at hand. Under the tree canopy was
another treasure trove. Tall spikes of Cimicifuga dahurica were now
in ripe fruit. Fluffy spikes of Ainsliaea acerifolia now also
ripening after their display of shuttle-cock-like daisies of the summer,
complementing the clumps of palmate basal leaves of this woodland plant.
Groups of Smilacina japonica were now yellow in leaf adorned by large
plumes of red-current like fruit. Close were another member of our
hunted Liliaceae family, Paris verticillata were also yellowing in
the night frosts. Standing stiffly to 50/60cm, a single whirl of
curling and narrowing leaves, topped by yet a smaller whirl and crowned
by a blue- black bulging berry, of which we were grateful to find
enough still in place. Prostrate to the ground in this area we also found
Asarum maculatum, a species with heart shaped green, grey mottled
leaves, easily mistaken for a cyclamen when seen out of context in
an European garden.
Soon we had collected several species of Aconitum,
pink flowering Astilbe chinensis and the much paler and laxer
plumed A.koreana. Cimicifuga heraclefolia var. bifida a little known
variety of this woodland perennial to a meter tall, with a fine
display of white spiky plumes in late summer.
Thalictrum punctatum |
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Several Thalictrum, another
group of shade tolerant perennials portraying a delicate air with their
plumes of mostly pom-pom flowers. Clematis heraclefolia the well
known herbaceous blue flowering species along with numerous species of
Polygonatum. |
Full of enthusiasm we moved south to the well hidden valley
of Jimdong. Kihun San our guide from the arboretum had assured us that
it would be good. He was right. Even on our way to the valley we were
to find gems that we had long been on the look-out for. Symplocarpus
nipponicus an aroid that we were intrigued with. By the promise of lurid
dark spathes at ground level in early spring, which was growing in deep
rich soil on a steep shady hillside.
Close by I was to find my first
plants of Disporum ovale, the missing link. Missing link? A plant
that had eluded us on our previous trip linking the Asiatic Disporums with
their blue-black fruit, with those of North America with their red
fruit. Here it was to be found in copious colonies, well into its winter
dormancy and our last opportunity to collect the red terminal fruit
before they all disappeared so early into the winter. On into the valley
with its rich diversity, a Primula relative with purple pendant flowers
Cortusa matthioli subsp. pekinkensis grew on the riverbank. The
popular late flowering Saxifraga fortunei seeding into tiny cracks on
wet rocks, where the rounded glossy foliage enhanced the white
delicate flowers.
Rosettes of Heloniopsis orientalis festooning damp and
darkly shaded banks. This evergreen perennial thrusting flowering scapes
of scented pendant flowers in spring. Actaea asiatica with their
bright pink pedicels contrasting with the glossy polished black fruit.
Here we encountered a localised rarity from the Campanula family,
Hanabusaya asiatica, with elongated tubular pendant bells of , I quote
my notes , ''good blue flowers''. We were pleased to find this in both
flower and in seed, allowing us to appreciate the fine form indigenous
to this small valley, growing in light woodland shade on the edges
of the path, ''always in cool moist'' conditions.
Schisandra
chinensis |
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On entering Odaesan slightly to the south we encountered
luxurious trusses of red-ripe fruit of the climber Schisandra
chinensis, Viburnum koreanum holding its red fruit in corymbs. Banks of
Caulophyllum robustum sadly missing most of its blue fruit, but enough
to get us started. An intriguing colony of Veratrum with tall spikes
of winged seed capsules, which we whisked away to be sown as soon as
possible. |
There were scattered plants of Hepatica asiatica, several
species of Polygonatum and Disporum along with a charming colony of
Patrinia saniculaefolia growing on a steep well drained bank,
colouring up into its autumnal tints. This is another small charmer for the
shady spot with palmate basal leaves, glossy green in summer topped by
corymbs of small yellow flowers.
Deeper into the area we were again rewarded, with more
Convallariaceae. Streptopus koreanus bearing its red fruit close by to
Smilacina bicolor with its running rhizomes also with red fruit, but in
terminal spikes. Small wonder when one compares the running rhizomes of this
type of Smilacina, to those of our more familiar restrained broad
rhizomed S. racemosa, that we now learn that the genus of Smilacina is
to be incorporated into Maianthemum.
This is the point that we turned Grace (our 12 seater van)
directly south heading for the ferry to Ullüng-Dő (Dő meaning
Island). As always a small diversion was always welcomed especially in an area
of limestone, called Chuwangsan. We followed a river valley
with steep sides with only limited areas of explorable terrain. Here
we found Veratrum maackii v. maackii a dark flowered species, along
with Patrinia ruprestis a taller species than the earlier find, P.
saniculaefolia. The list went on, Hydrangea serrata the smaller species
familiar to most gardeners. Lilium cernum a pink flowering Turk's cap Lily,
Sedum kamtschaticum an elusive small species growing in
impossible cracks on the steep cliffs. A barley cultivated genus in the West,
but long appreciated by the subtler Japanese horticulturist,
Chloranthus serratus. Making clumps of stems to 50cm tall, on the
forest floor, with a whirl of two or three opposite pairs of shallowly toothed
leaves. The small white flowers are held is several narrow spikes. This
in turn is shared with Jeffersonia dubia a diminutive member of the
Berberis family. Coveted as they are, these perennials emerge from
the bare forest floor in early spring, when their neat rounded
foliage is bronze tinged. The solitary cup shaped pale blue flowers opening
almost immediately, on short wiry stems held above the leaves.
Not least and of course continuing with our quest for
Convallariaceae we were able to collect Polygonatum falcatum. Why bother
collecting that? I can hear. Despite the name being in cultivation the plant
is very rare in cultivation, if indeed it is available commercially in
the UK. Inevitably what passes for this majestic species in the
nursery trade is either P. humile (the contrast could not be greater) or P.
oderatum (particularly in its variegated form). Here was the true
plant a metre tall with strongly arching stems with the alternating
distinctively narrow falcate (curved, as a sickle) leaves.
Ullüng-Dő is 275 kilometres off the east coast, we
arrived there in the mid-afternoon sun on a high-speed catamaran ferry. A pimple
in the Sea of Japan, with sheer cliffs erupting from the sea, topped
by a diverse green tapestry of forest. Squid fishing is the main
industry here and of that you are certainly made aware. Being the main season
for harvesting these morsels, the place was draped with drying squid in
almost every conceivable space. We lodged almost on the dock, where the
lady vendors enticed us to taste this delicacy at its freshest, raw
dipped in a sambal, a chilly laden soy sauce. Also recommended for
chewing in its dried state on long journeys, much better than chewing gum.
An early start was necessary to catch our ferry and bus to
the opposite side of the island, an event all of its own when a vehicle
broke loose on deck and nearly capsized us. Thankfully soon forgotten,
as soon as we launched into collecting we were confronted with, what must
have been the finest specimen of Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris
(if indeed it is the same) that we had ever encountered. Weighted down by
enormous corymbs of what were by now large plump green seed
capsules. Campanula takesimana in its white form, made its presence known early
on, mostly from the uppermost belt of dry shady banks.
It was not long before we were almost overwhelmed by the
sheer profusion, of both mass and quality of this island.
Maianthemum bifolium var. kamtschaticum (syn. dilatatum) with upright spikes of
red fruit could only be measured by the acre. Close behind in
quantity was that revered Disporum uniflorum that we had seen back in
Ch'őllip'o, luckily this time heavy in fruit. Swathes of the white flowering
Trillium kamtschaticum were present in lesser numbers, unfortunately
without fruit. Now was our opportunity to collect seed of the so
called variegated form of Arisaema angustatum var. peninsulae. A
truly spectacular form endemic to this island, plants to 1.2
meters tall with large white zoned digitate leaves topped by large spikes of
red-ripe fruit.
Hepatica maxima |
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As we ascended the colonies of Hepatica maxima
became more and more frequent. Finding the seed of these proved exhausting
on what was already a strenuous hike. |
We had to look under the large
glossy leaves of what must have been thousands of plants, as most of the
seed had already gone. As with the Hepatica a gain in elevation
bought a fresh diversity to the heavily wooded Sőnginsan, Lilium hansonii
was plentiful near the summit. Here we also found the Hydrangea relative,
Schizophragma hydrangeoides aerial rooting as are all of
the climbers in this family. Differing in this genus by the large single
bracted sterile flowers surrounding the normally white flat topped corymbs.
The evergreen shrub Rhododendron brachycarpum subsp. fauriei,
along with colonies of the familiar Aucuba japonica green fruit not
yet ripened to red. Occasional plants of Viola dissecta v.
chaerophylloides with its parsley like heavily divided foliage. With Sorbus commixta
the common Rowan in this part of the world, bearing its large erect
bunches of globular red fruit. The broad leafed Allium victorialis v.
platyphyllum could be found here along with several species of
Polygonatum and our cats' favourite plant Actinidia polygama.
What attracts
cats to this plant is a mystery to us. We have had to build cages around
young plants of this on our nursery, to stop our cats from destroying
them. Known as the silver vine, a name deriving from the fact that the
leaves turn silver-white in sunlight. A spectacle indeed on the plants
the size of which we were encountering. Contrary to the information we
have in some of our reference books, that only male plants
colour.
Our pressed specimens prove that female and
or hermaphrodite plants achieve this coloration. Polygama
referring to a plant species in which combinations of male,
female or hermaphrodite flowers occur on the same plants.
Weighted by our rich pickings we moved on to
our next port of call, a long drive across the country after
our ferry ride, to put Grace onto the ferry for Cheju-Dő.
Well to the south of the mainland as close to Japan as Korea.
A favourite holiday destination for Koreans (particularly
honeymoon couples), is the volcanic island hosting a rich
endemic flora. The island boasts the highest mountain in
Korea, Mount Halla (Hallasan) at nearly 2000 mts. We were
fortunate to have climbed Hallasan in the snow on our last
visit and even more fortunate to find the rare Geranium
shikokianum v quelpartense (Quelpart is an old name for
Cheju-Dő) just poking through the snow. Unfortunately due to
its popularity this summit was then closed until 1999, when
the access was to be strictly limited.
The lower slopes to Hallasan are well wooded and preserved,
hosting a good diverse flora. The forest floor is littered with the
fruit of two species of Arisaema, A. ringens f. sieboldii (black
lipped form) distinct in its large glossy trifoliate leaves, while A.
angustatum v. peninsulae has digitate leaves on tall mottled stems.
Intriguing was a tiny form of Hosta venusta, along with Chloranthus japonica
another species close to the earlier mentioned, but differing in
its single bottle-brush like white flower spike. Several species of
Goodyera, charming ground hugging woodland orchids, many with
patterned leaves still holding the remnants of a short flowering scape above
the leaves.
Mitchella undulata a prostrate shrub with brilliant-red
twin fruits set against the tiny dark green undulating leaves, the Asiatic
form of what the Americans call Partridge Berry. Here we found a
diminutive form of Aruncus athusifolius only a few inches tall and of course
Hydrangea quelpartensis the dominant plant because of its abundant
wind borne seed. A close relative of the well known climber Hydrangea
anomala subsp. petiolaris, it was to be seen climbing practically
every tree, its deeply toothed leaves a luminous autumnal yellow. On
the forest edge our reward was a good crop of dark grape-like fruits from
Daphniphyllum macropodum, along with Styrax japonica a dazzling small
tree in its autumnal plumage. Whilst the spectacular Dogwood, Cornus
kousa grew to tree-like proportions covered with its pendulous
strawberry-like fruit.
On the northern slopes of the island we found the twining
climber, Schisandra nigra a fabled rarity of this island.
Unfortunately without a single black fruit remaining hence all we could do was to
try a hardwood cutting. Not so with architectural plants of Veratrum
dolichopetalum, with abundant seed on branching spikes to well over a meter
tall. Here too grew Cimicifuga japonica distinct with its broad
palmate leaves and short spikes of white flowers. Along with Lilium
tsingtauense with a whirl of mottled foliage topped in late spring by orange
lilies. Hepatica insularis with its mottled leaves is common
throughout the island as is Asarum maculatum with much better patterned
leaves than we had seen further north.
To the east of the island is Abuorum Crater, one of the
many incongruous features on an otherwise flat landscape. Here on the rim in
well drained volcanic soil grew Geranium krameri, with hairy
leaves and pink flowers having notched petals in some forms. Down inside
the crater we found Syneilesis aconitifolia with narrowly divided peltate
leaves, easily recognisable in spring when emerging covered in
cobwebby soft hair in the same fashion as a Pulsatilla.
Tricyrtis macropoda |
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As we headed for our final destination of Chirisan the
weather became noticeably cooler. We were astonished by the sight
confronting us at our first stop, a whole hillside of the broad leafed
Tricyrtis macropoda. |
We had only previously seen small clumps of this
rarity. Yet another plant much confused in horticulture. It was only
after growing our own collections that we finally saw how different the
true plants were from the impostors previously encountered. The flowers
of this species are distinct, in that when they are fully opened
the petals are recurved, swept back in the same fashion as a Cyclamen,
unfortunately giving the flower the appearance of being smaller. It
became more difficult to find our quarry as the falling leaves
blanketed the ground. All the same we still found plenty to fulfil our needs.
Geranium koraiense |
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Cimicifuga simplex was abundant, tall with arching spikes
of white flowers. Clematis heraclefolia could be seen in large
drifts in the depth of the forests. |
Geranium koraiense with brilliant red
autumnal leaves was common in forest clearings.
Aconitum seoulense
with trilobed leaves was still displaying the occasional blue flower to
assist us in our identification though Lychnis cognata had long finished
its sumptuous display of orange-red flowers. On the lofty
heights, the Hemerocallis dark seed pods stood proud, close to the
weighty drooping inflorescence of Sanguisorba hakusanensis reputedly the
best of its genus, with long deep pink flowering catkin-like spikes on
tall arching stems. We were particularly fortunate to find a small tree
of Stewartia pseudocamellia laden with seed, along with several species
of Acer still holding on to theirs, though our star find in this area was
a double flowering form of Hydrangea serrata, a dwarfed shrub with
blue flowers growing in a boulder moraine under deciduous trees.
Exhilarated by our tour it was back to base. After a month
on the road of tiring but invigorating work Ch'őllip'o was a welcoming
sight. We were glad of the opportunity to finalise our notes and
regroup. It was our opportunity to parcel our seed collections home by the
fastest possible route so that those that required quick sowing
would be dealt with, within the week. By then we had found and sent home a
good cross- section of the Korean ornamental flora and were well
pleased with ourselves. Only then did we start anticipating, Japan and
Thailand where we would be working for the following two months,
speculating on what else we had in store.
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