| Where the garden meets the wild | |
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JEFFERSONIA TWINLEAF Berberidaceae (Barberry family) |
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Jeffersonia dubia rising in our garden. Photograph © Paige Woodward |
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A woodland treasure, cousin to Podophyllum, Epimedium and Achlys, Jeffersonia was named for Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, by a friend of his, the American botanist Benjamin Barton, in 1793. There are just two species: J. diphylla in eastern North America and J. dubia in eastern Asia. The treatment of the genus in the new Flora of China has not yet been published, but the working notes treat it as Plagiorhegma, a name bestowed in 1859 by the Russian botanist Carl Johann Maximowicz. The new Flora of North America uses Jeffersonia, however, and we do, too. At least for now. Both species contain powerful, sometimes deadly, alkaloids that have been used in traditional medicine. We offer Jeffersonia for your garden pleasure only. |
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Photograph © Susan Farmer |
Jeffersonia diphylla
(L.). Persoon. Twinleaf, Rheumatism root.
Not available this season. |
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Photograph © Jason Nehring |
Jeffersonia
dubia Benthan & Hooker f. ex Baer & Moore. Jeffersonia.
タツタソウ
竜田草
Tatsutasou, Itomakigusa
(Japanese). This choice, clump-forming beauty produces
lilac-blue (occasionally white) flowers on wiry stems in late April-May. Its two-lobed leaves are maroon when they emerge, as shown in our main
photograph, then gradually turn green. J. dubia
prefers damp, rich humus and dappled shade. It is native to far
eastern Asia, mainly the Amur River basin between China and Russia and the
Changbai Mountains between China and North Korea. Height to 15 cm
(6"). Zone 5.
Rhizome. $15.00 |
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| This page was updated March 23, 2008. | |