Mail Order Catalog Fall 2010 - Cistus Nursery

Trachycarpus wagnerianus japanese temple palm
To us the most exquisite of the Trachycarpus clan, found nearly 200 years ago in a temple in southern Japan and
known only from cultivation. The stiff, symmetric leaves, looking as if shorn carefully at the ends, are lightly
edged in white indumentum and often have most attractive pale blue undersides. Because of the rigidity of the
leaves, they never tatter in high winds. Their most unique feature and what makes them most easily recognized is
the several years spent resembling a miniature palm, as from very early on their fronds become "adult" -- even
when only 4" or 5" across. Can be kept dwarf for many years but in the ground, with adequate summer water,
they grow even more quickly than typical chusan palms, actually doubling in size for several years. Our 10 year
old plants are now approaching 12-15 ft in height. (A small tidbit: though an incorrect entry, a palm book years
ago confused T. wagnerianus with T. takil when actually they have little in common.) Best in bright sun. About
as frost hardy as T. fortunei but shows damage less easily, e.g. no tattering. Our seed is produced from our own
isolated plants. Woohoo! These plants already at least 4 years old and producing adult fronds. Frost hardy to 0F,
USDA zone 7.
$22.00
Arecaceae
Trichocereus chiloensis var. eburneum
Our collection of this black-spined cactus, found in the high mountains east of Santiago, Chile at the base of a ski
resort. Reaching to 8-10 ft tall in their native habitat, these are handsome at any size with their cluster of black
spines on top. Sun, of course. Occasional summer water speeds growth. Tolerant of winter wet if the soil is very
well-drained. Provide protection where temperatures drop below 15F, mid USDA zone 8, or so.
$16.00
96
Cactaceae
Tricyrtis macranthopsis toad lily
This, to us, is the gateway toadlily, an intriguing herbaceous perennial that turned us on to so many others worthy
of growing. To 18” tall with weeping foliage of shiny bright green and, beginning in mid summer, large, 1”
yellow flowers, bell-shaped and sometimes with minute polka dots or raspberry spreckles. A must-have in the
garden for the scale and colors, the flowers sometimes continuing into December. Slower than some other
species, but well worth it. Enjoys summer moisture, rich soil, and, for us, dappled late afternoon shade to avoid
leaf burn. Frost hardy in USDA zone 6.
$12.00
Liliaceae
Trillium angustipetalum narrow petal wake robin
Large trillium species, native in California and only slight beyond, this species related to the T. chloropetalum
coast group in California and Oregon. To 15" tall, with wide, oval leaves, very horizontal, forming whorls up to 2
ft across, sometimes mottled in darker green. Spring flowers are showy, dark red-purple when new, with the long,
narrow petals described by the name. Summer drought tolerant, these are happy in dappled shade to light shade.
Frost hardy in USDA zone 7.
$15.00
Melanthiaceae
Trillium kurabayashii
Described from near the mouth of Oregon’s Rogue River in the early 70s and endemic to that region as a
northernmost form or representative of T. chloropetalum. These seeds, second generation and now 4 year plants,
grow to 18” with purple mottled leaves and brick red to occasionally orange-yellow flowers. Prefers summer
dry in dappled shade but not difficult. Frost hardy in USDA zone 7.
$18.00
Melanthiaceae
Spring 2010 Mail Order Catalog (* = new to mail order list)