'Z'
by Nancy Schramm

With apologies to Sesame Street, “Today’s column is sponsored by the letter ‘Z’.” Plant names that start with “Z” just don’t get the respect they deserve. Years ago I was visiting a garden with several knowledgeable plantspeople who were discussing the (then) recent plant name change of Zauschneria (California fuchsia) to Epilobium. This is something that happens all the time. Plants that you have come to know and love are yanked out of one genus and stuck into another, along with the accompanying (and often confusing) name change. What was Chrysanthemum becomes Tanacetum. Funkia turns into Hosta. Ligularia is now Farfugium. And on it goes. Even worse, sometimes the taxonomists change their minds (and the plant names) back.

So, I listened as the merits of this particular name change were analyzed. Until one friend declared that she would not comply with the change because there just weren’t enough plant names that started with “Z.” So, this month let’s honor Carol’s loyalty to the end of the alphabet and look at a few plants that start with “Z.”

Zauschneria californica is a much-loved California native that is endemic to much of the western U.S. It is an evergreen shrub that benefits from annual shearing. Selections range in size from almost prostrate to around 4 feet tall. The leaves are small and narrow, and can be various shades of green, gray or silver. The most dramatic feature is the flower. The orange or scarlet (sometimes   white or pink) trumpet shaped flowers are much frequented by hummingbirds. Zauschneria will grow in full sun, and is well suited to areas with little summer water.

Zephyranthes candida (rain lily) is another sun lover. It’s a bulb with long grass-like foliage and a lovely white six-petaled flower, somewhat like crocus. It needs to be watered during the summer, and although it might prefer less water when the foliage dies down, it’s survived being watered year-round for me. It’s a great container plant and will bloom nicely even when pot-bound. Despite several reference books that list rain lily as frost tender, mine (in containers, no less) lived through temps in the ‘teens when the Arctic blast hit in January, 2007.

As I looked through the very short list of plant names that start with “Z,” I found it interesting that there seems to be a high percentage of edibles.

One of these is Zingiber officinale, or ginger. It’s a tropical plant that won’t survive our winters, but can be grown in a container. Growing ginger can be a fun project to do with your kids, a way for them to learn about another edible gardening. Just buy a piece of ginger from the produce section of your grocery store and barely bury it in a container of good potting soil. Don’t water it much until it sends out strong roots and green shoots. The leaves will be large (1’ long) and a very lush green. Give it a really warm spot, but keep it out of the direct sun. You can even harvest some after just a summer’s growth.

Another edible is Ziziphus jujuba, known as jujube or Chinese date. This attractive deciduous shrub or small tree is easily grown in our climate, and will produce a good crop of fruit. There are named varieties available, some better for eating fresh when the flesh is moist and crunchy like an apple, some excellent for drying when the fruit becomes more intensly flavored and chewy. You should keep in mind that this plant has thorns and should not be planted in a high traffic area.

Zea is the botanical name for another very important edible—our common corn! And if you have room to grow corn at home, just like homegrown tomatoes, the flavor is unsurpassed.

One final “Z” plant is Zelkova Serrata, which is related to elm (Ulmus). It can be grown as a large shade tree in place of the American elm because it is rarely infected by the Dutch elm disease. It also makes a lovely bonsai. The leaves are oval, about 1” x 3” and attractively toothed. The fall color is wonderful. It’s a tough plant, enduring various soils, watering patterns, wind, and cold.

Spring is near—an exciting time for plant lovers. If you go to the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show in San Mateo, March 24-28, be sure to check out the Hot Plant Picks display, organized by Western Horticultural Society. This is the place to see new plant releases and introductions that will grow well in our climate. And after you’ve purchased your tomato and pepper plants from the SC County master Gardeners at the Spring Garden Market on April 10, shop through the vendor area and say “hi” – I’ll be there with a variety of plants to thrill and delight.

	~Third generation owner of Carman’s Nursery, Nancy Schramm and her husband recently moved the nursery from Los Gatos to Gilroy where they have lived for 24 years. The nursery is known for growing rare and unusual plants including bonsai starters, dwarf conifers, rock garden plants and (of course) less common fruiting plants. Contact her at edgreenthumb@att.net