USU experts introduce drought-tolerant perennial

Green thumbs up to the Utah Botanical Center and USU's Horticulture Extension, for the Mountain Flame Fire Chalice, a drought–tolerant perennial recently introduced to Utah landscapers and gardeners.

Epilobium Canum, a member of the Onagracea family, lights up the garden with its scarlet trumpet–shaped flowers in late summer through fall. The plant spreads as a ground cover and needs very little watering, says Richard Anderson, UBC greenhouse manager. The Fire Chalice goes by many names, says Anderson, including Zauschneria Latifolia, Garett's Fire Chalice, and Hummingbird Fuchia.

Anderson collaborated on the project with retired Extension agent and influential USU horticulturalist Bill Varga. The two men developed the most robust of 16 original samples of the plant donated by a colleague in New Mexico, David Salman. To keep genetic purity, the variety must be propagated asexually from a large cutting block at the UBC greenhouse, says Anderson.

“The collecting site has never been disclosed, but the seed variety is taller, more erect, blooms later and with darker foliage and bigger leaves,” says Anderson.

The 18–inch–tall plant makes a good focal point in landscaping and will thrive in dry conditions, blooming through the end of summer. Plants are available to the public through the UBC greenhouse in Kaysville, says Anderson.

As part of a project to educate Utah landscapers about water conservation, Anderson plans to introduce a new dry–climate ornamental plant to Utah nurseries each year. Eleven species of native plants are in development, all selected for their form, flower size and color, he says.

Until lately, Utahns were not forced to be assertive with their water use, says Varga. It's not just drought, but the rising population that will force people to be more careful with water use, he says. Some easy ways to save water include cutting your lawn higher when mowing and watering less often but more deeply to “teach the lawn to search for water,” he says. “Hydrozoning,” or placing plants with similar water needs next to each other, will also save water.

“People say, ‘There's no petunias, no geraniums; how can this be beautiful?’” says Varga. “But if you plant only spring–flowering plants then you're not enjoying your garden in the fall. It's one–dimensional. We want to teach people to create something beautiful that could be managed differently. The Fire Chalice shows we can do exactly the same thing aesthetically with water–wise plants.”

Varga's 27 year history with the UBC was commemorated this past April with the Arbor Day ceremonial opening of the Varga Arboretum on the grounds of the UBC in Kaysville.

Anderson and Varga are always on the lookout for robust native plants with a goal to improve selection of the wild plants available to the horticulture community. “We're not the turf–haters,” says Anderson, acknowledging that sod has its place in Utahns' hearts. “It's okay to have a modest, practical area of turf. Our job is to promote resource conservation.”

—Brendon Butler