Mulberry Creek Herb Farm: Catalog/Mulberry Miniatures

Mulberry Miniatures

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Welcome to Mark’s dream section. The smaller the plant is, the more he likes it. "I find these miniatures, so often overlooked and even walked on, absolutely fascinating. Why? Possibly as I mature in my plant tastes, the subtle details of these noble, slow growers are just as exciting as their substantial, bold, splashy counterparts. Certainly it has to do with no matter how many varieties I find, there are, literally, always room for more. And there's the fact that they are just darn cute, like the tiny doll furniture, that make you yearn to be just their size. I suppose I like the contrast with this weird world and my own sacred space, where everything is child-like perfection for my boys and me. No war, no hunger, and no weeds! Creating authentic miniature worlds, transport the artists and lucky participants."

We hope you enjoy these selections as much as we have reveled in collecting them.

Neea / Saltwood

Neea buxifolia

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun - P. Sun
Height: 12 x 12 inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Tree, Bonsai

From Puerto Rico comes this stiff, twiggy, bonsai starter. Having no particular natural form, your options are unlimited. Four season display means red shoots, small spring to summer flowers, and red fruits by September, all with a backdrop of smooth, gray bark and glossy, privet-like foliage. Found it for $30. on another website.

Nothoscordum /Tiny Golden Garlic

Nothoscordum montevidense

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: P. Sun - P. Shade
Height: 4h x 2w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub, Potted Plant

Expect a flurry of golden, slightly citrus scented flowers no taller than 4 inches in spring THROUGH the fall. Companion blades of grass bide their time in between. Not entirely winter hardy in northern Ohio, but if you bring your container into a protected area, this plant will resurrect next spring. In the onion family, the tiny bulbs are easy to divide and share with other pots or friends.

Oxalis, Little Plum Crazy

Oxalis 'Plum Crazy'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: P. Shade - Shade
Height: 3h x 6w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub

Give it moisture and morning sun and the foliage's patchwork of pink, green and fuchsia will be enhanced along with deep pink stems. Anybody would be "lucky" to have this clover in a hanging basket or semi shaded faery garden where celtic shapes are revered. Remove all-bronze colored stems as they over take 'Plum Crazy'

Oxalis, Zinfandel

Oxalis vulcanicola

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: P.Shade-Shade to P-Shade
Height: 3in. groundcover
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic
Common Uses:Jar-Gems TM, Garden Railroads, Container, Groundcover, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade

Oh, I like this one and not just its name. We need more yellow foliaged plants as a contrast to our sea of green. Added attributes are its fast growth, ""Shamrock-shaped"" leaves, red stems and 3 inch high yellow flowers.

Oxalis/ Shamrock,Tiny Double White

Oxalis magellanica 'Nelson

Cold Tolerance: Zone Zone6+
Light: P.Sun-P.Shade
Height: 1/2in. groundcover
Water: Normal-Wet
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Bonsai, Houseplants, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden

The connection between Ireland and faery lore is.... legendary, so these ridiculously tiny clover leaves are most appropriate in a garden of the wee folk. It grows to 1/2"" small and carries double white flowers, no bigger than a baby pea each spring and then again in fall. Emerald green leaves in the shade, will bronze with increased sunlight. Doesn't like extreme heat or drought. A natural bonsai groundcover

Paxistigma, Tiny Holly

Paxistigma cambyi 'Compacta'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Shade to Full Sun Only
Height: 6in. x 12
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: No
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Borders, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade

Raisin-sized holly-like evergreen leaves, packed on a 6"" tall and twice as wide plant. Perfect RXR shrub in hillside planting as its' spreading stems will help hold up the soil. Tough little grower, as long as it has well drained soil.

Penstemon, Alpine Blue

Penstemon hirsutus `Pygmaeus'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 4in. x 4in. wide
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Early Summer
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Borders, Container, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

Pot up patriotic centerpieces with these short mounds of dark green leaves and white-n-violet flowers tinged with blue, usually in bloom by the 4th of July. Unlike some other Penstemons, this is long lived and very easy to grow.

Peperomia, Mini String-of-Heart

Peperomia prostrata

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9b-11
Light: P. Shade - P. Sun
Height: 1/2h X 6w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Groundcover, Spiller

I call this the "Peace" plant because the light green etching over the 1/4 inch, medium green, oval leaves roughly resembles a peace sign. Its creeping, compact foliage loves to crawl all over a terrarium floor given enough light and humidity.

Peperomia, Pixie

Peperomia meridana 'Pixie'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9b-11
Light: Full Sun
Height: 3 x 3 inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub

Under plants for terrariums and "Wardian Cases," you'll find this houseplant, a.k.a. "Crazy Quilt Peperomia." Reddish stems balance whorls of glossy, sunken veined, rich green foliage that is stacked tightly like shingles. Very tight compact shrub for faery garsdens

Pilea, Trailing Blue Angel

Pilea sp.

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
Light: P.Sun-P.Shade to P-Shade
Height: 1in. groundcover
Water: Normal Wet
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Jar-Gems"""""""" TM, Garden Railroads, Container, Groundcover, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade

Blue with silver streaked leaves is an uncommon find. Tiny, rust red flowers accentuate its pea sized foliage especially as it trails down the sides of tropical, shade, faery gardens. Perhaps you need a fast perennial groundcover (hardy in Southern Florida and warmer). Treat as an annual in most of US. Easily trimmed & controlled.

Plectranthus, Ernsts Baobab

Plectranthus ernstii

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
Light: P.Shade-P.Sun to Shade
Height: 16in. x 16
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Early Summer to Late Summer to Middle Summer
Common Uses:Jar-Gems"""""""" TM, Bonsai, Container, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Topiary

That's not for sale."" We must have told 1,000 customers when they asked about our 6 year old ""Ernsts Baobab."" Yes, it bloomed all season with delicate white, snowflake flowers in 2"" clusters on top of fleshy, scalloped shaped, minty leaves, but the real eye-catcher is the large swollen tree truck at its base. It really looks like one of those African ""Baobab"" trees that gets all the monkeys & warthogs drunk in the nature films. Now these are for sale.

Plectranthus, Ernsts Baobab 5 in.

Plectranthus ernstii

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
Light: P.Shade-P.Sun to Shade
Height: 16in. x 16
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Jar-Gems"""""""" TM, Bonsai, Container, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Topiary

Pomegranate, Dwarf

Punica granatum "Nana'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun - P. Shade
Height: 12 x 12 inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Tree, Bonsai

Bonsai enthusiast love the twisting trunks of this South Asian native that are conducive to that ancient, gnarly form. Brillant orange fruits are encouraged by a bit of shade, dry soil and a slightly root bound state. Once fruit buds are set, then you can move it to more sun with protection from winds and frost. From that point, it likes water and a slightly acid soil. Prune gently as the branches are brittle.

Primrose, Cowslip

Primula veris

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: P.Shade-Shade to Shade
Height: 3in. x 4
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic
Flowers: Early Spring to Late Spring to Middle Spring
Common Uses:Bedding Plant, Container, Groundcover, Medicinal, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade

An English native full of myth, folklore and medicinal tradition with a rosette of dark green leaves look similar to florist primrose, but the yellow flower cluster is born on the end of an 8"" stalk. We apply mulch over soil to retain moisture.

Primrose, Gold Lace

Primula elatior-Hydrid 'Gold Lace'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: P.Shade-Shade to Shade
Height: 3in. x 4
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic
Flowers: Early Spring to Late Spring to Middle Spring
Common Uses:Bedding Plant, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade

This is the antique variety from England that so long ago inspired the ""Primrose Fairie"" by Cicely M. Barker. The dark red flowers have a beautiful golden, picotee (outside) edge to all the petals. Faeries are shy, but you know they'll appreciate it.

Primrose, Wanda

Primula X juliae

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: P.Shade-Shade to Shade
Height: 2in. x 4
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic
Flowers: Early Spring to Late Spring to Late Winter to Middle Spring
Common Uses:Bedding Plant, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade

'Wanda' is among the first flowers of spring, exploding with a fuchsia fury. It is the perfect companion with daffodils, keeping them company their entire blooming season! We consider it the toughest, hardiest primrose there is, by its behavior in our open fields. Don't have large shady areas? Just plant it on the north side of any shrub and divide clumps every year after flowers have finish.

Privet, Mini Yellow

Lonicera nitida 'Baggescen's Gold'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Shade
Height: 3 x 3 Feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy Sandy
Flowers: No
Common Uses:Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Topiary

One look at this small sized privet and I imagine an English hedge outlining a slighty shaded faery garden. 3/8"" golden-yellow leaves share space on this very branchy plant. Although it can grow to 3 feet, it does so slowly and is easily pruned. Use as a bonsai, shrub, small tree in railroad gardens or around a down-sized, backyard cloister garden.

Privet, Mini Yellow Topiary

Lonicera nitida 'Baggescen's Gold'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Shade
Height: 3 x 3 Feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy Sandy
Common Uses:Garden Railroads,

Putatoria, Pink Trumpet Bush

Putatoria calibrica

Cold Tolerance: Zone 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: Sun-P.Sun to Full Sun
Height: 4in. x 12in. wide
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Early Fall to Early Summer to Late Summer to Middle Summer
Common Uses:Container, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

It looks like it can endure the intense heat of its native Mediterranean but NOT the extreme cold of an Ohio Winter. Tight clusters of loud, pink trumpets dominate over this low, spreading green shrub, Spring through Summer.

Ragged Robbin, Dwarf

Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Nana'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a
Light: Sun-P.Shade to Sun-P.Shade
Height: 2in. x 4
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy
Flowers: Early Summer to Late Spring to Middle Spring
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bedding Plant, Borders, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

This Cicely Mary Barker faerie plant is a curious miniature with twisting, tough, shiny, dark green leaves that form a weird-looking, tight mound complete with bright pink, ragged edged flowers in spring. Lewis and Clark were intrigued by this too.

Rhododendron, Karin Seleger

Rhododendron X 'Karin Seleger' (R.impeditum X )

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: P. Shade - P. Sun
Height: 12h x 16w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Tree

Compactness and extreme hardiness are trademarks of this rhody thanks to "her" parents. As a treat, violet-purple flowers cover each mound early spring. (R.impeditum x R.dauricum)

RXR Solution

Remember to use plastic lawn edging along sections of railroad track to prevent root creeping ground covers from invading tracks. This will elimate the need to use herbicides.

Santolina, Pretty Carol

Santolina chamaecyparissus 'Pretty Carol'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun
Height: 1h x 2w feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Bonsai, G-Scale Thriller, Hedges

With gold button flowers, consider this aromatic, densely foliaged shrub in a dry sunny border or a faery garden as it is perfectly compatible with the pruning shears of a bonsai artist. Shearing its "evergray" foliage promotes new, compact growth. Borderline hardiness warrants a protection from the winter winds with burlap or an anchored milk jug with its bottom cut off.

Santolina, Small Ness

Santolina 'Small Ness'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun
Height: 6 x 6 inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Bonsai, RxR, Hedges

Create a "Loch ness Monster" in your garden using this dwarf evergreen shrub. The grey green leaves are the perfect color and it wouldn't mind the pruning needed for a wavy hedge. Bright yellow flower heads could be the eyes!