Simpson's Stopper: Plant Highlight

I think my husband is getting to me. I was out in the nursery, looking at a plant. I read the tag, thinking to come inside and look it up. It had a botanical as well as common name listed. For the life of me, I could only remember the botanical! Can you believe I pulled Helianthus Angustifolius out of my head, and not Gold Lace or Swamp Sunflower? But more on that one next week. I had promised a profile of Simpson's Stopper, which is one of Jim's favorites.


I had thought humans were a relatively social group, but so many I meet at farmers markets have been confiding to me that they'd like a hedge to block out a neighbor. Viburnums are usually the first thing that comes to their minds. We do carry viburnums, and there is even a native variety, but I like to recommend the Simpson's Stopper because it's not an over-used plant; the hedge it creates won't look like the other hedges every other block. It has the same, if not more, nice qualities of a viburnum.

Simpson's Stopper is a fun common name, and one I remember better than Myrcianthes Fragrans (although I think I can figure out the 'fragrans' part).
Medical lore says that Simpson's Stopper, particularly the berries and bark, can be used to cure a certain stomach ailment which requires one to be stopped up. Apparently a fellow named Simpson had a bad case of diarrhea.

It's in the Myrtle family, a group of tropical shrubs and trees. Simpson's Stopper, which I'm sure you figured out by the botanical name, has a fragrant flower. It's small and fluffy and white. It then makes a red berry. The leaves are stiff and dark green, and it likes to branch out. These branches, berries and flowers make this Stopper a popular hub in the garden for butterflies and birds. It's also an evergreen, which is an important feature for a hedge, don't you think?

Down further south the Simpson's Stopper can grow quite tall. It takes pruning well and is an easy undertaking to make it a hedge, or a shaped shrub or tree.


So if you wish to block an eyesore, enjoy a plant with medicinal and culinary value, or create an obstacle near your property line, consider the Simpson's Stopper!

Yes, Well, It Was August

I had a lapse, and I blame August.
In July, I was a wonderful peon in the nursery. I moved pots, swept, weeded, potted; you name it. I mowed my big lawn with a tiny push mower. I perspired like crazy but it was a satisfying, accomplished sweat that felt good.
Then August came. I started to sweat from places I never had before. The corners of my eye, my jaw. It was uncomfortable. And very hot.
I moseyed out to water and make sure things were looking healthy. Here and there I picked a weed.
Even our vendor schedule took a nose dive. We had been going to Farmers Markets each Wednesday and Saturday, but the one in Lakeland closed for the month of August, and that left us with only two Saturdays to sell plants. So we took a few road trips and basically tried to enjoy summer.



These photos show our booth at the Curb Market in Lakeland, FL. Emily, 13, my daughter and companion on Saturdays, gets the good chair.

The rains finally came, and though that caused weeds to go like crazy, at least we didn't have to venture out and water.
Now it is September, and it is time to get back into gear. We are busy loading our van, which I call the Great White Whale, with plants to take to market. I shall spend tomorrow pulling weeds. Things are looking so pretty out there in between the weeds. Jim potted the Butterfly Pea into three gallons and staked them on a bamboo pole, and they are blooming like crazy. The Tibuchina is starting to color. Soon we'll have Gloxinia Bolivian Sunset and I hope to finally see the Garlic Vine.
Jim is taking a Master Naturalist class through UF and is getting into the heart of FLorida plant and wild life.
Tomorrow I'll get out and take some pictures of Simpson Stopper, my next choice for plant highlight.
Oh, and the chicken is most definitely a hilarious rooster.
Hope you get out to a garden, or support your local grower!