Plants in Early American Gardens - Perennial Pea

Perennial Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)

Perennial Pea is a summer-flowering vine that Thomas Jefferson sowed in one of the oval beds at Monticello in 1807. It was an established garden plant in America before 1720. Perennial Pea is a long-lived vigorous climber with attractive blue-green leaves and showy flowers in red, pink, or rarely, white. Although European in origin, it has naturalized in many parts of the United States, especially on roadsides.

Contact The Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants at
Email chp@monticello.org
Phone 434-984-9819

Plants in Early American Gardens - Gaura

Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri)

Although native to Louisiana, Texas, and parts of Mexico, Gaura is hardy as far north as Washington state and eastern Massachusetts. It was introduced into England in 1850 and named for the great German botanist Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer. Peter Henderson noted in his Handbook of Plants (1890) that this was the only species "in general cultivation." He continued to observe that the "profusion of its spikes of graceful flowers, makes it a valuable plant for garden decoration; and the flowers are very useful for bouquets or vases."

Contact The Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants at
Email chp@monticello.org
Phone 434-984-9819

Seasons Change - Williamsburg's Spring Gardens give way to Summer...

All photos from Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Plants in Early American Gardens - Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage

Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata cv.)

Numerous types of cabbages were planted in Thomas Jefferson's gardens throughout his lifetime, including French, Milan, Savoy, Ox-heart, Roman, Scotch, Sugarloaf, York, and Winter. Early Jersey Wakefield forms a compact, somewhat conical head up to 15” long and 7” wide with glaucous-green leaves. First grown in New Jersey in 1840, it is a fine early-heading variety with a sweet flavor and was popular in 19th-century markets.

Contact The Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants at
Email chp@monticello.org
Phone 434-984-9819

South Carolina - Plantation Houses for the Slaves, who worked the Land

1800 View of Mulberry, House & Street, Thomas Coram (1756 – 1811), The Carolina Art Association Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, South Carolina. This is the earliest known depiction of a plantation house with rows of single-room slave cabins leading to the powerful owner's house.