New Years? Bring out the “Wine Cups”

Wow, what a frigid start to the new year! As an antidote to the weather I have chosen a particularly cheerful Plant of the Week (POTW in the insouciant parlance of youth). Callirhoe involucrata, commonly known as “wine cups” is a delightful native of the Central United States. It spreads forth from a stout carrot-like root each year to form a rambling blanket of upward-facing claret cups that close at night and in cloudy weather. Each winter the plant dies back to its central root and repeats its colorful advance come springtime. It is an easy way to add masses of carefree color to the informal garden without introducing a plant that competes too vigorously with its neighbors.