In any case, my only difficulty this week was choosing which plant to feature. I settled on Cordyline 'Renegade.' This plant appeared in an earlier blog post (which you can view here), when I picked up 2 of them to fill pots on the front porch of my mother-in-law's former home when we were readying the house for sale. With the sale completed in record time, we brought the 2 pots home. They now sit at the front of our house.
The pots may get moved again but the plants are keepers. Each pot contains a Pelargonium peltatum 'Pink Blizzard,' Calbracohoa, and Alternanthera but Cordyline 'Renegade' is clearly the star of the composition.
'Renegade' is a clumping Cordyline with purplish, almost black foliage.
According to internet sources, it's the offspring of C. australis and C. banksii. Bred in New Zealand, it's said to be hardy in USDA zones 8-11. It should reach 2-3 feet tall and wide at maturity. It needs full to partial sun and a moderate amount of water. Apparently, it even produces fragrant lavender blooms in winter, although I was unable to find a photo of it in bloom anywhere.
The Cordyline is my contribution to Loree's favorite plants round-up at danger garden. You can see Loree's current favorite (also a Cordyline!) here, as well as find links to other favorite plant posts.
Before I close, I do have a runner-up to share this week. It's Hibiscus acetosella 'Mahogany Splendor,' which is just now coming into bloom in my garden.
The buds blend in so well with the plant foliage that I didn't realize it was coming into bloom until an open flower confronted me early one morning this week. It's pretty, isn't it?
The pot plantings work beautifully together - what a nice mixture of texture and color. The hibiscus is pretty spectacular!
ReplyDeleteBarbara H.
I'd forgotten how much I like that Hibiscus, Barbara - until it bloomed. I need to find another one.
DeleteI do love the rich and dark purple foliage of this cordyline. Well deserved for being singled out as your favourite this week!
ReplyDeleteI think this is the darkest Cordyline (or Phormium) I've seen yet. I love it.
DeleteOh I LOVE that cordy! It's fairly rare around here but I did buy one last year and loved it, well until it died over the winter. That foliage is spectacular. Hopefully we'll see a flower on one of your upcoming bloomday posts.
ReplyDeleteI'd never seen this plant before until I, literally, tripped over it when looking for plants to decorate my mother-in-law's front porch. I haven't seen it since either so I'm glad I snapped up the 2 I saw!
DeleteThat's a beautiful Cordyline. I didn't know there were any with leaves so dark. I love the Hibiscus too.
ReplyDeleteThe Cordyline was a wonderful discovery, Alison. It's further proof that stalking the aisles of the local nursery week after week (after week) is worthwhile! The Hibiscus was discovered in the same way.
DeleteI am not surprised your in-law's house sold so quickly! You had done a wonderful job with the garden. The cordyline is lovely. I love the color with the blue pot!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think that the garden helped sell the house, Deb, but the buyer tore out my mother-in-law's garden. I knew that was a possible outcome of the sale but it was still hard to see, especially when it was done prior to the close of escrow and without permission.
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