My favorite plant this week is a bit of a cheat. It's an annual I picked up last week on one of my 2 recent trips to Roger's Gardens, an Orange County nursery. I saw it on my first trip out there, passed it by, but kept thinking out how great it would look positioned in front of
Hebe 'Wiri Blush' in my back border. On my second trip last weekend, I brought along a piece of the
Hebe to check whether the mix I saw in my mind would be as nice in reality. It was, so I brought home 3 pots of
Celosia argentea var. spicata, commonly called Pink Flamingo Feather Flower.
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| Newly planted Celosia argentea var. spicata (aka Pink Flamingo Feather Flower) |
Frankly, I've always steered clear of
Celosia, finding most of the genus too garish. Although this one is undeniably a brightly colored attention-getter, it struck me as more garden-worthy. The flower color and shape mirror the smaller flowers on the Hebe.
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| Close-up of Pink Flamingo Feather Flower |
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| Hebe 'Wiri Blush' in bloom |
Here's a picture of the
Celosia and
Hebe with the new
Phormium 'Dark Delight,' purchased at the same time as the
Celosia. I like the combination of the 3 plants. The
Celosia is reputed to be a vigorous self-seeder so maybe it'll make a return visit next summer.
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| Celosia argentea var. spicata, Hebe 'Wiri Blush' and Phormium 'Dark Delight' |
Pink Flamingo Feather Flower is expected to grow up to 18-24 inches tall and 12 inches wide. It flowers summer through fall, likes heat, and needs full sun and average water. This plant is my contribution to the favorite plants meme hosted by Loree of
danger garden. You can see Loree's favorite, a wonderful
Saliva discolor I wish I could find locally,
here, as well as links to favorites presented by other participating gardeners.
Even annuals qualify for being a fave plant of the week :)
ReplyDeleteThat's good, as this plant certainly commanded attention.
DeleteHi Kris, I can vouch for this Celosia. I was thrilled to find the very last 6 pack at a nursery in early June. I brought it home, planted all six plants in a large container and wow does it look gorgeous. It's probably more like 3 and a half feet tall. It's been in constant bloom. Like you, I'm hoping it reseeds because I definitely want more of it next year. I like how you positioned yours with the Hebe and that fabulous Phormium. Nice job.
ReplyDelete3+ feet! Those grower tags really can't be relied upon, can they?
DeleteNot a cheat at all and I can see why you love it. The only thing I don't like is that I can't touch it. I am a compulsive plant touched and that one looks so so soft!!
ReplyDeleteIt is very touchable!
DeleteI have failed miserably every time I've tried to grow Celosia spicata. Makes me crazy !
ReplyDeleteWell, we'll have to see how I fare with it. I'm a little afraid that it's not getting enough sun as the sun/shade patterns in the back border shift with the season.
DeleteGillar dina färger i trädgården!!
ReplyDeleteDom lila och mörk röda färgerna!
Spännande växter du kan ha din trädgård.
Mariana
Thanks for visiting, Mariana. We can grow a lot here in Southern California - but your Clerodendrum still looks better than mine!
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