My favorite plant this week: Pelargonium peltatum 'Crocodile'

On Sunday, I received a visit from another blogger, Denise of A Growing Obsession.  I've admired Denise's blog since long before I started one of my own - she grows an intriguing variety of plants and her posts always offer an interesting point of view on all things gardening related.  On the day she dropped by I was still reeling from the changes resulting from removal of a mature tree and pruning of 9 others (described here).  Denise gave me an opportunity to vent, endured a lengthy tour of my garden, and she brought plants!

Denise's delivery of seedlings and divisions included Pelargonium peltatum 'Crocodile,' an infant Agave 'Joe Hoak,' a succulent I can't identify, 3 Ballota pseudodictamus, 2 Papaver setigerum, and 3 Orlaya grandiflora

I've coveted Pelargonium peltatum 'Crocodile' since I spotted it during a local garden tour in 2013.

In a garden filled with beautiful and unusual plants, 'Crocodile' garnered a lot of attention

Although I've grown other varieties of Pelargonium peltatum, commonly known as ivy geranium, I'd never come across this cultivar with ivory veining before 2013 and I've failed to find it on any of my many nursery treks.  Denise remembered my interest in the plant and put aside a cutting for me, which I planted in my front garden earlier this week.

Newly planted 'Crocodile'

'Crocodile' sits in one of my new beds in the front garden among other recent introductions, including Agave 'Jaws,' Cotyledon orbiculata, Cuphea ignea 'Strybing Sunset,' Festuca 'Patrick's Point,' Pelargonium 'Mrs. Pollock,' and Abelia 'Kaleiodscope'

It's small now but it should grow to 2 feet tall and perhaps 3 feet wide in time.  It's suited to a range of conditions, from full sun to partial shade.  It's a tender perennial that can't tolerate frost but that isn't a problem in my zone 10b garden.  Like other ivy geraniums, it flowers, but it's grown primarily for its mottled foliage.

While 'Crocodile' is my favorite plant this week, all the plants Denise gave me have found homes in my garden.

I mistook the small Agave 'Joe Hoak,' shown here in a blue pot, for Furcraea foetida mediopicta, like this one in my backyard - they do look a lot alike at this stage, don't they?

The Ballota seedlings went into the side yard, while the Orlaya and Papaver went into the backyard border, where they'll get more water  (The unidentified succulent landed in my street-side succulent border)

Hopefully, despite temperatures that have recently jumped into the stratosphere, all my new plants will survive and thrive.  Thanks again Denise!


All material © 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party