August 2016 Favorites

It's the last Friday of the month, when Loree of danger garden calls for gardeners to celebrate the plants that earned their favor this month.  August is a month when the plants here hunker down and wait for better days so finding stand-outs isn't easy.  Even though our summer temperatures have been milder than they were in late June and extra irrigation has generally perked things up, the plants I'm drawn to at the moment are mostly those I've already featured within the last few months.  But a few plants are deserving of notice.

Ozothamnus diosmifolius, planted in November 2015, is finally living up to my expectations.

The Australian native isn't in flower at this time of year but I really didn't buy it for the flowers

I love its erect form which makes me think of a miniature pine tree

Also known as rice flower, it's often grown for its flowers, shown here in a photo taken back in April

Leucadendron salignum 'Chief', planted in January 2013, fulfilled its promise long ago while its companion, Leucadendron 'Ebony', planted some 8 months later, has been slower to develop.  The two are finally beginning to play off one another as I'd envisioned.

Leucadendron 'Ebony', a sport of L. 'Safari Sunset', has gained size at last this year, although its growth is uneven.  At maturity, 'Ebony' should grow 3-4 feet tall, or about half the height of 'Chief'.  I trim  'Chief' back each year but have yet to trim 'Ebony'.

L. 'Chief' makes great use of the late afternoon sunlight

In contrast, L. 'Ebony' is dark and moody

Lantana camara 'Irene', planted from 6-packs in May 2015, is at last providing the pops of color I'd imagined around the base of the Pennisetum in the back garden.  Although it's a drought tolerant plant, it needed the boost it got from additional irrigation to produce more than a flower here and there.

Lantana camara 'Irene' has pretty multi-colored flowers which play off both the reddish pink of the Pennisetum 'Fireworks' to the left and the orange Agastache behind.  Hibiscus trionum (to the right) recently made a surprise reappearance after dying off last year.  Considered a noxious weed in some areas of the country, it doesn't present an issue here.

The succulents can be depended upon to look good year round but two earned special recognition this month.

Crassula perfoliata falcata (aka airplane plant) produced its first bright red bloom

Although relatively small, Agave parryi patonii draws my attention every time I pass it.  I love those exaggerated leaf imprints.  It's produced a couple of pups but I don't think I can manage to get them out intact without digging up the entire plant.

Unfortunately, I also had a major loss this month.  My Leucadendron galpinii, a relatively recent purchase, dropped dead in record time.

It lasted less than 2 months in the backyard border, despite the extra water I provided to help it get established

I was excited to find this plant in a one-gallon container for the first time and, perhaps foolishly, decided to go ahead and plant it in the backyard border in July rather than waiting for more hospitable weather.  Even more foolishly, I planted it in the same location as the Adenanthos sericeus I'd lost earlier.  Tracing the history of plants in this area, I realized these aren't the first losses in the same area.  I previously lost both a Prostanthera ovalifolia and a Philotheca myporoides in the same general vicinity.  Based on my (somewhat patchy) records, all seem to have expired relatively quickly.  I'm going to test the soil to see if that provides clues to what's going on.

So as not to end on that sour note, here's a photo of the lovely Pennisetum 'Fireworks' in my back garden.  I think they look even better than they did in last month's favorites post.  Pop over to Loree's site for more August favorites.

All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Wednesday Vignette: Serendipity

For the last two months, the bright yellow of Hemerocallis 'For Pete's Sake' has drawn my eye every time I passed by or through the dry garden on the northwest side of our property.  However, since I cut the last bloom scape about a week ago, a more subtle vignette has grabbed both my attention and that of recent visitors to my garden.

Osteospermum 'Summertime Sweet Kardinal' and Leucadendron 'Ebony'

When I planted Leucadendron 'Ebony' in the dry garden in 2013, I was more concerned with getting the soil, water and sun conditions right than with color combinations.  I situated it near Leucadendron salignum 'Chief' because they have similar needs.  Geranium incanum, a weed here, planted itself nearby but the deep purple Osteospermum 'Summertime Sweet Kardinal' shown in the photo above was added in January.  At the time, my purpose was to embellish the existing clumps of O. 'Serenity Purple' - the way 'Summertime Sweet Kardinal' played off of 'Ebony' was pure serendipity.  The newer Osteospermum is more vivid than 'Serenity Purple' and has a plum-red cast that I think looks beautiful next to the burgundy-black of 'Ebony'.

Mid-range photo of the same area

A broader view

  

This is my contribution to Anna's Wednesday Vignette at Flutter & Hum.  Visit her to see what images she's conjured up to capture your imagination this week.  You'll also find links to images that grabbed the attention of other gardeners.

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

Foliage Follow-up - A Little of This and a Little of That

In spring, it's easy to get overwhelmed by flowers.  They're everywhere.  While some flowers complement one another, others clash.  I looked around my garden while taking pictures for yesterday's Bloom Day post and thought, I need more foliage to pull this garden together.  Foliage Follow-up, sponsored by Pam at Digging, is a celebration of foliage and a regular reminder of its importance in the garden.

Some of my foliage is so brightly colored, it can almost be mistaken for floral material.  Yucca 'Bright Star' falls into that category.  I added 3 of these to my main backyard border in January.  The plants are still relatively small and the surrounding plants currently distract attention away from them to a degree, but I think that'll change as the Yucca grow taller.  If the neighboring Nicotiana alata 'Lime Green' encroach upon them, the Nicotiana may have to go.

One of 3 Yucca 'Bright Star' in the mid portion of the main backyard border

Another of the 3 plants photographed from above to show off the color variation

The Yucca are currently surrounded by Nicotiana alata, Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid,' a Prostanthera ovalifolia and Adenophora seedlings

Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' could also be considered a flower-like foliage plant.  It's hard to ignore in any setting.  I've used it in groups in 3 different parts of the garden.

This one, introduced in the in the backyard border 2 years ago with 2 others, is putting on new growth

I'm continuing to add plants for foliage interest.  One of my most recent purchases is Melianthus major, purchased at s spring plant sale conducted by the local botanic garden.  Although it can grow up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) tall and wide, I've been told that it can easily be kept to a smaller size.  I've added mine to what I'm calling my "red bed," an area previously occupied by a seldom-used snorkel spa that was dismantled in January, freeing up more garden space.  (One has to establish priorities, even in the garden.)

Newly-planted Melianthus major

I've added a variety of foliage elements to the other new backyard bed, an extension of our fountain bed.  Among these are 6 Liriope spicata, clumped in 2 groups of 3 plants each.  I understand that this species of Liriope can spread with abandon so I hope I don't regret the choice.  At present, I like how it adds a spiky vertical element along the pathway.

Liriope spicata

On the other side of the path, along the house, Plectranthus ciliatus 'Zulu Warrior' is once again showing why it's one of my favorite plants.  It's attractive even when it isn't in bloom.  The foliage also has a nice spicy scent.  I cut it back hard this winter but it has once again put on a healthy flush of new growth.  I established this mass from cuttings brought from our old house and I recently planted cuttings from this stock in the new bed on the other side of the path (as well as other locations in the side and front yards).

Plectranthus ciliatus 'Zulu Warrior' gets just morning sun

On a recent trip, I picked up a new Aeonium, A. canariense (aka the Velvet Rose), which ended up in a large pot on the small south-side patio.  I'm hoping that it'll prove as easy to grow as the other Aeonium I have growing all around the property.  When we moved in, a friend gifted me with a few cuttings of what I believe is some variety of Aeonium arboreum.  Unsure where to put it, I planted a few pieces below the citrus trees in the vegetable garden.  The few quickly grew into many and now, whenever I have an empty area in dry soil I'm not sure what to do with, I stick an Aeonium cutting directly in the soil, walk away and see what happens.  So far, there's no place these plants haven't thrived.  (Frankly, it's almost scary.)

Aeonium canariense

The original clump of Aeonium arboreum planted below the Mandarin orange tree has grown dramatically in size despite regular harvesting of cuttings

Another clump, developed from cuttings stuck into the soil about a year ago

A few plants recently added in a very dry, largely untended area near the driveway where nothing much other than weeds (aka as Santa Barbara daisies) grow

I haven't added any of these Aeonium to the dry garden (yet).  I'm not sure why.  However, when I was walking about snapping pictures for this post, I noticed that Leucadendron 'Ebony' (acquired last September at far below the usual going rate, possibly due to mis-labeling as 'Safari Sunset'), is putting on new growth at last.

Leucadendron 'Ebony'

Finally, while searching for foliage high-notes, I looked down and realized how nicely my thyme groundcover is filling in among the stepping stones in the side yard.

The thyme shown here, labeled as Thymus serpyllum, hugs the soil

This thyme, also sold as Thymus serpyllum, is somewhat taller (grown here with Ajuga 'Mint Chips')

These are my foliage highlights for April 2014.  Please visit Pam, our foliage follow-up hostess, here to see her foliage highlights and to find links to other gardeners' contributions to this useful meme.

My favorite plant this week: Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder'

My favorite plant this week is one I've featured here and there in earlier posts, Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder.'  This is one of the relatively few plants I brought with me from our former home when we moved 3 years ago.  There, it was in a large clay pot in the driveway close to the front door in one of the few sunny spots we had with a Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' at its base.  I planted it in the ground here at the front of the house shortly after we moved in.  The Abelia, its roots tied almost inextricably with those of the Leucadendron, remained at its base.

Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder,' photographed in January

This plant is attractive year round.  In mid-August, I featured the new bracts, which glowed red.

The same Leucadendron, photographed in mid-August

Close-up of Leucadendron bracts in August

In winter, yellow cones form and the surrounding bracts take on a pale yellow shade.

Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder,' which hails from South Africa, grows about 6 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide.  It prefers full sun but can tolerate a little partial shade.  It likes well-drained soil and is moderately drought tolerant.  It's reported to be frost tolerant to 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4C).  It's adapted to USDA zones 9-11 (Sunset zones 16, 17, 20-24 and H1).

The "flowers," which appear in late winter to early spring, are useful in flower arrangements.  The cones, as they mature, will turn brown.

I have a few other Leucadendrons in my garden, all newer introductions; however, none yet make the splash created by 'Wilson's Wonder.'

Leucadendron salignum 'Chief,' which was planted last January

Leucadendron 'Ebony,' acquired in September, hasn't done much since it was planted

Leucadendron 'Pisa' is in a pot for now but I have great hopes for it

L. 'Wilson's Wonder' is my contribution to Loree's weekly meme at danger garden highlighting her favorite plants.  You can see her current selection and those offered by other gardeners, here.

A case of mistaken identity?

I swung by the local garden center last week to pick up some planting compost and, as I usually do, cruised the plant aisles to see if there was anything new and exciting.  I came upon a Leucadendron with exceptionally dark foliage.  It looked like L. 'Ebony' but it was labeled as L. 'Safari Sunset.'  The tag also didn't reflect the going rate for 'Ebony,' which I've seen priced at nearly $150.

I nearly picked it up right then but the dimensions shown on the pot put me off.  I wasn't sure I had a sunny spot large enough for a plant the tag claimed would grow 8-10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide.  At $40, I didn't want to bring it home only to find myself challenged as to what to do with it.  When I got home, I pulled up on-line references to L. 'Safari Sunset' and, true to my recollections, these showed a plant with foliage that was more green than the purplish-black of the plants I'd seen.  I was fairly certain that the plants I saw were Leucadendron 'Ebony' masquerading as their parent, L. 'Safari Sunset.'

I finally got back to the garden center late this afternoon.  The plants were still there so I brought one home.

Leucadendron 'Ebony' found labeled as 'Safari Sunset'

Closer look at the foliage

What do you think?  Am I mistaken as to the plant's identity, or did the nursery mislabel it?  In either case, it's a handsome plant.  Assuming that it gets no more than 4 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide, I have 2 prospective spots for it.  And I can do a lot with that $110 price differential.