Favorite plant of the week: Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt'

Last week, in seeking a plant deserving of the title of my "favorite of the week," I came up with 3 possibilities.  Last week I chose Melaleuca thymifolia but this week I want to highlight Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' (aka A. 'Mini Cog' or Little River Wattle), even though it could be said that the plant has already received more than its fair share of attention in other blogs as well as my own.  Still, now that I've placed one in a large pot where it's visible during every stroll through the backyard and also through the living room window, I have to give it its due and acknowledge that it's an admirable plant.  I certainly already have sufficient photos on hand to share.

I have 4 'Cousin Itt', which is amazing given that I was put off by the price of the plant when I first became aware of it.  Initially, it couldn't be found for less than $40; however, when I came across it at Sperling Nursery in Calabasas for less than half that price, I snapped up 2.  I later picked up another at full price.  I hadn't planned on purchasing more but, when I found one offered for $15 at the South Coast Botanic Garden's fall plant sale, I brought it home and put this one in a pot, where it appears to be very happy.

My newest Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' has visibly grown in size since it was potted in early September

The other 3 are placed in the backyard border underneath one of our California pepper trees (Schinus molle).   The 2 purchased from Sperling were smaller than the other 2 at time of purchase and have never had the thick head of foliage 'Cousin Itt' is known for.  The third looks almost exactly as it did at time of purchase some 9-10 months ago.  All get some shade during the hottest part of the day but these 3 also have to deal with root competition from the tree.

The 2 Sperling purchases have lacy frameworks unlike the plants grown by San Marcos

 

This one, from San Marcos Growers, appears to be approximately the same size as it was when it was planted 9-10 months ago

Like their namesake, Cousin Itt of the Addam's Family, the plants welcome petting.  They're evergreen and hail from Australia.  They'll reportedly grow 2-3 feet tall and up to 4-6 feet wide.  They need well-draining soil and are heat and drought tolerant.  If grown in a container, San Marcos Growers recommends using a low phosphorus fertilizer.  They can tolerate winter temperatures in the 20-25 degree range and are suited to USDA zones 9a-11 (Sunset zones 16-24).

I've yet to see any sign of flowering, even in the oldest plants, which have been in the ground for well over a year now and could find no photos of the pale yellow blooms anywhere on the web.  However, with foliage this nice, flowers really don't matter.

Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' is my contribution to Loree's favoite plants meme at danger garden.  Visit her blog to see her favorite of the week.

Foliage Follow-up - December 2013

My garden isn't blanketed by snow or ice like the those of many garden bloggers right now.  In fact, our daytime temperatures are currently downright balmy.  Today's forecast is a high of 83 degrees.  I'm not sure what the plants feel about a temperature shift from the low 60s to the low 80s in the span of a week but, so far at least, they appear to be taking the change in stride.

Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' basking in the morning sun

Agonis flexuosa 'Nana' flaunting her pretty new leaves

As is Calliandra haematocephala

Despite nighttime temperatures in the 40s, Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Mocha Mint Coleus' still hasn't bit the dust

My new Crassula (maybe C. dubia) has found a home in a pot

Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame', a hybrid of Digitalis and Isoplexis, acquired after a tip from Denise at A Growing Obsession, seems to be settling in

Leucadendron 'Pisa' in a pot for the time being

Lomandra longifolia 'Breeze'

Milium 'Flashlight' valued for its chartreuse color (despite its brown tips)

Moss, which appears all over our property once the rainy season begins, including between driveway paving stones

Moss covering the usually bare dirt path running inside the hedge separating our lot from the street

Phormium tenax 'Yellow Wave' (or 'Apricot Queen' - I've forgotten which is which)

My newest Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata' (mint bush), accompanied by asparagus fern

Yucca 'Bright Star' with Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid' in a pot until I find a proper place for it

Those are my foliage highlights for this month.  Please visit Pam at Digging for other foliage stars.  In the spirit of the season, I'll leave you with one more foliage photo.  Even if you're surrounded by snow, I hope you manage to stay cozy and warm.  Enjoy the holidays!

Bloom Day - December 2013

With much of the nation hunkered down under sheets of ice and snow, I can't whine about the limited supply of blooms here in my part of southern California.   In September, following a heat wave, I complained that finding blooms suitable to include in the Bloom Day post amounted to a scavenger hunt.  Finding blooms in my December garden presented something of the same challenge.

Much of what is blooming seems to be pink, with the biggest masses of color represented by Camellia sasanqua, Correa pulchella 'Pink Eyre, Pelargonium peltatum 'Pink Blizzard' and Schlumbergera x buckleyi.

Camellia sasanqua (no ID) with blooms somewhat worn by the recent rains

There are masses of bloom on this Correa pulchella 'Pink Eyre" but you have to get close to the flowers to fully appreciate them

Close-up of flowers on Correa pulchella 'Pink Eyre'

Pelargonium peltatum 'Pink Blizzard' is still churning our flowers in both pots by the front door

Schlumbergera x buckleyii on the side patio

Grevillea lanigera 'Mount Tamboritha' has bloomed continuously since it was planted in early January

Some other pink-flowering plants are just entering another bloom cycle:

Argyranthemum frutescens 'Comet Pink'

Camellia japonica 'Taylor's Perfection' will be blooming soon

Cuphea x ignea 'Starfire Pink' is coming back after the hard pruning it received in October

Coleonema pulchrum 'Sunset Gold'

The tiny blooms on Greveillea lavandulacea 'Penola' are just beginning to open en masse

Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl' is finally putting out more than a few sporadic flowers

Others are well past their prime:

Celosia argentea var. spicata is more tawny than pink now but I still hesitate to pull it out

These should be Lisianthus 'Echo Pink's' last blooms

Pentas lanceolata 'Kaleidoscope Appleblossom' has proven to be hardier than other varieties in my garden

There are some orange and yellow bloomers too.

Grevillea 'Superb' with Nandina domestica

Anigozanthos hybrid (Kangeroo Paws) with Papaver nudicaule (Iceland poppy)

A late-blooming 'Joseph's Coat' rose hanging over our truck's front bumper

Tagetes lemmonii (dwarf form)

And there are a few white and purple blooms here and there.

Argyranthemum frutescens 'Comet White'

Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy'

Hebe 'Patty's Purple' (photo-bombed by Geranium 'Tiny Monster')

Lavandula multifida (fern-leaf lavender)

My garden workhorse, Osteospermum ecklonis '3D Silver'

Osteospermum 'Serenity Purple'

Pansies

Westringia fruticosa 'Naringa' in the vegetable garden

Perhaps the biggest story this December is that my favorite citrus fruit is ripening fast.

Washington navel oranges

Mandarin orange (no ID), fruiting earlier this year

The pink-fleshed guava is also coming along but I leave that to the squirrels as I have yet to develop a taste for it.

Guava 'Mexican Beaumont'

Yes, I'm lucky.  Please visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens, the host of the monthly Garden Blogger's Bloom Day event to find what's blooming in her garden and other gardens around the world.

My favorite plant this week: Melaleuca thymifolia

I wasn't sure I had any standouts in my garden this week but, on my walk with my cat this morning, I found 3 good prospects and narrowed my choice down to Melaleuca thymifolia, commonly known as Thyme-leaved Honey Myrtle or Feather Honey Myrtle.  It's a relatively new introduction to my backyard border.  It's still small in stature and not particularly easy to photograph.  The flower color also clashes rather badly with some of its neighbors, most notably the Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' growing next to it, so one or another plant may have to be moved.

I bought the plant for the foliage but what attracted my attention this morning were its blooms.  The label on the pot described the flowers as pink or purple so I wasn't at all clear about the floral color when I selected its location.

My relatively poor photo of the flower

Wikipedia's picture

Melaleuca thymifolia hails from eastern Australia.  It reportedly tolerates poor soils and, in its native habitat, is frequently found growing in sandstone and clay-based soils.  Its foliage produces a spicy scent when bruised.   According to the Australian National Herbarium, it can flower for up to 8 months of the year.   It's reputed to attract bees, butterflies and birds and to be free of disease and pest problems.

Predictions of its dimensions vary quite a bit but 3 feet tall and wide (1 meter) is the most common projection.  It prefers sun but can tolerate some shade.  It requires moderate to average water and is hardy in USDA zones 9a-11 (Sunset zones 8, 9 and 12-24).  Predictions of its cold tolerance range from 25 to 18F (-6.6 to -8C).

This is my contribution to Loree's danger garden meme this week.  You can find Loree's spikier selection here.