'Spirit' plants

In many traditions, such as many of our Native American tribes, animals played both a physical and spiritual role in their lives. Certain animals embodied important qualities and aspects of life and were revered for these associations. In a way, a little bit of that remains in the world of gardening. As gardeners, we play a small role in the greater ecosystem around us and hopefully we include and honor the variety of wildlife we come into contact with. These creatures are part of our world and even for we urban gardeners they have an integral place in our gardening worlds.
This is all to say that the fauna in our world have woven themselves into the very language of gardening, be that by association or by actual interactions. These associations are reflected in the common names of many plants. Such common names as Butterfly Bush (Buddleja or Asclepias) and Baboon flower (Babiana) reflect direct relationships to the natural world. Or plants may invoke a certain animal's form or function as with names such as Canary Creeper nasturtium, where the bright yellow flowers remind some of canaries. Those some of these names may on the surface be playful or stretching one's imagination, they nonetheless invoke our positive relationships with the wildlife around us.
Regular readers may remember that awhile back I constructed a list of such common names for plants that reflected these relationships. That was part one and now here is part two. I should clarify that this list contains 'common names,' not variety names. That is, 'Hens and Chicks' as a common name for Sempervivums (succulent) but not Impatiens niamniamensis 'Congo Cockatoo.' The former describes a whole genus or at least species, while the latter is a particular variety of a species. The latter may invoke a particular animal but the former tends to describe a broader and deeper relationship.
Okay, onto the names! As with part one of the list, I'm indicating only the common names. Can you guess their botanical designations?

Blue Bear's Paw fern. Definitely a little imagination at work here but this wide-lobed fern could easily be seen as the footprint of one very large animal and the fronds have a lovely blue cast.
Speaking of ferns, there are two species of a particular genus that are known as Squirrel's Foot and Rabbit's Foot. I'm a bit puzzled by these common names. Since both feature white, hairy rhizomes that creep out from underneath the foliage, I think the name Tarantula fern makes more sense.
One very common bulb that visually demonstrates its animal association is Tiger lily. Actually there are several species of lily that use this moniker (or the similar Leopard lily). They all feature orange petals with dark spots, most with recurved petals.
Another apt common name is the lovely Gooseneck strife. This deciduous perennial produces spires of pure white flowers that curve and bend at the tops, invoking a curving goose's neck.
Many people are familiar with the CA native Sticky Monkey flower, given its common name because the flowers are said to resemble monkey's faces.
One example of a plant's common name owing to its use is the Mosquito plant. It is perhaps better known as Hummingbird mint. This plant is said to be used to repel mosquitoes though as someone who is popular with mosquitoes I have my doubts.
Some common names are amusing. There is an Arum family member that's known as Mousetail plant. Do you know it? It derives its common name from the appearance of the flowers, which are brown and white, with long curving 'tails.' I have it in my garden and it's one of the most delightful flowers in my collection.
Octopus tree may seem like it's stretching the boundaries of our imagination but this single conifer in Oregon is shaped like an upside down octopus. The plaque there raises the possibility that Native Americans may have shaped the tree this way for ritual purposes but in any case it is quite the sight to behold. You might google it to get a look.
Much more common, do you know the identity of so-called Moth orchids? Their name derives from the appearance of the flowers, said to resemble moths in flight.
Oxslip meanwhile owes its common name to the fact that this perennial is found in meadows throughout Europe, where cattle and yes ox were cultivated. One doesn't need to imagine where they sprung up (cowpies).
Speaking of cows, there's a not-too-common plant with the common name of Cow Parsley. If the leaves look familiar it's because this genus has a different species that is grown as an herb in many gardens. So, do you know the ID of either plant?
Oyster plant. This perennial member of the Borage family isn't well known but in fact is found over regions of North America. It derives its common name from the fact that it's leaves taste like oysters. Does that mean it's the only plant you want to eat with BBQ sauce?
While it's well known that Pandas only eat a certain type of bamboo, that hasn't stopped their name being invoked for a very curious member of the Arum family. It's known as Panda Face ginger and it possesses one of nature's truly odd flowers. Round, tri-petaled flowers are a deep, velvety purple on the outer edges, with alabaster-colored centers. This is meant somehow to resemble a panda's face. The flowers are also rubbery and the combination of color and texture makes them unique in the plant world (or at least what we're commonly exposed to).
Given how popular birds are in many gardener's lives, it should come as no surprise that bird names show up frequently in common names. Three of them in fact invoke parrots. First up is the popular Parrot's Beak plant, whose name owes to the shape of these red or orange flowers. A bit less known is the plant called Parrot's Bill. This shrub offers up multitudes of larger red or white flowers that are, yep, shaped like beaks (though for me they look more like macaw beaks). Lastly, there's a plant that many would recognize immediately, even if they wouldn't know its botanical or common name. It's Parrot's Feather and this time it's the soft, lacy foliage of this aquatic plant that's the connection.
This next plant has an unusual name (Pelican flower). That alone would not be much of a clue. Here's one, these large flowers can sometimes smell of rotting flesh. Got it? No? How about this, the leaves of the grandiflora species of this genus provide a food source for the Swallowtail butterfly.
Speaking of curious common names, how about Hedgehog rose? I've been trying to find the common name derivation of this species rose but the closest I've come is that this rose was often used as a hedge by British gardeners. Maybe hedgehogs hid in the hedge? (say that phrase fast ten times).
Back to functional common names for a moment, there's a plant used by southern gardeners to keep away flies. Lo and behold, it's common name is Shoo-fly plant and it's the sap that's mixed with milk to kill flies. Here's a clue as to how. This genus is a member of the Nightshade family, many of which are quite poisonous. So, now, do you know this blue-flowering annual?
Another 'functional' common name is Skunk cabbage. You can probably deduce that this name refers to its unpleasant smell. True. It turns out there are several genera with this common name and even the most recognizable one has species endemic to various regions in the world. The clue for our western species is that it is one of the few native species of the Arum family. And of course, nature being very deliberate, the smell serves a purpose, in this case to attract certain flies and beetles that will pollinate it.
Shrimp plant is an evocative name but for the plant that it is most commonly associated with, it's also very descriptive of the colorful flowers.
Likewise, the Snail vine's pretty purple and white flowers are very representative of snail shells. Ironically, real snails love to eat this plant, even climbing up 20' to munch on its leaves.
There may or may not be a lot of snakes in South Africa but there's a plant hailing from this region that's simply called Snake plant. Although it grows outside there here in our cooler climate this tough as nails plant is commonly grown as a houseplant. Know it? No? You might ask your husband's mother. She'll know.
Naturally, spiders figure into the lexicon of gardening names. Start with Spider flower. This popular annual flower comes in a variety of pink, salmon and white colors. Need another clue? It's stems are a bit thorny, meaning one is advised to wear gloves in handling them.
Spider lily anyone? Actually, that common name applies to three different plants, all belonging to the Amaryllis family. The other two are Crinum and Lycoris. Can you name the third? Here's a clue. The genus is a compound word and the Greek word for the first half means 'membrane' and the Greek for the second means 'beautiful.' The common name owes to the flowers that, with a central cup and the six curving, narrow petals, the combination looking very much like an elegant spider.
A much more familiar common name would be Spiderwort. It too is often grown as a houseplant. Its common name owes to the babies it makes, which cascade out from the mother plant.
Sometimes, there is really poetry in the choice of common names. One example of this is Three Birds Flying. Here's a reciprocal clue. There's another species of the same genus whose common name is better known - Toadflax. Wait, toads eat flax? I guess that explains there not being any constipated toads. So have you guessed the genus of these two plants?
Sticking with birds for a moment, did you know there is a Whippoorwill flower? And here's a rather obscure but potentially helpful clue to the name of this genus. It's name is very similar to that of the female lead in the wildly popular book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. 
Finally (mercifully?) two last entries. The common name Wormwood will be familiar to a lot of gardeners. Did you know that the drink Absinthe is derived from a type of wormwood?
And we end with a Z (or is it with zzzzs) and the plant known as the Zebra plant. The clue here is that it's a houseplant, unless you have a tropical green house that is. They are one of the few houseplants to flower, the bright yellow flowers providing a colorful contrast to the glossy green leaves, veined yellow.

Sooner than Later

To paraphrase that Grass Roots song (Sooner or Later), our recent combination of sun and rain has put many of our gardens into overdrive. Deciduous shrubs such as Viburnums, Spireas and Physocarpus have not only leafed out almost overnight but some are already producing flower buds. Why is that you may ask? The simple answer is that it is built into many shrubs' DNA to take advantage of spring rains to not only leaf out but flower as quickly as possible in order to attract pollinators, before the rains are gone and the dry season begins. Of course it isn't just deciduous shrubs that do this. Bulbs are the classic example of this manic push to bloom as quickly as possible before the rains disappear.
In any case, spring has clearly arrived for most of us here in the Bay Area. That means not just a wonderful proliferation of flowering bulbs and early annuals but perennials that are responding to our unusually warm weather. The photos of my garden today reflect all of these conditions and so provides a nice cross section of how wonderful our early spring gardens can be.

A northern friend was sharing that her Forsythia is in bloom right now. It's not cold enough here in Oakland for that deciduous, yellow-flowering shrub so my substitute is the equally sunny Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora.' As mentioned above, it leafed out and began blooming within a mere few weeks. The 'Pleniflora' variety has the double flowers. Both this and the species are very vigorous.

Wow and double wow, my new Camellia reticulata 'Bill Woodruff' has produced its first flower and it's incredible. Not only that rich color but it is a fully double flower and the petals are extravagantly ruffled. Why do we grow camellias? This is why.

Proving that plants that like regular moisture just aren't going to be as happy without it, my Ribes sanguineum 'Claremont' has resumed its profuse blooming, stimulated by our winter rains. This part shade loving CA native is easy as pie to grow. A favorite with hummingbirds.

File Agapetes serpens as one tough plant. My specimen has survived two location changes, periods of dryness, two attacks of thrips and who knows what else. It's having its best year ever this spring, producing tons of papery red flowers. 

Somehow the dappled sun here brings out the charms of Asarina procumbens, a hard to find cascading Asarina. It features tubular, almost snapdragon-like white flowers that have soft yellow throats. Its leaves too have a soft felty texture, leading a sweetness to this vigorous evergreen species.

A recent trip to Annie's Annuals unearthed this violet-flowering Lachenalia. I keep finding new ones to bring home.

Sparaxis variety. I love Sparaxis for their sheer exuberance and color combinations. Here's the one I liken to Orange soda, with a yellow center but no dark dividing line between the two colors as is common with sparaxis. 

This is the walkway leading back to the studio apts in the rear. On the right side, pictured here, I've planted a host of bulbs, as well as a low Scabiosa, a spreading Lotus and other ground covers. Already in early March you can see the blue Ipheions in bloom as well Freesias and the first Sparaxis. Soon to follow will be Dutch iris, Ixias, species Tulips and eventually Lilies.

File under the 'It's warm and I'm being watered' category. This Mimulus 'Fiesta Marigold' is already in bloom. Our native mimulus are a great example of a hardy plant that responds almost immediately to the advent of rain. When it's dry it toughs it out and when it gets moisture from spring forward it responds by blooming.

I'm trying to expand out from photographing individual flowers so with that in mind, here's a photo of one of my median strips. Most notably, that's a Beschorneria sp. 'Queretaro' in front with the two tall bloom spikes. Also in this bed is a double yellow Gazania,  an Eriogonum crocatum, the CA native Abutilon palmeri, a Caryopteris 'Hint of Gold' and two flowering quince (Chaenomeles). Anchoring the bed is a Magnolia 'Butterflies.'

Speaking of the Eriogonum crocatum, here it is in the early morning sun. I love the pure silver foliage and the way this will eventually show off the sulphur-yellow summer flowers. Of course, CA Buckwheats, as the species in this genus are known, are great landscape plants for all manner of pollinators.

A top down view of my ever changing Sun King bed. That's a Pittosporum crassifolium (chartreuse leaves) to the front left. To its right a variegated blue daisy (Felicia) and then a pot of lilies that also holds some orangish-red Freesia. In the bed itself, that mass of yellow is Osteospermum 'Voltage Yellow.' In front, starting to spill over the low wall, is a Phacelia campanularia. Packed behind are the now blooming Ferraria crispa ssp nortieri (I call them Chocolate ferrarias because of the flower color), a CA native Salvia spathacea, another CA native, Epilobium canum plus a Scuttelaria, purple and white flowering Verbena, a Satureja mimuloides (species mate to Yerba Buena), Maritime CA poppy and both Iris and Dutch iris. Oh, and the Peacock moraea. I did mention the bed was packed!

For some reason, my Prostanthera variegata (Variegated mint bush) waited three years to bloom but the flowers on it now represent a second straight year. This hardy genus, all 90 species are endemic to Australia, thrives in sun and is quite drought tolerant. The genus name derives from the Greek word for appendage, thus our word Prosthesis. Of course its common name owes to its wonderfully fragrant leaves.

I never get tired of photographing my Euphorbia atropurpurea, especially now that it's finally hit its stride. Of course its species name owes to the purplish-red flowers, instead of the typical chartreuse. It likes a little more sun than some species but rewards its caretaker with huge rosettes of leaves and those vividly colored flowers. Hard to come by in the trade, which is odd given how lovely and durable it is.

I now have five succulent bowls and since I keep a list of all my plants in my computer and where they're found I decided it was easiest to just number them. So, meet succulent bowl #3. It likes its location so has prospered, especially the Watch chain crassula in the rear. 

Viburnum is an interesting and varied genus and one of the ones that's certainly less common is V. x burkwoodii. It's a cross of V. carlesii and V. utile and the cross was intended to produce, among other things, especially fragrant flowers. Check. These spherical clusters of pure white flowers appear before the leaves in early spring and are sweetly aromatic. This deciduous shrub can get to ten feet tall but is more likely to settle in the 6-8' height range.

Speaking of 'Phoenix' plants (those back from the dead), my Melianthus pectinatus looked to be a goner at the end of 2015 but now is vibrant and bushy. It's a smaller species than the common M. major, both its leaves and its flowers, which makes it a more practical selection for smaller gardens. Still has the same odd peanut-butter smell to the leaves.

My favorite garden 'monster,' this Pelargonium crispum 'Variegated Golden Lemon' has decided to range far and wide, not behaving like any pel I've ever grown. Fun, plus there's that lovely scent.

No, someone didn't hack my computer and insert this ... um, what the heck is that? It's a Porcupine Puffer fish (Diodon holocanthus), or rather it's the skeleton of one. I ordered it from a site that specializes in seashells. They've shellacked it to preserve the skeleton. And it does earn its common name -- those spines are really, really sharp! He's either the greeter to my back yard or something to scare people off. Oh, and of course the live fish are poisonous.

No, this is not MY Acer Beni Maiko Japanese maple but though mine is leafing out and the new growth is really this brilliant red (soon to fade to green), it's too early to get a good photo of it. So here's one grabbed from the web for maple fans to enjoy.

Sounds of Spring

It turns out of course that Nature has its own calendar. And birds especially are an excellent and more reliable source for when spring has really arrived. And I'm guessing the birds are confirming what our eyes are telling us. It may be February but the first of the deciduous trees and shrubs are leafing out. No going back now.
And while those of us who grew up in colder climates especially appreciate the advent of spring, no matter the kind of winter you do get, spring is always most welcome.
Mind you it's not all wine and roses. Rain + warmth = weeds aplenty and sometimes so many that you have no choice but to yank them out to see just where the heck your plants are. Makes one want to plant tall plants.
Anyway, a picture may not always be worth a thousand words but it's more pleasing to look at so here are the latest photos from my garden.

Nothing says early spring like daffodils. Here's a new patch to the left of my CA native Abutilon palmeri.

Sparaxis and freesia are two of the earliest blooming bulbs, owing to their South African heritage. Both are tough and naturalize easily. 

People plant succulents in part because they are drought tolerant but I've found they really thrive if they get a little bit of regular water. Here my Aloe striata has put out a multi-branching bloom spike and the first flowers are beginning to open. Another bloom spike is right behind it.

Speaking of bulbs, here are two more. In the front, showing the first of its pale lavender flowers, is Iris confusa 'Chengdu.' It's native to Western China and is commonly known as Bamboo iris. This rhizomatous crested iris offers bouquets of lightly fragrant flowers in spring and will become drought tolerant over time. Behind it is the deciduous South African bulb Chasmanthe bicolor, with its red and yellow bi-colored flowers. 

Here I liked the contrast between the fat, bluish leaves of Echeveria peacockii and the mass of still tiny Physocarpus 'Nugget' leaves. This deciduous 'ninebark' is leafing out early this year.

Off and running also is my CA native Ribes sanguineum 'Claremont.' I was finally able to get a decent photograph of it. Our winter rains pushed out a good crop of flowers this year.

That's a Kalanchoe 'Chocolate Soldier' in the back center area but the real question is the identity of the yellow flowering bulb in the foreground. Anyone have any ideas? It didn't have a papery sheath so unlikely to be a sparaxis. It's not a freesia. C'mon all you bulb lovers. Time to put on your sleuth hats!

Double hellebores are appearing with greater regularity. Here's a H. Double Ellen Purple that's just opened its first burgundy flowers. Love that color.

So many freesias, so many vivid colors. We'd all welcome them in our gardens even if they didn't possess that heavenly fragrance (which of course they do). 

Do you know this CA native? The flowers would give it away but in this case the leaves also do. It's a Phacelia campanularia, also known as Desert Bluebell. There are a number of Phacelias common in the trade and not all of them have blue flowers. Two things make this species a standout -- its cascading habit and the dark blush to its leaves. And that's not to mention the inky blue flowers.

Okay not the most exciting photo but my Viburnum plicatum leafing out is always cause for celebration. Love those reticulated, textured leaves and its amazing ability to flower so quickly after leafing out. The race is on and the leaves barely get established before the white flower clusters appear.

Arisaema nepenthoides. This Jack-in-the-Pulpit species is always the first to appear. It shoots up quickly and then almost as fast, unfurls its spathe. I love how primal these tuberous perennials are. It seems like a plant that was around at the time of the dinosaurs.

I had to hack this Abutilon back so it didn't obstruct the walkway but in a way I like this look even better. It's really bushed out and has begun a new bloom season. 

Not an orange Campanula but the little known Canarina canariensis. The resemblance of the flower to a bellflower is no coincidence as the genus is a member of the Campanula family. But oh that color! Notoriously difficult to propagate and summer dormant (as in nada above ground), it revives in winter and starts blooming in early spring.

Is that an Ipheion or are you just happy to see me? It's a mystery to me why every garden doesn't have a patch of this early blooming bulb. It naturalizes with the vigor of freesias and produces masses of delightful pale blue, star-shaped flowers in February before all but the earliest bulbs have appeared.

When is a jasmine not a jasmine? It's not really a trick question as this species mate of Star jasmine -- Trachelospermum asiaticum -- rarely ever blooms, is very slow growing and tends to stay low and scramble. Not what most of us think of as a jasmine. That said, it's awfully pretty, exhibiting multi-colored leaves and offering a bit of wildness.

I never get tired of looking at my favorite Tillandsia, this silvery T. tectorum. Behind it, the weird but charming Euphorbia mammilaris variegata has begun to bloom (tiny chartreuse flowers on top). To the right, the Sedum dasyphyllum kind of reminds me today of Moe's haircut from the 3 Stooges.

Not only did my Begonia 'Escargot' survive the winter but it's already put out a handsome new leaf. Truly one of the prettiest leaves in our neck of the woods. 

Here the light and shadow effect is intentional, as I was trying to catch the new leaves on my Hydrangea quercifolia in the afternoon sun. 

I'll call this shot 'Mercury Falling.' This piece of art glass is a Mercury glass vase, now taken up residence in my garden. I love how it reflects the various plant forms around it.

And finally a bit of a tease. Yes, those are lily stalks. In February! It's a new variety called 'Black Eye' and by the looks of their growth they'll be in bloom before the end of March. Ahh, California.

Spring is a State of Mind

Well, it certainly is when the weather sort of matches it and that's been true for Northern California this last two weeks. That and recent rains are giving gardens the big Thumbs Up to leaf out (deciduous shrubs), pop up (bulbs) and get going (annuals). My Oakland garden is in full swing and I know, I know, it's February 17th and it's sub-freezing on the east coast but well, the temps here don't lie baby. So, I'm giving in to the fact we have yet another early arriving spring.
I'm okay with it in the microcosm (my garden, our nursery) though the Macrocosm view is more unsettling. Global warming aka Climate Change continues and that ain't good. One small bonus for planting a garden is that when you have thousands or millions of gardeners doing that, collectively it does remove carbon from the atmosphere. Not to mention providing a habitat for birds and pollinators.
The photos today reflect the above comments - one deciduous shrub leafing out, another photo of a newly blooming bulb, plus plenty of camellias and magnolias. And as usual there were surprises.
Okay here they are:

Camellia reticulata 'Lila Naff.' This blush pink flower has just a hint of salmon in it. It's a young plant still and this is its first year blooming.

Camellia reticulata 'Francie L Variegated.' This lovely variegated form is in its second year of blooming and is displaying the characteristic mottled pink and white flowers.

Under the heading "I guess when they say 'riparian' they mean it" my Ribes sanguineum is so much happier this year with all our January rains. One mystery -- ribes are supposed to be popular with hummers but I rarely see any on my flowers. Maybe I'm just not looking when they're there ...

Camellia japonica 'Jury's Yellow.' This is one of my favorite new camellias. Check out the 'ruffled' center portion of the flower. True, there's not a lot of yellow coloring, just enough to suggest a bit of butter.

Lachenalia species. Not sure which one this is. It was labeled L. mutabilis but does not change color so it must be something else. No matter, it's certainly pretty enough.

Gold Star winner for plant of the month in my garden is this Clematis armandii 'Snowdrift.' It's gone berserk blooming, a thousand buds all seeming to open at once! And this is truly one of the most fragrant Clematis ever. Incredible. Let's review: handsome foliage year round; easy to grow and maintain; fantastic sweep of pure white flowers and heavenly fragrance. It's all good.

Here's today's entry for Name that Plant. Hint - it's fragrant. Second hint - bears might like it (sort of). It's Gelsemium sempervirens, better known as Carolina Jessamine. It's a type of honeysuckle, thus the bears reference (honey), and produces its bright yellow flowers in late winter/early spring.

Magnolia 'Butterflies.' This subtle yellow saucer magnolia has finally hit its stride in year four. This photo doesn't feature the best composition (or quality of light) but I was just so excited to see it bloom I couldn't wait to share it.

Speaking of finally reaching enough maturity to begin putting on a show, my Chaenomeles 'Cameo' just keeps getting better and better. Love that peach color.

Speaking of nearing a point of perfection, my Aloe striata is about to show why its nickname is Coral aloe. Its flowers are about to color up, soon to produce coral-orange flowers. Amazing how fast the flower spike grew.

Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star.' I call this species the 'fingers magnolia' for its finger-like petals. For some reason, my specimen has spread out low rather than getting some height. Oh, well, its delicate white flowers contrast nicely with the large, vibrant green leaves of Alpinia 'Zerumbet.'

Here's a picture of my Iris confusa 'Chengdu,' warts and all. Also known as Bamboo iris for its bamboo-like stems. It's a multi-branching, floriferous, lightly fragrant iris that is very vigorous once established.

To quote the Beatles -- No. 9, No. 9, No. 9. Those familiar with this deciduous shrub will get the reference, as the common name for the Physocarpus genus is Ninebark. That's a reference to the way the bark on mature specimens will peel multiple times. This golden-leaved variety is P. 'Nugget.'

Finally, here's a Pandorea species (P. pandorana 'Golden Showers') that has one of the great all time common names - Wonga Wonga vine. BTW, as best as I can determine, the name Wonga is of Australian aboriginal origin.