Say it with Me - Isopogon

Most people are familiar with the 'Big 5' of the Protea family -- Protea, Leucodendron, Leucospermum, Grevillea and Banksia. One member far less known is Isopogon. Native to sandy forests and woodlands in southwestern parts of Australia, this drought tolerant evergreen shrub is one curious shrub. The genus contains 35 species, including the most commonly available one, I. formosus. The botanical name Isopogon is derived from the Greek ('Iso' means equal and 'pogon' means beard, a reference to the hairs surrounding the fruit). 'Formosus,' a common species term, means 'beautiful' in Greek.
I. formosus is considered to be one of the more spectacular species, with its large clusters of deep mauve or pink flowers that resemble fireworks. They appear at the tips of the branches in late winter to early spring, followed by spherical seed pods that remain on the plant for an indefinite period. Plants can easily reach six feet high and three wide. The growth is dense - thick might be an apt description - giving this shrub a distinctive look. As with all Protea family members it needs good drainage and an absence of phosphorous added to the soil.
And now the photos.

Isopogon formosus. Here's a newly acquired specimen, still in its gallon pot but already a good size. Although I don't have room in Aussie natives bed for it, I've decided to keep it in a pot right beside this bed. Inclusion by proxy? I'll have to be careful to avoid repeating what happened to my shrub Ozothamnus last year. It managed to plug the drain hole with its taproot and without the proper drainage it went downhill so quickly that by the time I caught it, it was too late. Ahh, lesson learned.

The bottom of my apt stairs includes a little alcove that now houses a sprawling Rhipsalis (upper left), a new Coleus and in front of it an Asarina procumbens.

I like Asarums, here it's an A. maximum, for their large heart-shaped leaves. This species hails from China, which may help explain why it's called Panda Face ginger.

Though the sun sort of washed out this shot a bit I've kept it just to introduce this new begonia to readers. It's called 'Funky Pink.' It's a semi-trailing interspecific type and can handle a good amount of sun. It's comparable to the Nonstop series or the B. boliviensis varieties, so blooms over a long period before going winter dormant.

Lunaria annua 'Rosemary Verey.' This spotted variety of the so called 'Money plant' (owing to its coin-like seedpods) is a 4 season plant. Interesting foliage until it blooms; pretty clusters of pink flowers; followed by those distinctive, almost translucent seedpods. It can reach 3' so forms a good-sized bush. In mild climates like here it can take a good amount of sun. Inland, morning sun is best.

By the time I finally got around to potting up my 4" pot of Oregano 'Kent Beauty' it had already begun producing those distinctive pink bracts. The uninitiated tend to think these are the flowers but no, eventually plants will produce tiny pink flowers.

Stachys albotomentosa. If this name doesn't ring a bell, maybe its common name will - 7Up plant. Yes, as in the soft drink. Damn if the leaves don't smell like 7Up! That alone is worth having this Lambs Ears relative in my garden but it does also produce these pretty coral flowers in summer.

One nice thing about pots is that you can remove spent annuals and replace them with new ones. My Anagallis monellii had finally run its course so I've put a yellow and purple Torenia in its blue pot.

If one is paying attention, gardens will gradually provide you with all manner of useful information. Books and grower info may provide a general guide but it isn't until you grow that plant in your own specific micro-climate that you truly discover what it likes or what kind of flowering schedule it adheres to. Exhibit A for me this year is my Tecoma Bells of Fire. My Tecoma x smithii has been in bloom for nearly a month but this reddish-orange variety is just now beginning to blossom. So noted!

I've been pleasantly surprised by my Ageratum houstonianum. Not only is it a prolific bloomer but it has more than filled out the large pot I situated it in. I thought it would be a butterfly plant but the bees seem to like it as well.

Another shot of my ever evolving sidewalk bed. Again, it's an example of how densely you can plant a limited space bed.

Although it's still very small, I've included this photo of my Solidago 'Little Lemon.' Solidagos (Goldenrods) are a CA native, a sun lover and a great way to add vertical golds to a bed. This variety is a dwarf, so will only get 18-24" tall.

Pelargonium crispum 'Variegated Golden Lemon.' This 'pel' has exceeded my expectations, being prettier, more fragrant and just plain exuberant than I expected. Highly recommended!

Dig that Digiplexis!

What do you get when you cross a fox with a canary? It's of course a trick question. In this case, the 'fox' is a foxglove (Digitalis) and the canary is Isoplexis, found in the Canary Islands. Ahh, those in the know will say, you're talking about that award-winning cross of the two plants - Digiplexis. Indeed I am. It created a minor sensation when it was introduced in 2012 and it made its American debut in 2013. Last year was its coming out party and the first entry, Digiplexis Illumination Flame, was so popular that new varieties have appeared. That would be Illumination Raspberry and Berry Canary, with rumors of  others on the way. Here are three things to know about this showy perennial.
First, unlike foxglove, it's a sun lover. That's great news for many gardeners who have more sun than shade in their gardens. Secondly, because the flowers are infertile each one stays open for a much longer time than those of foxgloves. And the bloom season is much longer, typically 4 months as opposed to two months for foxgloves (though deadheading foxgloves prolongs this a bit). Thirdly, Digiplexis varieties are heavy feeders and need regular water. This later point sometimes gives customers pause at our nursery but it's better to know going in that these plants will never be drought tolerant. Still, I feel their beauty is enough to make me bend my preference for low water denizens in my garden.
Okay, now the photos.

Digiplexis Illumination Flame. The original and to many still the champ. Mine has just now begun to flower for the year. These plants respond to warm weather, another difference from their Foxglove cousin.

Speaking of vibrant colors, there's no shortage of that with Helenium 'Mardi Gras.' I've had this specimen for six years now, so it's proven that it's ready for the long haul. It's a well known bee magnet and on sunny days the bees are all over the flowers.

Agastache foeniculum 'Golden Jubilee.' The soft and fuzzy purple flowers are just now beginning to emerge on this standout hummingbird mint.

Proof that milkweeds (Asclepias) will self seed with regularity is evidenced here, with a seed having taken root in my Pavonia pot. They look good together so I've left them to cohabit. My Pavonia missionum has finally hit its stride in year three and benefited I think from a vigorous pruning last winter.

Calluna 'Firefly.' Now if I had four heath plants in my garden, could I call them Heathers? Okay, that's an oblique movie reference but this Calluna is indeed in the heather family. Its new growth has turned a fiery red, with flowers soon to follow.

My Pineapple lily (Eucomis) is proceeding very nicely. Like many plants with flowering stalks, it's the lower flowers that open first, gradually moving up the stalk.

Epilobium canum. My CA fuchsia has begun to bloom, reaching through the cast iron railing to grab more of the east-facing sun. Though this plant is very drought tolerant, a bit of regular water will make it bloom more profusely.

Ageratum houstonianum. Unlike the little bedding Ageratums, this species one will get two feet tall and produce masses of those foamy lavender flowers. A favorite of butterflies.

Plumbago auriculata. There's nothing quite like the big clusters of robins-egg blue flowers of this shrub plumbago. Tougher than nails and so drought tolerant that cities plant them along roadsides, it will survive and even prosper under difficult conditions.

So many Plectranthus, so little space. Here's a P. coleoides variegata. It's happy as a clam in a bed it shares with lilies and a Passiflora citrina. That's proof that this genus can take some sun.

In the foreground is a Crassula arborescens that's sent up some bloom spikes. The tubular flared flowers are a bit larger than many other succulents that produce clusters of these tubular blooms.

I'm posting a photo of my Lonicera japonica (honeysuckle) to demonstrate that one can prune a vine so that it takes the form of a shrub. As you can see, it's filled in densely and I'm about to get loads of fragrant yellow and white flowers.

Foliage can be just as intriguing as flowers of course and here this Amorphophallus kiusianus is about to unfurl a leaf cluster. I just like the look of it, seeming here almost like a leafy vegetable.

Ampelopsis. My variegated Porcelain Berry vine has gone to town this year in the blooming dept. That's going to mean a parade of bees as they really love the tiny white flowers. Of course the real show will be the late summer/fall berries. Though it's getting no afternoon sun, it's somehow overcome that deficiency to thrive along my back yard fence.

I thought the way the foliage on my Acer 'Beni Maiko' was back lit by the morning sun looked pretty so here it is. This variety of Japanese maple is interesting. The new growth is a vivid red, that's followed by the splattered red and green you see here. The leaves will age to a darker green then put out that blazing red color in late fall that is characteristic of so many maples.

Finally, a new shot of my Impatiens congolense. This species has been renamed I. niamniamensis but I like the old name. Especially since the plant's common name is Congo Cockatoo. In any case, it produces these curious waxy red and yellow flowers during the summer and fall, much to the delight of those who grow it.

Helichrysums

Helichrysums are one of those genera that are somewhat taken for granted these days. Want a tough, sun-loving ground cover? Helichrysums will do the trick. They're right up there with the very toughest and adaptable mat forming ground covers. But wait, they're damned attractive. As I've come to appreciate, even love, gray and silver foliage, I've found these so-called Licorice plants very charming. Start with the straight species H. petiolare, showing off that downy gray foliage and the little white flowers in summer. There's the more delicate version of this species called Petite Licorice. But sometimes you want a bit of pizazz as well as well as the functionality so there's the chartreuse H. 'Limelight.' This variety will hold its best color in a bit of shade. And let's not forget the H. petiolare 'Variegatum,' which features mint green leaves edged in cream.
And just when you think you know your Helichrysums along comes H. 'Ruby Clusters.' It's not a petiolare but H. amorginum. It sports sparkling silvery foliage that twists and curls. To top it off, it features the aptly named ruby clusters, which sparkle like little gems nestled in the foliage.

And now the photos.

Passiflora 'Lady Margaret.' I love the deep almost garnet reds of this passion flower. The flowers aren't large but it has proven to be prolific.

Golds, apricots and oranges abound in this tight little cluster of Cosmos, Agastache and Mimulus. 

Although this seems as if it must be two Cupheas, it's only C. vienco 'Burgundy.' Somehow in year two it began to produce red flowers as well. Perhaps that was the parent and some of the flowers are reverting. No matter, they complement each other very well.

Here's my Helichrysum 'Ruby Clusters.' In the lower right, you can see the beginning of its first flowers. 

My Amaranthus has prospered and is filling out the distinctive curving seed heads. 

Last week I mentioned the upcoming article on interesting seedpods. Although I won't use this Cassia phyllodinea, if you look closely you can spot the light green, legume-like seedpods. 

Lilium regale flowers are some of the most beautiful lilies we can grow here. Not just their visual beauty but that intoxicating fragrance.

Here IS one of the plants I'll use for the seedpods article - Cotinus 'Royal Purple.' Although not in perfect focus, you can clearly see the dark black seeds. They will be dispersed by the wispy flower puffs that catch the wind and so scatter. 

Another seedpod entry will be the pineapple lily - Eucomis. This Sparkling Burgundy variety's column is already shooting up and the first waxy flowers at the base have begun to open. It will eventually form fruits (berries) that contain the seeds.

Aeonium 'Kiwi.' One of the most popular Aeoniums, loved for its soft but refreshing color palette.

Begonia 'Mocha Mix Orange.' I love the prominent veining on this begonia.

Here's the new stepping stone I took a photo of last week, now in its permanent home on my back yard gravel path. The blue is small glass pieces, giving the (intended) suggestion of this being a bluebird.

My other new stepping stone, further down the path, is of a frog sitting on a lily pad. Me and frogs go way back, back to my childhood days up in S.E. British Columbia, down at our rustic lake property.

Here's a 'vanishing point' shot of the middle portion of our walkway, included to show how much you can pack into a very narrow strip of soil.

Seedpods as Art

We are are naturally drawn to flowers and foliage in choosing ornamental plants for our garden. But seedpods? It turns out there are many fascinating seedpods out there, so much so that I've decided to do a piece on them for the Fall 2016 issue of Pacific Horticulture Magazine. As I began researching the topic and gazing at the incredible diversity of form and function of plants' ways of creating and dispersing seed, I realized that they naturally fell into categories. Before I list them, let me say that these are my own categories. There may be many others and I limited myself to ones where there was a multitude of seeds, not a single, and where the form of dispersal was less common. With that caveat, here is what I've come up with.
1. Elongated Legume type - ex. Albizia or Decaisnea (Blue Sausages, see photo below)
2. Papery Shell - ex. Chinese Lanterns (Physalis alkekengi)
3. Fluffy - ex. Asclepias (milkweed) or Cotinus (Smoke tree)
4. Exploding - ex. Impatiens balfourii or Ricinus (Castor bean plant)
5. Berries - ex. Dianella or Eucomis (Pineapple lily)
6. Wafer - ex. Lunaria annua (Money plant)
7. Spiky or Protected shell - ex. Datura or Fremontodendron
8. Windborn - ex. Briza media (Quaking Grass)
9. Woody capsules - ex. Melaleuca
10. Waxy or soft shell - ex. Physocarpus

This will be a fun article to write and I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes. In the meantime, keep an eye out for the Summer 2016 issue. It contains many excellent articles, one of which is mine on the subject of Cane and Shrub Begonias. It hits the newsstands in early July (we still have newsstands, right?)

Meanwhile, here today's photos. Hard to believe that it will be July in one week.

If 'Blue Sausages' sounded like an unlikely (okay bizarre) description of a seedpod, well, one look at these Decaisnea seedpods makes the description seem not only apt but inevitable. 

This new Heuchera 'Snow Angel' looks dramatic with it seeming to emerge from the deep shadow. 

Though it's only begun to bloom, this is one of the new Illumination series begonias. They are heavy bloomers and make good hanging basket selections. Mine is getting a decent amount of sun where it is so they seem to be handle some warmer locations.

Okay, no photo awards for this shot but my Ampelopsis (Porcelain Berry vine), now in year four, has finally gotten a toehold and is filled with a million tiny white flowers. Which of course the bees have found. 

This corner of my Shady Lane has acquired a bit of wildness. The yellow and green leaved plant is Plectranthus 'Troy's Gold,' the spray of yellow flowers is from a nearby pot of Calceolaria paralia and the light green serrated leaves belong to a Begonia sutherlandii. 

Another shot of my lovely Erewhon sweet pea. I haven't had much luck recently growing them so this year's success is very gratifying.

Lilium leitchii. This yellow tiger lily is hard to find but it's certainly a beauty! Notice the distinctive recurved petals.

Here's a shot from above of the same lily. It's amazing to me how the petals recurve. Lily yoga!

Lotus jacobeus. The so-named Black lotus is a phenomenal bloomer and is much tougher than its slender branches make it seem. Mine is still in a pot, so that shows you how resilient it is.

Cuphea Vienco Burgundy + Double yellow gazania. Two tough and colorful ground covers.

One of the names for this Eriogonum giganteum is St. Catherine's Lace and this photo of the myriad flower sprays show how apt that name is. A real butterfly and bee magnet.

Bouvardia ternifolia. That's it with the saturated red flowers. This small shrub is a testament to the value of pruning. I pruned it back hard last winter and it really liked it, responding with much healthier new growth and a new bloom season.

I know I just posted a photo of my Tecoma x smithii bush but its peachy-orange flowers are just so gorgeous I'm posting one more.

Crassula alba v. parvisepala. A better shot showing off its red speckled leaves. It's put up its first seasonal bloom spike. Brilliant red flowers are soon to appear.

It's not often that a stepping stone says it all but I think this one does. Now if I could only follow that advice a little more often ...