Monday, April 8, 2013

Never say never; my favorite plant in the garden this week…

Have you ever found yourself stunned when your Google search results remind you of something you’ve completely forgotten? Something you wrote? It happened to me when I was writing this post. I Googled the name of this week’s “favorite plant” and there in the search results was a link to my recent blog post about a visit to Cistus Nursery. I wrote: “Anyone care to make a prediction how much longer I'm in the "don't care for epimediums" camp? (no my resolve isn't slipping, except for that ultra sexy Epimedium wushanense I saw at last years HPSO plant sale).” I completely forgot I’d recently referenced that plant, but in the way the universe has of coming ‘round full circle Epimedium wushanense is my favorite plant in the garden this week (ok no it’s not actually planted yet, don’t be a nitpicker).

I have it because it was a gift from Sean Hogan (of Cistus Nursery)…who upon giving it to me said something along the lines of “if you’re going to give a person a plant why not give them one they hate” referring of course to my stated dislike of epimediums, however naturally he found the one (spiky one!) that I love…

So yes, this confirmed disliker (hater seemed too strong a word) of the epimedium has now joined the ranks of those who appreciate them, at least this one…look at those leaves…the marvelous little spikes…

The color splotches…

And I suppose the flowers aren’t bad either…

The stats:
  • Evergreen to 18-24” tall
  • Likes average to moist soil in shade to part sun
  • Blooms in the spring, yellow flowers
  • Hardy to zone 5, at least

Here’s another interesting Google search result. Back when Alan asked what size of monkeys I expected to be swinging from my newly installed trellis I Googled "Mandrill" (one of his options) to make sure I was thinking of the right animal. Here are my results...

It turns out our dog Lila (first photo in the upper left) is actually a Mandrill monkey! I do see the resemblance...

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

23 comments:

  1. That Google image search is definitely chuckle-worthy. I bet this week you beat both me and Peter to the Epimedium wushanesne punch. We both bought it this past weekend at the Bloedel plant sale (and then we bought it again at Dragonfly). Love it so much! I love just about all Epimediums actually. They are so good for dry shade, which I have lots of, and the foliage is not the same old, same old for shade plants either. It mixes well with the typical Hostas, Heucheras and ferns.

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    1. Wow bought it and then bought it again...you guys are good! I so wish I could have been there with you.

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  2. Oh, Lila :-) There are SO many plants I dislike...but I always try to avoid mentioning them, in case I decide later that I like them. Then again, one of the joys of being a gardener is being as contrary as I like ;-)

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    1. Oh yes getting to publicly contradict yourself is great fun I agree!

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  3. I remember that one at that one at the sale...very $$$ but lovely

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    1. Yes it was...but the prices must be coming down for both Peter and Alison to have bought multiples (above, below)...unless perhaps one of them recently won the lottery!

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  4. I thought of you while Alison and I were buying this plant (twice) on Saturday. WWLD? Lila is much cuter than those mandrill monkeys!

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    1. Cuter and less violent too (as long as you're not the postman).

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  5. Fun philosophy for a plant guy, pick a great plant and gift it no matter the objections of the recipient. Average or evenly moist shade means I enjoy this one from afar.

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    1. He knows my taste pretty well so I figure he knew it was a pretty great choice...

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  6. A really nice Epimedium! It's not the spikiness that appealed to me instantly but the red blotches. We have one planted somewhere inconspicuous, must remember to plant another one in a more prominent spot. Not expensive here btw, about £3.50 a pot here (or at least in the nursery where we bought one before).

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    1. I continue to be amazed by the difference prices and availability between our two gardening worlds!

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  7. We need some epimediums for the Northwest Territory, but of course they must be NW natives, so I guess E. wushanense will need a different home. The color and spikes are great!

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    1. Your not saying you'll go without just that it would be planted elsewhere in your garden, right?

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  8. I thought that was a baboon. Not your dog but the primate photos. Anyway, I can see why you're smitten with this particular Epi. It is a beaut. And a gift from the esteemed Sean Hogan, no less. Who could refuse? Nice choice.

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    1. Funny refusing never even crossed my mind...

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  9. Epimediums do well here and I actually like them. (Generally, if something does well here, it's a weed. The weeds are doing well right now.) It's considered cool to like epimediums, by the way.
    Lila might get a complex being protrayed as a mandrill. Don't let her do a Google search on her own.

    By the way, the Huntington has just released its ISI list of succulents; agaves, aloes, cacti, etc. Reasonable prices. Here http://www.huntington.org/BotanicalDiv/ISI2013/isi/catalogindex.html

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    1. You know I think someone else used that same line on me (that all the cool kids like like epimediums)...didn't work.

      OMG!!! I can mail order cool plants from the Huntingon? This could be very dangerous...thank you!

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    2. Sure. Prices range from $6 to $12 or thereabouts. Not bad at all.
      I already ordered the Agave margaritae and zebra Superspiny. For containers, of course.
      No epimediums.
      Bulbine torta is pretty amazing. "Root hardy to near 0" they say. Kind of looks like a pile of telephone handset cords lying on the ground.

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  10. Contrary, and proud of it: I like that about you. Did you ever see that Irish film about a rock band made up of white guys whose tag line was "we're black and we're proud"? Now THAT'S contrary.
    The mandrills pretty much fit my conception of "ugly-handsome".

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    1. No I can't say that film sounds familiar, but then I have a very bad memory for most movies.

      Ugly handsome indeed. I don't think I'd want to run into one in a dark ally.

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  11. Loree: Sweeet baby Jesus, so you decide to 'try' one and you end up with one of the genus's holy grail selection? Sweet! I am sorry I didn't comment sooner, but have been planting up some 10000 pelargoniums..... you want to talk about least favourite plants??? Bring it on sister! I need to add this one to my ever expanding collection - I think 18 or so! Resistance is futile!

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    1. Yay I'm so glad you approve! After he gave it to me I kept thinking, "Barry is gonna be so happy/proud!" Pelargoniums, blah. I'm glad you aren't going to try and convince me I need one of them.

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