Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Leucadendron ‘Ebony’…my fav plant this week and foliage follow-up feature!

It’s a tall order to be both my favorite plant in the garden this week AND the monthly foliage follow-up feature but if ever there was a plant up for the challenge I think it’s this one, even with its diminutive size!

My first ever sighting of Leucadendron ‘Ebony’ was at the Ruth Bancroft Garden during the GBF. It is safe to say it stopped me in my tracks.

Fortunately for me Gerhard (Bamboo Succulents and More) had driven down from Davis, CA, to meet-up with us Flingers at the garden (yes that’s me with Gerhard below, thanks to Pam for taking our photo! and yes, that is a smile on my face, really)…

Gerhard knew they were growing a few of these at the garden nursery and had a hunch they’d be part of the upcoming Summer Plant Sale…why not ask if they’d sell us one? It took awhile but finally the decision was made (we were judged to be worthy) and he and I were both handed a 1-gallon Leucadendron ‘Ebony’…yay!

As these things tend to happen guess what I spied at a garden we visited later in the day?

Yep.

And then that evening at Flora Grubb…

Yep.

A (small) 7-gallon size for $149, makes my 1-gallon for $15 look like the bargain of the century!

We were warned our plants hadn’t been potted up long enough to fully develop their roots, so I very carefully planted it in a small container to let it grow on a bit. However since I love it with that bright green colored pot I’ve already bought the next size up so I can repot it in a month or two. Even though he’ll never be in the ground in my garden (not hardy here in Portland) I want him to grow up big and tall…

The stats:
  • In the Proteaceae family, from South Africa
  • Evergreen (black) foliage with burgundy flowers in the winter and spring
  • Eventual size 3-4 ft all x 3-5 ft wide
  • Full sun with low water needs
  • Winter hardiness 20-25F
And a little history “It was discovered in 2007 by John Francis in a cultivated cut flower field of Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' in Waimauku, northwest of Auckland, New Zealand. It received its US Plant Patent 23,258 in December 2012. In its patent application it was noted that it differed from the parent plant by having purple-black colored leaves and bracts instead of green leaves and red bracts such as are found on 'Safari Sunset'.” From the San Marcos Growers website.

Foliage Follow-up is a monthly feature over on Pam Penicks blog Digging, click on over there for links to other blogs celebrating foliage this month. My Favorite Plant in the Garden is a weekly feature here on danger garden, please join in with post on your favorite plant in your garden "right now." Feel free to do so whenever the inspiration strikes, weekly, monthly or whenever! And please leave a comment on my most recent “fav” post so we can all head over to your blog and learn about your current favored plant.

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

41 comments:

  1. Wow, such a score and what a stunning Leuc! I was grooving on all the different ones we saw at the Fling, but it didn't really enter my head that I might grow one. You have planted a dangerous seed...

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    1. I'm sorry Jane! I've failed miserably in the past and had a couple of these up and die on me over the winter. I hope I have better luck this time.

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  2. I didn't think we'd be able to buy one but persistence paid off, as it usually does :-).

    While we're on vacation, my 'Ebony' is being baby-sat by a friend who's also a master gardener. Can't wait to see how much it has grown!

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    1. Indeed, and I have you to thank for it! It's been so hot (warm by your standards) here I think he's pretty happy. Hopefully he'll be able to remember the good times come January.

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  3. That is a gorgeous plant. I fell in love with all the Leucadendrons we saw at the Fling, too. I'm not sure I want to haul one (or two or three) in and out though. I don't have enough south-facing window space.

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  4. Oh, I remember it when it was sitting by you on the bus both of you looking at one another with such affection! It looks perfect in that bright green colored pot. I'm so glad you found each other!

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    1. Me too, I hope it's an affair that lasts a very long time.

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  5. Score! And a possible candidate to replace the phylica that collapsed this week. Or maybe L. linifolium...

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    1. Oh no! I bought a Phylica pubescens at Annie's...I don't know why. It's in the ground but I suppose if I want it to live I'll need to dig it up. Why did yours collapse?

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  6. Luvly...just Luvly as my Liverpudlian mother-in law would say.

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    1. Indeed, I wonder how long it will take before it becomes more widely available?

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  8. That is a lovely plant, is it classed as a succulent?
    Your smiles in photographs are as enigmatic as mine!!

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  9. Haha...I didn't realize you had to convince them to sell it to you...too funny!

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    1. Oh they were very kind throughout the whole process, even when they said no they still gave me the info I needed to call and get it once it was to be for sale (at the summer plant sale). It just seemed to silly though to ship it later when I could just take it then (I think Gerhard might have been planning to return for the sale). We just kept gently asking until the right person said yes!

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  10. It's nice that you and Gerhard still managed to meet up even if he didn't get into the full itinerary of the fling. And I've never seen a leucadendron as dark leafed as this one, gorgeous!

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    1. Indeed, I was so happy he was willing to make the drive. Especially on what could only be described as a miserably hot day.

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  11. Oh danger. You have introduced me to something that I must have!!!! That is sooo beautiful!!! I love when plant people deem you worthy of treasures like that! SOO FUN!

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    1. I hope that you are able to find it Louis!

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  12. Oh my! What a wonderful Leucadendron! the lime green pot is a perfect accent. I wonder why I've never seen it here where Leucadendron thrive?

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    1. I think it's still pretty rare Kris...so in other words when you do see it buy it!

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  13. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for that one over here!

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  14. That's a gorgeous plant! It's so nice to learn the actual value and then get a bargain. I think you hold the new record on a good deal.
    I like all the pot plants displayed on that wall. That's a great look for those beautiful plants.
    ....As far as that favorite plant idea, I am definitely adding that to my blog if ever I can decide on a favorite (LOL). Great idea!!!
    Wish I could have joined ya'll at the Fling. Maybe if it ever gets back to Texas I can make the trip.
    David/:0)

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    1. That's the beauty of posting about a weekly fav David, I can keep changing my mind!

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  15. AnonymousJuly 16, 2013

    Beautiful! Funny, my Foliage Follow-up is black also.

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  16. Great plant-finding story! I was on the edge of my seat, practically, to see how you managed to get one, and then to see that pricey one at FG -- what satisfaction over your steal.

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    1. I think the kind folks at the RBG saw the obsession in my eyes...

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  17. Okay, I think I love this one the most. I'm going to be anxiously waiting to see if you can keep this guy alive over the winter. (And your P. pubescens, I killed that one super fast.)

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    1. While still at Annie's I asked Scott what happened to your P. pubescens and he said "dead"...that gave me a moments hesitation but I still bought it. It's so small I couldn't see putting it in a container so it went in the ground. We'll see!

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  18. The leaves look almost as if they are outlined in frost. Stunning! My fave this week is more along utilitarian lines: http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/3205

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    1. I think it needs a good soaking to rinse all the hard water deposits off the leaves too. Could be awhile before that happens in these parts.

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  19. My absolute fave nursery, a friend took me there the first time when they had just opened and before thy became famous. Though almost all the couple dozen plants I bought there have now dies, mostly from heavy rains. I do still have an aloe and a few agaves.

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    1. Flora or Ruth Bancroft? Both are high on my list.

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  20. It is very important made of Bromeliads

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  21. I'm dying of plant envy here. Absolutely dying. Must. Find!

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  22. I bought one of these today . We live in Katikati New Zealand so should have no problem with the plant.john

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