Thursday, November 20, 2014

Daphniphyllum macropodum v. humile is my favorite plant in the garden, this week...

My first encounter with Daphniphyllum macropodum was at the UBC (University of British Columbia) Botanical Garden in autumn of 2010.

The second, which could (by then) be considered an infatuation, was during a very cold visit to Portland's Lan Su Chinese Garden in January of 2011. While I'm a sucker for the large leaves it's the pink petioles that draw me to this plant over and over.

I finally got to add one of these plants to my garden last spring and while I loved it then I love it even more now, because it's colored up...

Love that blush of pink.

In fact my variegated daphniphyllum is coloring up too...

A benefit to the cold spell we've been having, no doubt.

There's not really much information out there on the daphniphyllums (common name redneck rhododendron, which I have to think is a play on the very coloring up which I'm excited about). The hardiness of this broad-leaved evergreen shrub (or small tree) seems to fall somewhere between USDA Zones 7/8 and 9. They prefer part sun to part shade and even moisture. Louis the Plant Geek says "Ultimately to fifteen or even twenty feet tall; in Japan, where it's native, reportedly up to forty.  In colder climates, to five or six feet tall and wide." That's quite the spread, no?

So of course I want to know what plant(s) you're particularly enamored with in your own garden, and just a reminder that next Friday (the last Friday of the month) is the round up of favorites. Be it one, two, four or more I hope you'll link to your posts here, on the 28th of November.

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

17 comments:

  1. Hmm...never would have guessed that you would invite a bunch of red necks to your garden party.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My affection for plants used to be all about the flowers but I've become more and more obsessed with foliage and stems and bark - maybe I'm finally growing up as a gardener. I love your Daphniphyllum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't it interesting the stages we go through in the garden?

      Delete
  3. There's definitely something about those pink petioles that makes this plant so irresistible! Just like you we are big fans of this plant too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. These are very hardy. They survived our miserable winter here in suburban DC (z7) last year without damage, with a low of 6F and many very cold days. I would not be surprised if they were hardy to z6.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Those pink petioles are fun. I just love the variegated version, though! One of the best variegated plants, in my opinion. The ones I saw at PDN were mostly in the 15-20 feet range, but the hotter summers there (and in other east coast locales like DC) harden off the growth of plants like these better than typical PNW summers, making them hardier for winter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also good to know. Was there a variegated plant at PDN?

      Delete
  6. Absolutely beautiful! I'm glad I can come and enjoy yours, because they would be 'no-hopers' here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for commenting Cathy, I'm excited to learn of your blog.

      Delete
  7. Ok, you've convinced me... I love this plant! I have a plant that makes me think about this one because of its evergreen leaves with pink-red petioles (Prunus lusitanica) (although pictures on internet don´t show the red petioles very well).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I found a few photos that do, and I can totally see the similarity.

      Delete
  8. I'm pretty much obsessed with this plant. I bought some seeds from France and 3 of 5 germinated, have some leftover. So far I'm unsure about my next move. I'm in Bulgaria, south enough for Europe, though cold enough in winter (normally -18 lowest, arctic anti/cyclones), then hot and dry summer.

    ReplyDelete
  9. How is it coping with the heat and drought in Bulgaria in summer?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Has anyone tried it in hot dry summer climate in USDA zone 7b?

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!