Friday, June 26, 2015

It’s the last Friday of the month and that means…favorite plants!

Everyone’s on the edge of their seats wondering what my standout plants are this month, right? Well, at the top of my list has got to be the pair of Dierama that are blooming in the garden right now. To my eye they look to be nearly the same color, but when a camera gets involved, well, things look very different…

I believe this is Dierama 'Merlin' – purchased at Portland Nursery this spring.



And this is Dierama 'dark purple' – purchased at Garden Fever late last winter. It's not nearly that blue in person, in fact I wouldn't say it's blue at all. Isn't that weird?

Interestingly there is this comparison of  various “dark purple” flowers on the Edelweiss Perennials website (they're the grower of the plant I bought) showing the wide variations in color the seeds can produce. I really wish you could see both of these plants with your own eyes to understand how slight color the difference is...

I do feel a bit like a cheater, being excited about blooming Dierama that I haven’t yet had to overwinter, as I hear it can be a challenge (well-drained soil is a must). They’re generally hardy to USDA Zones 7-8 (cold-wise) and do love the sun. Their foliage is rather grass-like, which you can kind of make out in this image…

The second plant I’m sharing this month is new to me, I am so excited to finally be growing it! Ludwigia sedioides, aka Mosaic plant. I originally fell for this one back when my stock tank pond was in the shade and I couldn’t grow it (it likes sun).

It’s a potted annual (in my Zone) with green to red diamond-shaped leaves that float on the surface of the water. Said to be a fast grower I’m hoping it enjoys this weekend’s heatwave (it requires water 72 degrees or warmer) and pushes out lots of new leaves.

Another of my Manzanitas has been “faved” in the past, but I don’t think Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths' has ever gotten the nod. Why this month? It’s molting!

The entire outer layer of bark is peeling away, exposing bright amber-green new bark underneath.

Pencil-shaving-like old bark falls to the ground.

It’s the coolest thing!

And finally, in case you didn’t hear me scream for joy (aka post about it on Facebook), I am now the proud owner of this lovely variegated Agave parryi…

A gift from my friend Gerhard (Succulents and More…) he says it’s probably A. parryi 'Excelsior' which would make it possibly hardy to USDA Zone 7, not that I’ll be planting it in the ground anytime soon. It’s got a little growing to do first.

So...that’s my wrap up of favorites in the garden these (hot) days of June. What are yours? Please tell us about them!

All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

23 comments:

  1. All great choices, Loree. I'm not sure how or why Dierama has escaped my notice until now - I think my garden could use more bulbs (corms). Here's my own favorites wrap-up for June: http://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2015/06/my-favorite-plant-this-week.html

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    1. I wonder how they would do in your garden Kris? I hope you can find some! (off to see your fav).

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  2. The shortcomings of digital photography. Most cameras read either too red or too blue under various lighting conditions. I found what I think is one of the Dierama I grew from seed last year. No label, though. Oops. That ludwigia is amazing, as is the manzanita bark.

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    1. I was sure to photograph them both on the same day, at the same time and in the same light conditions (when they were both in the sun). Still shocked at the outcome!

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  3. Great faves! Mosaic plant is new to me and it looks amazing! Thanks for the link! Austin is looking very handsome with his peeling bark!

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    1. I only wish I could grow it year round (the mosaic plant)...

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  4. That Manzanita is stunning! And my heart skipped a beat when I saw your photo of Ludwigia, thinking that perhaps it is hardy if you're growing it, until I saw you say it's an annual there. And of course that agave is just fab ;)

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    1. The water garden store doesn't even stock the Ludwigia until June, because of how temperature sensitive it is.

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  5. I love the mosaic plant, fell in love with it when i firat saw it at kew. So cool you have one for your tank. And that bark is so cool.

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    1. Kew huh? I need to go back through my photos and see if I saw it there.

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  6. You certainly have a knack for unusual, rare, lovely plants, Loree! I adore the purple Dieramas. So far I just have seen a pink version in Great Dixter, England, but like yours much better. I have to find out if I can grow them here in San Diego, if that is the case, I guess it is a new must-have-plant for me ;-).
    Wishing you a nice weekend!
    Christina

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    1. Pink is the color of the first Dierama bloom I ever saw, in Seattle. They were lovely, but I had no desire to introduce more pink flowers into my garden. Then when I learned of the dark colored ones, yes!

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  7. the mosaic plant looks like a sempervivum on vacation...

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  8. That molting manzanita is the best...not sure the *few* others I see do anything like that But saw some on needed cool-off mountain drives where I was earlier this week, and still, "ahhh, manzanita!"

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    1. I've got three others and they do a version of the molting, nothing as grand as this one. It's the BEST!

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  9. Oh that Arctostaphylos, the bark is fantastic!

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  10. Ah, if only we could all shed our old skin with such panache.

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  11. Oh, that ‘Austin Griffiths' manzanita...! I asked about it at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden end-of-season sale, and they didn't have any left, but said they'd have more in the fall. Must. be. patient... The little agave is wonderful!

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  12. The succulents grow so well in your garden. It's amazing!

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