Favorite plants for February 2016

I thought I would do things a little differently this month and highlight some new acquisitions for my "favorites" post – after all, if I bought them there must be a reason right?

I picked up this Podocarpus Gracilior 'Fern Clouds' at the Christianson’s Nursery booth at the NWFG Show.

Those of you who know this plant might be thinking: "what about it's hardiness?" (or lack of). Indeed...

My thinking, upon seeing this beauty, went something like this: "Wow, that's gorgeous! What is it? Ah a Podocarpus, interesting. Damn. It gets 40-50ft tall and wide, I don't have room for that. Wait, it's only hardy to 25-30F...I've got room for that!"

Is that horrible? Buying it knowing I'm dooming it to death over our next winter? No, I'm not growing it in a container just so I can protect it. I've got enough of those already!

While in Seattle for the show I also picked up this Prostanthera cuneata (common name Alpline Mint Bush) at City People's garden store. I loved the little leaves and it smells so good!

Mine is not a Cistus Nursery plant, but they offer it. Their description: "This little sweetheart from down under came to us via the University of California at Santa Cruz Arboretum. Its dense and fragrant foliage alone is enough reason to grow it, but in midsummer it covers itself in perfect, white, outfacing bells that perfume the air. To 3-4 ft tall in sun to part shade. Prefers well-drained soil and moist conditions. Dislikes sunlight on wet foliage. Frost hardy to 10 °F, USDA zone 8."

I finally bought a Cyclamen (my first)! C. hederifolium, and I have to admit it would be fine with me if it never blooms. From Xera Plants: "A great long-lived bulb in our climate forming large colonies over time. Arrow-shaped marbled leaves emerge in winter and remain until the heat of summer. In late summer through fall delicate, nodding pink to white flowers. Well drained soil that is DRY IN SUMMER. Excellent near the base of large trees with greedy roots. Part shade to shade. Sticky seeds are carried away by ants and new plants appear in various places." Hmm, something's already munching on one of the leaves...

And another Grevillea, this one G. miqueliana. I hear you thinking "Another Grevillea? Does she really need another Grevillea?" Yes, yes I do!

After reading "Proteaceous Plants for Portlandia"on the Xera Plants blog I knew I had to have this one. The leaves are larger, greener...and the flowers! Well Paul (Xera) said it best: "Sunset colored flowers orange/red/yellow are pendulous and once it starts blooming it blooms year round." Orange/red/yellow, yes please! The flower photo, below was, taken by Ian of The Desert Northwest (used by permission).

The Desert NW description: "A beautiful, large, spreading shrub to 10' with rounded, green leaves and sulfur yellow or yellow and red/pink flowers in profusion; this sturdy, adaptable and vigorous plant brings another flower color to the palette of larger-leafed hardy Grevilleas. Like many Grevilleas, it will produce flowers over a long period and always looks great, tolerating drought and poor soil with ease. It is closely related to G. victoriae, and is some older references list it as a subspecies of G. victoriae. Hardy to about 10 °F. Vigorous. Australia."

Finally this little guy, Leonotis leonurus came to me via Secret Garden Growers back when team plant lust did our run of trial orders (speaking of...we've just launched e-commerce on our site!). From SGG: "Tall, bolt upright perennial from N. Africa S. Africa, 4-6’ high and half as wide. Stems are topped with fuzzy orange whorls of red-orange tubular flowers that hummers enjoy summer thru fall. This ‘big cat’ enjoys well drained fertile soil, plenty of sun and regular irrigation. Deer resistant (they’re afraid of lions); try pairing with Verbena bonariensis."

Those are my favorites for February, well along with all the plants that are waking up and blooming right now in my garden, but that's covered on Bloomday. What's made February special in your garden?

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.