Sometimes I get that look. It's a sort of narrowing of the eyes, while the head turns a little to the side. I am being judged and found lacking.
"You call yourself a gardener?"... "and you can't I.D. that plant?"
The plant in question is always something that's not particularly rare, probably growing in several yards in any Portland neighborhood. But I've never bothered to learn the name of it, because I don't care about it. The way I see it there's only room in my brain for a certain number of plant names and I'm not going to give over space to learning the difference between an Escallonia and a Photinia ...with apologies to fans of either.
One of those "I don't know anything about them" plants: Euonymus. I've always lumped it in the category of plants people-who-aren't-gardeners "plant" in order to hide something, like the foundation of their house (again, apologies if you're a fan).
So while shopping at Joy Creek recently I was surprised when Ricki (Sprig to Twig) suggested one. Even more surprising? I came home with two of them! That's them there, draping over the side of the big planter. What...that's not what you expected from a Euonymus? Me either!
I'd been meaning to tend to this area — just to the left of the front steps — for awhile now. I reworked it last October for the OC&K Challenge (photos from then here) but since then it had become a mess. Here's a photo from my Agave edema post earlier in the month ...
The Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana) in the huge container was out of control (above) and that dark leaf Cordyline wasn't helping. I pruned the hell out of the Feijoa and gave the Cordy to a friend. Then went shopping, of course. The Euonymus are E. nanus var. turkestanicus ...
And like other (some? all? I really don't know) Euonymus they get these little seed pods which should turn pink and then expose orange seeds. Plus the autumn color is reputed to be fabulous. The folks at Joy Creek say: "Euonymus nanus var. turkestanicus is a curious arching-to-cascading shrub with narrow, widely spaced, dark green leaves that march down the stems in a ladder-like fashion. Autumn color is red to burgundy. The flowers are not noticeable but the fruits are relatively large, pink and contain bright orange arils within. This would be a wonderful shrub for spilling over a low wall or in a rockery."
Above the Euonymus, eagle-eyed readers may have noticed a touch of purple (stupid camera...it really is very deep purple) in the Feijoa sellowiana. Another Clematis! This one C. Clematis 'Gipsy Queen' and also from Joy Creek Nursery.
I've been causally hunting for a purple Clematis that reminded me of the one my Grandmother grew next to her porch in Spokane. This was finally it!
Back when the Outlaw visited in early August I'd picked up a few other plants to go in this area.
Like this striking Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow'...
And a couple of Cordyline 'Cha Cha'...
Which technically aren't hardy here but I've had reliably come back from the roots, even at 12F.
The Agave desmettiana 'variegata' will have to go inside before danger of freeze, but I'm already scheming on another, hardier, Agave to take it's place.
It's grown so much this summer...I think it has earned this prominent placement again next year.
I also planted a couple Acaena inermis ‘Purpurea’ — their impact in photos isn't nearly as powerful as it is in person.
The severely damaged Agave americana is already pushing out new growth — I could not stand looking at the crispy leaves from the "edema" destruction and cut them off. Knowing this one is not guaranteed winter-hardy here I almost just pulled it out, but then decided to let it do battle. If it makes it all the better.
I did pull out the mutilated A. gentryi ‘Jaws’ though. It was just too ugly and I needed a spot to plant the Agave parryi I picked up last month at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
Also new to this area are a pair of Agave toumeyana var. bella gifted to me by Gerhard. May they grow up to be big and strong.
Existing plants include several self-sown Euphorbia rigida...
Sedum ternatum 'Larinem Park' (something is munching on its leaves!)...
And Eryngium maritimum (along with a couple of Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow').
Insane chaos...
Controlled chaos. Oh and the reason for that big empty space on the left? Well first of all it's not so big "in real life", secondly it leads to the hose bib...(practical matters).
Hopefully I'll master this Clematis business and next year there will be an explosion of purple blooms rising above the Euonymus...
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Is the clematis planted in the same pot as the pineapple guava? I've been thinking about which of my shrubs might support a clematis but hadn't considered my pineapple guavas. Mine, both in the ground, may not get enough water for the clematis but it might be worth the experiment. I do love clematis. Yours is a beauty!
ReplyDeleteIt is...we shall see how it does! And I really wish the real color would show up. Oddly a photo I took with my phone, that's on Instagram, shows it perfectly...
DeleteGorgeous clematis color! I'm a big fan of those colorful euonymous seed capsules. Your Euonymus nanus var. turkestanicus is new to me and quite a nifty plant! So many interesting things going on in this part of your garden.
ReplyDeleteIf only you could see the real deal! And you know, Ricki used your name when showing me this plant. She remembered your love of the Euonymous seed capsules, of course that helped me love it even more.
DeleteWhat a great memory she has.
DeleteThose don't look like any Euonymous I know! Nice!
ReplyDeleteAlso... which photo shows the "mess"? I don't see it. :)
Ha! You're being awfully nice. The mess hurts my eyes!
DeleteThe seed capsules are great, and the agave parryi is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it the cutest? No specific ID but I love the dark spikes.
DeleteYay! We're thrilled you found a few goodies from Joy Creek. Now you know I'm going to take one of those Euonymus home too...darned Ricki. She's a plant pusher.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's why we love her.
DeleteMy kind of Euonymus... ;-) With autumn leaf color, I assume it's deciduous?
ReplyDeleteBut what really catches my eye are the various Euphorbias - just wonderful!
Yes, it is deciduous - which was almost a sticking point but I figured the rest of it made up for that. There are three different Euphorbia in that area, fun!
DeleteI have that same problem with some of my purple Clems, they look blue in the photos.
ReplyDeleteMany cool plants--anonymous Euonymous are also common here, but also mostly meh, get bad scale infestations and much thirstier than most other shrubs. That one has interesting interesting features, at least.
Your by-the-front-door areas look great!
"anonymous Euonymous"...oh that's good! And thanks Hoov, for the vote of "great" - I'm still not 100% on board but it's getting there.
DeleteOooh, i have that euphorbia ascot rainbow, but it's not nearly as bright and pretty as yours. Love your agave jewels by the door!
ReplyDeleteThat Euphorbia varies so much! I think there is a very fine line in the perfect balance of shade and sun.
DeleteI love what you've done. It looks great! That Euonymus is very cool. Never heard of it and if that Joy Creek listing is right, it looks like it is almost marginal for you because it is too hot there! Zones 2-7? My kind of plant!
ReplyDeleteIn lust with that new Agave.
I was a little concerned about that (heat) but as I researched it I saw others listing the upper Zone as being a little higher. Here's hoping!
Delete(and that Agave...me too!)
Euonymus are amazing in autumn, you will love it. I love your collection of succulents and the amazing purple clematis looks wonderful with them. Do keep your eye on the acaena, they are incredibly invasive.
ReplyDeleteI've had an Acaena in the back garden for a couple of years now and it's just sort of nicely expanded. But I do thank you for the warning and will keep an eye on it.
DeleteMy favorite Euonymous is E. corollata. I've always wanted to start an organization called Euonymous Anonymous, but first I have to decide what the heck it would do.
ReplyDeleteEven before finding a couple of Euonymous I actually liked, I had to have a Euonymous Bush for my Garden of Earthly Delights.
ReplyDelete