Penstemon Red Riding Hood

I thought I would make a few posts to make up lost time.  The trial garden in Corralitos is looking great.  Penstemon Red Riding Hood has been in peak flower for about a month now. This variety came back with us from Holland a few years ago and it has started to really catch on. Red Riding Hood is a barbatus type with basil branching and thick glossy leaves. This variety is very floriferous and has stiff stems with watermelon red flowers. This variety is nice compact for a penstemon and flowers about 18" tall.  Hardier than most Penstemons, Red Riding Hood is rated down to USDA 5, this variety is also drought tolerant and is at home in Mediterranean gardens. 

Santolina Lemon Fizz

Wow, how quickly 5 months flies by. Well its due time for another post on a great new plant. We introduced a golden leaved Santolina this year named 'Lemon Fizz'. This plant continues to impress me every time I see it in containers and the landscape. It is very flat growing and golden in full sun. In the shade it's chartreuse and more lush in its growth habit. This is a virens type of Santolina, it has small thread like leaves that are very fragrant like other Santolinas. Growers are trying this variety this season, I would expect to see this plant showing up in retail garden centers this summer.  The top photo is full sun, and the bottom part shade. 

Ceanothus Tuxedo

Ceanothus Tuxedo is a breakthrough new variety with deep black foliage and lavender blue flowers. We received this variety from a great Irish plantsman. Tuxedo is a sport from Autumnal Blue and has an open upright habit. The striking foliage of Tuxedo looks great against silver foliage plants like Artemisia and ties in well with other Mediterranean plants. Tuxedo is brand new and should be in garden centers by in spring of 09' Native Sons nursery of Arroyo Grande is one of the first nurseries to offer this exciting new cultivar.

Echinacea Green Jewel

Another new Echinacea. Ever since the breeding boom in Echinacea we have seen new colors each year. Green Jewel has truly lime green flowers on a nicely compact habit. I was able to see this variety in breeders fields in Holland. A very impressive sight. 

Colocasia Diamond Head

This is another variety from the 'Royal Hawaiian' series of Colocasia. Diamond Head has huge leaves that grow to 18" x 24" long. It is striking combination with the Cordyline Torbay Dazzler planted behind it.

Cordyline Torbay Dazzler

At my nursery we have a nice planting in front of the office. Here you can see Cordyline Torbay Dazzler. The plant just gets better and better. We have also started working with a line of Colocasias called the 'Royal Hawaiian' series. The variety you see here is called Blue Hawaii , one of my favorites. At maturity Blue Hawaii will get leaves that are 18" x 24" long.

Smith River July 4th

I recently made a trip up to the Smith River in Del Norte County. We stumbled upon a serpentine botanical area that had many unique and relatively rare plants. We saw the Bolander's lily and small flowering variety with peach red blooms. We also saw the carnivorous cobra lily growing in serpentine seeps. And finally the native western azalea was in full bloom around every corner. It is nice to see these botanical treasures that most gardeners covet and wish they could grow in their own gardens.

Rhodadandron occidentale

Darlingtonia californica

Lilium bolanderi

Hardy Orchids

My first passion when I started getting into plants and growing was Orchids. One might call this an obsession. I quickly amassed a nice collection of tropical oddities and attempted to grow them under a HID light in our living room. My interest in orchids quickly moved to some of the rarest and hardest types to grow, hardy orchids. or as most are known; terrestrial orchids. Terrestrial orchids inhabit many of the temperate areas of the world including the US. I soon learned that many species grew in our state here in CA. Below are two natives that are a must for any native garden and anyone interested in terrestrial orchids. Epipactis gigantea is native to CA and inhabits the side of stream beds typically growing in very sandy soil in full sun. 'Serpentine Night' is a cultivar selected by Roger Raiche, it has dark purple foliage. Both varieties are easy to grow in the perennial garden. They actually do very well in pots. They will continue to grow and send shoots out the drain holes. Epipactis like a well drained mix that does not dry out completely.

Weigela 'Cappuccino' (Verweig2)

Weigela 'Cappuccino' is another variety from the breeder of 'Minor Black'. It is a novelty variety with chartreuse new growth that turns bronze yellow in summer. 'Cappuccino' has pink flowers that make for a interesting combination with its foliage color.

Weigela 'My Monet' (Verweig) PP# 16824

'My Monet' is from the same breeder as 'Minor Black' it is notable for its variegated foliage of cream, green and pink. The variegation with it's pink flowers makes for a striking combination. 'My Monet' should be available from nurseries that sell the Proven Winners 'Color Choice' line of shrubs.

Weigela 'Minor Black' (Verweig3)

Weigelas are deciduous group of flowering shrubs that bloom in early spring. They are notable for their masses of flowers that are generally white to deep pink. New dark foliage and variegated forms continue to hit the market. Minor Black is a very compact dark leaved selection that blooms in early April and continues to flower into summer.

'Minor Black',

'Midnight Wine',

'French Lace',

'Variegata'

Agave Kara's Stripes

This is a new Agave attenuata selection from Gary Gragg of Golden Gate Palms and Exotics
The fist plant was discovered as a sport at his home garden in 1994.
I received my first plants as part of the patent trialing process. Tissue culture plants are now making their way into nurseries and soon into gardens. A few nurseries are already carrying plants, but supply is still limited. Check out the full story of Kara's Stripes on Gary's website.
Other nurseries offering Kara's Stripes are:
San Marcos Growers
www.smgrowers.com

Plant Delights Nursery
www.plantdelights.com

http://www.goldengatepalms.com/public_html/agave_attenuata.html

Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem'
This is a great new cultivar from the traditional Sorbaria or 'False Spirea'.
Sorbaria sorbifolia is native to Asia and is Hardy to Zone 2. 'Sem' is a dwarf selection
with deep pink and gold new growth. Sorbaria 'Sem' is deciduous and grows to about 3' x 3'
'Sem' also gets white spirea like flowers in summer. This plant looks great in containers and planted in mass.

Variegated Yuccas

I blogged about variegated Agaves in a previous post. I would like to follow up with a range of variegated Yuccas I have collected. Theses plants are very durable and have striking coloring. In the winter 'Bright Star' will even show hints of pink in the leaves. All of these varieties are available now in nurseries. 'Bright Star' is the newest one to come to market, it was selected in England at Walberton's Nursery. If you are in CA, San Marcos growers is offering 'Bright Star'. -RH

Yucca 'Bright Star' (walbristar)

Yucca recurvifolia 'Margaritaville' - From Hines Hort