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

Yucca recurviflora 'Banana Split' - From Monrovia

A two year old plant of 'Ivory Prince' the buds just keep coming.

Helleborus 'Ivory Prince' has been available for a few years now. Foliage has a nice silver cast to it.

This is H. niger 'Jacob'. The niger type Helleborus are the first to flower in December and January. Jacob opens up pure white then fades to deep pink.

Helleborus 'Pink Marble' this is a selection from Helleborus lividis.

'Honey Hill Joy' another Terra Nova introduction. photo taken 2-18-2008

Helleborus 'Hot Flash' a new one from the folks at Terra Nova.

Hellebous - Great plants for Winter interest

Helleborus is one of those great old fashion perennials that have been in gardens for years. Every Winter gardeners experience the impressive display Helleborus put on. There are many forms of Hellebore, most gardeners are familiar with the colored hybrid selections mainly from H. orientalis parentage. For growers these types typically take 1-2 years to flower from seed. There is another group of Helleborus that are mainly grown from tissue culture, that take one year to flower and have impressive flower counts but are generally limited to white, cream and light pink flower colors. I have been doing a trial of about 20 tissue culture selections at the nursery, and they are all starting to pop as I write this. Helleborus niger types are the first to bloom, this is the classic 'Christmas Rose' starting in Decemeber and peaking in January. The other forms, nigercors, and ericsmithii types usually start in Febuary and Bloom through March. Check nurseries now for flowering plants.

Cordyline 'Renegade'

Here is another new Cordyline. 'Renegade' is a clumping form with very wide black glossy leaves.
'Renegade' also gets very fragrant flowers in Spring and Summer. This variety, with its great black foliage will make a dramatic statement in containers with gold leaved plants like Heuchera.
Look for it in 2009. -Hardy Zone 8