Nelumbo nucifera

 

Manihot esculenta 'variegata'

 

Musa 'Siam Ruby'

 

Caesalpinia pulcherimma

 

Highlights from Dallas Arboretum

I just spent a sweaty morning touring the Dallas Arboretum. What a great garden! We are trialling a number of our new varieties here and its a great garden to test heat and humidity tolerance. One thing that we do not see much of in Northern California are heat and humidity loving plants that thrive down here in Dallas.

 

 

Sisyrinchium Breeding - Japan

 

Ceanothus Tuxedo

 

California Natives arround the Globe

In my travels oversees its interesting to see how California natives are utilized in other parts of the world. Most of you are familiar with Ceanothus Tuxedo, a black leaf selection with lavender flowers in fall. It was discovered by Irish Nurseryman Pat Fitzgerald. Check out his blog.

http://fitzgerladnurseries.blogspot.com

Also, check out these sisyrinchium hybrids from a company in Japan. The yellow one is my favorite.

Gaillardia Trial

I can't believe its August already! Summer has been busy with travel and trade shows. Summer is also a great time to evaluate perennials in our trials. Each summer I plan a grow out trial were I acquire all the commercial varieties available of a particular genus. This year we compared Gaillardia, an ever growing genera with lots of new hybrids coming to market. Here is an overview of some of the trial highlights.

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