Recent plant purchases (late Feb/early March 2021)
Saying “you don't need any more plants” is like telling me to stop drinking coffee because I've already consumed enough for a lifetime. In other words: not likely to have much effect.
On that note, here are some plants that have found their way to me in the last month or so. Some were intentional purchases, others of the impulse variety. A couple were rescued from clearance racks, and some were gifts.
More disciplined gardeners wouldn't buy a new plant unless they have a spot for it. I'm definitely the other kind: get a plant now, worry about where to put it later. That approach: a) comes naturally to me, and b) is a lot less stressful.
Having said that, I'm happy to report that most of these plants have already found a home in the ground or in pots.
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| From Sierra Azul Nursery in Watsonville, CA, picked up on our weekend trip to the Monterey Peninsula: Aeonium leucoblepharum (clearance rack), Astelia chathamica 'Silver Spear', Veltheimia bracteata, Sedum dendroideum (clearance rack), Grevillea 'Austraflora Fanfare' |
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| From my friend Troy at Gondwana Flora: Asparagus declinatus and Veltheimia bracteata 'Pastel Series' |
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| Sandpaper wattle (Acacia denticulosa). The leaves (technically modified leaf stems or phyllodes) are surprisingly rough to the touch, much like the common name suggests. |
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| Mesembs: Ruschia lineolata, Scopelogena verruculata, Cephalophyllum stayneri |
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| From the UC Davis Arboretum spring sale (online ordering, curbside pickup): Echeveria shaviana 'Truffles', Dudleya thraskii (2x), Sedum takesimense 'Atlantis' |
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| More UC Davis: Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote Promise', Salvia 'Ember's Wish' (free member-appreciation plant), Oxypetalum coeruleum, Cuphea llavea 'Georgia Scarlet' |
Additional plants not shown above:
From Gondwana Flora:
From Green Acres Nursery in Sacramento:
From the Ruth Bancroft Garden Nursery:
I'll have photos of where they ended up in the weeks to come.
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Sierra Azuls clearance table has served me well a couple times.The only plant I really remember is a Hebe 'Red Edge' for 2 dollars. It's time for an extended trip down that way with a SLO/Los Osos extension. I've been hesitant to get an Astelia, I guess because of water needs. Yet I bought 4 Canna musifolia bulbs which need way more moisture than Astelia. I'm inconsistent !
ReplyDeleteCanna musifolia is actually surprisingly unthirsty. I have a clump in a large pot, in fairly heavy clay soil, and it doesn't get much water. The plants are 8 ft tall now and flower every year.
DeleteHebe 'Red Edge' is the only hebe I've been able to keep alive for more than a year.
If you plan for all plant purchases, where's the fun in that? We're on the same boat as you when it comes to acquisitions :) nice haul as always!!
ReplyDeleteMany of the plants I bought are really small so it's best to keep them in pots until they're bigger anyway.
DeleteThe thing is, I always have room for more coffee, while I sometimes struggle with where to place a new plant that I bought on a whim. I often plan on getting one plant and end up with another. Astelia chathamica 'Silver Spear' is lovely, and would light up any dappled sun corner. Where did you find room to plant the sandpaper acacia?
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted a Astelia chathamica but for some reason, I've never actually tried one.
DeleteAs for the sandpaper acacia, it's still in a pot. It's only about 1 ft tall.
Nice haul(s)! I adore Grevillea 'Austraflora Fanfare' and wish I could grow it here.
ReplyDeleteI've killed several (they DO need water in the summer). I planted this one on a level spot where it will get more moisture in the summer.
DeleteMy veltheimia in a shallow bowl has lots of leaves but no blooms yet this year. You seem to have great success with this bulb in the ground, something I haven't tried yet because I fear a prolonged dying leaves/shabby phase -- but maybe it's briefer than I fear...great plant shopping!
ReplyDeleteVeltheimia capensis goes completely dormant and should be kept as dry as possible in the summer.
DeleteVelheimia bracteata (these guys) will remain in leaf when irrigated throughout the summer. If not, they'll go dormant, too. V. bracteata tolerates more shade than capensis.
I'm envious! I've been buying a lot, mostly via mail order, but I'm not in your league - and after spending a LOT of my pandemic time-out pulling plants out, I've got a fair amount of space to fill. The only plant in your inventory that gave me pause was the asparagus. I'm not familiar with that particular species but, having done battle with sneaky spreading asparagus ferns again this week (I'll never be free of it), I look at any plant in that genus with a jaundiced eye.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the invasive potential of some asparagus (esp. the weedy A. aethiopicus aka sprengeri). My two A. declinatus will go in a stock tank in the backyard where they can do their thing.
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