Soft-n-Spiky

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Tina

Promoting Texas Native Plants Week, I’d like to put in a good word for Texas plants known for lovely or interesting foliage. Foliage is often overlooked when planning a garden and it shouldn’t be; foliage is the bedrock of most winter gardens and sets the tone and backdrop for all blooms. In my gardens, it seems like plants fall into three foliage categories: scratchy, spiky, or soft. I won’t give scratchy plants attention for now (looking at YOU, Lantana and Barbados cherry!), but I will profile a few foliage beauties from the other two categories.

The soil in my gardens is clayey, so I haven’t had much luck with the soft-as-a-baby’s-bottom leaves of the Wooly stemodia, Stemodia lanata. This plant requires excellent drainage and a good amount of sun. I am successful with a couple of individuals planted in containers and they’re thriving.

This Wooly stemodia gracefully cascades over the cherry-red pot, while its partner, an American century plant, Agave americana sits firmly in the pot and the spiky category. Both plants share a beautiful gray-green coloring, which is a characteristic of foliage of many Texas native plants.

In this photo, spiky dominates the scene with a second and larger American century plant, this time complemented by a deep blue pot that is its home.

A spiky garden buddy, Pale-leaf yucca, Yucca pallida, echos the gray of the agave, though I think the color suggests more blue than the gray-green agave. The yucca also doesn’t have “teeth” like the agave, though the ends pointedly exhibit their own danger, especially when the gardener is careless and/or forgets about the needling yucca while pruning or weeding. Ouch! Truthfully, I’m not a member of the spiky-plant club that so many Austin gardeners belong to. However, native yuccas and agaves provide low-maintenance beauty and structure and every Texas garden should showcase at least one.

The softer plants in the photo–Turk’s cap, Malvaviscus arboreus, Plateau goldeneye, Viguiera dentata, and Frostweed, Verbesina virginica, all exhibit larger, “tropical” leaves, and are typically considered shade-dwellers, although all three thrive in full-to-part sun. The Zexmenia, Wedelia texana, has small, hairy leaves, which are an adaptation with allows the leaves to absorb atmospheric moisture. The Zexmenia is an extremely drought-tolerant perennial.

Another spiky native is this Twistleaf yucca, Yucca rupicola, here haloed by blooming Zexmenia.

A true green, the Twistleaf yucca, like its cousin, the Pale-leaf yucca, bloom in the spring and sometimes, later in autumn. Four foot blooms stalks topped with clusters of fragrant, creamy flowers, provide for many interested pollinators. For the most of the year, handsome foliage dominates.

More gray-green in the landscape comes from Big muhly , Muhlenbergia lindheimeri.

A yearling Big muhly fronts a crown of blooming White tropical sage (Salvia coccinea)

I’ve struggled to find a good spot for the three specimens in my garden as they love full, blasting Texas sun and my garden is hampered by shade.

Really, I’m complaining about shade? In Texas?

Big muhly is an elegant native grass. I’ve contented myself with appreciating those that grow in other gardens (or in open spaces). I’m crossing-fingers that the few in my garden will prosper–I believe I finally have good spots for each.

I am successful with this far West Texas native, Mexican feathergrass, Nassella tenuissima.

These grasses are gorgeous in containers and planted in the ground, as well as happy in sun or shade–a win for the garden! Stunning in the spring with frothy, silvery-green foliage, they evolve into a toastier autumn presence as the growing season advances.

Texas beargrass, Nolina texana, is one more “grass” that is beautiful in a pot or directly in the garden.

This slow-grower is in the Liliaceae family and works well as an ornamental grass. Evergreen with a draping habit, it makes a statement, especially when planted in groups of two or three. This is another plant which flourishes when planted in containers.

Native Texas Plant Week is winding down, but the use of native plants in commercial and home gardens is on the upswing, not only in Texas but in many other places. Now is a good time here in Texas to plant trees and perennials and to plan for next year. Whether you live in Texas, or not–go native! Native plants are easy and special because they belong in and to the unique place you call home.

Whatever foliage you grow, please check out Christina’s lovely Creating my own garden of the Hesperides Garden Bloggers’ Foliage Day. See interesting foliage from many gardens and from many places, and then share your own leafy loveliness.

Not-Yet-Autumn-Greens

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Tina

While today may be the autumnal equinox, it remains hot and humid here in Central Texas. A wet and (for Texas) mild August lulled me into stupidly thinking that summer 2016 had breathed its last hot breath. During this past week, summer returned with a fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk-it’s-so-hot reminder that summer is not done with us yet. While it’s been toasty, some of my hot season blooming favorites are now showing off their cooling foliage.

This lush group of perennials soothes my perspiring brow.

This group includes Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, Branched foldwing, Dicliptera brachiata, Drummond’s ruellia, Ruellia drummondiana, Katie’s Dwarf Ruellia, Ruellia britttoniana ‘Katie’s Dwarf’, and Gulf penstemon, Penstemon tenuis. .

There are some blooms flowering on these perennials.

Looking closely, you can see the small, lavender flowers of the Branched foldwing and the larger flower of Katie’s Dwarf Ruellia.

Except for the spring blooming/summer seeding Gulf penstemon, all of these plants flower prolifically in July and August, slowing, but not ending, flower production during September and October.

The green onion-like foliage of Garlic chives pairs nicely with the full-leafed Drummond’s ruellia,

…and mixes it up well with the petite leaves of the Branched foldwing.

This particular group of Garlic chives hasn’t bloomed this year, but I appreciate their slender leaves mingling with other foliage nearby.

Throughout the warm months, there are always Texas Crescent butterflies, Anthanassa texana flitting in my garden. Host plants for this little cutey insect are those in the Acanthus family, like this Drummond’s ruellia, whose leaf serves as a resting spot for this Texas Crescent.

A wider view of the Drummond’s ruellia, sans butterfly.

Cooler weather is on its way in the next few days–the first cool front of the season!

I’m thanking Christina and her lovely Creating my own garden of the Hesperides for hosting Garden Bloggers’ Foliage Day. Check out her blog for foliage from many gardens and from many places, and then share your own leafy loveliness.

Between Drops

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Tina

The rare August cool fronts which have stalled over Central Texas in the past week or so have brought welcomed rain to the hot August days…and nights, (with apologies to 1972 Neil Diamond). Between the drips, drops, and gushes of rain, coupled with sparkles of Texas sun which has filtered through from time-to-time, foliage in my Austin, Texas garden is washed clean of summer’s dust and birds’ poop.

Purple heart plant, Setcreasea pallida, is a native to Mexico, but a naturalized plant throughout much of the southern United States.

The foliage is of this shade and sun groundcover is purple, but other subtle coloring imbues the plant with opalescence.

It’s a great ground cover for this area, one that withstands the capriciousness of our climate–drought, heat, flood, and freeze. Once established, it spreads with glee and requires reining in on a seasonal basis. It seeds out sometimes, like in this container of Texas beargrass, Nolina texana.

I’m pleased that the Purple heart chose a purple pot to settle in.

Purple heart is one of the few non-spiky, non-green, hardy perennial choices available for this region and adds purple pizzazz to any garden.

Tasmanian Flax Lily ‘Variegata’, or Dianella, Dianella tasmanica ‘Variegata’ is another non-native plant flourishing in my garden.

Dianella pairs nicely with Katie’s Dwarf Ruellia

Dianella’s snazzy green and white foliage stripes cheer several spots in my garden and bring needed structure to predominately shrubby plant combinations. I usually plant three or four together for a dramatic effect.

Dianella is water-wise and low-maintenance during our hot summers, though it needs covering during winter freezes. I find this plant well-worth winter babying because it’s light and bright and complements other plants. Dianella also produces flower stalks with tiny blooms atop, though most gardeners plant it for its foliage.

My honeybees visit the dainty blooms and I’ve also seen small native bees show an interest. It’s a win-win for critters and gardeners alike.

A native member of the Liliaceae family, Texas Craglily, Echeandia texensis, is about to begin its blooming cycle, but the foliage is lush from late spring until frost.

I’ve planted a number of these over the years and enjoy their contribution to my garden.

One group of Texas craglily is situated with the also fall-blooming Gregg’s mistflower , Conoclinium greggii, whose foliage inspires common names such as Palm-leaf mistflower and Palm-leaf thoroughwort because of the palmate shaped leaves.

Deeply lobed and vivid green, Gregg’s mistflower foliage is attractive for the whole growing season.

Pink-n-green-n-white is always a winning color combo, but especially so in this recent impulse-purchased and potted Sedum spurium ‘Tricolor’.

I’m hoping for a glorious draping here and to not over-water the pot.

Finally, a capture of the harbinger of November’s autumn leaf change floating in a bird and bee bath.

In November, foliage change in my garden will be about the less direct sunlight and cool temperatures. But this American sycamore, Platanus occidentalis leaf is probably a victim of the pre-rain Texas summer sun and heat.

Thanking Christina and her lovely Creating my own garden of the Hesperides for hosting, check out her Garden Bloggers’ Foliage Day post for a look at foliage in many gardens , from many places, and then share your leafy loveliness.