#7) Leucadendron linifolium

Berkeley Horticultural Nursery has quite a few Leucadendron linifolium, with delicate silvery green upright branching arms and fine needle-like foliage (top left image). Overall, there isn't much information online about this rare plant. Apparently, after they get older, they loose their delicateness and get a bit stiffer (bottom image). I also found a picture of the plant with bright orange foliage, but I don't know too much about the conditions in which it would do this. It also produces silver cone-like flowers.

To enhance its silver tones, A) Leucadendron linifolium could go nicely with B) Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls', C) Leucospermum cordifolium 'Yellow Bird' (also with silvery green foliage), D) Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus,' E) Ceanothus 'Joyce Coulter' (for some contrast), and F) Leucophyta brownii. This could be lovely in front of a celadon green Berkeley bungalow. 

Details:

Biological Name: Leucadendron linifolium

Common Name: NCN

Family: Proteaceae (Proteas)

Origin: South Africa

Exposure: Full Sun

Irrigation: Low to Moderate Water Needs

Flower Time: Spring

Height: 4’

Width: 4’

#6) Grevillea 'Long John'

I was drawn to this shrub at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery and attracted to its long upright branches, thin needle-like foliage, and cinnamon colored bark. And, I can't say I'm surprised to find out that this is a huge shrub (8-10' h x w). If I was ever at a loss for screening plants that take full sun, I am no longer.

To me, this shrub has kind of a woodsy vibe, and I thought it would be fun to pair it with woodsy plants that also like some sun.

A) Grevillea 'Long John' could be paired with plants that bring out its blue hues, such as B) Cupressus cashmeriana, D) Juniperus horizontalis 'BlueChip', and F) Nolina nelsonii, as well as green plants such as C) Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn' (which shares its bark color) and E) Ribes sanguineum (which brings a broader and more delicate leaf to the mix). Woodsy, sun-loving and I love the blue-green hues. I want to do this!

Details:
Biological Name: Grevillea 'Long John'
Common Name: NCN
Family: Proteaceae (Proteas)
Origin: Australia (Australasia)
Exposure: Full Sun to Light Shade
Irrigation: Low Water Needs
Flower Time: Spring
Height: 8-10’
Width: 8-12’

#4) Cussonia spicata

I've admired this plant for many years, and have thoughts several times how nice it could look in my garden. I love it's broad gray green leaves, with their complex geometric form.

I assumed it was a small or medium sized shrub, but as it turns out, it's a tree! In its native country (South Africa), it can get incredibly large, branching off into a candelabra shape. I'd imagine that it would take many decades for this to happen. Branches can also fall off older trees, and produce cone-like flower stalks.

For landscape purposes, I've only seen this tree with a single trunk, which doesn't initially appeal to me. But, after giving this a little more thought, A) Cussonia spicata can be used much like a palm tree... in groupings, with trees differing in height/ages. And, one could underplant with other South African plants, such as B) Zamia furfuracea, C) Melianthus major, and D) Aloe ferox. The trees could look especially appealing along both sides of a walk, or against a prominent wall.

Details:
Biological Name: Cussonia spicata
Common Name: Cabbage-tree
Family: Araliaceae (Ginsengs)
Origin: South Africa (Africa)
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Irrigation: Medium Water Needs
Flower Time: Spring/Summer
Height: 25-40’
Width: 15-30’

#3) Berberis thunbergii and cultivars

There was a plant that caught my eye at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery that seemed so wonderfully fall-like, and it turned out to be Berberis thunbergii 'Anderson.' For whatever reason, there isn't a lot of information online about this cultivar.

This piqued my interest in Berberis thunbergii and how beautiful it can be, especially as an indicator of the seasons. Through all its seasonal changes, from its vibrant yellow blooms, to it's twiggy/red berry stage, and sending out bright new shoots, it's always beautiful and interesting. Perhaps I'm late to this party, but I think I'm in love.

Behold the glory of the Barberry: A) Berberis thunbergii (love the green with the yellow), (B) Berberis thunbergii 'Rose Glow', (C) Berberis thunbergii, (D) Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea Nana'.

It is even quite shade-tolerant and deer resistant. There's nothing that I don't like about these plants. The thorns are even manageable as long as they are kept away from paths. Perhaps the only fact that I find troubling is that it is considered invasive on the East Coast. Something to keep an eye on.

Berberis thunbergii, such as (A) 'Green Carpet' would look great in a Napa-like planting scheme, with (B) Vitis 'Roger's Red', Platanus racemosa, (D) Olea europaea, and (E) Muhlenbergia rigens, celebrating the seasons and the dry California landscape.

#2) Tibouchina heteromalla

I've admired this plant in a Marin garden, as well as at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery, and I've only ever seen it really small. So, it surprises me that this plant can get 10' tall! And those silvery, velvet leaves can get 6" long! It turns out, this is a massive shrub. Regardless, it can make a wonderful specimen plant, or background plant. Plants with thinner leaves (like Miscanthus) would layer nicely in front.

In the garden in Marin, (A) Tibouchina heteromalla was part of a beautifully green, drought tolerant/California Native plant palette, along with (B) Berberis thunbergii, (C) Coleonema pulchellum, (D) Artemesia 'Powis Castle' and (E) Arctostaphylos 'Dr. Hurd'. The garden looked so fresh, yet natural, covered in a thick blanket of (F) mulch and Marin fog. It was magical.

Details:
Biological Name: Tibouchina heteromalla
Common Name: Silver leafed Princess Flower
Family: Melastomataceae
Origin: Brazil (South America)
Exposure: Full Sun
Irrigation: Medium Water Needs
Flower Color: Violet
Flower Time: Summer/Fall
Height: 8-10’
Width: 4-6'