#14) Farfugium japonicum

After covering 13 'full sun' plants, I thought I'd switch gears a bit and focus on shade plants. This beautiful planting is outside Flowerland in Berkeley. The broad leaf plant in the center is Farfugium japonicum 'Gigantea'. It reaches 3-4' high and wide, likes cool sun/light shade, and medium amounts of water. Here it is paired with (left to right) Carex trifida 'Rekohu Sunrise', Gunnera spp., and Asparagus retrofractus, in a subtly Japanese-inspired palette.

Along with (A) Farfugium japonicum 'Gigantea', there is also (B) Farfugium japonicum 'Aureo-maculata', with yellow spots on its leaves. These plants are dying to be reinterpretted in a modern landscape!

Details:
Biological Name: Farfugium japonicum 'Gigantea'
Common Name: Giant Leopard Plant
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflowers)
Origin: Japan (Asia)
Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade
Irrigation: Medium Water Needs
Flower Time: Summer/Fall
Height: 3-4’
Width: 2-3’

#13) Melaleuca incana

While studying for our weekly shrub quiz, I came across this image of Melaleuca incana (left) and what looks to be Dicksia (right), shown here at Alsip Home and Nursery. Similar to Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' with Aloe, I love the pairing of a woodsy, fine textured plant with a broad leaf desert plant. Here, Australia meets Brazil in a combination that may be geographically illogical but, in terms of form, texture and color, they make perfect sense. Also, both require little water and full sun, suiting our California climate perfectly. 

Melaleuca incana can get quite large (10-12' high and wide), and has pale yellow flowers (above image, top left). Another interesting pairing could be with Chamaerops humilis (Mediterranean Fan Palm), with its gray-green foliage and broad leaves. Melaleuca incana is available at Devil Mountain Nursery.

Details:

Biological Name: Melaleuca incana

Common Name: Gray Honey-myrtle

Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtles)

Origin: Australia (Australasia)

Exposure: Full Sun

Irrigation: Low Water Needs

Flower Time: Spring/Summer

Height: 6-10’

Width: 6-12’

#11) Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula'

Earlier this year, I saw a landscape design that made me see Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar in a new way. The installation is at Darien and San Benito in San Francisco. Within an angular planting bed (adjacent to lawn), they placed this specimen plant in between low-growing Aloe polyphylla (top image, left) and Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light' (bottom image, right), showing off its unique form.

It fits an interesting use case, where you would want something showy and sculptural, yet low and wide, such as outside a window. Here, it's used in a modern context, with equally as interesting plant forms. What I find particularly interesting is the pairing of this woodsy plant with succulents – who would have thought! But, it really works.

Details:
Biological Name: Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula'
Common Name: Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar
Family: Pinaceae
Origin: [unknown]
Exposure: Full Sun
Irrigation: Low Water Needs
Flower Time: Does not bloom
Height: 15-20’, slow growing
Width: 15-20’, slow growing

If anyone knows the origin of this plant, or the landscape designer, please let me know. Thanks!

#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’

#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'

#1) Grevillea petrophiloides 'Big Bird'

At Flowerland Nursery, I was drawn to this plants fine linear foliage and lime green color. After doing a little bit more digging online, I discovered that its flowers protrude high above the plant mass, on long leafless branches, terminating in bristley pink puffs. What a nice surprise! I also love that this plant is drought tolerant and attracts hummingbirds.

This plant would look great as a background plant, with plenty of room to grow full size (6-10' high and 5-8' wide). To compliment it's finer foliage, it would be well-paired with broad leaf plants, such as Leucadendrons, Leucospermums, Aloes and Agaves (see below). Behind it, a darker colored shrub or fence could set it off nicely. It can serve as a nice green backdrop to a drought tolerant landscape design or add whimsey to a children's garden.

However, it needs full sun, perfect drainage conditions, and hates hot, humid, tropical conditions (which isn't a problem in California).

Details:
Biological Name: Grevillea petrophiloides
Common Name: Pink Pokers
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: Western Australia
Exposure: Full Sun
Irrigation: Drought tolerant once established
Soil: Well-drained, alkaline, light to heavy
Flower Color: Pink
Flower Time: Winter-spring-summer
Height: 6-10' Variable
Width: 5-8'