#24) Epilobium canum

I saw this wonder of a plant at The San Francisco Botanical Garden this past October. It is Epilobium canum and thankfully, it is very much widely available. I was attracted to the drama of its bright red flowers against its silver foliage, as well as its soft form and wonderful application (in the middle of paving, anchoring 2 different levels). It demanded to be noticed!

At the two opposite ends of the spectrum, the straight species (A) has gray green foliage, while 'Catalina' (D) has silver foliage. Cultivars 'Bert's Bluff (B) and 'UC Hybrid' (C) are varying shades in between. These shades could prove useful in different plant palettes.

Hummingbirds love this plant. And, it can be used in California Native plant palettes. And, since this plant likes a cooler sun, I think it'll do great in Berkeley.

Details:
Biological Name: Epilobium canum or Zauschneria californica
Common Name: California Fuchsia
Family: Onagraceae
Origin: California (U.S.A.)
Exposure: Full Sun
Irrigation: Low Water Needs
Flower Time: Summer/Fall
Height: 1-2’
Width: 4-5’

#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’

#9) Banksia speciosa

I came across Banksia speciosa at San Francisco Botanical Garden earlier this month. And, I was happy to see it on the Devil Mountain Nursery website, so I'm hoping it is somewhat available. It has gorgeous gray green leaves, with zigzagging serrated edges. At the ends of each branch, in the center of its radiating leaves, this plant produces a cone-shaped flower. Together, the geometries are something to marvel at and from which to derive architectural inspiration, much like Frank Lloyd Wright would have done.

Like the other plants in the Proteaceae family, this plant can get very large (20' h x 15' w), which is much too big for most residential gardens (wouldn't it be great if there were a smaller cultivar??). The irony is that this would make a great freeway screening plant, but I feel its beauty is only fully appreciated close-up.

Mixing things up a bit, this planting scheme is based more on form than color. This could be a part of a mature garden, for the hypothetical 'Banksia House'. A) Banksia speciosa, can be accompanied by other thin leafed plants such as C) Yucca rostrata, and E) Butia capitata, as well as broad leaved plants such as B) Agave celsii var. albicans 'UCB' (seen on San Marcos Growers website),  D) Leucadendron discolor 'Pom Pon', and F) Aloe plicatilis. Assuming the Banksia House is on plenty of land, these plants would look amazing massed together, basking in the hot Southern California sun.

Details:

Biological Name: Banksia speciosa

Common Name: Showy Banksia

Family: Proteaceae (Proteas)

Origin: Australia (Australasia)

Exposure: Full Sun

Irrigation: Low Water Needs

Flower Time: Summer/Fall

Height: 12-20’

Width: 10-15’

#8) Oscularia deltoides

I first encountered this interesting groundcover within a container planting in a strip mall in Los Angeles. It seems tough as nails and yet kinda sophisticated due to its complex geometrical form and gray green coloring (though, like the picture above, I've also seen it bright green. Are these two different varieties of the same plant? Please let me know if you know!). I also like its reddish stems, and the flowers are tolerable. This particular time, I spotted a flat of it at Flowerland Nursery in Berkeley.

I really like it in the planting scheme above, along with Agave angustifolia 'Marginata' (left), Agave desmettiana (right) and what looks like Senecio cylindricus (just peaking out on the top right corner). There are some groundcovers that just don't look quite right growing in between succulents (too delicate? Too prostrate?) But, this one integrates in just beautifully. It is sprawling, yet upright, and just fine grained enough to contrast nicely with the broad blades. And, the consistent gray green tone of the palette really allows the red stems and the varigation of the agaves to pop. Quite brilliant. Kudos to Hoover Boo (http://pieceofeden.blogspot.com/2013/03/march-foliage.html).

Details:

Biological Name: Oscularia deltoides 

Common Name: Pink Iceplant

Family: Aizoaceae (Ice Plants)

Origin: South Africa

Exposure: Full Sun

Irrigation: Low Water Needs

Flower Time: Spring

Height: <1’

Width: 2-3’

#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’

#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'