Cephalophyllum sp

Cephalophyllum sp

This small South African "pigface" family succulent came to me with a wrong name and after a bit of searching I came across a good match as to what it might be.

I used 'The Timber Press Guide to Succulent Plants of the World' by Fred Dortort as reference.

Pinning it down to a species is proving more difficult and at the moment it is a toss up between alstonii, stayneri or framesii. 

There are about 30 species in the Genus and they display a wide range of jewel like flower colours. Growth occurs mainly in winter, no doubt as a response to rainfall.

The parent plant has spread to about 30 cm across and is quite decorative even when not if flower as the leaves resemble small grey green birthday candles with bright pink tips.

These flowers came out during the last few days and I like the way they stand above the leaves on short stems.

An Autumn Gazania

 This Gazania was in flower a few weeks back which surprised me as they normally do their thing in spring and summer. It is an American bred variety whose name escapes me. What was most unusual about it was the number of flowers which appeared, forming a crown across the entire top of the plant growing in a squat six inch pot. Now if only I had a hundred or so they would have been a sure fire winner in the plant markets. Definitely one to set aside and try to build up the numbers of.

Plectranthus cremnus

                Plectranthus cremnus

I call this the Byron Bay Plectranthus as it is from that part of northern New South Wales. Like a lot of native plants it has failed to cross over into the general garden scene despite having these extraordinary deep marine blue flowers and lovely velvet soft heart shaped leaves. The problem is that it is an untidy plant and a bit of a sprawler. Along the way it sheds its stem leaves so you are left looking at a mass of bare stems with leaves and flowers at the terminal. I have tried tip pruning in the hope of making it more compact but this has not made a difference to the overall appearance. Nevertheless it is a hardy plant and does not have any special water or fertilizer requirements.

 

Antigonon leptopus, 'Chain-of-Hearts'

             Antigonon leptopus (Polygonaceae)

With all the autumn rain, this climber has taken off and has scrambled over everything in its path. I don't have the heart to cut it back right now as the flowers are a magnet for bees. The flowers grow out from the tendrils at the end of long trailing stems and are the most vivid shade of hot pink. Being in the buckwheat family, the seeds are said to be edible if you fancy going through a long collection and winnowing process. The tuberous roots are also claimed to be edible. This root system allows for cutting back the entire plant to ground level during winter, which I do knowing it will re-shoot as soon as the warm weather returns. Treating it as a summer annual climber seems to be the way to go but I am just hoping nothing has been smothered under all that lush growth.

Geranium 'Azure Rush'

Geranium 'Azure Rush'

Following in the footsteps of Geranium 'Rozanne' is another fine perennial ground cover plant from Germany. The flower colour is not really azure blue, as say like the colour of the sea around a Greek Isle, it is more violet-blue.
Jane Taylor, in her terrific book Collecting Garden Plants refers to this colour as 'Nurseryman's blue' where the blues are all shaded with pink or red and are not true blue at all. Fact is blue flowers sell regardless how "true" they actually are. The book has an interesting chapter on the species and hybrid geraniums and in particular the collection held at Cambridge University Botanic Garden and the work carried out on sorting out the genus by Dr Peter Yeo, who also has written a book specifically about them. She gives some good reasons for why they make such great garden plants, referring to their 'ample finely cut foliage making dense mounds surmounted by a long succession of clear blue flowers on branching stems'. They are also sterile hybrids and therefore waste no energy in setting seed but provide a constant supply of flowers for six months of the year especially if given the occasional 'haircut' of any straggly stems. Geranium 'Azure Rush' would make an ideal companion plant to pink or yellow roses or if grown alongside daylilies or kniphofia. It is a hardy easy care plant suitable for coastal or mountain gardens.

Published by J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd, London
Cover photo: Geranium platypetalum by Dr P Yeo

Geranium 'Azure Rush' originated from zu Jeddeloah Pflanzen in Germany.

Plectranthus 'Pygmy'

Plectranthus 'Pygmy' (Lamiaceae)

and when coping with light foot traffic.

A terrific hanging basket, ground cover or vertical garden plant, this Plectranthus ,which is probably a form of P.australis, has been available for a few years now and the only down side I have found to growing it is that it grows too fast, needing constant trimming back in a pot to keep it in check.

Pretty mauve and white flowers appear in autumn on the end of the trailing stems though it is the purple underside of the glossy leaves which are the real highlight. It will grow in full sun or deep shade and can spread a great distance to form a weed suppressing mat. Even if it strays across a path and gets trodden on it keeps on growing. It is a low water use plant and will tolerate some light frost but may need to be replaced in a pot when it 'exhausts' the growing medium as it exhibits tawny or cream leaves from fertilizer stress when this happens.
2017 update: I have stock in 140mm pots. 

Hosta envy

I can't grow Japanese Hostas or the so called Plantain Lily. They like a cool climate, a shady location with humus rich moist soil and a vigilant protection from snails and slugs. That said I admired these in a plant trade market last week. That means they are available right now in retail Nurseries and Garden Centres

Bulbine frutescens

 Bulbine frutescens (Asphodelaceae)

This grassy onion leafed succulent is a recent find for me and one I see adding to the range of commercial plants I grow in time. Plants with attractive bright flowers which are able to tolerate dry shade are always welcome in my book. This 30cm high clump forming perennial groundcover is found growing in South Africa to Mozambique but has been much used in xeriscaping in Arizona, Texas and dry gardening communities in the US. A mention of it in a garden forum from a South Australian resident shows it does have a small fan base here, and the comment from that person praised its use as a sun burn cure in a similar way to Aloe vera.The 'tiny tangerine' flowers with their fluffy yellow stamens are carried on tall stems up to 60cm in length and are produced in succession up the stem from spring onwards.
2017 update: Failed to sell in the nursery trade market.

Verbena 'La France'

 Verbena 'La France' (Verbeniaceae)

We are having our Northern Hemisphere summer days right now and plants which originate from those cooler climes are looking their best. This Verbena came to my attention through the Beth Chatto gravel garden book where she included it in her list of drought busting continuous hot sunny day loving plants. Plants which thrive without additional summer watering or special treatment are always welcome and this certainly fits the bill.

It started to flower in late winter having sent out metre long trailing stems each topped with clusters of these pretty though scentless mauve flowers. This week I cut it back quite hard and used all the stem pieces for cuttings as you do.
2017 update: I no longer stock this Verbena

soft wood tip cuttings

Senecio radicans

 Senecio radicans (Asteraceae)

'String of Bananas'

  I am growing this popular succulent for use in vertical gardens and this specimen has already grown down 1.5 metres, with little red spur-like roots protruding from the stems along the way which are obviously in search of a some soil.
 There are two forms of this succulent ground-cover from South Africa ,one with grey leaves (glauca) and a plain green form. Leaf form can also vary from banana or fish-hook shape to globe shaped. Tiny shaving-brush like flowers appeared a month or so ago and these were attended by some beneficial insects which is a bonus when you are growing any plant these days.In cool climates this plant is grown indoors and it adapts well to shady or low light conditions.
2017 update: I no longer grow this succulent. 

Erodium reichardii 'Flore Pleno'

Erodium reichardii 'Flore Pleno' syn. Erodium x variabile (Gerinaceae)

Native habitat: Limestone cliffs, Cap de Formentor, Spain

It is at this time of year that I pay most attention to the propagation, by division, of species Geraniums. After late summer and autumn dormancy they spring back to life during short cooler days and start to produce new foliage and the first flower buds which will carry them through to a peak of flowering in a few months time. Congested clumps with their long swollen roots can be teased apart and those tipped with a rosette of leaves can be potted on. The roots themselves often have dormant buds and may send up new shoots if placed in a tray and re-covered with potting soil. Even the Australian species Pelargonium rodneyanum and the un-named Western Australian P. 'Mallee Magic' are propagated in this way at this time of year.

As I am fascinated by miniature thumbnail sized flowers, as much as big blousey ones, this Erodium fits the bill when it comes to the former flower size. It is a variable species and flowers may be white, pale pink and double or semi double.The dark pink stripes on the petals enhance the pink ones, hence 'Roseum' is sometimes tacked onto the botanical name. Cultivar names include 'Charm' and 'Pink Galaxy'. The original white flowering species was named by Swedish botanist Johan Andreas Murray (1740-1791) (he of Murraya paniculata) for his German mate and fellow plant hunter Dr Johann Jakob Reichard (1743-1782). 'Die schonsten arbenteuer in Deutschland' before Reichard died young of TB. Both worked out of Gottingen Botanic Garden.
This is a great plant for a rock garden or scree bed of 'alpines', where the term alpines refers to small rock hugging or scrambling plants and not necessarily a cold climate. I like to grow plants such as this in small flat troughs topped with a gravel mulch, ideally limestone chips for best growth. Bonsai pots are ideal for this. As it is a fairly tough little plant, not demanding of water or fertilizer, it will tolerate moderate frost but during the full heat of summer it is best moved to a shady location and given a rest until it comes to life again when the weather cools down.

the 'macro'

A way to go before it fills out this pot.

Just potted Pelargonium rodneyanum

Pelargonium carnosum

With the Collectors' Plant Fair vibe in the air (April 12 &13) it is time to fess up and admit to being a collector of obscure plants of one genera or another. One of my favourite nurseries at the Fair is that of Robyn Bible who specializes in all things Geranium/Pelargonium. I like this group of plants because many species have scented leaves and they are able to survive on very little water or attention. Pelargonim carnosum resembles a bonsai tree, a deciduous one at that, and is given a common name of 'fleshy-stalked pelargonim' .It occurs in semi desert regions or karroid vegetation localities of South West Africa, Richterveld, Namaqualand, South Western Cape and dry areas in the Eastern Province.
The flowers are an unfortunate shade of pus yellow/green with inflamed streaks on the upper petals.They are quite delicate and demand closer inspection with a hand lens to appreciate their form. Inflorescence 'tech heads' take note that the peduncles are usually branched to bear several pseudo-umbels with 2 to 8 flowers each.

Orange-Peel Thyme, Thymus richardii spp. nitidus

Thymus richardii spp. nitidus 
 Orange Peel Thyme

If you bury your face in a pot of this prostrate thyme your senses are assaulted by a fragrance of bitter oranges and pine, not a combination which endears it for use in the kitchen in a culinary foray, but more a scent one would expect to find in a men's cologne.

I grow this in a pot because the closely packed leaves and dense habit make it susceptible to fungal rot in late summer humid days. It perhaps needs to clamber through some rocks or across paving so as to avoid this habit of up and dieing for no apparent reason in a mild coastal climate. It also fails to flower for me so maybe needs a cold winter trigger to implement this though no matter as the it is worth growing for the unique scent alone.

 'What time the mighty moon

Was gathering light

Love placed the thymy plot

of Paradise'

Alfred Tennyson

Verbena rigida, Lilac Vervain

Verbena rigida (Verbenaceae )

I have not grown this species of Verbena for a number of years. I like the ferny soft foliage and the fact that it flowers non stop for months. In cooler climates it is usually treated as a summer annual but in warmer climes it will keep on going and re-blooming especially if given the occasional "haircut" to keep it looking good. Pink and white forms are sometimes available and it makes a terrific hanging basket plant as a stand-alone or when mixed with other flowers or foliage. It will tolerate dry and this is an advantage if using in a basket which we all know can dry out at a fast rate.

I am not aware of this species having become weedy like Verbena bonariensis has along roadsides and paddocks . It originates from Argentina.

Dianthus deltoides 'Arctic Fire'

Dianthus deltoides 'Arctic Fire' (Carophyllaceae)

The flower size on this mat forming perennial ground cover is only about that of a five cent piece (2cm across) but they pack quite a punch when displayed en mass, as each stem carries dozens of flowers at any one time. This 'Maiden Pink' has very dark green leaves and forms such a dense carpet, spreading to 30cm or more, that weeds are unable to make an appearance through its surface. Though given the term 'alpine plant' probably because it would be perfectly at home in a scree or rock garden, it is hardy across a range of climates and does not suffer the same fate in humid conditions of the grey leaved Dianthus by turning up its toes.

 Easily grown from seed sown at any time of year or propagated by division during autumn.

Golden Lemon Balm,Melissa officinalis 'All Gold'

Melissa officinalis 'All Gold'

Lemon in colour and flavour and a great plant for a shady corner, this variety differs from the closely related Melisa officinalis 'Aurea' (syn.'Variegata') , the variegated lemon balm, which has leaves splashed and speckled with yellow. The interesting thing about 'All Gold' is that it can spend quite a bit of the year with green leaves, at least from autumn till late spring, though some say this is a response to overly rich soil which favours the green leaves. This year when I trimmed back my plant in late winter I took cuttings which I just layered into the soil in the vegetable garden .These soon struck and turned golden while the mother plant sat with a dull green face. Given too much sun the leaves can quickly bleach white then scorch brown. Overall this variety is less vigorous than the common green lemon balm and is a very worthy addition to an ornamental shady garden or herb patch.

The lemon balms are good bee plants and the name 'Melisa' is synonymous with the Greek word for bee and they are kept happy within a hive from the use of this plant growing thereabouts. It also has a long history of culinary use and can be used in any way where a zesty lemon flavour is required. As it grows wild in the southern parts of France, the French were inventive in using it in all manner of ways. The celebrated Eau de Carmes or Carmelite water was a popular tipple in the seventeenth century. You can make a modern version by adding the flowering tops of balm to a litre of brandy along with a few twists of lemon peel and aromatics such as angelica root, cloves, nutmeg, coriander seeds and cinnamon sticks.Left for a week or so to let the flavours infuse and then strained, you have yourselves a cordial tonic to uplift the spirits.

Scented Geraniums

 Scented leaf geraniums (Pelargoniums) are ideal low maintenance plants because of their  water use and fertilizer requirements, small root system and, in some spreading or cascading habit. The varieties pictured here, clockwise from top, include fine leaf 'Royal Oak', lime scented, variegated peppermint-rose, apple, peppermint, lemon and nutmeg in centre.

Lampranthus spectabilis

Lampranthus spectabilis syn Mesembryanthemum roseum (Aizoaceae)

Sometimes called 'Ice-plants' or in Australia 'Pigface', the former common name gives a better reference to the origin of the word Lampranthus, it being from the Greek lampros ,meaning shining and anthos , flower. The flowers really do glisten like ice in the sun and though their flowering season is really for only a few weeks of spring they certainly make an impact during the brief display. This species grows to about 40 cm high and spreads to about 60 to 90 cm. Its natural habit is to sprawl which makes it good to use as a spillover at the edge of raised garden beds or in containers with other mixed succulents or annual flowers. These are popular plants to use in coastal landscapes as they stand up to salty winds and dry spells, though they are equally at home away from the coast as they tolerate a few degrees of frost. Shearing back after flowering helps to make the plant more compact otherwise it can look a bit open and straggly over time.

Corsican Mint, Mentha requienii

 Cheers to spring with Le Grasshopper cocktail

made fresh with Corsican mint

 Corsican Mint, Mentha requienii

Recently I have been hanging out at some French websites and blogs looking for information on this, one of their native plants. I was able to discover the history of the man behind this mint as well as a terrific recipe for mousse au chocolat which uses Corsican mint as an ingredient. 
I grow mine in a pot with a saucer of water underneath. It likes a cool shady spot and pictorial labels at nurseries will often claim it can be grown as a ground cover between paving stones and walked on, however the climate here is too dry and variable for this to be achieved without sub-surface irrigation and a lot of spare time to weed amongst the "carpet". Good luck to those who try. In a pot it can be kept on a table where it can be stroked like a pet cat to release the fragrance from the leaves and to recall the eminent Frenchman Esprit Requien (1788-1852) who grew up in Avignon and had a great passion for the natural world of plants and animals found in his region. He is forever remembered in that city by the natural history museum he helped establish, Le Museum Requien at 67 rue Joseph Vernet, as well as for his conservation efforts to save the medieval parts of the town from demolition during the 19th Century. As a young botanist he travelled to Corsica, documenting the flora of the island, and naming many new species. Imagine his delight at discovering this mint and how pungent and fragrant the leaves would have been to his senses especially if the day was hot and he had found a shady spot to rest. Requien obviously fell in love with the island and died at age 64 at Bonifacio, a town in the extreme south of Corsica, a place where the language merges with the Italian of Sardinia just across the water.

Buste d'Esprit Requien, Botanic Garden, Avignon

photo: Veronique Pagnier

Requien was one of the first scientists to develop the concept of "phytosociology" in his work with the flora of the famous Mont Ventoux describing how different plants and animals are associated with different altitudes.

 

Esprit Requien (1788-1852)

Recently the Museum Requien held an exhibition on Australian fauna and flora. I am sure he would have found this country a fascinating place to visit.

Nasturtiums on the march

Don't be fooled by those seed packets of compact growing Nasturtiums or the variegated variety 'Alaska' with its pretty marbled leaves, after a couple of years of self seeding they revert to the wild type and in mild climates they spend winter sending off long runners topped with large round leaves to cover as much ground as possible before the return of hot days which shrivels their leaves. By then, when those sweetly scented flowers have appeared, all is forgiven and you hardly notice that beneath the leaves there are hundreds of their large crinkly seeds littering the ground. They are usually light enough to float and in a summer downpour they may end up a long way from where they were originally planted. Clever evolution at work to ensure survival of a species.

Despite this 'weed potential' warning, the humble Nasturtium is much revered in French gardens, and in art for that matter, where it is know as Capucine.  In Monet's garden at Giverny a central walkway is roped off to allow them to spread across the path from both sides. In Marcel Proust's A la recherche.....a gardener is described pruning the leaves from ones allowed to grow up a trellis to window height against a wall. 'Fauve' artist Henri Matisse painted pagan rhythmical figures swirling around a central vase of nasturtiums in Capucines a la Danse .

Capucines a la Danse 1912

Henri Matisse (1869-1954)

'Danse' version 1,left, Metropolitan Museum of Art New York and 'Danse' 2 from the Pushkin Museum of Fine Art, Moscow.

 (As an aside about the Pushkin Museum, the recent sacking of the Director, Irina Alexsandrovana Antonova, at the age of 91, gives us all inspiration for a long and fruitful career in a chosen profession whatever the outcome.)

Weed or groundcover worthy of a place in the garden?

'Boulevard des Capucines'

Nasturtium bright colours in this French poster