That’s what I was asked recently when a fellow blogger visited my garden for the first time.
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Ya okay…so I have a few…only fourteen…that’s not too many…right? I mean plant lust lists 97 of them so I don’t even have a quarter of the possibilities!
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Actually I am still a little astonished I can successfully grow these in my garden, I think of them as being something you’d only see growing in California not in Portland, Oregon.
My plants bloom in various shades of yellow, yellow/green, and dark pink verging on red. But it’s the shades of yellow I like the best.
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As good as the blooms are it’s the little seed capsules that follow which really capture my attention.
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My first Callistemon purchase was ‘Woodlander’s Hardy Red’ in March of 2009. Then:
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Now:
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And in bloom:
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I think the “favorite Callistemon foliage” award might go to C. pallidus 'Blue Foliage’
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(same plant, different day/different angle)
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The new growth on C. ‘Clemson’ is gorgeous, but a word to the wise this one has suffered some winter freeze damage on the tips.
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Callistemon pityoides 'Excellent' is blooming right now…
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The foliage...
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In case you’re curious here’s my list, with quantities in parenthesis:
C. ‘Clemson’ (2)
C. NOID (2) (From the Cistus tough love sale in 2011, I think they might be C. sieberi)
C. pallidus 'Blue Foliage’
C. pityoides 'Excellent'
C. sieberi
C. viridiflorus (2)
C. viridiflorus 'Xera Compact' (2)
C. ‘Woodlander's Hardy Red’ (3)
So why am I carrying on about this genus of plants from Australia? Well besides the fact I think they’re pretty fabulous, I have a feeling they might be part of Paul Bonine’s talk “Up With Down Under - hardy plants from the southern hemisphere including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America.” This talk is part of the “Gen(i)us Program” from the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon and is open to members and the general public. I pre-registered for the program but have conflict and won’t be able to attend, so I want to give away my “ticket” to someone who can (this means you need to be in the Portland area).
The program is scheduled for Tuesday, October 8th at 7pm at the Multnomah Arts Center, if you’re interested in attending leave a comment below saying so and be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win. Deadline to enter is this Sunday the 29th at midnight, random winner announced on Monday the 30th. Good luck!
***And because I'd love to get a new plant lover in touch with the HPSO and all the exciting things they do tell me you're not a member of the HPSO and your name will be entered into the contest twice!***
All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Ya okay…so I have a few…only fourteen…that’s not too many…right? I mean plant lust lists 97 of them so I don’t even have a quarter of the possibilities!
Actually I am still a little astonished I can successfully grow these in my garden, I think of them as being something you’d only see growing in California not in Portland, Oregon.
My plants bloom in various shades of yellow, yellow/green, and dark pink verging on red. But it’s the shades of yellow I like the best.
As good as the blooms are it’s the little seed capsules that follow which really capture my attention.
My first Callistemon purchase was ‘Woodlander’s Hardy Red’ in March of 2009. Then:
Now:
And in bloom:
I think the “favorite Callistemon foliage” award might go to C. pallidus 'Blue Foliage’
(same plant, different day/different angle)
The new growth on C. ‘Clemson’ is gorgeous, but a word to the wise this one has suffered some winter freeze damage on the tips.
Callistemon pityoides 'Excellent' is blooming right now…
The foliage...
In case you’re curious here’s my list, with quantities in parenthesis:
C. ‘Clemson’ (2)
C. NOID (2) (From the Cistus tough love sale in 2011, I think they might be C. sieberi)
C. pallidus 'Blue Foliage’
C. pityoides 'Excellent'
C. sieberi
C. viridiflorus (2)
C. viridiflorus 'Xera Compact' (2)
C. ‘Woodlander's Hardy Red’ (3)
So why am I carrying on about this genus of plants from Australia? Well besides the fact I think they’re pretty fabulous, I have a feeling they might be part of Paul Bonine’s talk “Up With Down Under - hardy plants from the southern hemisphere including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America.” This talk is part of the “Gen(i)us Program” from the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon and is open to members and the general public. I pre-registered for the program but have conflict and won’t be able to attend, so I want to give away my “ticket” to someone who can (this means you need to be in the Portland area).
The program is scheduled for Tuesday, October 8th at 7pm at the Multnomah Arts Center, if you’re interested in attending leave a comment below saying so and be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win. Deadline to enter is this Sunday the 29th at midnight, random winner announced on Monday the 30th. Good luck!
***And because I'd love to get a new plant lover in touch with the HPSO and all the exciting things they do tell me you're not a member of the HPSO and your name will be entered into the contest twice!***
All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.