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My favorites feature, for August 2015

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Last week, when I wrote a fav post about Correa backhouseana, I was tempted to include the Teucridium parvifolium, a New Zealand shrub, growing right next to it...

Tiny leaves...

On wiry orange stems, what's not to love? Plus it's got that "weave in and out" - while not taking up much space - quality that I need in plants I'm squeezing in where there is really no room.

I bought it last spring at Xera Plants, here's what they have to say about it: "Teucridium parviflorum Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) A great textural plant that performs well as a seasonal plant in containers or as a sub-shrub in the ground. Thin, wiry stems with small spoon-shaped leaves and in late spring through summer small white flowers. Semi-evergreen to deciduous. To 30" tall  and as wide in a single season if frozen to the ground.  Regrows in spring, otherwise a small shrub. Full sun to light shade, rich soil and occasional irrigation."

It is nearly impossible to get a good photo of...

Speaking of wiry, may I present Muehlenbeckia astonii, another odd looking plant that I simply adore.

All summer long I've been admiring how well it works with the Sedum palmeri, even when seen through a photo bombing Yucca schottii.

From Cistus Nursery: "This is one of the most unusual of the wire vines -- and it's not even really a vine! Another archetypically New Zealand plant with its wonderful divaricating, beak-proof adaptation. M. astonii forms a 3', very dense mound of black, wiry stems adorned with tiny round leaves and minute flowers pollinated by who-knows what, but something really, really small. Has the same architecture as the genus Corokia but tighter and smaller. Prefers moist, well-drained soil and bright light for best form. Frost hardy in USDA zone 8."

And about the Sedum palmeri Xera says: "A wonderful evergreen Sedum that is an excellent garden performer in the PNW. This form was found at 10,000' elevation in Mexico and has been reliably hardy down to 0 °F. Lovely gray/blue rosettes at the end of trailing stems. Yellow flowers in late winter. Full sun to light shade in well drained soil. Performs with or without water in summer. Cut back in spring to tighten up the new rosette. 10" x 10". Great container plant."

They both look great with the Dasylirion wheeleri too, but I've already "fav'd" that one (read it here).

Sedum palmeri really is a great plant for tucking in just about anywhere...and it looks like a less-hardy succulent than it actually is.

A new variegated version? No...this is what happens when you bring it home from the nursery and put it in too much sun.

Finally, my last featured plant Pyrrosia lingua 'Variegata'...

I am a fan of the regular Pyrrosia lingua so you throw in a striking dark green on chartreuse variegation and yes please, I'll take several! (current count is two)

This is an older leaf...

I first spotted this plant at Cistus Nursery but foolishly waited to long to make the purchase and lost out on them. Later in the season they turned up at Xera and that's where I grabbed mine: "A striking form of the vigorous and handsome leather fern. New growth is irregularly marked with yellow before settling down to a rich army green. The 1' elongated leaves rise from a spreading clump that will slowly-but eventually stretch 2' wide. To 2' tall. Spread by stolons on the surface of the ground. Excellent in shady containers and well as in the ground in shade. Regular summer water in well drained soil. Evergreen - handsome year round."

So that's my "too lazy to type so I just copy/pasted nursery descriptions" favorites wrap-up for the month of August (ugh! it's the end of August!!!)...what's looking in good in your garden this month? Tell us in the comments! (please)

All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

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