Falls rains are breathing new life into my garden and candlestick plant, Senna alata, is lighting the way. This plant has been an excellent performer for me this year and definitely deserves star status.
First blooms from new garden plants are always the most exciting. Sometimes you find some new star performers and sometimes the relationship is just not in the stars.
I planted this dwarf Barbados cherry, Malpighia glabra 'Nana', a couple of years ago and now I'm finally reaping the rewards. The flowers will produce little fruits which are edible. I've tasted them in another garden. They're okay, but they won't replace actually cherries anytime soon.
After waiting impatiently for my pass-a-long pond crinum, Crinum procerum, to bloom, I was finally rewarded. It was definitely worth the wait, but I wish the flowers lasted longer. I guess you could say this crinum is a shooting star. Thank goodness for cameras and generous gardening friends like Pam at Digging, who shared this pond crinum with me.
Another first bloom for me this year is this Philippine violet, Barleria cristata. Finding the right spot for this plant and keeping it watered was a little challenging. But, voila, it all worked out! It's a little early to decide if this plant will be a future star in my garden, but it's definitely a great fall bloomer.
This impulse buy really panned out. Brazilian button flower, Centratherum punctatum, has been a star performer that has bloomed non-stop since I bought it in April. I have it in a large pot and couldn't be happier with it. I'll take cuttings or try to overwinter it in the greenhouse, so I'll have it in the garden again next year.
This is actually my second year with this cleome hybrid, Senorita Rosalita, but I think the Senorita and I will be parting ways. She just can't seem to hold up in our heat. I purchased 3 plants and the only one still hanging in there is the one in dappled shade. The lower part of the plant is completely denuded, but there's still a few flowers and leaves clinging to the very top.
Out with the old and in with the new. This Wendy's wish Salvia is a keeper and hopefully, a continuing star in my garden. It's cold tolerance is questionable for Zone 8, so I'll have to see if it comes back reliably in the spring.
Behind the Wendy's wish salvia is cow pen daisy. I've grown this daisy before, but not on purpose. It volunteered in my garden one year and I was bowled over by it's non-stop performance even during the hottest, driest part of the summer. This plant is a star for sure and yellow to boot.
I've had pretty good luck with purple coneflower, but the white one is not cooperating. I thought I lost it, but it's struggling to make a come back. Coneflowers are so pretty. I think it's worth a little extra effort to help this little guy become a star some day.
I hope you found some new star performers for your garden this year.
Happy Bloom Day! Please join May Dreams for a list of other bloggers celebrating October 15th with gorgeous flowers from their gardens.
I'm glad your pond crinum bloomed before the cool weather set it back. Maybe next year it'll be revved up for more than one bloom cycle. I see that you and Jenny both have Philippine violet in bloom. Mine is still waiting, but I'm hopeful.
ReplyDeleteCool! I didn't realize the pond crinum had repeat bloomer potential. I'll look forward to that next year. It's such a pretty plant even when it's not blooming. I love that burgundy foliage.
DeleteI love it for the dark foliage too. But yes, mine blooms two or three times a summer. I suspect if it were in full sun it might do even better. ---Pam
DeletePretty variety of blooms and very helpful post Ally. Stapelia is always a stunner even with the flies.
ReplyDeleteI just planted Wendy's Wish and it's nice to know it stands up to heat. We are a bit warmer and it's near a wall so it should be good in San Antonio winters. Nice combination ideas I collected cowpen daisy seeds in the wild this year because I noticed how well they stand up to our summers.
I see we have several plants in common, including the Stapelia gigantea. Very interesting plant. One that I don't have is the senna, but I really want to add it as soon as I can figure out a spot for it.
ReplyDeleteIf you can find some seeds, it's easy to start yourself. I start them in the house or greenhouse and put them out after the last freeze. They can get pretty big depending on your soil, rainfall etc...
DeleteYou have an outstanding cast for Bloom Day. Candlesticks are the only one of those that my garden boasts right now.
ReplyDeleteCandlestick plant is so under used here in Central Texas. It's sometimes challenging to find it in the nurseries, but I noticed a few places carrying it in the spring. It's a larval host plant for the cloudless sulfur butterfly, so I try to include it in my garden every year.
DeleteSave seeds! Candlesticks are easy grom seeds, they're big seeds. Start early; mine are just little things because of a late start.
DeleteThe white shrimp you asked about: This is the first time it ever bloomed outside. Usually they're blooming in late winter in the greenhouse and when they are planted out, they stop forever. I think it may have been all the rain we had in July and August. I used to think it was day-length sensitive. Maybe not.
I feel the same way about the Philippine Violet - It takes more water than I want to give it, and it's kinda finicky about where it wants to grow, but it sure does put out the blooms when fall comes.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the Philippine violet will hang in there. It's looking good now that we've had some rain, but the leaf margins are a little crispy where it struggled during drying times.
DeleteWhat a star, Stapelia gigantean! Never heard of it before, obviously not very well suited for my climate but enjoyed your photo. Actually all of your plants except the salvia and the coneflower were new to me, I see something new every time I visit blogs around the world, thanks for sharing and happy Bloom Day!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your photo of the Stapelia gigantean, Spotted one in Tucson last year but didn't catch the name. What a wonderful garden you have shared. Thank you.
ReplyDelete