One of the things that I am most passionate about is plants. From the beginning I have been enamored with different species, types and hard to find cultivars. The first time I went to the Northwest Flower and Garden show in 1997 was to see the display gardens and check out new plants. Even though I didn’t have a big garden I wanted to put in something that other gardeners would not know. I once applied for a job at Heronswood so I could be close to the rarest of plants.
I regularly look for unusual plants whenever I go to a nursery, in trade and gardening magazines, and order things that look interesting online. I’m thinking that many of my you have the same interest and would love to take a peek at my favorites of the moment. So I’d like to introduce the Plants I Dig series. You can look forward to a monthly post about the plants I’m currently ‘digging’ at the moment. Here’s what I’m digging for November.
Weigelia ‘Spilled Wine’ Shrub
At my local nursery (Valley Nursery) I ran across a new Weigelia. This charming little dwarf, ‘Spilled Wine’ (she’s the one with the dark leaves in the back) has the blackest of leaves that stay dark throughout the season without turning red or green. Previous dark leafed Weigelias had a problem with fading throughout the season. The size is perfect for blending with front of the border plants and the accent of the dark leaves creates drama for other plants.
Plant in sun or shade, deciduous with red/dark pink flowers in the late spring, early summer. Zone 4-8 and deer resistant to boot.
Try paring it with Lamium White Nancy, Black mondo grass, white heather Alicia, and a sprinkle of black sorbet violias.
Albuca ‘ Frizzle Sizzle’ Bulb
Another gem I discovered at Ravenna Gardens in Seattle is Albuca ‘Frizzle Sizzle’. It has spikes of fragrant orchid-like chartreuse flowers. The foliage looks like onions but twisted in to tight curls. It is one of the plants that is summer dormant so it comes into full flower in the fall. It is not happy in the cold so tuck it under cover and bring it in when it is ready to bloom.
It likes full sun to part sun, in a warm spot. Zone 8 – 10. It is a bulb but would appreciate a greenhouse in the winter.
Mine has a spot on the counter right now so I can enjoy its vanilla scent. The soil needs to dry out a little between watering.
Polyspora longicarpa ‘MonSaPaRby’ Fullmoon Polyspora
The Fullmoon Polyspora a beautiful Dan Hinkley introduction with Camilla like flowers and shiny new red leaves. The original seed was collected by Dan Hinkley in China. Related to Stewartia, and Camilla it blooms late winter to early spring. This is a perfect evergreen shrub to use as an accent or in hedging. Zone 7 in sun or part shade with few pests.
One thing I like to do is to keep new plants close to me so I can observe them. Sometimes I put them into a container with other seasonal plants or sometimes by the door to my office so I can go by them and touch them. If they have a scent I can enjoy it, if they change colors I get to observe that too. Experimenting with color combinations and cultural placement can be done and easily changed on a whim. It’s good to plan where they go before you buy but we’ve all purchased something on a whim and then struggled to place it. Keeping it out of the ground for a bit will help you decide where it goes. You can even add it in the garden without taking it out of the pot if you really aren’t sure.
What interesting plants are on your ‘Dig List’ right now?
