Brilliant scarlet in autumn
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Spring leaves bronzy, turn green in summer and then brilliant scarlet in autumn, with contrasting blue berries with red stems.
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Note: This is a plant not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.
Adorable dwarf shrub bearing orange-red blooms in July and August then tiny, edible pomegranates. Where not hardy makes good container plant and bonsai.
Size: 2-4’ x 2-4’
Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained to well-drained soil
Native: Europe to Himalayas
“The plants will bear miniature fruit if grown in areas with year-round temperatures that rarely fall below 40° F. To grow indoors, moderate night-time temperatures should be given (50° to 60° F). Keep at 40° to 45° F in winter until new growth appears. In the growing period, keep moderately moist. Water sparingly from August on. This plant requires good drainage. Plants will bear fruit indoors if grown in a sunny exposure.” Issour Botanic Garden. It is deciduous and may lose its leaves.
This dwarf described in 1803.
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Cluster of crimson, star-shaped florets atop 2’ stems bloom their heads of ALL summer into fall.
Size: 24-36”x 12”
Care: Sun in well-drained alkaline soil, drought tolerant
Native: Mediterranean
Wildlife Value: attracts butterflies, bees and hover flies.
Centranthus is from the Greek meaning “spurred flower.” According to Culpepper, an English herbalist from the early 1600’s, this plant comforts the heart and stirs up lust. Parkinson, in 1629 describes it “of a fine red colour, very pleasant to behold.”
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Mounds of decorative, silver-edged foliage all summer with sunshine yellow button flowers in October to November
Size: 12-24” x 12-36”can pinch back in June to make compact
Care: sun in well-drained to moist well-drained soil
Native: coasts of Japan
1st described by Japanese botanist Takenoshin Nakai in Botanical Magazine 42: 462. 1928.
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Note: This is a plant not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.
Rosette of thick silver-grey leaves with an inch-long terminal tip of each spine and offshoots, knowns as “pups” emerge near the base, even of young plants. Flowers only once & takes +10 years. In Z 5-6 plant in spring to get established.
Size: 18” x 18-28”
Care: sun in well-drained soil. We grow this in Z 5A on the south-facing side of a mound of well-drained soil, with a few large rocks nearby and gravel mulch.
Native: mountains of Arizona and New Mexico.
First Americans in the SW traded baked leaves and buds hundreds of years ago. Roasted stalks,baked buds & water mixed & fermented make pulque, further distilled to make mescal or tequila.
