Nursery Nosings

We need to support our favorite nurseries year-round so that they'll be open and well-stocked next spring when we really need them! Believe me, there's plenty of reason to hang out in nurseries this time of year, and not just because of special events like the charming camel who will put in an appearance at Swansons over the holidays.

There are always new plants to drool over and dream about, like this ebony-foliaged daphne (Daphne x Houtteana). Update: Horticulturist Riz Reyes weighed in on this plant after reading this post, and here's his expert words about this beautiful new plant: "Sadly, Daphne x houtteana  is a poor garden plant. It's excellent as a container specimen by itself or amongst other companions, but this variety doesn't last long in the garden for most people. It's semi-evergreen, not all that fragrant, and looks leggy for most of the year." Still, it'd be a great foliage plant in a container ..perhaps treat it like a Hebe 'Amy' or other pretty little shrubs you can never be too sure about their life expectancy.....

The repeated lavender tones in this beautyberry (Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion) fluffed out with pale Japanese forest grass and ornamental cabbages, is sure to inspire some winter potting.

How about a display of rosemary contrasting clipped and loose forms? Few evergreen shrubs look so good in winter, and the strongly aromatic foliage is a cold-weather treat.

Best of all, you can always find a satisfying plant fix or two  - it was this gorgeous pairing of the new apricot/bronze Heucherella 'Sweet Tea' played off  the variegated Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' that gave me the pleasure of spinning springtime on a cold, blustery November afternoon.

Comments

[Gardening]

All ur pictures are very colorfull to my eyes ...Ofcours this is the gorgeous pairing of the new apricot..I always love to c evergreen shrubs in winter ..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpV5bFP657I Thanks a lot!!!

[Eric Swenson]

Valerie,

The Kruckeberg Botanic Garden would like you to be the speaker at their annual meeting Jan. 13, 2011. Are you available?

Eric, KBG Board Secretary

[Canada Drugs]

These all are really very colour ful flowers i like it so much. In all these there are so many things which is great to know about it.

[Riz Reyes]

Can't go wrong with Euphorbias and Heucheras, Tiarellas, and Heucherellas together. Love that combo and the effect you captured in your photo!

[Riz Reyes]

Sadly, Daphne x houtteana (Daphne laureola X Daphne mezereum)is a poor garden plant.

It's excellent as a container specimen by itself or amongst other companions, but this variety doesn't last long in the garden for most people. It's semi-evergreen, not all that fragrant, and looks leggy for most of the year.

[compression tights]

Here all these pictures are looking really colour ful i like it so much in all these there are so many things which is great to know about it. These all are looking really very interesting.

[Envelopes]

Plants are the most important and they plays the most important role in balancing our atmosphere and all the natural activities. I like to go to visit nursery very much so that I can spend some time with flowers and plants. I like to take care of them also.

[valerie Easton]

Thanks, Riz, I'll get this info up on the post - I love how blogs are so mutable, compared with print. I haven't grown this daphne, so I really appreciate your expertise....
Val

[Canada Drugs]

It is one of the excellent container here all these container there are colourful flowers is great to share with us. I really like it all these.

[Jim Fox]

Thanks Val for reminding everyone the importance of supporting our local garden centers and nurseries - the ones who make most of their living selling plants, not those "big" businesses that just bring in trailer loads as lost leaders which aren't even paid for unless the "big" store sells the plant. Any unsold plants the supplier isn't paid for.

Daphne x houtteana is actually a very good plant if you get the new, virus free plants. They are easy to spot in local nurseries as they are full of lusty growth and bushy. For years the original clone sold and passed around was very diseased, with leaves just at the tips and a gangly appearance. I've recently seen three large healthy plants in 3 very different gardens looking beautiful, with leaves from top to bottom. It grows in sun or dry-ish woodlands. Hold off on the compost and manures.

Jim

[Richie Steffen]

A bit more about Daphne x houtteana....

Too much of a good thing is the killer of this daphne. Provide excellent drainage and a sunny location. To keep it bushy pinch out the new growth, especially on younger plants.

In "regular" garden soils it can grow for a few years, but then kicks the bucket once it gets too much water during our heavy winter rains.

Richie