Hi there!

In this edition we will look at another Salvia which is a great long flowering hardy plant.

Salvia eigii

Salvia eigii is a beautiful herbaceous perennial which is native to Mediterranean woodlands and Shrub lands in Israel.  It  grows in a clump with leaves in a rosette formation to about 30-50cm high and 60-100cm wide.  The flower stalk will grow to about 100cm high and has branching inflorescences.

The flowers grow in whorls on the branching inflorescences which are about 20-30cm long. The flowers have a white lip and the hood is a light mauve colour on mine.  Although literature describes it as having a pink lower lip and purple hood and ruby coloured calyx.  Flowering time is from winter through to spring.  Although mine can still have flowers into mid summer.

Close up of flowers below show their colour.  Purple hood may be more apparent when flowers are new.  Always remember that soils can play a big part in flower colour as well.

The leaves are a dark green colour and can grow quite large, even up to 30cm long and 20cm wide.  They are entire leaves and the margin is dentate or serrate and the arrangement is opposite(two leaves per node).

Salvia eigii is a drought and frost tolerant plant which makes it desirable for many situations.  Excellent by its self in mixed planting or planted en mass in groups of 3 or 5 would make it look stunning.  Easily grown in full sun or even dappled or light shade.  Below you can see how the leaves are arranged opposite each other at each node.

It was named after Alexander Eig 1894-1938 who was a botanist at the Hebrew University in Israel and one of the first plant researchers in that country.  Born in Schedrin near Minsk in Belarus and died in Jerusalem from Cancer. He immigrated to Palestine when he was 15.  This is an excellent Salvia to provide a splash of colour in those winter months when not much is flowering, and even as we move into the warmer months, it still continues to flower.  All that is needed to keep it tidy is to prune the spent flower stems right back to its base.  See below the many branched inflorescences.

Cheers!

Hi there!

In this edition we will look at Penstemon barbatus, an outstanding member of the genus Penstemon  also commonly known as Beard tongues.  Penstemon barbatus commonly called Scarlet Bugler, is a beautiful plant flowering in summer with scarlet red flowers on tall stems to 90-100cm tall.  Stems can sometimes be shorter or taller as well.  There is also pink varieties available, yellow too.  The lower lip of the corolla is bent back sharply giving it a shark’s head silhouette, see below.

Barbatus means bearded and this is evident on the palate which is densely yellow bearded.  See below.

Basal leaves are glossy, 5-13cm long and mostly lanceolate or they can be ovate or spatulate.  Edges can be wavy or smooth.  The cauline leaves(on the stem) are linear to lanceolate and stemless.  The plant has a woody base with glossy leaves arranged in large basal mats.  I have one that’s about 50cm wide.

See above basal leaves and below a close up.

Below are the cauline leaves

Not normally a long-lived plant usually 5-10 years, longevity can be increased by deadheading.  Commonly pollinated by humming birds in its native habit although bee’s will pollinate as well.  I have found this Penstemon easily grown from stem cuttings.

Notice above how the stems rise majestically above the foliage, and below is a closeup of the flowering stem.

Native to Colorado to Arizona, Western Texas, New Mexico, Northern Mexico and South Utah, growing on dry hillsides and flats in sagebrush, pinyon and juniper, ponderosa and gambel pine communities.  Seen at altitudes of between 1300-2700m.  Will grow in a variety of soils but needs excellent drainage in area’s of high rainfall.  Drought and frost tolerant, best in full sun but will tolerate part shade as well.

An excellent Penstemon to grow in any garden situation for a flush of bright red flowers to brighten your day.

Cheers!

Hi there!

In this episode of Plants in focus we will look at a plant from the genus Spiraea.  This is a genus of approximately 80-100 species of shrubs mostly that are from  the Rosaceae family.  They are native to the Northern Hemisphere and the majority can be found in Asia.  Most are hardy deciduous shrubs.  Leaves are simple and arranged in an alternating spiral pattern.  Most species have lanceolate leaves(long and narrow) and the margins are usually toothed, sometimes cut or lobed.  The flowers are clustered together in inflorescences, mostly in dense panicles, umbrella like corymbs.

Spiraea cantoniensis is a deciduous or sometimes semi-evergreen shrub with showy clusters of white flowers in the middle of spring.  They don’t last long but the effect of massed flowers is quite spectacular.  Small rose like flowers have 5 or many more petals and they are borne in round clusters(corymbs) about 5-6cm in diameter.

S. cantoniensis is native to China in the province of Jiangxi and has been widely cultivated elsewhere in China and Japan for many centuries.  Jiangxi is located in the southeast of the country and the name is derived from the circuit administrated under the Tang Dynasty in 733.  Jiangnanxidao, Circuit of Western Jiangnan.  The Gan river dominates this province flowing through its entire length.  The Gan enters Lake Poyang in the north(largest freshwater lake in China) and in turn empties into the Yangtze River.  Climate is humid subtropical with short cool winters and hot humid summers. Annual rainfall is 1200 to 1900mm which may equate to why rice is the dominant crop in this province.  There are more than 2000 species of woody plants here as well.  The ancient Ginkgo also makes its home here.

See above how the plant has a nice arching effect.  This plant is also known as ‘Reeves spirea and bridal wreath and May bush, although many people will automatically call a Spiraea a may bush, it may not really be known as one.  Again, the need for scientific names is critical.  The name ‘May Bush’ relates to the fact that it flowers in the month of May in the Northen Hemisphere.  Usually late September and October and early November in the Southern Hemisphere.

This Spiraea will generally grow to about 1.5 x 1.5 metres with arching reddish-brown stems and green lanceolate toothed leaves to about 3-5cm long.  The leaves will turn yellow in Autumn but sometimes they will persist.  This plant will grow in sun or part shade in most soil types and doesn’t mind a bit of neglect now and then.  Best if left unpruned if possible because this keeps its natural mound of gracefully arching stems.  Frost and drought tolerant and best in a mixed shrub border or as a specimen plant or even a hedge would look stunning.

Another view of the arching stems, magnificent!

Last but not least.  Enjoy!

Cheers!