Abutilon & blue glass crazy
Winter-blooming ‘Marilyn’s Choice’ abutilon is dangling her red-and-yellow bells under evergreen “maple” leaves. Since trying ‘Marilyn’s Choice’ as my first abutilon a couple of years ago, I’ve added prostrate ‘Candy Corn’ and a no-name pink that flourishes even in dry shade. I just picked up a 4-inch white abutilon from Barton Springs Nursery to try, and I’m on the lookout for a variegated one. I sense a collection coming on.
I’ve also got a small collection of blue glass going on thanks to this Mexican gazing ball nested alongside a ‘Bright Edge’ yucca…
…plus, of course, my bottle tree sprouting from the softleaf yucca bed. Doesn’t it remind you of a towering yucca or agave bloom spike itself?
I posted a tighter shot of this view a couple of days ago. If you’re curious for plant IDs, from front to back there’s ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave (Agave ovatifolia), gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida), freeze-dried purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’), softleaf yucca (Yucca recurvifolia), and Mexican weeping bamboo (Otatea acuminata aztecorum).
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What great photos in this post. I’m planning a trip to our daughter in Houston in March. I wonder if she can grow agaves?
You bet, Commonweeder. The key in hot, humid climates like Houston is excellent drainage, either atop a mounded berm of sharp-draining soil or in containers. —Pam
I like your self portrait! Yes, it was the abutilon I was asking about in the previous comment…they have surprised me in my garden this winter with their blooms. I have Patrick’s. Your garden looks beautiful this time of year. The airy texture of the Mexican weeping bamboo is lovely among the spikes. Thanks for the fence info…
A garden without snow. How warm looking.
I love my Abutelons but so do the deer. Consequently, all mine are now planted in the dog’s yard.. where the deer never go. (unless someone leaves the gate open) The deer ARE teaching me about pruning though. LOL
I was looking through your site yesterday looking at plant ideas for my side garden. I am going to move my daylilies. Anyway, I kept thinking…wow, your garden looks pretty even in the winter. You have a lot of winter interest!
You do have a lot of winter interest. I thought Abutilon had to have sun…maybe I’ll try some in my shady fenced area. I like its pretty ‘petticoats’. It gets pretty big, right?
I’ve noticed some fountain grass in our neighborhood..right out in the deer infested areas. And, it came back from last winter. I always used it as an annual in our old garden, in DFW area. It looks good summer and winter. May be time to try it again, too.
Thanks for the inspiration….again.
Abutilon does best for me with some morning sun but midday and afternoon shade, Linda. Yes, it can get big if you don’t prune it back from time to time. —Pam
I was at BSN last weekend & also spotted the 4″ white abutilons – but passed it by (mainly because I hate buying plants without knowing the species name). Will be interested in reading how it does for you.
I love the delicate flower on your abution, reminds me of a poppy. Not a plant I am familiar with, so am off to look it up!
I am envious of your success with those beautiful abutilons. You are inspiring me to try once again so I too can have some winter blooms.
The abutilons are residing inside here and the temps outside are in single digits this weekend. I am falling into your gazing globe.
I like your winter shots. Thanks for the ID.
Love your garden! My husband & I have plans to create a blue bottle tree this spring but haven’t had much luck finding many blue bottles. Would love to know where you found so many! Maybe there is there a particular wine that comes in a blue bottle & I just haven’t found it? Thank you for having such an inspiring blog – it’s warming up in Texas today!! Kathy
Hi, Kathy, I’m a fan of your blog. Bob of Draco Gardens turned me on to it. As for the blue bottles, most were given to me by a sake-drinking friend (sake comes in blue bottles). I emptied a couple of my own that I think were a chardonnay. —Pam