Spike it! Bloom spires in my garden
The garden is certainly not vertically challenged this spring. Many of my woody lilies are in bloom, stretching skyward with skinny bloom spikes topped with tubular, triangular, or cascading flowers. This tiny aloe used to live on my kitchen windowsill, where it bloomed regularly. It seems to like being outside (in warm weather, at least) just as well.
Nearly all of my dyckias are blooming, including D. choristaminea ‘Frazzle Dazzle.’ I bought several of these hardy dyckia at Raleigh’s Plant Delights on a visit last summer. This one has a home in my cinderblock wall planter.
Two weekends ago I bought this dainty, unnamed dyckia at Peckerwood Garden‘s plant sale. It’s bravely sending up a yellow bloom spike in front of the hulking Yucca rostrata.
But the granddaddy bloom spike right now has to be that of the softleaf yucca (Y. recurvifolia), which elevates a chandelier of creamy white bells over spiky blue-green leaves.
All three of the softleafs in the bottle-tree bed are blooming, and so is another one in the front garden. They are very showy.
Behind them, higher on the terraced beds, several ‘Chocolate Chips’ manfreda are also sending up tall bloom spikes. They are at least 6 feet tall.
Closer to the ground, the blue spires of seed-grown Texas bluebonnets are still going strong.
And it’s prime season for shade-loving Gulf Coast penstemon (Penstemon tenuis) and Salvia coccinea ‘Coral Nymph’ (in the background).
OK, I’m going off track of my bloom-spike theme by including charming yellow columbine…
…the magenta chalices of winecup (Callirhoe involucrata)…
…and yellow buttons of strawflower (Chrysocephalum apiculatum ‘Flambe Yellow’), but I just can’t resist. Whether high or low, the garden is flush with spring flowers. I’m enjoying it while it lasts.
All material © 2006-2012 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Wow, those yucca blooms are fabulous! I also love the little wine cups. I winter sowed some Penstemon tenuis this past winter that are coming up. Hopefully all the little seedlings will make it through this fluctuating weather!
That’s a tough little penstemon. I bet you’ll have plenty for spring color next year. —Pam
I love that yellow Columbine, bet it really pops in the garden. Your bottle tree reflects the blues in the yucca wonderfully.
Thanks, Janet. I also like how the bottle tree echoes the form of the yuccas. —Pam
I simply must add a little strawflower grouping! Yours is knockout gorgeous, and that lovely silver foliage! What’s not to like? I have the ‘Frazzle Dazzle’ dyckia also, and enjoy it in a pot. Mine hasn’t bloomed yet but I may have upset it by potting it on this spring. Your softleaf blooms are spectacular. Have you ever tasted those like they prepare them in Mexico – dipped in batter and deep fried, like tempura? I’ve eaten squash blooms prepared this way (delicious) but somehow missed out on these flowers.
Sandy, I have never eaten yucca flowers and didn’t even know you could! Sounds interesting. —Pam
Your garden is rich with blooms! I bought a Dyckia choristaminea ‘Frazzle Dazzle’ at the SF Garden Show, with bloom spikes already emerging. Oh how I wish one (or three) of my Aloes would bloom!
My aloes bloom in spring, which is probably about the same temperature as a Portland summer. Do your aloes not bloom then? —Pam
So ‘Frazzle Dazzle’ has been growing well for you? I’m thinking about buying it along with a few other plants from Plant Delights. I didn’t see the blooms till this post, and now I’m really liking it!
We haven’t had a real winter since I acquired it, but it came through last summer (and our mild winter) with flying colors. You may be able to find it locally. I remember seeing it in Austin somewhere after I’d brought it home from Plant Delights. Maybe at Hill Country Water Gardens or the Great Outdoors…Update: Sandy (below) says she got hers at Vivero Growers. —Pam
I bought my ‘Frazzle Dazzle’ at Vivero’s, on Hwy 290 on the way to Dripping Springs from Austin.
Thanks for the tip, Sandy. Vivero has a wonderful selection of plants for retail or wholesale. —Pam
Great plant shots, but i was also looking at the surroundings. It took me a moment to realise the aloe in picture 1 was planted in a hollow concrete block, and the blue bottle post looks stunning, especially next to the yucca flower spike! Very artistic 🙂
Thanks, Gaz! Yes, that’s my cinderblock wall planter (click for a larger picture), which I’ve planted up with succulents. And the bottle tree provides a burst of color and echoes the form of the yuccas. —Pam
We Portlanders with the webs between our toes salute you (a little enviously)
And I envy you your rain, Ricki! —Pam
You do have lots of plants blooming. That tiny aloe is a cutie.
You just want to pinch its cheek, don’t you? 😉 —Pam
Awesome! I haven’t been to Vivero, so this should provide some impetus to actually go!
You’re in for a treat, A.R. Do you follow Vivero’s blog?
Really snazzy Frazzle Dazzle blooms; mine has never bloomed, but after seeing the flowers, sure hope it does!
They’re almost triangular, RBell, and quite unique. —Pam
Lovely post, Pam…I had no idea those Manfreda bloomed on such tall stems..very cool! Love the Bluebonnets…so charming…and the Callirhoe really ads some intense color!
Those manfreda bloom spikes are amazingly tall for such a low-growing plants, Scott. I’ll get more pictures once they open. —Pam
Just in case it’s helpful, I didn’t find Frazzle Dazzle at Vivero’s, which was a fun place to visit otherwise! Came back with a Lion’s Tail. 😛
I’ll let you know if I see ‘Frazzle Dazzle’ dyckia for sale anywhere, AR. —Pam
Everything is reaching for the sky! My asparagus just won’t quit.
Sounds yummy! —Pam
Wonderfully pretty blooms!
Your bottle tree is a good example to the spikey plants, inspiring them to grow taller, I’m sure! And I like how you are using concrete blocks as containers.
Have a great week-end!
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie
Thanks, Lea. Happy gardening to you! —Pam
The Yucca are really lovely. I do like their flowers although many here chop them down. I do like your CMU block planting. It is a nice contrast of materials.
People chop down the yucca flowers?? Why? I look forward to them all year. Are you sure it’s not the deer getting them? They LOVE yucca flowers. —Pam
Thanks for sharing your garden. I’m not familiar with some of the plants you can grow (I’m in zone 6) – I always enjoy seeing new gardens.
As do I. I’m glad you stopped by, Claudia! —Pam
I love your writing and your photos. thanks for sharing.
Why, thanks, Jane! I’m glad you took the time to visit and comment. —Pam