Sweet versus spiky plants
Which do you prefer? Sweet, like this delicate purple shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)?
Or spiky, like this beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris )? Actually, I find these spiny, little mouse ears to be pretty cute. But they do have a bite if you get too close.
Here’s another sweet-looking flower, although I know spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis ) can be a thug in some gardens. I like the way the bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa ) glows yellow-green behind it.
I didn’t like spiky plants before I moved to Texas. But now I can’t imagine gardening without them. They tend to be structural focal points in the garden, they’re evergreen (or ever-purple, like this prickly pear), and they often look like they ought to be growing on another planet, they’re so outlandishly formed. Who can resist that, even if you have to wear gloves and goggles to plant them?
Or maybe it’s just a Texas thing.
What do you think?
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I’m just a plant floozy; I like them all! (with the exception of Bermuda grass, nut grass, and crab grass) I don’t have too many spiky cacti because I am a klutz and usually manage to invite stickers to enter portions of my body without even trying. Do love looking at them (cacti, not the stickers in my body) though and the blooms are always spectacular.
A plant floozy, eh? That’s good, Cheryl! Too bad about the spiky ones, but you’re right—-you don’t want to fall on those. —Pam
I can’t speak for Texans, but a friend of mine, while visiting your fine state, commented to me that there were a lot of spiky plants in Texas.
I think with the advent of that Phormium and Cordyline spiky has become the new it thing, however I’m more of a soft foliage type. A few spiky just for excitement.
Watch out, Grace. It starts with just a few. And then you find yourself gravitating to the spiky plants every time you go to the nursery! —Pam
I like a mix, it helps you appreciate both of them and gives the garden a little textural contrast. There are several plants that look spikey but don’t draw blood that Cheryl may consider.
That’s true. Someone else pointed out cordylines, and that’s a good “soft spiky” choice. —Pam
Oh no, it isn’t just a texas thing. I love those spiky plants. I wish I could have them outside all year long. The few spiky guys I have come inside during winter.
I knew you were a cactus lover, Lisa, since you’re a regular painter of them. —Pam
Those spiky plants are growing on me. since we are house hunting in the hill country up by Gruene, and will not have a fence around our new home, I think it is time to start studying about plants that the deer and I can agree on that they can stay. I am excited to make a change in my life — now if I can find the “perfect” house!!
You should have your pick of houses in this market, Pamie. Good luck! And you’ll find that spiky plants like agave and yucca look great with other plants that deer aren’t especially fond of: salvia, artemisia, rosemary—anything with fragrant leaves. —Pam
It doesn’t matter whether I liked spiky plants or not, I can’t be around them without injuring myself. I like to touch plants too much. I have 2 little potted cacti, I touch their spikes, even though I shouldn’t.
I know what you mean. Cacti are very tactile. Gentle touching is fine, of course, but it’s another story where eyes are concerned, and weeding around some of these monsters must be done very carefully. It’s a labor of love! —Pam
Our NC zoo has a fantastic cacti garden mixed with salvia greggii. I love the combo, especially when the cacti blooms.
Cameron
I bet it’s very colorful at that time of year. Cactus flowers are so lovely. —Pam
The answer is overwhelmingly YES and NO! YES! in that I love both sweet and spiky plants, but NO! in that, to me, a spiky plant IS still sweet! 🙂
I think so too, Monica. They’re irresistible. —Pam
I can’t imagine a garden without both, though I’ll admit that I wish some of the spiky, strongly architectural plants weren’t quite so spiny. And of course there are those spiky-but-sweet roses that so many people grow…
So true, James. I have a few of those myself. —Pam
I love them both. But I must admit that spiky plants are an addiction. I’m so drawn to their architectural drama. Mixing the soft and sweet with the spiky is best though I think.
I agree. The different textures make a great pairing, Jean. —Pam
The architectural plants can add so much structure to a garden-I love them for that and just for their dramatic shape and form, and also mixed with the sweet, soft plants.
Don’t you feel lucky to live where you can grow so many of the dramatic plants, Nicole? I know I do. —Pam
Yep, point out a plant and I’ll probably take to it. Haven’t found many I didn’t like.
Brenda
You’re a true plant lover, Brenda! —Pam
Sorry Pam, I prefer sweet. I think it is a Texas thing. If I lived there, I’m sure I’d learn to love spiky plants. But I’ll take soft and sweet anytime!
That’s OK, Robin. Not everyone in Texas appreciates spiky plants either, as I’ve learned through my design business. Hey, if we all liked the same things, the world wouldn’t be such an interesting place, would it? —Pam
Not a Texas thing at all, Pam, though my choices in spiky plants are somewhat limited to yucca, echinops and eryngium, some thorny bushes, and thistles, etc. I love yuccas because they look totally alien in my landscape, and their flowers are just so ebullient. but I love sweet too. Maybe because I’m mostly prickly but occasionally can be sweet (according to my longsuffering spouse, who knows..)
Ha! I wonder how my spouse would characterize me, if he had to do so in plant terms.
I like your spiky plants too, Jodi. I keep meaning to grow eryngium in particular. —Pam
I surprised myself last year when we visited the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens at the end of March. The first indoor garden we visited was the desert garden, and I loved it! For the first time I realized how beautiful spiky plants can be.
I always admire your agave, Pam, and I agree, those little mouse ears are cute! 🙂
Kerri, could that be your Australian blood asserting itself with a preference for thorny, dangerous plants? —Pam
I am fascinated by spiky plants…love looking at them and think they are a fantastic looking plant group over all, but give me a sweet blue flower and I am all ga-ga! What I love about your garden is the way you are able to combine them…outstanding! gail
It can be fun to branch out of one’s comfort zone with new plants, but when you go ga-ga over a certain kind, all you can do is embrace it. I love your sweet blue flowers too, Gail! —Pam
I think spiky plants are perfect for a hot and dry garden.
Yes, and I like them mixed with billowing salvias and other fine-leaved plants. —Pam