Oxblood lilies in bloom and other garden excitement
The red flags of oxblood lilies (Rhodophiala bifida) bloomed for two or three days in the front garden, but by yesterday they were shriveled in the heat and hanging at half mast.
A short but sweet show. I have only a few bulbs in this area, sprinkled across a section of the Berkeley sedge lawn. As they grow and I’m able to divide them, I hope one day to see them blazing in clusters throughout the sedge lawn. Won’t that be pretty?
Well, this is less pretty but fascinating nonetheless. A green lynx spider has caught a bee that was visiting the mullein. Look at the full pollen baskets on her legs. She won’t be bringing that home. I took this picture two days ago and visited the spider several times that day to watch her progress. She feasted much of the day on the bee. Yesterday I looked for her again, and she’d caught another smaller bee. Voracious!
The Turk’s caps (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii) sure are pretty right now.
Every time I’m out here I see a hummingbird flitting around and sipping from the fiery blossoms.
I bought this new variegated yucca at Vivero Growers this week. It wasn’t labeled, and the salesperson who helped me didn’t know the ID. It’s very upright with a central trunk. I was told it could get up to 10 feet tall! Anyone know what variety it might be? Update: Katherine of Vivero has ID’d it as Yucca aloifolia ‘Variegata’.
All material © 2006-2013 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
My guess would be Yucca aloifolia ‘Marginata’.
http://www.floridata.com/ref/y/yucc_alo.cfm
Good guess, Christopher. The definitive ID from the seller is Yucca aloifolia ‘Variegata’, which I think is just another name for the same plant. —Pam.
Why does the ID matter? It looks great!
It does! Still, I like to know what I’m growing. And I’m glad to know about your blog now too. Thanks for commenting. —Pam
I would go with Christopher’s answer! I am seriously thinking about some Oxblood lilies.
They are a heartening promise of fall here in Texas. Perhaps you’re eager for fall in S.C. too? —Pam
Thanks for posting more pictures of your oxblood lilies. What a bummer that they shriveled so quickly in the heat. I DO think they will look wonderful sprinkled throughout the sedge. Love the red of those Turk’s Caps too. Sorry I know nothing about Yuccas.
I should have more oxblood lilies popping up in the back garden soon, especially if we get some rain. Maybe they’ll last longer. —Pam
Your Turk’s Caps are beautiful! I planted some last year in a part shade bed and mine look awful. The leaves are turning yellow and the leaves look like something is eating on them. Do you know of any diseases/pests this plant might have? I’ve heard they are relatively pest and disease free.
I’m sorry to hear about your problems with Turk’s cap. I’ve always known it to be easy to grow. Perhaps ask Mr. Smarty Plants on the Wildflower Center website? —Pam
Your garden is quite busy. Fun to see all that is happening. An interesting new plant you have here too.
Oh yes, there’s lots going on in the garden. It’s always fun to take a close look. —Pam
I also think it is the Spanish bayonet yucca. I have the non variegated one and it is a monster. We removed 2 of the shoots this year as they were flopping over and very dangerous. Maybe more to go. It was even making new shoots along its length. Diana gave me a shoot of her variegated one which I planted outside the walls. I couldn’t cope with another monster although this one may not be so vigorous. I was wondering if your mullein was the native one and now I see it is from the yellow flowers. Yours were looking really nice. Mine on the other hand are looking very scrubby from lack of water.
Scary! I hope the variegated one will be less vigorous than the standard Spanish bayonet. Time will tell whether I’ve made a mistake with this one. But I just couldn’t resist those stripey leaves and erect form. —Pam
Pam- it is a Yucca aloifolia ‘Variegata’. That is funny- we have searched everywhere for the metal plant stake in the plant and just assumed it went home with you- maybe check your trunk- I bet it is in there maybe it fell out. When/if you find it you can use it as a marker. =0)
Michael said he helped you the other day- glad you found the Yucca pallida you had been looking for. You must have been referring to Clara- it was her second day- she’s doing great and learning a lot- she doesn’t know everything yet but is trying very hard. Next time just ask Michael or ask her to find out. Thanks for stopping by sorry to have missed you!
Thanks for the definitive ID, Katherine! No plant tag came home with me though — my trunk is clean, I promise. Clara and Michael were very helpful during my visit. In fact, I had a nice conversation with Clara, who told me that she was new to the job and how much she was enjoying it. I enjoyed my visit as well and took a few pictures, and I plan to post about your nursery in early October as part of my annual Support Your Independent Nursery Month drive. —Pam
That is a very nice variegated yucca, love the colors. I see you found a Y. pallida there too. Too bad the oxblood lilies arrived a little too early as we are getting cooler this week at last.
Look forward to seeing your post on Vivero and good to know you are getting ready to support independent nurseries again next month too.
Yes! At long last I found the 1-gallon paleleaf yuccas I’d been hunting for. And I’m definitely in for Support Your Independent Nursery Month, although I won’t be hosting a weekly giveaway this year — just too much going on. But I hope others will join me in posting about a local nursery they frequent. —Pam
Love that yucca! That would look great in my garden if I could find the room. Still trying to fit what I got at the Succulent Celebration in somewhere!?
I have a few more plants to squeeze in somewhere too, Candy. What was I thinking?! —Pam
That’s a great idea to have the oxblood lilies come up through the sedge. Are you going to do other seasonal bulbs as well? Maybe some naturalizing tulips or rain lilies?
Deer would eat species tulips, I assume, but rain lilies might be nice to try. I’ve been carefully watching to see if the deer would be interested in the oxblood lilies, but so far so good. —Pam
Katherine nailed it – Y. aloifolia Variegata, indeed. The aloifolia type (green) starts spreading via underground running roots once it is established. Can be a nightmare – a Yucca that screams “lawsuit” that takes over the whole bed. For a tamer one with the same variegation that’s even bigger, try Y. gloriosa Variegata.
Peter, does this variegated variety spread invasively the way the green one does? I was assured that it did not when I bought it, but if you have any contrary info, I’d love to know now. —Pam
Those lilies look wonderful in your sedge!!! I have the non-variegated version of your new yucca…so far…a few babies but I LOVE it! I love yours even more 🙂 Looks great!
Heather, it sounds like I’ll have pups to share before too long. I can’t decide whether to leave this yucca in the ground and take my chances on a crazy amount of pupping or to pot it up. I’m glad to know you like yours though. —Pam