A little winter greenery, and trying to find a plant I love
It’s been raining since last Friday, so I thought I’d share a few garden pics taken before the deluge. This is one of my favorite combos for winter and indeed all year long (clockwise from top): ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia, Everillo sedge (Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’), and ‘Sparkler’ sedge. (The glossy leaves on the right are holly fern.)
‘Soft Caress’ mahonia stays low, about 2 feet high and wide, and the sedges are even smaller, making for a lovely foundation-height combo for shade or light morning sun. ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia has been nibbled by deer in other parts of my front yard, although not here next to the house. If you have a serious deer problem, it’s probably not bulletproof. The sedge has been very deer-safe for me.
This combo has been so successful and admired by visitors that I’d like to replicate it in other parts of my garden. Alas, while ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia is relatively easy to find at local nurseries (it’s part of the Southern Living Plant Collection), the sedges are proving elusive. Southern Living sent me the ‘Everillo’ sedge to trial in my garden a couple of years ago, and I haven’t seen it locally since then, although you can order it directly from their SL Plant Collection.
‘Sparkler’ sedge (Carex phyllocephala ‘Sparkler’) is even harder to find. Once widely available in Austin nurseries, it’s been MIA for a year. I called several local nurseries last week to find out why, including The Natural Gardener and Shoal Creek Nursery, and learned that there was just one grower of ‘Sparkler’ sedge for all of Texas, and it got flooded out earlier this year, losing its stock. The grower told the buyer at The Natural Gardener that they have no plans to wholesale ‘Sparkler’ sedge again any time soon. What?? It’s crazy that such a wonderful plant for dry shade in central Texas isn’t available. I searched for an online supplier, but every place is sold out or sells only tiny 4-inch plants. It’s a slow grower, so I really wanted a few 1-gallons. I guess I will be forced to divide my existing plants, even though their slow growth means I’ll have to be very patient for a few years.
Moving on, here’s a little cactus and succulent combo in a wall planter. The leggy ghost plant is climbing the back of the cactus and resting on top, like a succulent flower!
Catching a few rays of sunshine last week, the fan-like leaves of our native dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) add drama and year-round greenery.
They seem to be peeking through their fingers at the sunrise, don’t they?
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Unfortunately it looks like I’m going to have to start paying attention to what you and other bloggers say about deer-proof or at least deer-resistant plants. We have some roaming our neighborhood now, for the first time since we moved here 7 years ago. Bummer.
That is a big bummer, Alison. Good luck thwarting them. —Pam
That is a nice combination. The mahonia is available here, too, but thus far has been too expensive whenever I’ve seen it for me to try. Seems like both of those sedges are readily available here. Several PNW mail-order nurseries have them. Having worked at both Plant Delights in NC and Cistus in OR, I can say that both nurseries tend toward very full pots, whatever size they have listed, but there’s no guarantee. That and shipping costs are the downsides of mail-order.
I love sabals. I just think they’re fantastic, and prefer them to taller palms. Why have those fabulous fronds way in the air when you can keep them up close and personal? They are so very slow in the cool PNW, though.
They grow slowly here too, Evan, which I count as a good thing since they can eventually grow to 10 feet. I much prefer them at 3 feet. —Pam
I laughed outright upon seeing that succulent-cactus combo – it’s very cute. Too bad about the ‘Sparkler’ sedge. I tried to remember if I’ve ever seen it here. Monrovia lists it in their catalog but shows it as currently unavailable; however, Plant Lust suggests that it’s currently available through its network, albeit at a hefty price for a 3-inch pot.
Yeah, I’ll just divide my existing ones. If I have to wait for a small plant to grow, I might as well get it for free. —Pam
Yes, I love Sparkler, too, but it’s been the dickens to find since I managed to get one several years ago. I did land a couple at Barton Springs Nursery this past year, but I would love to have more. Let’s hope someone else starts growing them!
Lucky to have gotten a couple at BSN, Linda! Yes, we need a new grower for our area. —Pam
Lovely greens. I tried the soft Caress Mahonia. I guess I am too far North for that. It didn’t survive. That succulent perched on the cactus is cute.
Aw, that’s too bad about the mahonia, Lisa. But I’m sure you have many other lovely options for your climate. —Pam
Hope some growers in your region will be inspired to supply!
OT: a Twitter RT brought this article and book on photographing owls to my attention, and I immediately thought of you. Fun present for photogs and nature lovers from any region. http://www.audubon.org/news/let-pro-teach-you-how-take-great-owl-photos
I’m on the lookout for a screech owl in our owl box, Nell, although it’s a bit early yet. This morning I listened to a great horned owl hooting from the neighbor’s yard. I’m definitely into owls! —Pam
Your combination of greens with their various colors and textures is lovely. Mahonia is a nice plant and so are the sedges. I use Carex ‘Evergold’ frequently in my designs as it provides evergreen color and interesting foliage all year round. Your cactus with the succulent climbing on top me laugh. Wouldn’t it be great if it could be grafted?!
I was dubious about ‘Everillo’ performing well in our blisteringly hot, humid, yet often rainless summers, Lee. So I was pleasantly surprised to see it’s thriving along a north-facing wall. We have so few chartreuse plants here in Texas, where foliage runs more to silver-gray. I’m thrilled and will be trying more of it. —Pam
I love ‘Sparkler’ but it didn’t do well for me. Now I am inspired to try again. Those last two shots, flirting with the light, are spectacular.
The palmetto leaves were like hands reaching for the light. Hope you have better luck with ‘Sparkler’ next time, Ricki. —Pam
I am also a huge fan of Everillo sedge. It has done beautifully in part shade here in Raleigh NC 7B. In an area where many other plants have languished or failed, it is thriving. I got my original plant from Plant Delights Nursery, but saw it at Home Depot last spring! Wish I’d bought every one they had!
Ooh, I bet so, Marilyn! —Pam
I tried sparkler 3 times in dry shade next to society garlic and the sedge just dried up. The society garlic is fine. My palmetto is within 3 feet of the sedges and it is growing very slowly but still alive. Well water and soil is very alkaline.
Bummer, Sasser! Sometimes a plant just fails to thrive in a certain spot, despite our best efforts. It’s frustrating though. —Pam