Ghost plant in bloom is boo-tiful
A few years ago I hung from a tree a dish planter with a few sprigs of ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense) tucked around a variegated squid agave — each one a cutting or pup from existing plants in my garden. A bunch of leftovers. And now it’s grown into a combo that thrills me in every season, especially spring, when the cascading ghost plant goes starry with pale yellow flowers on long stems.
I mean. It’s a pastel confection of dusty pink rosettes with aqua centers. A profusion of straw-yellow flowers bristle from every rosette. in the center, a spearmint-green squid agave (A. bracteosa ‘Monterrey Frost’), her ivory stripes echoing the ghost plant’s flowers, arches her tentacled arms over the scene.
Shazam! Ghost plant is generally winter-hardy here in Austin. But because it’s in a hanging planter (i.e., exposed), I always take it down and put it in a sheltered spot on the ground (for warmth) during ordinary freezes. During the Arctic Freeze From Hell, I brought it indoors.
The sunsets have been on fire lately — compensation for the freeze-blasted bareness of the garden? This one from a couple days ago wowed me with shades of coral, mango, and gold.
Dusty violet soon followed, which always reminds me of Austin’s nickname, City of the Violet Crown.
By the way, I’ve updated my post about the Big Freeze to reflect the current status of plants I could only speculate about 6 weeks ago. Scroll down to “5 days post-freeze – Feb. 24: How much green is left?” for the updates.
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Digging Deeper
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All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Your descriptive writing skills and exceptional photography are on grand display here, thanks for sharing your gifts with us, I fully appreciate your blog!
What a lovely compliment, Heidi. Thank you!
Now I’m even more excited about the little cutting of ghost plant I have! I didn’t even know what it was, but someone gave me a short cutting and I stuck it in a bare spot near my front porch last summer. It washed out in rain a few times, but finally rooted enough to stay. I forgot all about it in the freeze, but discovered it under dry leaves, with only a few of its top leaves hanging on; has a tiny pup near the base, and a long stalk starting near the top. I didn’t realize that would be a flower, but it does appear to be what it will turn into. I have now carefully (sort of) potted it in a small pot where I can watch it. Won’t be beautiful yet this year, but now I know what it can aspire to. (I might want to get it some companion cuttings, too, inspired by your lovely dish of them.)
Yay, a survivor! I think you are wise to pot it up. It’s easier to give succulents what they like — fast-draining soil and afternoon shade in our climate — in a pot rather than in the ground. I hope yours takes off and will be blooming for you one day soon.
I completely agree, and after seeing it in bloom now in nurseries I’m wondering where’s my big pot of ghost plant?
Where indeed, Denise!
Wow, those sunset pics are incredible! I love that Graptopetalum too and have pieces scattered through my garden as well.
It’s such a good succulent for us here in subtropical Austin, where echeverias and aeoniums tend to melt away in summer.
An extraordinary sunset, Ooooo the colors. That Ghost is adorable too.
Thanks, Lisa.
Beautiful photos, Pam! As for the plants, my Graptopetalums are in massive pots too big to take into the garage. As a result, they look pitiful, although there are some stems still alive. My squid Agaves are mostly mush, but there may be a couple of stems that survived the freezemageddon.
That’s too bad about your big grap pots, Peter, but I’m glad the roots lived as well as some stems. And oh man, the squids! I lost two big ones, and all my others sustained significant damage, but I’m hopeful they’ll live.
let’s have a virtual cry together!
That Graptopetalum is perfect for the dish planter Pam . It feels great to save a special plant from cold weather demise.
Absolutely, KS. I’m glad I have the space to bring in all the pots I can carry.
Your Good Friday posting had me smiling ear to ear. Thank you so much for your insight and knowing just what to post that brings joy to so many!
Oh thank you, Sharon! What a lovely thing to hear. Happy Easter!
Beautiful sunset photo of your newly pruned garden. I too was surprised my ghost plant made it and is blooming. There have been times when it didn’t but not his year. Surprise!
Hooray for happy surprises like that!