Early fall purples in Sheryl’s garden
One hot September afternoon I visited blogger Sheryl Williams‘s garden in north Austin and spotted some gorgeous late-season purples in her not-quite-autumn garden. We were both smitten by spiky-skirted eryngo (Eryngium leavenworthii), a native Texas annual that resembles a thistle and is just as spiny. The rich purple and lavender bracts and elongated seedheads add beautiful color and texture to a hot and sunny garden.
Another native Texas plant putting on a great show in her garden was American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), a shade garden favorite growing happily in full sun. Sheryl has bermed and graded her garden to collect and hold onto all the rainwater that falls in her garden and runs off from her uphill neighbors. Her beautyberry benefits from some of that funneled water, and its arching branches were festooned with tight clusters of magenta berries.
What a feast for the birds this will be, as well as a feast for the eyes until then.
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Digging Deeper
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I’ve always adored Callicarpa. Although Sunset’s Garden Book claims it can be grown here, I’ve never seen it for sale anywhere. And then it also needs regular water, something that would be difficult to provide anyway…
It’s a beauty, all right. But yes, a bit on the thirsty side. It’s a wonderful choice for a rain garden here.
Hello! I just happened upon your blog while I was researching the new wildflowers I was given. Love it!
I was gifted some Eryngium leavenworthii… the top of the plant with 4 of the pineapple-looking flowers attached. I was wondering how I can collect the seeds from the plant? And then once I get the seeds out, should I plant now in the Fall or wait until the Spring?
I’m in pfville btw =)
I don’t actually know but suspect you’ll need to pull apart the cone-like “head” and find the seeds in there. Sow wildflower seeds now in Texas. Happy growing!
Thank you! That’s what my initial thought was too!