Mellow yellows in the late summer garden
Like the school bus in August, bright yellow usually indicates that summer is winding down and autumn is on the way. Around here, the hot yellows of Mexican mint marigold and copper canyon daisy will soon join summer’s sunny hymenoxys and black-eyed Susans.
I’m not afraid of hot yellows in the garden (in fact I rather like them), but mellow yellows and yellow greens are easier to blend with other plants. Take this variegated tapioca (Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’), for instance.
It looks lovely paired with fine-textured Mexican weeping bamboo (Otatea acuminata aztecorum). Not drought-tolerant, this South American tropical’s stunning foliage and hot-pink stems have tempted me for years. This year I broke down and bought one, which I’m keeping in a pot. It needs watering every day, which I swore I’d never do, but the desire for that foliage won out. I’m thinking of it as a beautiful bouquet—i.e., temporary—so that when I eventually forget to water or leave it out in a freeze I won’t feel too bad about its inevitable demise.
More mellow yellows mixed with green include Sparkler sedge (Carex phyllocephala ‘Sparkler’)…
…and dwarf papyrus, a bog plant in my stock-tank pond. Both plants remind me of fireworks and do fine in part-shade. In fact, Sparkler sedge needs mostly shade to avoid burning in our climate.
Out in the sun, Agave americana mediopicta ‘Alba’ has really grown since I planted it as a passalong pup last year. It’s such a gorgeous agave, and I always admire those ivory-and-olive-striped leaves.
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Your yellows are lovely, rewarding you for the TLC and watering you’ve been giving them. Your mediopicta ‘Alba’ looks better than mine, which haven’t grown at all. I will be moving them to full sun this week to remedy that!
The fall is such a celebration of yellow. Soon the Helianthus angustiflius (Swamp Sunflower) will announce to the world that fall has most certainly arrived, not to mention the SC State Fair!
PS H. angustifolius
Mmm… variegated manihot! I love the look they lend.
Next year Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ will be on my short list of zonal denial, maybe annual, extravagances!
Definitely want that Manihot. It could go so well with a variety of plants. Nice texture and contrast. I love papyrus. Too bad they are not hardy here. I would have them all over.
I can see how that foliage beat you down…nice!
Wonderful textures that look quite tropical.
I love your school bus metaphore.
What wonderful yellows, Pam! I love all the yellows, whatever the intensity of the hue and yours are really outstanding. I admire your courage in adding the Manihot, knowing it doesn’t meet your plant criteria. Some rules are meant to be broken! 🙂
Frances
That tapioca is stunning…and papyrus…so lovely!
The sparkler sedge is definitely on my list for a must have plant. It seems to really brighten up your shady spot and adds nice texture too. Beautiful photos as always 🙂
Lovely greens and yellows. I really enjoy the agave in the glass pebbles – BTW, my garden designer displays some plants with a layer of Autoglass on top. She sweeps and bags whenever she sees an accident — the autoglass is not sharp at all and looks quite stunning. Would be nice for you to have a few pots with that topping offsetting the glass gravel.
Pretty yellows indeed. I love that tapioca, and I grew it last year, but I didn’t want to pay the $15 price tag early in the season. It seemed so high. Now, with the heat, I wish I had a container of it on the the patio. It is like a beautiful bouquet. You’re so right about the lighter yellows being easier to blend. I saw a garden where the women only used Hemerocallis ‘Kindly Light’ throughout. It was like looking at sunlight. So beautiful. I’ve thought about digging up my bright yellow daylilies and replacing them with ‘Kindly Light’. Maybe I will. Sorry I wrote so long. You stirred a memory for me. xoxo~~Dee
While visiting nurseries, the variegated tapioca has also caught my eye. But I’ve withstood the temptation thus far (pretty sure I’d kill it due to lack of watering). Beautiful plant though.
Hi, Pam! Love your mellow yellows! Especially your sedge.
I also blogged about yellow but mine is HOT yellow, definitely not mellow! 🙂 Edith also blogged about yellow. Must be the current color of interest!
I’ve noticed the Sparkler sedge in your blog before. Can you tell me where you got it?
It’s hard to find on a regular basis in Austin, Jane. I got a 1-gallon pot at Barton Springs Nursery a few years ago, and this summer I got another 3 at the Great Outdoors. —Pam
Thanks so much. I’ll try those sources.