Re: Late summer flowers
In a message dated 8/31/99 12:10:54 PM EST, paul@nevco.k12.ca.us writes:
<< I love the California fuschias (Zauschneria spp.), which are big
hummingbird magnets >>
Although not a true "mediterranean," (it doesn't like to dry out), my
favorite plant this year for attracting hummingbirds is Fuschia
"Gartenmeister." I find it particularly attractive, with pendant clusters of
tubular, brilliant-scarlet flowers perfectly complemented by dark, purplish
foliage. I have mine in a large terracotta pot on the patio, and it has to
be watered every few days, but it has bloomed non-stop for three months
already and shows no signs of letting up. The hummingbirds find it so
irresistible that they will come and feed within a couple of feet of humans,
or even canines (although my dog is a rather unmotivated Welsh corgi).
<sedum "Autumn Joy" which blooms late (pinkish-orange) and changes to a
cinamon brown when dry.>
I have been rather disappointed with the performance of this plant in my
California garden. I love the form and the strong, vigorous growth, and
would grow them for that alone (indeed, I've ended up growing them for that
alone), but "Autumn Joy" is really a misnomer. "Autumn Chagrin" would be a
better description. The broccoli-like flower heads start out pale green, of
course, and then they gradually "deepen" in color (if you can use that term
to describe what they do) to a sort of pinky-tan. Mine are just now changing
to the washed-out, pinkish color that represents the height of their floral
beauty. Then, they just turn brown. Not the dark, rich, cinnamon brown of
the garden catalogues, just plain old brown - the color of dead weeds, which
is what the plants resemble in the garden until you cut them to the ground.
Now, this might be garden "joy" when everything else in the garden is dead
and flat, but here in California, most gardens are still in their flowery
summer garb until the end of October, or later, long after sedum "Autumn Joy"
is looking dead and baleful. I don't know if it's the absence of frosty
nights that causes the plant to perform differently here (which is, I
believe, why many trees with spectacular fall foliage elsewhere in the
country just turn brown here), or whether I just managed to purchase a sucky
cultivar. Whatever the reason, I don't think it's as outstanding a garden
plant for most California gardens as it seems to be in less favorable
climates.
Kurt Mize
Stockton, California
USDA Zone 9
