Fw: Plants in sand?
- Subject: Fw: Plants in sand?
- From: O* P*
- Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 21:49:23 -0700
I sent this directly to
David, but meant to send it to the list.
Diane P.
A perfect plant for you would be Crambe maritima (Sea Kale). I think it
is a spectacular plant with its huge wavy silvery blue/green leaves -
much like an exotic cabbagesprays of Mine has thrived for years about 6
feet back from the bank above the ocean in sandy soil under an Arbutus
menziesii tree with pretty sparse watering in our summers without rain.
I don't know how Crambe cordifolia would do. Mine dwindled over the
years in similarly dry conditions but protected from the wind due to
it's spectacular 6-foot high x 4-foot wide sprays of white flowers. I
really think this plant needs more water even though the books say dry
location - how could it get so big without moisture?! I have replaced
mine and will water it more.
Some gardeners complain that caterpillars destroy the foliage. My
experience has been that they only attack the first set of leaves in
spring. By the time white cabbage butterflies are fluttering about the
garden, I have removed the nibbled leaves and the plant has produced a
mound of huge dark green leaves.
Diane Pertson
Vancouver Island
> > --- Joe Seals <gardenguru@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > Thanks for that info David. I didn't realize that
> > > this particular Tibouchina grows on the beach dunes
> > > in
> > > South America.
> > >
> > > Coincidently, I'm looking for any and all ornamental
> > > plants that will do well on beach sand or seashore
> > > dune sand. If you, or anyone else in this forum,
> > > happens to have some favorites for planting in such
> > > conditions, I'd like to hear about them.
> > >
> > > Keep in mind that I'm in Santa Maria -- our climate
> > > is
> > > definitely not tropical (occasional winters of 25° F
> > > and little summer heat). I do think that the
> > > Tibouchina survives here, though.
> > >
> > > Joe Seals
> > > Santa Maria, California
>
