Re: Late summer/fall flowers
- To: n*@mindsovermatter.com
- Subject: Re: Late summer/fall flowers
- From: G* M*
- Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 21:21:38 -0700
- References:
A plant that requires next to no or no irrigation yet has spectacular late
summer and fall bloom is the California native Epilobium cana, that most of us
learned originally as various species of Zauschneria. There are quite a few
different forms (some were considered different species) and horticultural
selections ranging from green leaves to white-gray and from upright plants 2 or
more feet tall to trailing and cascading ones. The colors range from red to
orange mostly and are especially loved by hummingbirds. With irrigation it can
become almost invasive, but even when grown really dry it gives intense color
when little else is blooming. You can water it some the first year to get it
established, then pretty much let it go from then on. The only downsides that
come to mind are that the plants are pretty brittle, so no dogs or children
wading through them, and the lower leaves turn brown and fall off as they begin
blooming, so they show poorly in containers.
Another spectacular late bloomer that may require a little more water depending
on your soil and climate is Helianthus maximillian. The whole plant lights up
with little yellow sunflowers in October, and it will do amazingly well with
really meager water rations. It may look peaked in the midsummer and will not
get very tall, but come the cooler weather of fall, it gets itself back in
some condition and blooms.
A third good late summer bloomer is Pavonia hastata. It is more of a soft
shrub, but has 2 to 3 inch pale pink hibiscus-type flowers with dark maroon
centers from midsummer on until the hard frosts here, which are usually around
the third week in November. The first flowers of the year don't open, yet
produce seeds (a peculiar trait known as cleistogamy), but finally the flowers
do open, and then continue the rest of the season. Established plants bloom
even with no irrigation in the Central Valley.
If you're willing to provide some irrigation, then the possiblities expand
tremendously.
Gary
-
Gary Matson Far Northern California
http://www.plantstogo.com
Adapted Plants for Hot Summer Climates
Nan Sterman wrote:
> Hi y'all
>
> My spring garden is in full bloom and I am thinking about late summer and
> fall. By late July, my garden is way past its peak, so this year my goal
> is to plant perennials that will flower into the fall (and maybe winter).
> I am in the San Diego area, so we have a long dry summer and fall. What do
> you recommend?
>
> Nnan
> **********
> '''''''''''''''''''''''
> Nan Sterman
> San Diego County California
> Sunset zone 24, USDA hardiness zone 10b or 11
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