Comments on: Shamelessly Tropical: Hawt Plants for a Variety of Climates (The Garden Designers Roundtable on Under-Utilized Plants)

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:02:23 +0000

Awesome, Jill! Are you in Trinidad here in Humboldt, or another Trinidad? In any case, I hope the plants work for you!

By: Jill Szczygiel

Jill Szczygiel — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:50:04 +0000

I am laughing so hard. This is an excellent post for me. My client said to me the other day…” I want it to look tropical.” Now I have some ideas. We’ll see how these beauties do in Trinidad. Thanks so much!

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 16:25:18 +0000

Scott, that cracks me up. Debbie pointed out that same similarity to actual lobsters on Twitter. You New Englanders!

I’d love to read about more varieties of that Cimicifuga/ Actaea – maybe that’s a post idea for you someday! I only have two varieties locally available – both a lovely dark blackish color.

By: Scott Hokunson

Scott Hokunson — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:32:52 +0000

Scrolling down through your post I find myself wanting to stretch the zonal boundaries all the way to our 5b! The Clianthus would be a huge hit here in New England, with its resemblance to our coveted ocean delicacy. Very interesting tip regarding cutting the Alstroemeria. Cimicifuga is one of my favorites, and we use several varieties including brunette but, as you stated, it is not well known here. Thanks for all the great info!
Scott Hokunson´s last article ..Wordless Wednesday from the Dam! 8410

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:42:18 +0000

What a joy it is to read all your comments on these plants!

Michelle, I am lucky to have a small wholesale grower who probably got a snipping of this plant from Digging Dog! He’s spoken a number of times of visiting there and being friendly with the owner. The stuff spreads so readily that I’ve actually grown my own for clients when his supply runs short on me. I just pop some into a heaped flat of potting soil and wait a few months.

By: Rebecca Sweet

Rebecca Sweet — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:45:28 +0000

I couldn’t wait to read your post this month, Gen! What treasures you’ve shared with us – I, too, love the Third Harmonic, but have never even heard of Heteroncentron! Thanks for the tip – I must hunt this one down!

By: michelle D

michelle D — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:12:57 +0000

I haven’t seen nor planted Heterocentron elegans since leaving the Pacific coast 24 years ago.
I use to buy it from Gary Rattway of Digging Dog Nursery when he was overseeing the Mendocino Botanical garden and ran a small wholesale nursery out of the back of the grounds.
You’re so lucky to have access to this plant ! It is certainly underutilized in my repertoire due to its unavailability.
Great list of fun plants.

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:23:20 +0000

I must have a red lobster claw!!!!! Beautiful plant pics!
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By: Robert Webber

Robert Webber — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:37:25 +0000

What a great post.
Lots of old friends here!
Use to grow Clianthus puniceus against a white wall and lit at night – amazing.
Phygelius on the other hand is now a nuisance since it runs and gets eaten too!
Our experiences of plants are all so interestingly different.
Best Wishes
Robert

By: Monica the Garden Faerie

Monica the Garden Faerie — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:25:32 +0000

Because black cohosh (A. racemosa) is a favorite plant of mine, I discovered they (whoever “they” are) changed the genus name Cimicifuga to Actaea a few years ago. I don’t like the spelling and Cimicifuga is so fun to say. Well, no one ever asks me! The A. simplex looks gorgeous!