Fellow garden enthusiasts, we have such a treat for you! We’re so excited to welcome the enchanting Waltzing Matilija Nursery, a treasure trove of botanical wonders nestled in Southern California which specializes in Australian and South African Plants. This nursery is a paradise for those who adore the rare and exotic. So, grab your sunglasses and a glass of something on ice, and let’s explore some of the nursery’s most covetable plants, along with their fascinating histories and the gardens they’ve graced around the globe.
Grevillea ‘Fanfare’. Photo by Waltzing Matilija Nursery.
Grevillea ‘Fanfare’: The Cascading Beauty
First on our list is the stunning Grevillea ‘Fanfare’. With its vibrant red, spider-like flowers and delicate fern-like foliage, it’s a plant that’s sure to make a statement. It can grow to cover a 15′ area. Now that’s a groundcover! Native to Australia, Grevillea ‘Fanfare’ is cherished for its resilience and its ability to add both color and texture to gardens.
This delightful plant was introduced by the renowned horticulturist Peter Olde, a true aficionado of Grevilleas. You’ll find it flourishing in the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, where its vibrant blooms create a breathtaking display year-round.
Protea magnifica. Photo by Waltzing Matilija.
Protea magnifica: The King Protea
Next, we have the majestic Protea magnifica, also known as the queen protea. This South African native is celebrated for its large, dramatic blooms that look as though they’ve been plucked straight from a fairy tale. Each flower head is composed of hundreds of tiny individual flowers, surrounded by striking, colorful bracts. Esteemed garden designer Piet Oudolf has embraced the bold, architectural form of Protea magnifica in his renowned designs.
Waltzing Matilija has many stunning proteas but I chose to share this one with you because of its possible cold-hardiness and striking contrast between silvery foliage and vivid red blooms. WOWEEE!
Phylica pubescens. Photo by Waltzing Matilija.
Phylica pubescens: Featherhead
Let’s move on to Phylica pubescens, affectionately known as featherhead. This charming plant brings a soft, downy texture to any garden. With its dense, velvety foliage and tiny, star-shaped flowers, it’s a unique and delightful addition to any plant collection.
What’s particularly quirky about Phylica pubescens is its irresistibly soft foliage. It’s so feathery, you’ll want to reach out and touch it every time you walk by. This plant has found a special place in Mediterranean gardens–just imagine the sun-catching capabilities of that fine foliage. No wonder it’s in such hot-demand at Annie’s Annuals who report that they often have long waiting lists for it. Apparently it’s very challenging to propagate.
Geum Pretticoats. Photo by Waltzing Matilija.
Geum Pretticoats™ Peach: The Delightful Perennial
Next up, Geum Pretticoat Peach. I feel like geums are much underused and I’m not sure why. Maybe too delicate to catch attention away from more boisterous flowers? I find them so charming. This one is a true delight, with its frilly peach-colored flowers and extended blooming season. It’s a relatively new cultivar but I think it will quickly catch on for its hardiness and popular flower color.
I’m happy to read that Geum Pretticoat Peach has been showcased in the renowned gardens of Great Dixter in England. Evidently the late, great garden designer Christopher Lloyd also had a particular fondness for geums, often using them to create vibrant, colorful borders. As usual, the English know.
Cussonia paniculata. Photo by Waltzing Matilija.
Cussonia paniculata: The Cabbage Tree
Now, let’s talk about Cussonia paniculata, also known as the cabbage tree, or Dr Seuss Tree (ok, it’s only known by that name by me as far as I’m aware). I first saw this from the comfort of my bubble bath in a dogeared Annie’s Annuals catalog over a decade ago. Isn’t it just incredible–both charming and somewhat silly-looking? It hails from southern Africa and is celebrated for its unique, sculptural appearance. With its thick trunk and umbrella-like canopy of leaves, it certainly brings an exotic touch to any garden.
Cussonia paniculata has a storied history of use in traditional medicine among the indigenous peoples of southern Africa. You’ll find this striking plant featured in botanical gardens like the Pretoria National Botanical Garden, where its distinctive form never fails to capture the attention of visitors, I’m sure.
Fabiana imbricata f. violacea. Photo by Waltzing Matilija.
Fabiana imbricata f. violacea: The False Heather
Last but certainly not least, we have Fabiana imbricata f. violacea, or false heather. This Chilean native is beloved for its delicate, heather-like appearance and beautiful violet flowers. It’s a tough, drought-tolerant plant that thrives in Mediterranean climates.
Gertrude Jekyll, the legendary garden designer, was quite taken with this plant, admiring its fine texture and resilience. You can see it gracing the stunning gardens of Hestercombe in Somerset, England, where Jekyll’s influence continues to shine through.
Tips for Plant Care
To ensure your new botanical friends thrive, here are some care tips:
Grevillea ‘Fanfare’ Plant in well-drained soil and full sun. It’s drought-tolerant but appreciates occasional watering.
Protea magnifica Needs sandy, well-drained soil and full sun. Water sparingly; overwatering can be detrimental.
Phylica pubescens Prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. It’s fairly drought-tolerant once established.
Geum Pretticoats™ Peach Plant in well-drained soil and full to partial sun. Regular watering is essential during the growing season.
Cussonia paniculata Thrives in well-drained soil and full sun. It’s drought-resistant but benefits from occasional deep watering.
Fabiana imbricata f. violacea Needs well-drained soil and full sun. It’s low-maintenance and drought-tolerant.
If you’re like me it’s that time of year when you’re kicking yourself for not having more hellebores in your garden. What’s wrong with me? Am I outta my ever loving mind? I’m also kicking myself for not having visited the annual open garden of Ernie & Marietta O’Byrne who spent 30 years creating the magical Winter Jewels Series of hellebores in Oregon. I’ve always wanted to go. I’m heartened to know that on their recent retirement they have handed off stewardship of their jewels to Little Prince Nursery who will be opening their doors to hellebore viewers down the road. In the meantime it’s a great time to both plant and enjoy these beautiful hellebores. True jewels!
Has your garden planning reached a fever pitch like mine has? I’m manic over here.
This morning I woke up too early because I was thinking about the 6 Shooter Sweet Corn I’m going to grow this Summer and what should the 3 Sisters in my corn-planting-triad be? Obviously I plant beans to climb the corn stalks, probably a purple Greek variety that is my latest bean crush. And then at the base, do I stay traditional and use a squash–maybe the adorably cute Ronde de Nice, or do I go for chickpeas? I’ve heard they’re a great nitrogen-fixing companion for corn and have a much more polite growth habit than the space-hogging squash. So many things to think about!
Help in the nick of time…
Luckily I’ve also recently met seasoned gardener and designer Marc Boucher-Colbert who has created a brilliant garden design deck of cards called Design Your Eden. It’s helpful for both reigning you in (which is what I need a dose of right now) but also drawing you out, when you might be in a rut or could use some help thinking creatively.
The Design Your Eden deck reminds me a bit of Tarot and also Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategies in its use of metaphor as an in-road to new ways of seeing things. There are multiple ways to use it, but regardless, it’s thought provoking and exciting and just a lot of fun.
Let me walk you through it.
Element Cards. Photo by plant lust.
The ELEMENT CARDS are a collection of all the physical items that compose a garden, including everything from a hammock to a compost bin to an arch. These are the basic building blocks of your garden. I have a friend who was bemoaning to me the other day that when he first started creating his garden, now full of mature palms and yuccas–a collector’s garden packed to the rafters, he failed to allot enough space to compost. He now kicks himself when he has to give his precious yard debris away to the city because he has no place to put it. To add insult to injury he has to pay to have compost to be delivered. Oops!
I’m so glad there is an Element card for Hammock. A true garden design necessity in my book! Amaliya Double Spreader Bar Hammock. Photo by All Modern.
Value cards. Photo by plant lust.
The Value cards in the deck represent things like motivations, goals, and feelings–the principles of design that are important to you. They could include things like family, music, and tranquility.
Lush color and contrasting foliage abounds in the night garden of JJ De Sousa. Photo by Bria Phillips.
Combining Elements and Values. Photo by plant lust.
But what happens when we begin to combine Value and Element cards? The fun begins! Maybe we know we want the Elements of a Path and Mood Lights in our garden but we also want to create a sense of Destination. How can we emphasize this concept with elements as Portland-based garden designer JJ De Sousa has done here, where a straight pathway leads to imposing doors which beckon to a well-lit garden beyond, a shock of red drawing the eye deeper into the space.
A gravel pathway is lined with lush plants leading to a doorway surrounded by lights at dusk in the garden of JJ De Sousa. Photo by Bria Phillips.
You can think of Value and Element cards as prompts to further exploration. Photo by plant lust.
There are endless ways to combine these Values and Elements. Who ever would have imagined how extra extra these already striking potted windmill palms could look when raised up in giant oversized glowing planters. WHOA!
Giant red plant pots holding palm plants are lit from within. Photo by Bria Phillips.
The Design Your Eden deck also features the “SEEN AS” card which invites the concept of metaphor into garden design. Photo by plant lust.
A lounge area for two in the garden of JJ De Sousa. Photo by Bria Phillips.
Perhaps we know we want the Element of Lounge Chairs and the Value of Connection but when we combine them with the SEEN AS card it takes on a more potent intent. How can we emphasize the idea of Connection around our lounge chairs? Here we see 2 chairs placed close together with a small shared table, inviting intimacy by proximity. The chairs are tucked into a corner of the garden creating privacy and exclusivity and garden lighting defines it as a shared sanctuary.
Combining garden design elements with values in unexpected ways.
The Design your Eden deck also has a series of Connector cards which really open to mind to new possibilities. Hmm. At first glance a Table “interacting with” Cool seemed strange but quickly got my wheels turning. I do LOVE to sit outdoors as often as possible and this means figuring out ways to beat the heat. Ideas swirl. Popsicles? Those garden hose misters? Lush shade plants? Suddenly I recall a scene from a favorite TV series The Durrells.
Too hot to eat outdoors? Rubbish! Put your table in the sea ala The Durrells in Corfu. Photo from Sid Gentle Films.
As you can see, this really is a fun design tool. I love the tactile aspect of it and the feeling of PLAY it gives to garden design projects. While using it solo was really thought-provoking, doing it with another person would only increase the creative ideas.
Thanks so much to Marc for taking the time to meet with me and share this latest project Design Your Eden! I really do feel less overwhelmed by my Spring fever that brings on soooo many ideas. Marc’s a busy guy who is a garden educator at a Montessori school, runs a rooftop garden for Noble Rot here in Portland, and manages to share a wealth of all sorts of garden design information on social media. I’ve learned a lot from him already in the short time I’ve known him and highly recommend a follow
Winter doesn’t have to be a barren time. With some planning you can create an appearance of lushness in the garden with an abundance of winter greenery to enjoy outdoors and indoors.
Well-behaved Ivy and relatives
People get a bit nervous about planting anything in the ivy realm but there are some useful choices that are well-behaved and provide beautiful winter greenery. It’s always wise to check for potential invasiveness of a given species in your area before planting.
Himalayan Ivy
Consider Hedera nepalensis with it’s striking leaves streaked in silver and burgundy in winter.
Or you can play it safe and go with one of the Fatshederas which are a hybrid between the Japanese Aralia Fatsia japonica and common ivy, and have some of the most eye-catching evergreen foliage in the plant world.
For your holly fix, consider the adorably small-leaved and small-statured Dwarf Pagoda Japanese Holly or Ilex crenata ‘Geisha‘. Every garden can work one of these in to provide form and structure to the Winter landscape.
Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’ is another very useful plant. I love to think of it as a stand-in for an Italian Cypress in mini form. Very charming and elegant.
So many expected and unexpected choices for living Christmas trees which you can continue to enjoy in the garden years after the season has passed, from Spruce to Olive.
Long a symbol of peace–what better tree to represent the spirit of the season? Olive trees may not jump to mind when thinking of winter interest but they have lovely silvery evergreen foliage that really shines in the darker season.
When flowers are in short supply you can still bring the outside in with winter greenery. Be sure to plant some treasures with interesting foliage and leaves to enjoy indoors.We have gorgeous greenery you will have to guard from any neighborhood florists.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus perriniana has the classic florist foliage. A very quick grower that easily rebounds even if frozen to the ground, it can be cut back regularly and grown as a shrub.
The coin-shaped leaves of Eucalyptus perriniana in pale grey and lime green are wonderful in mixed bouquets but also beautiful on their own. Photo by Patricia Cunningham. Shop Eucalyptus perriniana
Hebe-jeebies are among many excellent options officially in the genus of Veronica. Often forgotten, Little Prince Nursery reminds us they are versatile plants excellent for borders, containers and mass plantings.
Consider plant choices year-round for an all-season garden
While spring is the traditional busy season for nurseries, winter is a wonderful time to take stock of the spots in the garden that could use some seasonal interest. Browsing nurseries during the off-peak months is a great way to find gems that sparkle all year round. Shop winter interest plants
Planting now for Spring feels like money in the bank.
Read on for 6 unusual Spring flower bulbs that are true treasures from Secret Garden Growers nursery:
Honey Garlic
Allium siculum sends up spires topped with pendulous flowers in dusty shades of mauve and yellow. Definitely a showstopper. Plus it’s easy to grow and looks good even after blooming. The dried flower heads are a florist’s dream.
Also knows as Sicilian Honey Lily, Allium siculum is a surprising Spring bulb that pairs well with other soft colors. Photo by Leafari. Shop Allium siculum
Species Tulips
Given good drainage and dry conditions in Summer, Tulipa turkestanica is a species tulip that will return and naturalize, spreading cheer for many Springs to come.
Galanthus ‘Hippolyta’ is one of the first signs of Spring, blooming in late Winter and earning it the nickname ‘snowdrop’ for its ability to poke its head out of the snow. This is an extra rare and beautiful variety. Plant in pots to get the precious blooms in closer proximity.
I’ve never understood why fritillaria aren’t as popular as daffodils and tulips, because as Spring flower bulbs they are just as magical and easy to grow. Fritillaria uva-vulpis is a graceful and exquisite variety with fine, blue-grey foliage that pairs well with all sorts of Spring color-schemes.
If you have a rain swale or area of your garden that stays moist in the Spring this regal and graceful PNW native Camas Camassia cusickii will naturalize, creating an enchanted meadow look.
Iris japonica ‘Variegata’ would be worth growing for the high-contrast foliage alone but also produces striking orchid-like flowers. A stunner all around.
So many interesting and unusual bulbs, corms, and tubers for a sophisticated garden
There are so many to love, it’s hard to pick just a few. The checkerboard lily Fritillaria meleagris seen in the first photo can be found here.
Honorable mention:
Perennial collector’s favorite Jack in the Pulpits, Arisaemas
Little Prince of Oregon Nursery always has something to inspire plant lust. Here is a selection of some new and old crushes.
Oddities and rarities:
Alocasia ‘Red Secret’
First up on my list of plants making me swoon is Red Jewel Alocasia. Ooh la la. Alocasia ‘Red Secret’ lends an exotic and tropical look to gardens with metallic maroon-brown leaves. I love thinking about growing it as a houseplant to enjoy inside.
A longtime favorite plant of mine which deserves a home in all gardens is Santolina rosmarinifolia ‘Lemon Fizz’. I first got into Santolina when studying about medieval monastic gardens. It would provide evergreen structure and color to the lovingly tended monk’s herb gardens. It smells wonderful and in Spring is covered in charming little flowers.
Next up is the marvelously weird mayapple, Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty,’ which really thrives in the Portland rain. It makes me think of mint chocolate chip ice cream with its pale green leaves dotted in burgundy. Make it happy and it will reward you by multiplying considerably each year.
In the flower department we have Dianthus, or Sweet William, which is such a long-lasting cut flower but largely ignored by the current trend-setting florists. I think the very stylish ‘Sooty’ could help turn things around.
Ledebouria cooperi is a Spring showstopper from South Africa which has striped grassy foliage and is adorned by racemes of star-shaped pink flowers. It’s makes a nice groundcover or use it in containers where you can really appreciate all this little plant has to offer.
Among my favorite groundcovers is Muehlenbeckia axillaris, also know as Mattress Vine, for its ground-hugging growth habit. It’s a vigorous grower which can easily engulf large areas so is best used with some caution and intent. I love the way it’s used here–confined to an area and then allowed to really do its thing.
Finally, Sagina subulata, also known as Irish Moss, is a charming evergreen or semi evergreen groundcover. Like Muehlenbeckia axillaris it can tolerate some foot traffic and provides a pretty, low-growing tufted texture. As an added bonus it’s covered in cute little flowers come Spring!
As always there was much to inspire at a recent and wet visit to Cistus. Entering this world-famous Oregon nursery that I am so lucky to have regular access to really does give me the overwhelming feeling of being a kid in a candy store. It’s hard to know where to look. Each plant feels like a treasure. Read on for some of the things that caught my eye. (more…)
From bats to spiders to ghosts, read on as we shine a light on our top 13 strange and dark plant selections for goth gardens.
And to be honest, most of these plants are less Miss Havisham’s macabre garden and more sophisticated plant collector, in case that’s not your style. (more…)
I’ve long had mixed feelings about mums that suddenly pop up at grocery stores in the Fall, looking like outsize flower mushrooms. I’ve tried not to be a stick-in-the-mud, but they’re just so loud and unnatural looking.
However, a few years ago I happened upon some chartreuse-flowered chrysanthemums. I’m weak for any chartreuse plant, so I succumbed to the purchase and I potted them up with some classier-to-my-eyes companion plants and felt very pleased with them. And then I went back for some pale yellow ones. And after they lived through the Winter and Spring and Summer to bloom again, I was hooked. It never occurred to me that they were perennial. Duh. Now I’m wholly enthusiastic about mums and am even happier to see that there are some very chic and more subtly-colored versions out there. (more…)
Fall is time to dream big and a great time for planting. We have so many good plant choices for landscape projects you can purchase in abundance. Have them delivered right to your doorstep ready for planting day. Read on for highlights of our favorite plants currently available in large quantities for landscapers or those tackling big areas of their own gardens.
Groundcovers
Grassy effects
In the groundcover department we love the tough-as-nails yet strikingly beautiful Japanese Sedge, Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’, which is great for massing under trees or prized specimens and offers year-round interest. Carex is such a handy plant for a grass texture in the shade where true grasses would not thrive.
About as black as you can get in the plant world, the sophisticated Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Kokuryu’ Black Mondo Grass is a very low maintenance plant and resistant to slugs and snails. It makes such a high-impact combo with grey or chartreuse foliage.
Another special groundcover choice which is also wonderful in pots or tucked into any bare nooks and crannies is Sempervivum ‘Royal Ruby’ which is hardy to zone 4 (!!!) and looks stunning looks incredible en masse. In rainy Portland it will transport you to the warmer climes of pink terracotta walls.
Bold, glossy, rich, and architectural! And all that before the pineapple flower spikes even emerge. Eucomis comosa ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ is so chic and makes an exciting pairing with so many things.
There have been so many gorgeous new Echinaceas developed recently. Echinacea ‘Hot Papaya’ is an easy-to-grow, low-water coneflower which is a real stand-out in the garden and in the vase. Be sure to leave the pretty flower heads to enjoy for Winter interest.
To be honest I’d plant Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia in abundance without ever seeing the flowers. I love the shiny, dark, evergreen foliage which adds some solid structure and an heir of formality to the garden. But the flowers really make me swoon and remind me of my childhood on Maui where I used to pluck one to wear behind my ear on the way to school so I could keep the scent with me all day.
Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia is a beautiful, evergreen shrub with some of the most intensely fragranced flowers on earth. Photo by Plant Lust.
