Planting: Annuals & Agaves

I typically plant several pots in my backyard with green-leafed, red-flowering Begonias.  But for some reason, this year, I had a very hard time finding that Begonia flavor.  So I eventually gave in and got a variety of different annuals potted.

White-flowering Begonias

(Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum)

 Polka-dot Plant

(Hypoestes phyllostachya)

Coleus

(Solenostemon scutellarioides variety)

 Coleus 'Carefree Mix'

 (Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Carefree Mix')

Coleus 'Dijon'

Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Dijon'

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 And I finally got around to planting a couple of special Agaves.

Agave 'Joe Hoak'

 

Agave guiengola 'Creme Brulee'

Unfortunately, neither of these Agave varieties are completely cold-hardy here in Austin, so I'll likely need to protect or greenhouse them during the winter.

Tulip Time

For the last couple of weeks, it's been Tulip Time.  I only have about a dozen bulbs of the Lady Tulips (Tulipa clusiana), but they are all putting on a nice show.

There was no cultivar name for those I planted last year, but their bright colors makes me confident that they are 'Chrysantha'.  I really like the vibrant yellow and darker red of the blooms, plus the blue-green foliage is really nice (pictures do not accurately portray their true color).  Add that to the fact that they have increased in number since last year and re-bloomed just as vigorously, and I'm thinking its a keeper.

This year's planting were of the the 'Cynthia' cultivar (Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia').  Though nice, they lack the nice foliar color and the blooms tend more towards a pastel shade.  They also tend to grow a little taller, and this causes them to be a little floppier.

A good contrast between the yellow shades can be seen in the pictures below.  Cynthia is on the left, Chrysantha on the right.

With our March temperatures averaging about ten degrees above normal, the tulips blooms are fading in the heat.  But I have certainly enjoyed their flash of color over the last weeks.

Planted in the Ground:

• Sempervivum sp.: Two unidentified varieties went into my succulent bed; if anyone knows the specific species or cultivar names, please let me know.

 

Planted in Pots:

• Solenostemon sp.: Yet another unidentified cultivar; placed into the same pot as my croton - thought it would add some matching color below the upper foliage.

New Plant Variety of 2010: Status

Each season seems to bring a fascination with a new genera of plants that are unfamiliar to my garden.  For 2010, it was the Dyckias.  Its now time to see how these plants performed.

The plants had been doing very well, right up until our severe winter (below freezing temperatures for 60+ straight hours - extremely unusual for central Texas).  Though the plants received some protection (mainly covering but no light-based heat source), all were damaged to varying degrees.  Some likely are a loss, some may survive through pups.  Others lost some leaves but look to be recovering.

Pineapple Dyckia (Dyckia brevifolia): Assumed lost (hey - it looks just like some of my Aloes - grumble, grumble).

Dyckia platyphylla: The main plant is a loss; but there do appear to be a few pups surviving.

Bronze Dyckia (Dyckia fosteriana 'Bronze'): All three show extensive damage, but some green remains.  Will have to wait and see if they can recover.  And to think, it even bloomed last year.

Dyckia brevifolia 'Moon Glow': Definite damage to some of the larger, upper rosettes.  But some of the lower appear to have escaped largely unscathed.

Dyckia 'Cherry Coke': Also showing considerable damage on some leaves, but the centers appear to be good - may even be producing some new growth.

Red-leafed Dyckia (Dyckia 'Red Devil'): Though it lost a few of the lower leaves (due to a combination of the cold and some physical damage from tree limb removal), it is definitely producing new growth.

I also had potted two dyckia varieties: Dyckia choristaminea 'Frazzle Dazzle' & Red-leafed Dyckia; obviously both of these were inside and thus escaped damage.

Though the past winter was an exception (one hopes!), it appears that it would be best to either plant the Dyckias into pots or to concentrate them into a bed for which I could provide a light-based heat source for the rare (one hopes!) winter extremes.

Planted in the Ground:

• Trailing Violet (Viola banksii): Actually bought five 4" pots that were overflowing almost a month ago, then right before I was going to plant them, we had some more freezes roll in; so I waited - and promptly let four of the five dry out (grumble).  So planted the remaining good one while two remain in their pots & are starting to recover (the other two may be a loss).
• Gopher Plant (Euphorbia rigida): Has been on my 'Gotta Get' list; decided to only get one and see how it does.
• New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens x hawkeri): Bought on sale before winter and babied inside through the winter; cut them back severely and placed into yard

Planted in Pots:

• Coleus 'Pineapple' (Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Pineapple'): The bright yellow leaves with their small maroon highlights quickly caught my attention; planted them into the large pot that contains my Formosa Red Azalea (Azalea indica 'Formosa Red'); hoping they fill in nicely underneath.