Edited by Cathy Tylka, for Let’s Talk Plants! October 2024.
Current question -
Are there any “Old Friend Plants” that seemed finished but were revived by this year's rains and have survived into this summer? (By the way, Ida Rigby suggested this great question. Do you have a suggestion? By all means, send any and all suggestions to secrets@sdhort.org)
Liz Woodward of 92024 responded…
… I would love to share two of my favorite plants that were given to me by an old friend, Bill Teague, and were revived by the rains this winter.
The first plant is a Dianella bambusifolia, Bamboo Flax Lily, which is in a shady part of my garden. I nearly lost this plant about three years ago when I had the house tented for termites, but it has managed to fight its way back. It looks a bit like a Bamboo Palm, but it bears these half bright blue seed pods that almost look fake.
The other plant is a Brunfelsia pauciflora ‘White Caps’. This plant took many years to acclimate to my garden since it prefers moist acidic soil which I do not have. This year it has been blooming non-stop white to cream blooms since early April and shows no sign of stopping. Bill knew I had a fondness for white-flowering plants and gave me this specimen a few months before he passed away, so it holds a very special place in my heart and garden.
Cathy Tylka of 92026 shared…
... My Banksia Rose. I first learned of this type of rose, originally from Kathy Jenkins, my neighbor and friend from Tucson, Arizona. Had l lived in Tombstone, Arizona and been brought there up by Kathy’s parents of the Rose Tree Inn and Museum which is the home of the world’s largest Banksia Rose, I would have learned about it sooner.
Per Wikipedia,
"… the Rosa Banksia, common names Lady Banks' rose, or just Banks' rose, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family, native to central and western China, in the provinces of Gansu, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Sichuan and Yunnan, at altitudes of 500–2,200 m (1,640–7,218 ft). The rose is named for Dorothea Lady Banks, the wife of the botanist Sir Joseph Banks."
The Rose Tree in Tombstone, Arizona, is quite a remarkable sight! Known as the World’s Largest Rose Tree, it was planted in 1885 and has grown to cover nearly 9,000 square feet. This White Lady Banksia rose tree is located at the Rose Tree Museum, which also showcases memorabilia from Tombstone’s early days.
Every time I moved to another house, I planted one, although the one I am showing you from Tombstone is over 100 years old, planted in 1885.
Here’s this year’s version. It was so thankful for the rain! It is hearty but rain never hurts a rose, they remain thirsty but are resilient. Unfortunately, mine are summer thirsty now, but still enjoyable!
Since I live in Escondido, where we are considered the “cusp” of the desert, I am always happy when my passion fruit produces. They do need water and space for their roots, as well as climbing space.
As Written by Rachel Garcia, and Horticulture Review by Sarah Jay,
"Passion fruit originally comes from Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. In the US, it’s widely grown in southern California and Florida. Because it’s a tropical plant, it thrives in zones 10-12. In fact, the warmer the climate, the easier it will be to grow. Only very rarely do these plants tolerate light frost."
Passion fruit is a medium-sized, round fruit that’s reddish-purple or yellow in color. The rind, when cut in half, looks like two bowls full of lumpy jelly. It’s also chock-full of vitamins that benefit your immunity, thyroid, and red blood cells. You’ll find that the fruit stores well and works in lots of delicious recipes.
These plants need full sun to really thrive. However, they should be protected from extreme heat and strong wind. Keep in mind that the roots need plenty of space and have no problem climbing over neighboring plants.
You have to give these plants something to climb on, whether a trellis, arch, fence, or pergola. Some gardeners even let the plants climb trees (this could cause some damage to the tree). If you’re concerned about potential frost, plant the vines next to a wall or fence for protection.
They are best eaten when they turn wrinkly and discolored. Then they are just perfect for splitting opening and slurping down!
These are lovely but need a few days to look awful and taste delicious!
Joan Herskowitz of 92024 says…
Hi - Naked Lady Lillies (Amaryllis belladonna) bulb plants are blooming all over my garden this year. I think some animals have spread them around, but it's fun to come across them in places where they are unexpected.
The plants produce strap-shaped leaves in mid-summer that die back when the tall leaf-less flowering stalk appears with fragrant pink blooms in late summer or early Fall. The plants originated in the Cape Province of South Africa. They do well in leaf mulched areas of my garden in both full and part sun.
Karen England, 92084 …
... I have a twenty-four-year-old Vitex growing in my yard that is over twenty-five feet tall and almost as wide. Underneath this beautiful herb are planted roses and Shasta daisies also planted over twenty years ago. This year for the first time in a decade, I think due to the rains, I brought cut flowers inside and put them on my mantle.
Usually, I leave flowers outside on the plants unless I'm harvesting materials for a recipe or a presentation. (FYI, I use the free version [has periodic advertisements] of an art app on my smart tv to turn the tv hanging over the fireplace into famous and not-so-famous “paintings” that rotate through art albums of my choosing. This so much better than having a big black rectangle hanging over the mantel and so much cheaper than getting Samsung's Frame TV.)
Next month’s Sharing Secrets question is:
Did you put up a structure in your garden to enhance it? If you did, is it just wonderful or has it outlived its usefulness? Possibly, does it just need rehabilitation or even an addition?
Remember, all who answer the Sharing Secrets questions get their name thrown into a hopper to win a SD Hort logo hat every quarter!
Just like member Jim Booman, the most recent winner!
Cathy Tylka, RN, retired Emergency Nurse, found her love of plants and the SDHS merge many years ago. Cathy acted as Treasurer for the organization and volunteers for many activities. Now, she is more than happy to assist in gathering questions to ask you in the Sharing Secrets area of the Newsletter.
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