This treasured evergreen to semi evergreen asian dogwood is a wonderful tree for a protected location. New growth is copper colored and retains this hue for quite some time . To 26′ with a strongly pyramidal habit. In early summer true flowers with erupting chartreuse then light yellow very showy bracts. These are followed by red edible berries that appeal to some and a lot to birds. The bloom period is exceptionally long for a dogwood and it blooms con currently with Korean Dogwood (Cornus kousa) to which it is closely related. Mostly evergreen expect leaves to drop below about 20ºF twig damage does not occur until 10ºF. Definitely site well out of subfreezing east wind. A south or western exposure. Very regal and elegant tree The more protected the location the more evergreen. This fast growing tree would make an elegant espalier – flowers appear on wood from the previous season. Light, consistent irrigation in average to enriched soil. Himalayan dogwood. Thrives at the cool Oregon coast . Avoid hot and dry locations..
Biome: Variable
Eryngium proteiflorum MX
This is a spectacular plant and Brandon collected the seed outside of Mexico City- at a very high elevation. Still we are not completely sure of its ultimate hardiness so I’m going to guess. Based on other Mexican and S. American Eryngium and considering this is a widely spread species I’ll say its good in rich amended soil that drains to about 10ºF. That is somewhat irrelevant as the flower on this member of the Apiaceae (Carrot family)is phenomenal. In May-August HUGER 6″ wide flowers with a protruding central cone are metallic silver and sage green Unbelievable. Full sun to light shade in a protected location. Worth protecting in a pot as it makes a stellar container plant. The unearthly flowers are held on vertical stems to 3′-4′. As a cut flower it is a wet dream, lasting weeks and drying too. Kind of prickly a low rosette of serrated evergreen leaves is permanent. Cut away the spent flower stalk when it fades and you tire of it. Light, consistent water. Fantastic. Thank you to our great employee Brandon for capturing the seed.
Hebe (Veronica) x ‘Dragon Fly’
This is one of Andy’s selections and its an excellent Hebe. Arching in growth with canoe shaped bright green symmetrical foliage . In June and July the entire top third is clad in blue racemes that are thin and fade a little with age. The flowers arrive in profusion and are loved by bees and butterflies. To 30″ tall and eventually forming a dense dome to 3′ wide. Rich to average soil that drains, ideal on a slope. Avoid areas with direct exposure to subfreezing east wind. In those areas that are prone place it out of the wind- a west or south facing aspect. Great plant for courtayards or containers. Blooms are effective for a month or more, then its just a bright green dense evergreen shrub. Excellent performance at the Oregon coast. Light consistent summer irrigation. Mulch after planting. Moderately fast growing.
Xera Plants Introduction
There are 11 pacific coast Iris species, and 7 are native to Oregon. This is a deep purple flowered form of a species that is native from southwest Oregon to extreme northern California. Its type form, the form of the species that was discovered, is bright yellow and that was near the mouth of the Rogue River. Inland, however, up into the mountains this species is found in a remarkable range of flower colors – mostly deep purples or purple and white. This species also excels in the copious number of flowers per clump. Up to 12+ flowers open simultaneously for a rich display. The leaves give it its common name of grass iris – fine and evergreen they are a dull green and lay flat during the winter. Blooms April into May. Enriched to native soil in part shade to full sun. Water for the first season to establish – let it dry between watering and in subsequent years it can survive on natural rainfall. The clumps expand to about 1.5′ wide and the flowers rise on thin stems to 14″. Very resistant to deer and even rabbits. This is one of the more adaptable Pacifica species. It grows naturally with clumping grasses and even if grasses flop on top and obscure the foliage in summer/fall this tough iris will remain unaffected. A great candidate for meadows, partly shady slopes, Combine with Columbine (Aquilegia), Ookow (Dichelostemma congesta), Salvias, and native clumping grasses. Long lived perennial. Oregon native plant.
Ligusticum apiifolium
Celery leaved Licorice root is a subtle native perennial that is widespread in the western third of the state. In late spring umbels of white flowers are symmetrical and beckon to a host of pollinators. Especially attractive to native wasp species that are good and that predate bad caterpillars. The arrow shaped glossy deep green divided leaves provide a handsome collar for the subtle flowers in bloom. The entire plant tastes and smells very strongly of anise and as children on hikes we would eat the green seeds before they ripened for a blasting hit of licorice. To 2′ x 2′ forming long lived clumps in part shade to full sun. Prolific in the Willamette Valley and able to compete somewhat with non-natives. Water to establish plants from containers in rich soil with consistent irrigation until about the Fourth of July. then it can go dry. Self sows moderately. A common component of Oregon oak woodlands. Often found with Phacelia heterophylla and Polysticum minutum (Western Sword Fern). Oregon native plant.
Phaenocoma prolifera
So many amazing plants from South Africa, we love this as a fascinating container subject. A wiry shrub with nobby gray green leaves on purely gray stems. It forms a rounded plant to 4′ x 4′ – smaller if kept in a container. The odd foliage becomes a fantastic back drop to straw flowers that open bright red and senesce to pink. The 1″ wide flowers pepper the shrub in July- August. Full sun to very light shade, its more dense and blooms better in full sun. Loved by pollinators this member of the diasy family calls them from afar. Add a handful of all organic fertilizer at the beginning of the season. Water when the surface of the soil is dry. Easy to grow plant that is definitely worth protecting. It also excels in mixed containers, the bloom period is a month but the fascinating foliage holds its own as well. Not hardy below 25ºF. Wonderful plant. It thrives at the Oregon coast and is adapted to sandy soils.
Primula x vulgaris ‘Blue Pacific’
Adorable and deeply colored perennial primrose that has been a long term performer. Brilliant cobalt blue flowers with a center of yellow from mid-winter (in mild years) to late spring. Rich, moisture retentive soil- add a lot of compost and regular water. Primula species that don’t go summer dormant can have a rough go through our hot dry summers. Part shade and match with other perennials and bulbs with similar needs. Epimedium , Crocus, Hyacinth, Pulmonaria all group wonderfully together. Low and spreading. To 6″ tall in bloom (barely) and forming expanding patches. Eventually you can end up with a a 3′ x 3′ patch of pure deep blue. Make sure that it never goes dust dry in summer. Irrigate at least once a week in July-Sept. because hey, its a blue bay and how many PProtect flowers from snails slugs vermin though they aren’t chronically afflicted. Great in seasonal containers. Very floriferous selection. Attracts some of the earliest bees.
Xera Plants Introduction
Tolmiea menziesii ‘Taff’s Gold’
An exceptional variegated form of our native “pigaback” plant that is excellent as a groundcover in dense to light shade. Vigorous and evergreen it will spread to 4′ wide in 2 years but stay only 1′ tall. Very easy to grow, works well under established Rhododendrons. Pretty, but not conspicuous brown flowers. Regular water but will take drought if in the shade. Easy, indispensible native plant. Forms new plants directly from the center of each leaf. Cool trick. Also grown as a houseplant. Good in containers. Oregon native plant.
Viola x cornuta ‘Xera’s Mix’
We’ve had a really good time selecting the most distinct flower colors of this mix of Violas. Brown, taupe, blue, gray, purple, are among the colors in this vigorous strain. These reseed with abandon and will occupy all kinds of niches in a garden. Containerized plants seem to cast seed when you are least aware. They generally germinate in winter and bloom in spring before setting seed and going to sleep for summer heat. Fragrance is another aspect in our selection. You can’t have Violas without fragrance. In autumn our winter mix has been chosen to handle the very worst cold and snow. Full sun to very light shade. Very easy and satisfying spring and autumn/winter extravaganza. They make sweetly scented, delightful bouquets. Xera Plants Introduction.