Striking gold leaved perennial that pairs bright blue flowers for a bold effect. Blooms from late July to October on a spreading, sprawling plant. Freezes to the ground in most winters and returns from the base if in rich, well drained soil in full sun. Excellent perennial in containers. To 1′ tall by 2 wide in a season. Regular summer water. Foliage does not burn in sun. Mulch in autumn. Do not cut back until you see new growth in spring. Then remove winter killed stems. Hardier to cold in rich, very well drained soil. Often overwinters in containers. Striking perennial for contrast, brilliance. AKA Chinese Plumbago.
Plant Type: Sub-shrub
Sub-shrubs are best thought of as woody perennials that can freeze to the ground in winter and regrow from the base in spring. Hardy Fuchsias and Abutilons are two examples of commonly grown sub-shrubs in our climate. The harshness of winter determines how sub-shrubs behave. In colder than normal winters (below 20ºF) they will likely freeze way back or to the ground. Mild winters may see no dieback at all. Refrain from cutting these back until you see new growth emerge- then you’ll know what to remove. Also, if an Abutilon has frozen back (and it will look awful and dead) simply water and water and water well into summer and the recovery that emerges is stunning. A little handful of all organic fertilizer in spring feeds recovery as well. For lightly tender sub-shrubs (zone 8a) and warmer it benefits these plants if they are planted deeply. Sink the crown of the plant 3″ below the soil level and mulch. This adds cold tolerance. Often slightly tender subshrubs will gain hardiness with age when treated this way.
Climate Adapted Plants for Gardeners in the PNW
Ceratostigma willmottianum ‘Xera Sky’
A cool sub shrub that covers itself for months in dime sized sky blue flowers. The intensity of the color is hard to capture- it must be experienced. Forms a rounded wiry shrub with diamond shaped wavy small green leaves. To 2′ x 2′ in a season. Full sun, and rich, well drained soil with regular summer water. Freezes to the ground below about 15ºF- re-sprouts form the base in spring. Great in containers. The better the drainage the hardier this extraordinary plant will be. Provide a warm position and mulch in autumn. Once it has been established through a winter it is a fairly permanent plant. Some deer resistance. Do not cut back until you see new growth in spring- then remove all damaged stems. Great in hot sunny borders. Regular summer water.
Xera Plants Introduction
Diplacus grandiflorus
Slender Monkey Flower is the inland version of the coastal varieties. AKA Azalea flowered Monkey Flower this subshrub blooms continuously through the season with soft apricot colored tubular flower. Blooms May-August- sometimes later. Average to enriched, very well drained soil- excellent on slopes and rock gardens. To 30″ x 30″ when really happy. Loved by hummers and west coast pollinators in general. This species ranges from the coast to the Sierra Nevada in CA- this form is from colder inland areas and is easier to overwinter in our climate. Forms a semi-woody sub-shrub. Cut back the plant hard after all danger of frost has passed. Not palatable to deer. wonderful long blooming plant for low water to no water landscapes. Light summer water increasing blooming but is far from necessary. Many of the apricot flowers are pictoteed in white for an almost florist quality. Thrives in the wild following fires, disturbance. Butterfly food. West coast native- California.
Fuchsia ‘Alison Patricia’
We adore this incredibly floriferous and compact Fuchsia with masses of flowers that point out and up. The sepals are coral pink with a corolla approaching light violet. This little 2′ x 2′ subshrub begins blooming straight away in June and continues like a powerhouse until frost. Almost always freezes to the ground but recovers its full stature by summer. Best in full sun or even better an open north exposure or easterly aspect with protection from late afternoon heat/sun. Very showy little plant that is a ball of color. Fits well in the borders or containers. Hardy Fuchsias are easily tucked into partly shady corners, though this plant is happier with more sun. Loved by hummingbirds and gardeners a like. Fun to grow Fuchsia that puts out in a big way. Amend the soil to enrich and plant slightly deep for added winter protection. Mulch in fall if you are in a colder garden. Excellent performance in full sun at the Oregon coast.
Fuchsia ‘Campopple’
We love ultra hardy Fuchsias, they are so carefree and they bloom and bloom. We found this Fuchsia in a garden near our shop. It was identified by our friend Annie Hayes at Annie’s annuals. Large growing subshrub to 5′ x 6′ in time. Red sepals surround a deep purple corolla with each petal marked with a strip of hot pink. Lovely. Flowers are large for a hardy Fuchsia and are profuse from June to frost. Fuchsia mite resistant. Very easy to grow in light shade to full sun. Rich, well drained soil with regular summer water is ideal. Very established plants can make due with less. Freezes to the ground in the low 20’s- but not every year. Wait until new growth emerges then remove the frozen material. Loved by hummingbirds as well as gardeners. Lustrous deep green foliage outlines the pendant flowers. You’ll never lose this long lived plant to winter. Good to try where rabbits are a problem.
Fuchsia ‘Dancing Stars’
Adorable Fuchsia that is a prolific bloomer. Widely spreading diagonal stems support curtains of pendant small flowers. The sepals and floral tube are white and the corolla is violet purple. Each flower provides its own contrast but in masses they are beautiful. To 2′ x 3′ in a single season in rich, moisture retentive soil with good drainage. Regular summer water. Apply a handful of all organic fertilizer in mid-spring. Dies to the ground in the first hard freeze, resprouts from the base in mid-spring. Great container Fuchsia. Apply a thick mulch of compost for the first autumn and plant deeply for added winter protection.
There is a plethora of Fuchsias and many are hardy – while many are not. This spectacular Fuchsia has proven to be ultra hardy for us. An upright compact sub-shrub with masses of elegant deeply hued flowers for months. The sepals are a deep wine color- very dark and it pairs with a semi double corolla of the deepest smokey purple black. Full sun in rich soil with ample water adaptable to quite a bit of shade w/ a little less blooming and a lankier outline. It has even proven to be root hardy in containers. Regular water speeds growth through summer and establishment. Plant it w/ the crown about 2″ below the soils surface- this immediately increases the hardiness of the plant. Blooms prolifically from July to October. Often harassed by hummingbirds in our hoop house. To 2′ x 3′. The foliage is deep green, lustrous and healthy. Give it as much water in the ground as you would give it in a container for the first year and it will soar.
Fuchsia ‘Dying Embers’
Striking hardy Fuchsia with stunning deeply hued flowers. Sepals are deep wine colored and a corolla of nearly black fading a bit upon opening to deep maroon. Very floriferous Fuchsia with masses of small flowers over a bushy upright growing sub-shrub. To 3′ x 3′ in rich, well drained soil in part shade. Regular summer water and give it a handful of all organic fertilizer in spring. Dies to the ground in very hard freezes and resprouts vigorously in mid-spring. Wonderful plant for borders, the edge of woodlands and even containers. Glossy foliage is very handsome too. Do not cut back until new growth emerges in spring- then you’ll know what is dead and what to remove. Very hardy variety.
Fuchsia ‘Galfrey Lye’
Flowers! Flowers! Flowers! This extraordinary hardy garden Fuchsia produces masses upon masses of long tubular flowers. The floral tube and sepals are white and corolla is deep rose with distinct orange tints. To 2.5′ tall and as wide in a single season. Heavy bloom begins almost immediately and continues unabated to frost. Excellent container Fuchsia and in the garden give it rich soil that is moisture retentive but drains. Incorporate plenty of compost into the soil and add a handful of all organic fertilizer at planting. Mulch the first winter and plant deeply to protect the crown. Once established it is reliably hardy. Freezes to the ground below 26ºF. Returns in mid-spring from the base and almost immediately starts blooming. Regular summer water. Full sun to part shade. (Avoid the reflected heat of a wall). Excellent performance on open north exposures where there is bright light but protection from intense heat/sun.
Fuchsia ‘Insulinde’
Not the hardiest Fuchsia but by all means one of the showiest. This improved form of ‘Gartenmeister’ is taller with longer brilliant orange red flowers. Tubular pendant flowers in groups to 3″ long. They appear in a massive and continuous display for months petering out around frost. To 30″ tall and very upright- just half as wide. The foliage is a distinct maroon/burgundy which sets off the hot colored flowers nicely. Rich, well drained soil with regular summer irrigation. Part shade to full sun (but not against a hot wall) with water. Incorporate a handful of all organic fertilizer at planting. To over winter this more tender than normal beauty plant deeply, mulch in autumn heavily, and even pile some dry leaves around the crown. It may return from the base if we have a mild winter (above 20ºF). Otherwise its a stellar container constituent. Hummingbirds.
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