Reknowned not only for the vivid red flowers this cultivar that is frequently planted in North Texas is incredibly hardy to cold and does surprisingly well in the Willamette Valley. Upright, somewhat stiff habit to 18′- 20′ in maturity, width 1/2 that. The glossy round dark green leaves are tinted red and this is a back drop to the vivid, true red flowers that erupt from black buds in large trusses. Best in a very hot position in full sun and rich soil with reliable, once a week irrigation. Excellent results against a south facing wall of a building. Seems to have the same heat requirements and vivid flower color of the more commonly grown red variety ‘Dynamite’. In cool weather, between heat stretches, the flowers can emerge speckled with white- curious but uncommon. Bold red flowers are large and lightly fragrant. I have yet to observe mildew on this cultivar in the specimens I’ve located around Portland but I would give it good air circulation, full sun and regular irrigation, avoid dry shade. Full, hot all day sun. The trunks are colored very light tan which contrasts well with the dark foliage and vivid flowers. It exfoliates to a glossy sheen. Fall color is red/ orange. Loved by pollinators. Blooms Aug – Oct. Moderately fast growing, irrigation increases the rate of growth and aids in flowering. Not as easy to root as most cultivars, a limited quantity of this tree will likely always be available. Amazing in bloom.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
When a plant is designated as full sun that means several things. Full sun is at least six hours of unobstructed sunshine. Anything less than that can qualify as part shade. Plants in too much shade that are adapted to sun behave in strange ways. They will often lean exorbitantly towards the direction of the most possible sun. They will not bloom very well and they will not grow nearly as dense becoming lanky and missing the natural beauty of a plant grown correctly. Most drought adapted/low water plants fit into this category.
Climate Adapted Plants for Gardeners in the PNW
A form of evergreen Huckleberry that is found on the north and central Oregon coast. The leaves are slightly longer and curve a bit and have a fine but noticeable serration. This is a slightly bolder form that is very handsome and somewhat formal in appearance from the species. Forms a shrub with large canes that grow in earnest and then arch.. White flowers are slightly larger than normal and appear in spring form slightly larger than normal black sweet fruit, about the size of a caper. Plant more than one shrub to increase pollination and fruit set. Full sun to full shade in humus rich, highly organic soil . Mulch for the first several years. Irrigate to establish for the first year or two then it should have a large enough rootball to resist summer drought. Otherwise light summer irrigation speeds growth. New growth is salmon orange and turns to shades of yellow before settling to dark green. Very pretty native shrub that demands more irrigation and mulch in full sun. Makes a wonderful informal hedge in time. This form has a pronounced arching shape. Excellent hedge material as this is cutting propagated and will maintain a uniform habit. Wonderful form from the northern Oregon coast. To 8′ x 8′ in 10 years. Prune if needed in Autumn. Oregon native plant.
Xera Plants Introduction
A fantastic, tough and exotic looking evergreen (conifer) that is striking and easy to grow. To 4′ in 10 years, a slow growing shrub that is often as wide as it is tall. The scale leaves are deep glossy green liberally splashed with cream. The large leaflets protrude from a single trunk and is layered like a gigantic moss. The foliage is glossy on the surface and dull beneath. Wonderful specimen or even small hedge. Scaled very well for large rock gardens. This is a very rare form of this enchanting species native to Asia. Full sun and water to establish, let it dry between irrigating, then in a year or two it can survive on natural rainfall alone. Very cold hardy and takes the subfreezing wind from the east with no damage. Excellent in the Columbia River Gorge. Not bothered by deer,and likely not bothered by rabbits, but we are not 100% sure, but its worth a try. Good appearance year round.
Our selection of a smaller scale crape myrtle with the purest white flowers that we have seen. Glossy, handsome disease free foliage is light green and glossy, on a very upright growing large shrub to small tree. Early and reliable flowering in our climate, in full hot sun, rich soil with a deep soak once a week in summer. Reliably in bloom by the early part of July and continuing for 6 weeks or more. Fall color is bright golden yellow. Moderately fast growing to 5′ tall in 5 years with an ultimate size at 15 years of 10′ – 12′ by 4′ wide. Cold hardy and naturally resistant to powdery mildew. Very showy and its masses of flowers draw a plethora of pollinators for many weeks. It requires a lower heat amount to propel it into bloom. The thin trunks exfoliates to glossy tan and is showy. Best in the sunniest hottest location. Crape myrtles are not just shade intolerant they loathe all shade. Full all day sun in a hot position. Specifically chosen for excellent performance in the Willamette Valley. Small scale and size fits into any garden.
Xera Plants Introduction
The all time record breaking heat of June 2021 when Portland reached 108ºF, 112ºF, 116ºF on three consecutive days ended up eclipsing the old all time record by an amazing 9ºF- A heatwave that is considered to be one of the most extreme heatwaves ever recorded and the most severe ever to be centered north of the 45º latitude. Many plants were fried outright and the damage lasted for months. It also killed my large Grevillea miqueliana var. moroka- a true alpine shrub it had no adaptation to those extremes. Grevilleas bloom heavily on the interior of the shrub, though not very noticeable it drops a continuous pile of seeds at the crown. So I was not surprised when three seedlings popped up in the following autumn where the parent had perished.. We experienced a normal winter 17ºF and two of the seedlings survived. They have steadily grown and in 2024 they experienced 13ºF and 50 mph winds during a flash freeze in January. The small 2′ seedlings had a little leaf burn but survived. One of the seedling is an exact replica of its seed parent. The other has a conspicuously different very upright almost fastigiate habit . It also possesses much smaller nearly round leaves. Its a very different look for this species. The chains of pendant flowers emerge light red and change to orange and yellow as the flowers yawn open. They appear from Nov. – June in a massive display on the outside. The interior flowers are always present blooming and dropping seed. Based on its growth so far which has been vigorous it should be an upright shrub to 6′ tall and 3′ wide- estimate. Full sun in a protected warm location with average, un improved native soil. Do not add compost. Best on a slope where water never pools. Water 2 x per week the first season and let the soil dry between irrigation. Compact dense habit and smaller foliage makes the flowers more conspicuous. Loved by hummingbirds. Should have excellent adaptation to the Oregon coast and can be grown in sandy soils. In subsequent summers its best to give it a good soak once a month based on aridity. Pretty shrub. Protect with a cardboard box the first winter in the ground if arctic air , sub 20ºF threatens. Remove the box with the thaw.
Xera Plants Introduction
We all agree at Xera that this is a fantastic new color form of cold hardy little leaf sage (Salvia microphylla). The large flowers begin as dark blue in bud and open to a wonderful true light blue. Compact growing to 2′ x 2′ and it blooms continuously for all of summer into early autumn. The flower color is vastly different than ‘Flower Child’ pink and ‘Royal Bumble’ red. It is not only a wonderful border plant its compact habit and continuous flowering make it a wonderful container member as well . This is one of the most visited plants for hummingbirds. Enriched soil that drains in full sun. It will perform well in morning sun only or afternoon sun only. Regular summer water leads to the best blooming. Combines deliciously with chartreuse foliage or paired with lavender flowers. Do not cut back this perennial hard until all chance of frost has passed in spring (after Apri 15th) You may tidy overgrown plants at the end of summer or into fall, but do not cut back hard. Very easy to grow perennial and a wonderful flower color. Semi-deciduous to deciduous in winter. Excellent performance at the Oregon coast.
A dwarf/smaller crape myrtle that we raised from seed years ago and it has proven to be an excellent shrub with large vivid flowers . Small leaves on a compact plant to 6′ x 4 in 5 years with very large individual flowers that are hot pink and form large showy trusses. A naturally early blooming cultivar with low heat requirements it will be in full fabulous bloom in mid -July and continues until September. Fall color is bright orange and yellow. Extremely showy in bloom this slow growing plant will attract pollinators for 6 -8 weeks. Crape myrtles bloom so profusely and for so long that they are one of our best summer blooming woody pollinator plants. The individual flowers are very large- larger than the leaves and flowers obscure the foliage. Rich soil with regular summer water, a deep soak once a week in full sun in a hot position. Powdery mildew resistant and not bothered by any pests. Cold hardy and long lived. In time the thin trunks and stems exfoliate to a glossy tan/gray. Excellent specimen or showy member of a hedgerow. Very pretty in bloom. In great age 15+ years it will grow into a small tree. Accepts the hottest locations. Great plant for planting islands in parking lots. Reliable. Very good in large containers with regular irrigation and fertilizer. Thrives with heat.
Xera Plants Introduction
‘
This vigorous and floriferous larger arching Cistus has small flowers just 4cm wide but every white flower has a maroon basal blotch around a yellow center. This is one of the most prolific Rockroses for quantity and length of flowers. Masses of small flowers are intricate and a shrub in full sun is an amazing tapestry of color until about 4pm when all the flower petals drop at once. Excellent hardiness to cold as one of its hybrid parents is the very cold hardy Cistus monspeliensis. Evergreen leaves are long and thin and sweet with the resiny perfume of sweet balsam. This resin (Ladinum) that covers all the foliage imparts a certain amount of fire retardance. To 4′ x 4′ tall and arching in full sun and average soil with regular water to establish. In subsequent years it can take much less. Normal deer resistance and rabbit resistance is good. Dense habit avoids splitting and flailing. Excellent shrub for dry gardens, areas beyond the sprinkler. A great shrub for rural areas- very tough. Very well adapted to our climate. The calyx which remains turns a vivd red and holds in late summer and autumn.
One of our smaller Crape myrtle introductions that produces masses of extra-frilly lavender/purple flowers from early July to September. This is a dense and compact shrub and will slowly achieve 6′ x 3′ wide in 5 years, progressively larger after that . Dark foliage is small and resistant to powdery mildew. This Crape myrtle has lower heating requirements to bloom and willl be in massive bloom by mid July. In autumn this compact shrub turns red and orange before losing its leaves . Full all day sun in a hot position. Rich soil with regular irrigation ,about one good soak per week in summer is ideal and will lead to flowering and re-flowering for months . Crape myrtles produce such a display of flowers for so long they are one of our best summer pollinator trees/shrubs. Very easy to grow, ideal hedge row or specimen shrub. Excellent in very hot locations and excels in frying, reflected heat. Cold hardy and mildew resistant. Pruning is seldom needed. Very long lived. The smaller stems exfoliate to a glossy tan with time.
Xera Plants Introduction
A very old and impressive hardy Fuchsias that has stood the test of time and is surprisingly tolerant of heat as well. Large double flowers on a very upright growing hardy Fuchsia. Established plants can freeze to the ground below 15ºF and regrow 3′ – 4′ in a single season. Following mild winters it can be even taller than that. Beautiful white sepals open to reveal a double center of violet purple- the effect is voluptuous and graceful. Upright growing sub-shrub for rich soil. regular water and full sun to part shade. Light green leaves are disease resistant. This is a ultra hardy Fuchsia and established plants are root hardy to near 0ºF. Steady water and applications of organic fertilizer in its first year will aid establishment. Normally in bloom from May to October. Loved by hummingbirds and bees. Do not cut back until you see new growth emerging in spring then you will know what is dead and to be eliminated. Mulch in cold gardens for the first year. Spreads to 3′ wide. Long lived and early to bloom.