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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Foliage Follow-Up November 2014

In the winter, I'm especially grateful for plants that do things in reverse like  Cyclamen hederifolium that blooms in the fall and then produces beautiful foliage that persists all winter Arum italicum blooms in the spring but then vanishes until fall when the bright red/orange berries appear.  Later in the fall, fresh tropical looking foliage emerges from the ground and cheers up the bleak winter months.

I don't remember this variety but I love the big leaves which remind me of caladiums.  

I also love Asplenium scolopendrium (Hart's Tongue Fern) here a couple A. s. cristatum that look great year round but especially shine in the winter when so much else is gone.

                     These will grow in shade or sun and, once established, are drought tolerant. 

I've only recently come to appreciate Leucothoe.  It always looked diseased to me but now I'm crazy about it and it's great evergreen foliage is a great addition to the winter garden. 

Speaking of bright evergreens, this variegated euonymus hints at summer even  in the colder months.

Pam at Digging hosts Foliage Follow-Up after Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day each month to remind us of the importance of foliage in our gardens.  What's foliage is speaking to you this month? 

22 comments:

  1. I just noticed my Arum italicum yesterday when I went out for a quick go-round in the garden. It's looking spiffy. I have a hart's tongue fern too, I really should give it a more front-and-center position. Yours look fabulous!

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    1. These bright spots of green get me through the winter. Arum is great because it is happy to grow around hostas where it pops up just as they're throwing in the towel for the year.

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  2. It's so important to have plants that give extra interest in the winter. Makes you appreciate the garden all year round :) nice collection of foliage there Peter!

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    1. You're right, those winter interest plants are very important even if we don't get outside as much during the winter.

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  3. I too am starting to warm up to the charms of Leucothoe, although I haven't yet purchased one. Yesterday I was admiring the foliage of my loquats, the one you gifted me last spring has put on a lot of growth!

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    1. I'm glad your loquat is doing well for you as it was horribly neglected as a child! I swore that Leucothoe was the ugliest thing I'd ever seen and couldn't imagine why anyone would think of growing it. Now I have three.

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  4. R snapped up a bunch of the Leucothoe on sale at Means for hedge material. Must remember to look for Arum italicum at the spring sales. I tend to forget by spring how useful they are about now.

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    1. Arum italicum is usually cheaper in the bulb catalogs than buying plants although I got a few on sale this fall. I think that pairing them with black mondo grass would be divine during the early fall when the orange/red seeds punctuate the black grass. In a red pot with something sculptural and tall planted as well...

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  5. Some wonderful foliage plants growing in your garden. Before you know it Spring will be there again. Whenever I try to grow ferns they cark it, but pop up where they are not wanted - such as behind the shed, or they tend to hang out of the logs propping up the garden beds. Have a great day Peter.

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    1. You have naughty ferns! I'm so enjoying seeing spring again on the Australian garden blogs! Spring comes early for us and by February, although it may still be a bit cold, the plants start popping up again so we're only a couple of months away.

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  6. Some ferns are so good at this time of year, along with cyclamen which have such varied foliage. Arum italicum also have fantastic leaves, in January the new small leaves are just the right size for snowdrops in a vase!

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  7. Hi Peter,with so much variety in the colour and shape of the foliage in your photos, I'm thinking the colour green is endlessly fascinating.

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    1. It is an amazing colour and especially dear during the winter!

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  8. Love your Arum italicum, Peter! Mine is still sleeping. I hope you won't be scolded for growing it as I was on my blog by an anonymous commentator from Oregon, because it's invasive.

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    1. I can take a scolding but am sorry that you were scolded for growing Arum italicum. I haven't found it to be invasive in my garden. It has popped up in a couple of places in my parking strip and has been very welcome there. In other areas of the garden it has disappeared.

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  9. Great Foliage Follow-Up! You have so many green, growing things still going strong! I brought my Cyclamen in before the frost. I hope to do a post about it soon. It's been a totally surprising indoor/outdoor joy for me during the past several years. Love the Hart's Tongue Fern!

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  10. Variegated evergreen foliage is especially welcome in the winter.

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  11. You've reminded me: I need some Cyclamen!

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  12. Love the crinkled leaves of the Asplenium (I think?). I'm on the hunt for drought tolerant shade plants.

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  13. When all red-golden leaves fall and become dark brown mass only evergreen please us, you're right Peter!
    Love this variegated euonymus, very decorative. I have one euonymus and am always glad see it in white melting snow.

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  14. Gotta love beautiful foliage to get you through the winter. Thanks for sharing, Outlaw.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.