G

Geranium  evergreen to deciduous clumping, running, or trailing perennials, mostly low growers, with flowers ranging from white through blue, purple, and red (no yellows). Mostly used in mixed gardens but occasionally as large scale ground covers. This is not where you will find the common red zonal geraniums, ivy geraniums, or Martha Washington geraniums, all of which are classified as Pelargonium. Geraniaceae. rev 2/2003

‘Brookside’  closeup, flowers and foliage  a clumping to scrambling deciduous perennial 18-30" tall with heavy spring through fall production of rich medium blue flowers, with minute but well defined violet red veins on the petals. This is the same color as the famous ‘Johnson’s Blue’ but the flower is smaller, and the latter lacks the well defined petal veins. Overall it looks like a more deeply colored, slightly more gracile G. himalayense, but is reportedly a hybrid of  G. pratense and G. clarkei ‘Kashmir Purple.’ This is a relatively recent hybrid, and a good one. It is showy, adaptable, and blooms a long time. The deeply cut, lacy leaves can reach 7" across on mature plants. rev 7/2004

x cantabrigense  CAMBRIDGE GERANIUM  closeup    habit  an evergreen perennial in our area, at least partly so, but deciduous with much cold. This is a vigorous, dependable hybrid involving G. macrorrhizum, it has a similar pungent, resinous smell just like that species, but weaker. To 12" tall, a single plant will clump to 3’ wide but it travels and multiple plantings will quickly intergrow to form drifts or banks of foliage and flower color.. Small, dense, rounded dark green leaves are slightly cut, with an exceptionally shiny, lustrous quality. Burgundy and bright red tones develop on the leaves with colder weather. Flowers are a deep lavender or mauve pink, borne over much of the year beginning in late winter. Sun to part shade, average to little summer watering, frost hardy. It overwinters well in areas of mild winters but likes a little direct sun or it tends to get rather thin. Likes rich soil, summer watering. Frost hardy, Sunset all zones. rev 4/2003

‘Biokovo’  closeup    habit    nice planting  very light pink flowers, almost white sometimes. Leaves are slightly larger and the plant is somewhat bigger than G. cantabrigense. This is considered to be a more desirable form than the regular, dark lavender pink form. It is stunning in used quantity when in bloom, has a rather formal appearance, and looks good either massed in borders or spotted in informal woodland gardens or loose perennial borders. The flowers are particularly nice when backlit and if so the plant should be sited to take advantage of this effect. Foliage has similar fall and winter tones. Also spelled ‘Biokova.’ Both versions seem to refer to a mountain range in Croatia, but my Croatian is rusty and I can't figure out which is correct, and both may be. rev 5/2006

'Crystal Rose'   flowers  a shocking pink version, otherwise same habit/size/behavior. rev 6/2010 *NEW for 2010!*

‘Dusky Rose’  leaves and flowers  this was acquired under that name but is probably G. sessiliflorum ssp. novazealandii ‘Rubrum’ or ‘Nigricans.’ Grows as a low, matting clump to just about, 4-6" high and 12-18" across. Small leaves (1 1/2") are almost round; color is dusky burgundy with a slight glaucous or whitish bloom on the surface, margins are cut. Small solitary pale salmon pink flowers are scattered across the center of the clump from April through September. This is used primarily a reddish purple foliage perennial, for full or mostly full sun, average soils and average watering. It is very good with silver, gold, blue, or blackish foliage. Probably good for Sunset zones 8-9, 14-24, and probably hardy to USDA zone 8 or 7. rev 7/2003

‘Johnson’s Blue’  closeup    more flowers  much like G. himalayense, but with petals flatter on the outer edge and a slightly lighter central eye. Longer blooming and more evergreen, but G. himalayense is probably a better, more vigorous garden plant, in our opinion, due to a shorter bloom time. Culture like that of G. himalayense, including its strong preference for a good winter chill for best growth. Without good vernalization it will decline and eventually be overgrown. rev 4/2003

'Jolly Bee'  flowers   very similar to 'Rozanne,' but the flowers are slightly smaller sometimes. Basically identical performance and specs. A great variety and very warm-winter tolerant. rev 5/2008

‘Mavis Simpson’    closeup    clumping deciduous perennial spreading quickly from the base, to 18" tall. Bears shell pink flowers with darker purple veins intermittently all year, heaviest in late spring. Good in sun or part shade with regular watering. Frost hardy.

‘Rozanne’ PP 12175    Opal Cliffs    my yard    can't have too many of this one    this chance British garden hybrid (G. himalayense x G. wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' ) gets to about 18" tall (slowly!) by 2' across. Large, 2 1/2" flowers are lavender blue and produced from early summer through fall. Essentially this one has flowers almost identical to G. ‘Brookside’ in size and color on a habit more like G. sanguineum but taller, and with nicer leaves, in this case dark green, coarsely cut and gently marbled with white. Likes good drainage and as much chill as you can provide (at least around here). This is a good one for combo containers also, with its forgiving, mounding habit. rev 7/2004 

Gerbera    TRANSVAAL DAISY    clumping evergreen to mostly deciduous perennials. Typical large, daisy-like flowers are usually doubled and come in a wide range of colors, white through yellow, orange, red, and burgundy violet. We offer only tissue culture strains, and the individual colors have been selected from a large number of seedlings to be the best performing, strongest-stalked, heaviest blooming, longest lasting cut flower and garden blooming varieties available. Compositae/Asteraceae. South Africa. rev 6/2005

‘Sunburst’    a strain of compact, heavy blooming garden or container types that are also excellent for cutting. rev 6/2005

cut flower types    bouquet    each clone is individually selected for very long stems, exceptional vase life, heavy flower substance, and color. Often the retail cost of a plant in a retail nursery is lower than the cost of an equivalent number of stems at a flower shop, plus they keep on coming! These are also outstanding in containers or in the garden, but some have flower stems that can reach up to 30-36" if pushed so be forewarned. rev 6/2005

Ginkgo biloba    MAIDENHAIR TREE    mature tree in fall color    'Autumn Gold' fall color closeup    young specimen of 'Autumn Gold'    ancient conifer, the oldest living seed bearing plant. Needles are flattened, blade-like. If pollinated, female trees bear fleshy, unpleasantly pungent fruits, with edible seeds within that have the flavor of pistachios or pine nuts. Most recommend planting only grafted trees, and seedling trees are grown by us primarily for use as grafting understock, or as bonsai plants. However this species has probably been extirpated from the wild, and is the last of its genus, family, order and class left on earth. Planting at least some female trees will help keep this species from going extinct and ensure its genetic diversity. Ginkgoaceae. China.

‘Autumn Gold’    has a reputation for wonderful gold color. It tends to not produce a leader, and grows as a multileadered, upright, rounded to swept shape tree. Introduced by Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation. rev 1/2003

Graptophyllum pictum  this is a typical fast, tender, foliage-color plant, with big, soft, delicate leaves in a range of color combinations that are produced quickly under warm conditions. Leaf size is largest with humidity and a little shade. It can reach up a couple of feet here under warm conditions, especially if not cut back in winter, but expect it to sulk when dry or cold. This should probably be treated as a soft, fast summer annual anywhere in Northern California where it will be exposed to a freeze, and will need some wind/sun protection in the Central Valley or Southern California. It is very attractive when well grown. Its highest use may be as a combo pot item, or displayed against an appropriate background or companion plant. It is described as reaching 8' but that would be in tropical regions. I haven't seen the flowers but they should resemble Justicia flowers, tubular trumpets 1 1/2" long, scarlet. I would think snails would love this but I haven't tested it personally. rev 8/2008 

'Black Magic'  closeup  black maroon leaves with a coral pink splash in the center. rev 8/2008 
'Chocolate'  light chocolate brown with a coral pink splash. rev 8/2008 

Graptoveria 'Fred Ives'   giant rosettes   interesting flowers   this is a Graptophyllum paraguayense x Echeveria gibbiflora hybrid, producing large (over 12" across) rosettes of rather narrow, blue green leaves that quickly sun-color to coppery plum, especially under cool conditions. It forms short branched plants to a foot or two tall. Tall, very tall, over 2' tall in fact, very open spikes hold small, starry, pale yellow flowers with soft apricot shading on the reverse, with bloom occuring in winter. This is a big, impressive specimen succulent that shows up a lot because it is a survivor. It tolerates commercial production well, meaning it isn't too picky about wet soils or humid environments and it can be sold into many areas of varying climates. It is also one that survives East Coast humidity better than most, and that speaks for its adaptability. Supposedly this is hardy to 25F (Sunset zones 8-9, 12-24, USDA zone 9) but occasional comments surface from the PNW and other areas suggesting it is much hardier (USDA 8a or 8b?). Crassulaceae. rev 2/2010 *NEW for 2010!*

Grevillea  this genus of the Proteaceae is one of the largest in Australia, and contains a very high percentage of valuable horticultural forms and hybrids. There is considerable variation of flowers, leaves, and growth habits. One of the best features of most varieties is their extended blooming periods. Most also attract hummingbirds, which feed gluttonously on the nectar just as the native Honeycreepers do in Australian gardens. Unlike their close relatives the Hakeas, the Grevilleas will bloom when young, or as container plants. Grevilleas with their succulent proteoid roots are very forgiving as container plants, tolerating erratic or inadequate watering very well.

    Almost all Grevilleas want average to good drainage and little or no fertilizing in California soils. If used, fertilizers should be of moderate strength and low or completely lacking in phosphate. Phosphate toxicity shows up initially as yellowing foliage, progresses to blackened leaves, and can eventually kill the plant. Most selections need little or even no summer watering. However most will tolerate it, a few need it, and some grow in soils which are heavy or (like this species) experience winter saturation. Propagation on many Grevilleas is extremely difficult, accounting for spotty availability.

‘Austraflora Fanfare’  flowers    what it can do    wonderfully silky buds    another habit shot  this is just what homeowners and landscape designers crave, a very showy, very low, tough, drought tolerant, weed-smothering evergreen groundcover with pretty good frost hardiness that is disease and insect resistant, highly deer, rabbit and gopher resistant when established, and can be spec'd on wide planting centers to cover a lot of ground for fast coverage at a relatively low price. It is planted from gallon cans or larger, meaning the plants are deep rooted and irrigation can be infrequent via hose or drip, discouraging the weed load that comes with the broadcast irrigation necessitated when planting shallow rooted groundcovers from flats. Sound good? But wait - there's more! It draws hummingbirds too! No, I'm not kidding, it's true! It is showy enough to be raised just for its flowers alone, but its attractive sawtooth leaves are also quite striking, and those plus the strikingly bronzy new growth and silky indumentum on the emerging shoot tips and flower buds make it a first class foliage/texture plant too. It is a very good substitute for the difficult to grow and propagate G. gaudichaudii (see also G. ‘Grassfire’ and G. ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’), being considerably faster and more garden tolerant. It is also very similar to G. ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle,’ but the leaves are longer, to 7", and much more evenly cut into a coarse sawtooth pattern. Growth is quite prostrate, to under 12" tall if uncrowded by at least 15’ across. The heavy show of dark red flowers in toothbrush clusters is displayed from winter late spring, and often through the summer as well. It can be  made denser when starting out by tip pruning. It grows in full sun to mostly shade, likes infrequent to little summer watering, and needs at least average drainage. It was undamaged at 25°F, and severely damaged but recovered from 20°F. Its one Achilles' Heel is that like all the sawtooth types it is prone to iron deficiency in many California soils. This can be corrected fastest in the short term with iron sulfate or EDTA-chelated iron sprays, and in the long term by iron and soil acidification treatments. Overirrigation can dramatically contribute to the problem. UC Santa Cruz. rev 3/2006

'Bonfire'  flowers  much like a more compact, finer, smaller scale version of G. 'Long John,' this time G. wilsonii x johnsonii. Leaves are much more feathery and finely cut, and plant habit is lower, to about 4-6' tall by 6-8' across. Flowers are on short sub-terminal clusters, with about 8-10 to each cluster, and bloom is primarily spring with occasional bloom through fall. The flowers are a shiny deep rose red, are showy and well displayed, and are highly attractive to hummingbirds. Overall this is a showier plant than 'Long John,' because although the individual flowers are smaller there are many more of them and they are better displayed. This is about as frost hardy as G. 'Long John,' so figure about 25F and Sunset zones 8-9, 14-17, 21-24/USDA zone 9.  rev 5/2007 

'Canberra Gem'  partly shaded plant  a fast shrub to 6-10' depending on situation and pruning. Short, prickly needle-like green leaves get about an inch long and protect small, showy, condensed clusters of spidery rose red floewrs from late fall through spring. It is used occasionally as a cut flower. Adaptable, tolerating both severe drought and summer watering, clay soils (if drainage is good), and reasonable cold. This is most likely actually 'Mrs. Clearview David,' mixed up in this country with the real 'Canberra Gem,' which is sold in the trade in this country as 'Pink Pearl.' Got that? Hummingbirds like it, it is good for detering foot traffic, screening, smothering weeds, where deer tolerance is needed, and for general drought tolerant landscaping use. Sun to half shade, frost hardy to 25-20F. Sunset zones 8-9, 14-24/USDA zone 9. rev 10/2009

'Firesprite'  closeup  a fine textured bush to 10-15' tall by 6-8' wide, bearing loose, terminal, upright clusters of large, waxy, deep red flowers with yellow petal bases. The result of G. longistlya x venusta. It resembles G. 'Long John,' and shares a parent, but the flowers are a dark red orange, it grows with a more relaxed habit, and it has more luxuriant and horizontal foliage. For full sun to part shade with good drainage, infrequent watering. Hardy to Sunset zones 8-9, 14-17, 21-24/USDA zone 9. rev 7/2007 

juniperina ‘Lava Cascade'  flowers    at Strybing Arboretum  formerly sold as 'Low Form.' A dense mounding to trailing shrub, with a slightly arching habit, to1- 2’ tall by 6-10’ wide. Dark green leaves are needle-like, 3/4" long by 1/8" wide, with light undersides, prickly. Short, rounded clusters of coral red flowers hang from the branches from fall through spring. This is a great low, tough, frost tolerant, weed smothering groundcover shrub that can be planted from large sizes and being woody, tolerates preemergents. It also covers a wide area and moves fast when planted from a 1g can, so it can be planted on widely spaced centers and established with discrete (drip, hose, etc) watering as opposed to weed-encouraging broadcast irrigation such as sprinklers. Plants with these qualifications fill a coveted spot in the landscape or garden designer's palette and this plant is beginning to see much wider use because of its great characteristics. Hardy to around 20°F. UC Santa Cruz. rev 5/2006

‘Molonglo’  closeup  more flowers    with raindrops, even  habit  a fast, dense, flat to slowly mounding, dark green, weed smothering, hardy, tough, drought tolerant ground cover to 8-18" tall by at least 6’ and as much as 15' wide. Similar to 'Lava Cascade' but darker green and a much heavier bloomer, plus it lies much closer to the ground. The soft, needle-like leaves grow to 1/2" long and have with light undersides. This selection bears an extremely profuse show of light golden yellow, spidery flowers in short, condensed, slightly pendant clusters, in late winter and spring. It is a very neat, compact grower with a rather formal appearance for a Grevillea, and is just outstandingly showy when in bloom. It makes a wonderful show when combined with any of the Rosemaries, but especially selections such as 'Benenden Blue' ('Ingramii,' 'Collingwood Ingram'), 'Ken Taylor,' or 'Rentzel's Irene.' It will cascade down slopes or wall but can also be cut back hard to fit into more restrained places. If pruned, it should be cut before the end of July in order to not interfere with the formation of flowering the following winter. Takes frost to around 20°F without much damage, and will probably survive much lower. From UC Santa Cruz. rev 5/2006

lanigera ‘Coastal Gem’  closeup of flowers and buds  habit at UCSC Arboretum    another example of habit    another  a tight, low, dense, small leaved cultivar with light grey green foliage and tight clusters of rose red, salmon pink and creamy white flowers in winter and spring. This new introduction is lower and tighter than G. lanigera ‘Low Form.’ It seems to want to get about 12-18" tall by 4-5' across fairly quickly, although its ultimate dimensions are still unknown. This appears to be a very showy selection, with masses of flowers borne at the tip of each short axillary branch from fall through spring. Should be hardy to around 25°F and should survive 20°F, probably with damage. An Australian Plant Introduction involving UC Santa Cruz and Koala Blooms.

‘Low Form’  WOOLLY GREVILLEA  closeup    at Sierra Azul Nursery    at UCSC Arboretum  a compact, low shrub to 2’ tall, 4’ wide with small, narrow, soft, recurved grey green leaves with woolly undersides and minutely hairy twigs and stems. Cream and pink flowers are displayed from the branch tips in winter and spring, with occasional flowers at other times of the year. It features attractive nodding stem tips as part of its signature look. It is never as showy as either 'Mt. Tamboritha' or 'Coastal Gem,' lacking a really profuse show of flowers at any season, but is probably the best weed-smothering groundcover of them all and has the best foliage. The stems and branches have a spiral symmetry similar to Asparagus densiflorus ‘Meyers.’ This is not the larger, more open, upright shrub form of  G. lanigera which has been in the trade here for 30 years, but a somewhat showier, denser, lower, spreading form. Makes a good container plant. Will grow in most soils in sun to part shade with infrequent summer watering. Tolerates frost to 20°F. Southern and southeastern Australia. From UC Santa Cruz. rev 2/2006

‘Mt. Tamboritha’  flowers  idea of habit    deeply colored flower buds  this name is supposedly derived from a nursery, not a collection site. It is reportedly a low coastal form. Resembles ‘Low Form’ but is a little more irregular in growth habit and showier in bloom, with scattered flowers almost all the time. Tough, durable.

lavandulacea ‘Penola’  closeup  clouds of flowers    young plant    dark buds    at Luis' house  usually seen as a 4-5’ tall shrub spreading to 8’ wide. This species was named for its foliage and habit. Can be kept smaller and very compact with pruning after bloom, or even reach 15’ across in favored situations if left untouched. Minutely tomentose grey foliage is held on spreading to arching branches. A heavy, dense, conspicuous display of deep rose red flowers, with cream bases, is seen from fall through spring. Taller and faster than ‘Billy Wing.’ This is one of the darkest cultivars of G. lavandulacea. It makes a good, long lived container plant. This variety is very similar if not identical to a hybrid named ‘Poorinda Illumina’. Seedlings of this variety can be very compact and quite grey or large, open, and dark green, suggesting that the proposed hybrid identity is correct. Sun, good drainage, very drought tolerant when established. This species is naturally found on sandy soils which become saturated in winter. This selection should tolerate around 20°F before being damaged. Southern and southeastern Australia. UC Santa Cruz. This variety is hardy to around 20°F. UC Santa Cruz. rev 2/2004

‘Long John’  flowers    habit    at the Mills Garden  an Australian hybrid of  G. longistyla and  G. johnsonii with a name assigned by our own grower, the sublime Jeff Brooks. A bold upright to rounded shrub to 8’ tall, 12’ across, with a lush, dense appearance. Has extremely long, thin, softly needle-like, divided leaves to 12" long by 1/8" wide. Bears very showy terminal spikes of large, waxy, dark rose pink and white flowers of heavy substance, to 4" long. One of the few  Grevilleas which makes a good cut flower. Irresistible to hummingbirds. Probably begins to show damage at around 25°F. UC Santa Cruz.

‘Noellii’  spidery flowers    Lighthouse neighborhood    large scale commercial  a seedling from Australian seed of unknown parentage (“mixed Grevillea seed”) originally raised and selected by the late Noel Morey of Santa Cruz, whom I worked with. This very adaptable variety is well-liked by landscapers and gardeners alike for its verdant green curtains of weeping, needly foliage. It has a light show of spidery rose and light red flowers that do attract hummingbirds, but its main value is for form and texture. Its high garden tolerance is a byproduct of being able to survive the standard American wholesale nursery practices of the 1950's, when little was known of the needs and dislikes of Australian plants. Of the many seeds that germinated, only a handful survived more than a short while. It was selected as the most attractive of the lot. It can reach 4-5' tall by over 8' across unpruned and in a happy situation. It takes pruning, and even hedge shearing, very well as long as it isn't cut back too hard. It grows and looks best in part shade with good drainage and at least some summer watering. It still looks best with low levels of phosphate and fertilizer in general, even though it is tolerant of them. Severely damaged below 20°F.

‘Pink Pearl’  closeup    neat hedge    snaky branches  dense, mounding to spreading shrub to 4-8’ tall, 8-12’ wide with dark green, needle-like leaves and conspicuous, well displayed clusters of rose pink and cream flowers in winter and spring. Almost looks like a cross between the semiweeping habit of ‘Noellii,’ and the stiffer needles and habit of ‘Canberra Gem,’ but is showier in bloom than either variety. The flowers are borne in terminal clusters on axillary branches. This variety is prickly enough to be really unpleasant to stick your arm in or walk through, so it makes a good barrier plant: no real physical damage, but you don't want to cross it. Should be hardy to around 20°F. UC Santa Cruz.

‘Red Hooks’  closeup    more flowers    habit    another plant    new growth  fast growing shrub or small tree to 8-12’ tall, 12-18’ wide, with horizontal to upwardly spreading branches. Pinnately herringbone patterned leaves to 5" long have very narrow, broadly separated leaflets, giving the plant a fine textured look. New growth is densely covered with minute, silky brown hairs. Coral red flowers in toothbrush clusters are produced from late winter through late spring, with some appearing throughout the year. Easily recognized by its very striking appearance, with very thick trunks and robust, wandering horizontal branches narrowing to the flat tier-like sprays of almost ferny foliage. Cut back hard once to several times when young or it will probably blow over. Damaged below 25°F. UC Santa Cruz.

rhyolitica 'Deua Flame'  flowers and leaves   this was formerly considered to be a subspecies of G. victoriae but is usually treated by itself nowadays. This named selection seems to be just the standard form of the species found in Deua National Park north of Melbourne. This is a rare and endangered plant. It is larger, faster, greener, and showier than its close cousin G. victoriae. It bears lance shaped, deep green leaves and blooms with long, pendant, moderately dense spikes of bright coral red flowers. Bloom is heaviest in late spring and early summer but it flowers all year. Hummingbirds love its heavy nectar production. This is a compact, dense, tough, easy to grow species that is quite heat and drought tolerant, is easy to shape, and is frost hardy enough to be used in most of lowland California. It grows moderately quickly, cuts back well, is quite showy, and has a lush appearance for a plant that doesn't use much water. Sunset zones 8-9, 14-24, possibly zone 5 as well/USDA zone 9.rev 7/2009

‘Robyn Gordon’  flowers    UCSC Arboretum    another UCSC Arboretum plant  the most popular plant in Australia, at least recently. It is an exquisitely showy, long blooming hybrid of G. bipinnatifida with G. banksii. Large, terminal, pendant clusters, to 6" long, of deep salmon rose to light coral red flowers are borne for most of the year. Individual flowers are quite long, with large bases. Leaves are deeply cut, almost pinnate, habit is relatively dense. To 6-7’ tall and wide. Severely damaged or killed below 25°F. UC Santa Cruz.

rosmarinifolia ‘Dwarf Form’  closeup    happy plant  compact shrub to 3’ tall, 6’ wide with soft, broadly needle-like dark green leaves, light underneath, and very showy pink and cream flowers all over the outside of the bush in fall and spring. One of the most successful of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum introductions. This strain has become quite popular in California, since it is showier and much more compact than the type form. Tolerates partial shade. Best with some summer watering, especially in hot areas. This selection is more tender than others of this species. It is damaged by frost below 25°F, and probably killed at 20°F. Southeastern Australia. UC Santa Cruz.

‘Scarlet Sprite’  closeup  very close    nice young plant  compact mounding to rounded plant to 4-5’ tall and 8’ wide with relatively soft, fine textured, dark green needle-like leaves to 1" long. Showy clusters of spidery rose pink and cream flowers appear in clusters in winter and spring. Like a denser, more rounded, softer, showier G. ‘Noellii.’ This one almost doesn't hurt at all if you stick your bare arm into it. Average Grevillea requirements. Severely damaged below 20°F. UC Santa Cruz.

‘Ruby Clusters’  closeup  very old plant    new growth  a large, dense, rounded shrub to 6’ tall and 8-10’ wide with relatively hard, dark blue green, narrow lance shaped leaves to 1 1/2" long, with lighter undersides. Dark red flowers to 1" long, in small clusters of up to 25, hang below the branches and make a nice show from fall through spring, with some bloom occurring throughout the year. Valuable and very attractive as a relatively formal screen or foliage plant, and very pretty when in bloom. However its best use is probably as a hummingbird feeder. The Arboretum at UC Santa Cruz reports this variety to be probably the best hummingbird plant in their garden, and that is saying something. With their collection of Salvias, Ericas, and Grevilleas, I have never seen a higher concentration of hummingbirds anywhere in the world. They report that its everblooming habit, heavy nectar production, flower color and blossom availability make it the most heavily visited plant in their garden. Sun to mostly shade, average to no summer watering. Very adaptable to soils, and will tolerate wet, heavy soils. Damaged by frost at 20-25°F. UC Santa Cruz.

sericea 'Collaroy Plateau'  PINK SPIDER FLOWER  at UCSC Arboretum  flowers    masses of flowers  also known in the trade in Australia as "dark pink form." This is an easy to grow, Eastern Australian species that is highly garden tolerant compared to many other Australian natives. I would estimate it to be about as adaptable as G. 'Canberra Gem' or 'Pink Pearl.' It grows as a moderately dense upright shrub to 5-6' tall and bears short, broadly needle-like, dark green, glossy leaves to about 1" long. Compact clusters of small, spidery, deep magenta rose pink flowers appear in from winter through summer, with heaviest display in late winter and early spring. It grows more compactly than the light pink form, which we used to offer in the early 1990s, and is overall a nicer plant in my opinion. Sun to part shade, at least average drainage, but happiest, most compact and most attractive in lean, mineral soils with minimal summer watering. It will need moderate watering however if it is used in very hot-summer or very dry climates, and is quite garden tolerant if it has to be used in cooler climates with more watering than you suspect it wants. This form is frost hardy to at least 25F, probably will survive 20F, and should be reliable for Sunset zones 8-9, 14-24/USDA zone 9 and possibly 8. That makes it a good candidate for testing in colder regions such as the Portland area. (Sunset zone 5/USDA zone 8b). Southeastern Australia. rev 1/2006 

‘Superb’  closeup   habit   silky buds    closeup salmon phase    more flowers  close recross of  G. ‘Robyn Gordon’ (G. bipinnatifida x G. banksii white form, as opposed to red form) is a vigorous, somewhat open shrub to 6’ tall by 7-8’ wide. Almost identical to G. ‘Robyn Gordon,’ except that it is a little more vigorous and upright, and with flowers which are light coral orange to apricot with large, showy yellow styles. Tends to stay denser, foliage is lighter and slightly greyer. Sun to part shade, little summer watering, severely damaged or killed below 25°F. UC Santa Cruz.  rev 4/2005

victoriae ‘Murray Valley Queen’  ROYAL GREVILLEA  closeup    habit    another nice plant at UCSC Arboretum  an upright to rounded shrub to 4-6’ tall and wide, with upright to spreading branches and lance shaped dark grey green leaves to 3" long. The flowers are orange red, and hang in short pendant clusters on axillary twigs among the branches. Twigs, flower buds, and new growth of this almost formal looking selection are heavily covered with a beautiful, silky, rust colored indumentum. This is the showiest and most distinctive selection of a very tough species. It blooms over a relatively long season, starting in late winter and lasting through spring. This species occurs at high elevation in eastern Australia, and is often covered with snow. Prefers sun to part shade, good drainage, with average to little summer watering. This form seems hardy to 20-15°F. From UC Santa Cruz.

Gunnera killipiana  MEXICAN GUNNERA  at Blue Bamboo Nursery   size does matter    massive reproductive structure    emerging flower spike  this is a different plant from the other Gunnera Northern Californians know so well, the G. tinctoria/chilensis thing you see at Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park being probably the most accessible example. It is bigger, rounder, softer, taller, and more parasol-like. This is truly a “honey I shrunk the gardener” plant. It forms open pendant chains of flowers and seeds instead of condensed basal cones. It has a dramatic reddish tint to the petioles and veins. It should be more tender than the South American species, coming as it does from the Chiapas section of the Mexican highlands that has brought us so many other fine and tender plants, but Theresa and Sol from Blue Bamboo Nursery of Santa Cruz reports it sails through winters just fine and seems less affected by the weather. Of course, this could just mean it doesn't have the sense to go properly  dormant like G. tinctoria. I think it is safe to say “it needs to be tested.” It is related to be distinctly different from G. insignis, which gets half as tall, with leaves that get half as large and which turn a striking beet red in winter and usually drop, at least in colder climates. At least part shade, ample watering, deep, rich, organic soils, probably will like ample feeding too. Mexico. Gunneraceae. rev 5/2006 

tinctoria (chilensis)  leaf, at Richard Josephson's    emerging leaf, spring    6' high plants at Strybing Arboretum   a more familiar Strybing Arboretum view    flower spike    a nice young Santa Cruz plant in sun  this is a huge foliage plant, with leaves to 4' across on petioles to 4' long. The leaves are covered with like cone-like spines, not obtrusive enough to be dangerous but a little obnoxious. It is native to open coastal bluffs in cooler regions of the western edge of South America in Chile, and does well in coastal climates here in California. It is at its very, very happiest planted at the edge of a pond or stream where it can grow its white fibrous roots down into the water for uninhibited drinking. All the very best specimens I know are planted in this way, but it also does extremely well in regular garden soils as long as they are of at least adequate drainage and receive regular watering. I have had gardeners tell me it does well with little summer watering but they always wilt and die for me if I don't keep them regularly irrigated, so be forewarned. I know of many who have maintained large, impressive plantings for many years. It does well in containers but either needs to be stood in saucer of water or needs perfect attention to watering. Probably the best collection of specimens in the US are to be found around the pond at Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park. Don Mahoney informed me that a Gunnera expert examined their collection and said that all their plants are G. tinctoria with the exception of one plant at the edge of "Chile" and "South America" which is G. manicata. That species is very slightly larger, very marginally less stiff in habit and leaf presentation, and has minute differences in the petiole vascular bundles. The differences aren't obvious and without careful examination G. manicata would be mistaken for G. tinctoria. Sun to light shade. Sunset 4-6, 14-17, 20-24, USDA zone 8-9. rev 5/2006