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Impatiens sodenii (oliveri) POOR MAN’S RHODODENDRON closeup habit a tender evergreen shrub to 5-6’ tall and wide, can be a "deciduous" perennial in areas of hard frosts if the crown doesn't freeze. It doesn't seem to persist in most areas where the plant freezes all the way to the ground every winter. Large (to 2") pale lavender pink flowers are produced almost all year, with stronger coloration in cool weather. Attractive, dramatic foliage is glossy dark green, rather formal unless damaged, often with a distinct bluish cast in full shade situations. Part sun to shade, average watering, but actually somewhat drought tolerant due to its succulent stems. This is also a very good choice for narrow situations, since its primary habit is vertical, and any stems tending sideways can simply be pruned off. Also good in containers. Eastern Tropical Africa. Balsaminaceae. rev 5/2010
Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’ BLOODGRASS habit backlit a deciduous grass to 2’ tall with thin, striking dark red blades. Color is best in full sun, and it looks fabulous backlit. Spreads slowly by stolons, although in more strongly seasonal climates this or a related form can be dangerously invasive in wet habitats in more northerly latitudes. Average to occasional summer watering, slow in cool summer climates, frost hardy. Japan. Graminae/Poaceae. rev 5/2010
Ipomoea acuminata BLUE DAWN FLOWER closeup Berkeley Way with orange cannas a fast evergreen vine or groundcover, usually deciduous with frost. It bears dark blue morning glory flowers to 3" across, aging to rosy mauve by afternoon, from late spring through fall. Sun, little or no summer watering. Regrows after a hard frost if the crowns are not frozen. This is one of the best and most noticeable flowering vines for warm Mediterranean to subtropical or tropical climates. It needs room, and can cover more than you want it to, but those blue, blue flowers are so rewarding and it combines so well with other subtropicals such as Plumbago and Bougainvillea. It can also survive on little summer watering. Tropical America. Convolvulaceae. rev 5/2010
Iresene lindenii BLOODLEAF foliage closeup funny flowers backlight effect at my house a little later a
fabulous, fast,
tender foliage plant for use when you need intense color in part
sun or shady conditions. It grows to about 3' tall (and then some
in very favorable conditions) and features dark coral red to
fluorescent pink, lance-shaped leaves, with pointed tips, to
about four inches long, striped with dark bronze. As leaves age
the color becomes a lighter, almost fluorescent magenta pink. Its
foliage colors are reminiscent of fall color tones found in other
members of its family, the Amaranthaceae. This is probably some
named red-leaved variant whose moniker I can't seem to find,
because it occasionally reverts to a simpler green leaf with
creamy veinal stripes, which is attractive in its own right and
may be offered by us in the future. It grows very quickly with
enough food and water and quickly fills in any spot to provide a
blast of color. It can't take almost any frost, but if you can
give it any protection whatsoever it should either be entirely
evergreen or at least perennial most years in Sunset zones 8 and
16-24. In the very coldest years it will be killed but is so
fast and easy you can even use it as a giant foliage annual in
colder areas. It makes a great Coleus substitute for us
here on the West Coast where that plant is limited by lack of
humidity, lack of heat, or plenitude of snails. Snails will
still go after this but I don't think they travel miles upwind
like they do following the luscious leaf scent of Coleus
(just my theory). It even outgrows most snail damage because it
grows fast under cool conditions and outrageously fast under warm
conditions. Use it in combo containers (fantastic!), against dark
walls (superb!), or just tucked into any empty spot in your shade
garden. USDA zone 9-10, Sunset zones 8, 16-17 (all with
protection except as an annual), 21-24. Amaranthaceae. Ecuador.
rev 10/2003
