Looking At Garden Plants That Provide Fall And Winter Color

I recently asked readers of this column to share photos of plants that provide fall and winter color in their gardens. Paul Patterson, a gardener in Whittier, sent a photo of Boston ivy (Pathenocissus tricuspidata) on the garden wall in beautiful gold, orange and red. White, pink and purple sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) lie on the ground in front of the wall. There is the dwarf pomegranate (Punica granatum var. Nana), which grows only two to four feet tall and is covered in red berries. Next to the pomegranate, a similar-sized gray-leafed succulent known as pig's ear (Cotyledon orbiculata) perfectly complements the kaleidoscopic color of the other plants.

Boston ivy is a plant that climbs the walls of university buildings in the east, which explains why a certain university group in this part of the country is called the Ivy League. Boston ivy, although not related to aerial common ivy, can climb without a trellis or support because its breast-like branches cling to stone walls or posts, as well as to wooden fences. They are in balance. This structure. However, unlike common ivy, Boston ivy is very hardy and frost-resistant. In Southern California, it is semi-evergreen, which means it does not produce leaves for a short period of time, and in colder climates it goes dormant in winter. Interestingly, in Patterson's photo, the Boston ivy growing in the sun looks beautiful in fall color, while the parts growing in the shade are completely green.

When we talk about vines that find their way without support, it is important to mention the caring fig (Ficus pumila). This plant is very bad because the small and very attractive leaves that the plant shows when young are replaced by large and more attractive leaves when it grows and starts to produce flowers. The fruits are not eaten immediately, but the juice is used to make jelly, which can be found in Asian markets.

The porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipendiculata) is the most decorative vine you can hope to grow for its fruit, which has a spectrum that includes purple, light blue, deep blue and violet colors. Unlike the other vines mentioned above, you have to take care of it, but it's worth it, I promise you. The leaves resemble a bush, and the Elegance variety has pink and white variations, which are combined with multi-colored berries for an added touch of beauty.

Patterson's Sweet Alyssum is a member of the Brassicaceae family, and both the fragrant flowers and leaves are edible. Alyssum blooms year-round, but blooms in its own way during the shorter days of late fall and early spring when temperatures gradually rise. Alyssum is completely carefree and you don't need to water it. Usually the seeds grow where the mother plant grows. Economy grows quickly because it requires growing alyssum from seed, so growing it this way is a huge cost savings compared to buying plants in four-inch plastic containers or six-packs.

Teresa Sanders posted a photo of two amazing plants from her garden. Both are known to bloom continuously throughout the year. The first beauty is the Copper Canyon Daisy (Tagetes lemmonii). It is a genus of Calendula and can be recognized by its dense flowers and sharp, finely cut dark green leaves. Although some find it off-putting, I have always found the scent of the mud to be sweet and savory. The species name Lemonia tends to describe its leaves as lemons, although this is coincidental, honoring John and Sarah Lemon, who popularized the plant after discovering that Lemonia was growing in southern Arizona. Copper Canyon Daisies grow so tall and profusely that they seem to breathe, and although they can grow up to six feet, they usually don't make it past their fourth or fifth birthdays. Grow in sun to partial shade.

Sanders also drew the attention of the bush (Teucrium fruticans) to the Mediterranean species. These plants can eventually reach a height of six feet or more due to their thickness and unusual growth habit. However, it can be trimmed cleanly and as a hedge and kept in two to three foot lengths with regular trimming. The flowers are blue-purple and the leaves are soft gray-green with a white underside that glistens in the sun. A member of the mint family, the leaves are slightly fragrant.

Bushes that bloom before the end of winter, frost-resistant South African species should be given special attention. Scottish Highlands is known as Scottish Health because it resembles classical health. Once established, Scotch heather (Erica canaliculata) can live for decades as long as it is given the careless watering and fertilization that many California natives expect. At this time of year, you'll be dazzled by thousands of delicate bell or tubular flowers that range in size from pink to purple roses. If the cut stems decorated with flowers are placed in a vase, they will last for several weeks without taking water.

California Resident of the Week: If you want to create privacy by surrounding your property with a fence that requires no watering once installed, consider jojoba, which can withstand temperatures down to 15 degrees and has seeds that provide beneficial cosmetics. Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) grows to a large shrub or small tree eight feet tall and eight feet wide or more that lives for one to two centuries. Jojoba (hoh-hoh-bah), a California xeriphyte native to the Sonoran Desert and Riverside County, can grow on sand and is used as a crop in marginal areas around the world to prevent desertification. Its narrow, green-gray leaves, about an inch leathery and pointed upward, minimize sun exposure. This particular plant produces fruits consisting of one to three seeds, from which jojoba oil is extracted, which makes up about 50% of the stone's weight. Jojoba is dioecious, which means there are male and female plants, and you need at least one of each to make a plant. Like most dioecious plants - from the pistachio tree to the palm tree - jojoba is pollinated by the wind.

Send your questions, comments and photos to joshua@perfectplants.com.