Submitted by twig on Thu, 02/14/2013 - 7:06am
Tulipa
Tulips
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
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Submitted by twig on Thu, 01/31/2013 - 7:20am
Submitted by twig on Thu, 01/10/2013 - 7:18am
Calothamnus quadrifidus
Common net bush, one-sided bottlebrush
UPDATE: Thanks to reader LD, we now what this tree is, and there are links in the comments to more information! Thank you, LD!!! Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 5:08pm
Submitted by twig on Mon, 12/10/2012 - 3:19pm
Submitted by twig on Fri, 12/07/2012 - 7:45pm
Submitted by twig on Tue, 11/27/2012 - 7:30am
Vireya rhododendron
Vireya
This former mystery plant has been identified, thanks to quixote! It is a member of the rhododendron family known as vireya. Here's a link to a website devoted just to this particular group of plants, and you can read more about vireyas at the San Francisco Botanical Garden site here.
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Submitted by twig on Mon, 10/29/2012 - 7:30am
Crasssula falcata
Propeller plant
[NOTE: No longer a mystery plant, thanks to quixote!]
Plantidote pal JoeinSF has a mystery we need to solve. He has a gorgeous succulent in bloom and is wondering what it could be. Here are the clues, and below them, a second image of the flower close up, which you can click on to enlarge. Here is Joe's description:
This succulent suddenly decided to bloom after two years. The color is amazing. As with succulents generally, it provides a great return for the investment in time and resources.
Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Mon, 10/15/2012 - 7:30am
Presenting today's mystery plant ... it's red (kinda), it's fuzzy (totally), and its name is _____________. Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Mon, 10/01/2012 - 7:30am
Hypericum prolificum
St. John's wort
The mystery plant has been identified, thanks to jerztomato (hat tip coming your way!). It is a shrubby version of St. John's wort, which is probably better known as an alternative remedy for depression. Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Tue, 08/21/2012 - 5:30am
Hamelia patens
Scarlet bush, Mexican fire bush, hummingbird bush
A hummingbird and butterfly favorite, scarlet bush seems to fall in the gray area between garden plant and weed, depending on whether you planted it or the birds did it for you. Scarlet bush is happiest in Zones 8 through 11. It needs full sun and moderate amounts of water. Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 5:30am
Orchid
From correntian JoeinSF, a gorgeous orange/red orchid with a name tag reading "Orange Nugget." Joe explains that, in spite of his best efforts, the plant was refusing to bloom. So he sat down with it and they had a little talk.
Sometimes, tough love is the way to go. This orchid was on the deck for a couple of years. I decided that our relationship was going nowhere, and informed it that it was heading to the dreaded green bin if things didn't improve. Lo and behold, it put out its first spike within 72 hours.
Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 7:30am
Fuchsia Boliviana or Fuchsia Gartenmeister Bonstedt
Bolivian fuchsia or not (please see above)
Thanks to Plantidote readers (see comments), this former mystery plant has been identified -- twice! For more details on the second variety ('Bonsted'), check here. Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Mon, 05/14/2012 - 7:30am
Feijoa sellowiana
Pineapple guava
This poor tree has been blooming for years, but has never produced fruit. It needs (I'm guessing) cross pollination and there's no second tree. Last year I bought seeds to grow a new one, but they didn't even sprout. I promised the tree I would find it a mate, so one way or another, it's going to have fruit -- someday. Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 7:30am
Dianthus barbatus
Sweet William
Not being a fan of small, fussy flowers, I tend to ignore some of the prettiest spring blooms. Today, we'll try to make up for it with a member of the dianthus family, sweet William. These spring favorites are often referred to as Pinks, although I have no idea why, since they come in a whole palette of not-pink colors. Read below the fold...
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