Terrific color, excellent performer, tremendous bloom and all around outstanding plant! This is what should be the headlines for Sedum pachyclados.

I have planted this sedum in and around my yard for years. It is by far one of the best plants to use when planting a wire basket. It is easy to get into the gaps and fills in full and lush. It is super simple to trim and keep neat, plus has a great texture that shows off other plants well.

Sedum pachyclados is also one of the best sedums to use when you want to create a dramatic planting in your landscape. The color and the texture bounce tremendously well off any hardscaping. When given room, this plant will roam for a long time. It grows above ground and also sends out runners underneath the soil. Now, don’t get into a panic…it’s not like bamboo! It just grows and glides at a very nice clip…filling in completely wherever it goes.

Besides all of the other killer features of this plant, the nicest by far you will notice is when you water it. It has a lovely habit of catching water droplets in its little gray rosette…just like little diamonds. Thus it’s name, White Diamond. 

Try planting this near a place where you can see it after it’s been watered. The shimmering reflection of the little water droplets is stunning!

I suggest giving this plant a real shot this upcoming year in your garden. I promise, you will not be disappointed!

Until next time!

            Now go get dirty!

                       Fran

 

ACEANA inermis ‘PURPUREA’

I simply adore this plant!! I have it planted in three different locations in my landscape. The house I live out now has a lot of brick, so my color palette was really driven to the burgundy tones to bring out those deep, rich red colors of the brick. I instantly chose the Aceana Purpurea (Purple New Zealand Bur) as I knew it was a perfect choice for the landscape.

I have grown this plant for a long time but have never featured it in any of my landscapes. I am so glad I did! What a find and what a show stopper!

The first place I planted the Aceana was in my front yard as a primary focal point. It has simply stolen the show from all of the other plants surrounding it. In the sun, this plant turns the most amazing shade of burgundy. It grows at a decent clip-6-10 inches a year and has been a real treat to watch fill in. The deep, rich burgundy tones really took on the gray boulders placed behind it to make one stunning effect.

I am quite certain most people have never seen an outdoor red carpet…especially a living, breathing one! I think I get more comments on that front corner than anywhere else in my yard.

I have also placed it straight across from that boulder in a little cavern of rocks. I used the same dark gray boulders as the large ones, only smaller. And against the brick, the Aceana seems to take on a much richer red tone. It still is very attractive, just not as deep as the burgundy from across the yard.

The last place I have used it is in a container. Now this is where this cool plant blows my mind! It is a completely different color with only morning light. It has a much more amethyst tone to it, don’t you think? How cool is it when a plant simply changes its color depending on light? A lot of plants simply become less vigorous with low light situations, not this little perennial. He simply changes color and get’s a move on. That’s the kind of plant I like!!

Now you can see why I have chosen this plant as one of the 2009 Fran’s favs!

Try it out this spring! I am sure you will love it!

One word of caution though…NOT a plant to have around animals or kids, unless you cut off the blooms just before going to seed. The seed heads turn into little burs that will stick to clothing, paws or little hands. Lucy, my Jack Russell loves this plant! However, I have to pull the little burs out from inside her paw pads…you would think she’d stop laying in it wouldn’t you…nope! She loves it and plops down into it any chance she gets! And I thought Jack Russell’s were smart!

Until next time! Now go get dirty!

Fran

www.stepables.com

�