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Penny Carnathan
Penny’s a Nurture And Hold (NAH): Nah, I won’t pull that out yet, it’s still got a green shoot. She likes dragonflies, lady bugs and new stuff only after weeding, pruning and fertilizing.
Kim Franke-Folstad
Kim’s a Want It Now (WIN): Everything pretty, everything now. She will resort to full-spectrum insecticides in desperate situations, and believes it’s her duty and right to buy new plants every weekend.
Both advocate Plant Choice (SOMEthing besides crotons. Please!), lots of color and low maintenance. We don’t agree on everything, but we’re smart enough to learn from each other - and from you.
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A little help with a shrub dilemma
Posted Dec 2, 2009 by Kim Franke-Folstad
Updated Dec 5, 2009 at 06:27 PM
OK, Dirt regulars, I’m back! Sorry about the absence, but, whew, it gets busy here around the holidays.
Anyway, I’m back with a two-fer.
First up: Reader Debbie Nicholson e-mailed us the other day with this dilemma ...
“A tree died and was removed so now I need to replace my azaleas that are getting too much sun and getting woody with no leaves—-very unattractive. I am considering Indian Hawthorn, Star Jasmine, Walter’s Viburnum, or Simpson Stopper. The “winner” will be planted in front of the house facing east and would like a 3-4’ height….and I like the idea of having shrubs that attract butterflies and birds but also want low maintenance ones with a sort of structured look. Which one would you pick? HELP!”
I told Debbie I love my star jasmine, so I think that’s a great idea—although mine isn’t in full sun. I also suggested plumbagos, because they do seem to tolerate our hot summers better than most plants ... and, of course, the butterflies love them.
Do you guys have any other thoughts? Thryallis, maybe?
Next up, I wanted to show off this plant I got a few weeks ago down at Mr. T’s nursery in Venice (love that place!). They had it marked as a “goldfish” plant—and that’s certainly what it looks like. I have it hanging on my front porch, and it gets a lot of attention—especially from men. Hmmm ... always thinking about fishing!
I’m a little confused about the real name of the plant, though. When I looked it up online, most of the photos look more like a hanging basket I got at a plant sale. But that plant was labeled “candy corn.” This is what that one looks like:
Let me know if you have either one or if you know the proper name for my fishy new plant.
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Reader Comments
Posted by (Kim Franke-Folstad) on December 02, 2009
I thought of thryallis, Penny, because yours looks so good. I keep mine in a low hedge, and it’s another sure-thing.
I’ve never heard of Simpson Stopper. Gonna have to check that one out.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on December 02, 2009
Hi Kim. Welcome back. Of all the bushes mentioned it seems like Indian Hawthorne is the only one that requires no maintenance via trimming. Thryallis, viburnum and jasmine—-even plumbago, all require a hedge trimmer to keep them under control or at least neat and tidy every once in a while. I wasn’t familiar with Simpson Stopper so I had to look it up. It sounds like a winner until I got to the part where it said they can get 15 to 20 foot tall and was considered a south Florida shrub that may be a little tender in the cold.
I’m not familiar with the very interesting goldfish plant. Will look forward to hearing more about it.
Posted by (RickBrown) on December 02, 2009
I think the perfect plant is Ilex cornuta “Carissa” holly. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp264
It survives without irrigation after it is established and stays 3-4 feet tall without pruning. We just replaced our 20 year old Indian Hawthorne foundation plants with these. At the Extension office they had them as south and east facing foundation plants for 31 years. I doubt you could find a plant that requires so little and gives so much. Not a native, this plant was discovered on the island in Louisiana where the McClenny Plantation makes Tabasco sauce.
Posted by (RickBrown) on December 03, 2009
Penny I think the Carissa foliage IS cool. Yes, flowers, white and berries, red are few and far between but if she wants structure, ease of care and longevity I would suggest she skip the 4 mentioned and go with something durable that is sure to be there and not need pruning, shaping, replacing. The erratic growth and shapes of Walter’s Viburnum, or Simpson Stopper is sure to disappoint if she wants structure. She is not going to get butterflies on the other 2. I stand by my choice. Put pentas and lantana etc in a side border where you can look from the house to see the butterflies.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on December 03, 2009
Rick’s got me sold. How do they fir in a slender spot up against a fence? Or do they need more room to be rounded?
Posted by (RickBrown) on December 03, 2009
Susan, you can shape them to fit your space. This is the closest thing we have to a boxwood tough plant for Florida. You will be happy.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on December 03, 2009
Thanks Rick. I will remember this. Now——got any tips and tricks about getting rid of very thick honeysuckle roots in that spot? It’s too close to the fence and I’ve been told just old fashioned sawing and digging will do.
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on December 03, 2009
I am glad The Dirt has Rick as a great resource. I just looked us Carissa holly and it seems to have everything, flowers and berries. Who sells them? Janice
Posted by (Kim Franke-Folstad) on December 03, 2009
I agree, the carissa holly looks like a winner, especially for anyone who is looking for a boxwood effect. It seems like it would make a very nice and tidy hedge in a front yard.
I’m with Penny, though, I prefer plants with more and continuous flowers. (It’s a weakness!)
Ha ha, my secret Scoobie decoder word for this comment is “almost32.” I wish!
Posted by (Janna) on December 03, 2009
On the very cool “fishy” plant….Columnea? Gesneriad family? I’ve never seen that before, but I just got totally distracted at work trying to look it up! I saw something that looked very similar called Columnea ‘Carnival’
Nice find, Kim! Good to see you back. You too, Rick!
Posted by (frostie) on December 03, 2009
This is my first dirtblog…I’m SO excited. Two quick things: 1. Kim - Where is Mr. T’s?
2. Penny- I learned to make the newspaper seed pots at the first DirtyDirt Field Trip…it was great to see you doing the same…my sunflower seeds have sprouted beautifully and remind me of what a delightful tour & workshop Rick Brown organized for us…at Florida Friendly Plants flower farm. Frostie
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on December 03, 2009
A lady in the mosaic group on Flickr sent me some seeds for a pink milkweed that she had a picture of posted on the site. I commented and she sent me the seeds. She’s way up north in Milwaukee or something. Since I’ve never seen pink milkweed here I was wondering if anyone knew if it can thrive in Florida? I wasn’t going to try them out till spring though.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on December 03, 2009
Here’s a different pic from a seed company in Brooksville. It says to sow the seed in early spring but maybe I’ll try a couple of them now as a trial run.
http://www.onalee.com/catalog.php/onaleeisrael/pd1741879
Posted by (Janna) on December 04, 2009
Welcome, Frostie! Glad to see you here and nice to know that your sunflowers are doing well. (Rick’s tour WAS great.) What other kind of plants do you have?
Penny, I planted milkweed too (in pots), but no sprouts yet. Keeping my fingers crossed! Maybe I should put some in the ground this afternoon since we’re getting all this rain…
Susan, I’ll bet the pink milkweed will be beautiful!
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on December 04, 2009
Frostie welcome to The Dirt. I know you will enjoy blogging with these guys!
Now with all these new plants and seeds you guys are growing, I may need to dig up some old stuff up and put in new cool stuff. Pumpkin
Posted by (mangoman) on December 05, 2009
Hi everybody! I’m loving this rain! Penny, Chip has your two blackberry plants now. Anybody get any good plant deals recently?
Eric