Chilean Fire Bush - a hidden jewel in our garden
It is heartbreaking that this beauty is hidden in our garden but at least the hummingbirds have found it. Hidden because it is planted behind a 7 feet tall rose. I planted it there because I was under the impression that it would become a tree. It can indeed become a tree and there is one growing about a mile from our house that is around 20 feet tall. In our garden, it is taking its sweet time and is only 4 feet tall after being planted seven years ago (2017). It did not begin to bloom until its fifth year and this is the first year flowering has been so profuse. Whenever I think about this plant, I always remember what the Gosslers said in their book "The Gossler Guide to the Best Hardy Shrubs". I quote it here: "Since this plant comes from southern Chile, we begin with a word of warning: it will not grow anywhere in the United States outside western Washington, Oregon and northern California. People wanting to grow E. coccineum in the eastern part of the country will
Despite the rain dance Ranunculus and I did yesterday, we only had about 1/2 an inch last night--but down the road, I think the Tidewater Gardener and the Transitional Gardener got several inches (I hope not too much!) At least my hydrangeas had a little drink. Anyway, lovely photo--
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo! Thanks for the history too :) I'm so glad we finally got a little rain!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Rose! Here in our neck of the woods (GA) we only had 1/10 inch which is nothing for a rock hard dry ground! A few miles up the road they had up to 2 inches! I was kind of hoping Dolly would come our way but she opt for Texas instead. Sigh, in time I reckon...
ReplyDeleteYou are showing off those raindrops with pride! I know you were so happy to get some sky water. We went thru the same thing last year. It would even rain in sections of our neighborhood and miss our street. The ground was so hard I actually dug holes for plants with a pick axe at some points.
ReplyDeleteLovely rose and it's wonderful that you got rain! Now your beautiful garden will continue to bloom!
ReplyDeleteGail
Great timing-I just finished one of the big ones-it was so good-thank you again! Glad you enjoyed the post-we have three lady bugs in the garden now! Harold has made friends :D
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely photo. I have one planted with some May Night salvia--very pretty combination. Mine stays short enough to fit very well near the front of the border.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
I live in Tupelo, MS and have been reading your blog for a while. You're fortunate that you got the rain. We got a very short shower, immeasurable, and all the while the sun was shining! I enjoy seeing the beautiful pictures and your lovely garden! Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteWell, the rain wasn't that much and I hope we get more soon - ditto for all you other rain-starved gardeners as well. Thanks for dropping by Judy!
ReplyDeleteI love Gruss An Achen, although my plant is being crowded and shaded out to the point that it's not looking great these days (that describes lots of the things in my garden!). Never knew "Gruss" meant "greetings"; I had years of Latin, and I've done a lot of singing in German, but rarely know what I'm saying when I do.
ReplyDeleteYour whimsey is a whole lot classier than mine (as is your whole garden, by the looks of things!). My latest project is mounting a staghorn fern on a set of (broken - I have to fix them first)moose antlers I found by the curb one garbage day a few weeks back. That's where lots of my garden art comes from; I think it's genetic.