Foliage Follow-Up for March 2018

Pinus contorta 'Taylor's Sunburst'

I usually do not participate in "Foliage Follow-Up" that immediately follows "Bloom Day" because I think that I don't really have any interesting foliage to photograph. Then, once I do decide to do it, I am out in the garden for hours finding one plant after another with beautiful foliage. This time of year, of course, there is actually more foliage than flowers. 

One of my goals is to have foliage year-round and here, with so many evergreens to choose from, that is an easy accomplishment. There are so many different shapes, sizes and textures, that one could easily have a gorgeous evergreen garden. Take a look at Adrian Bloom's wonderful book Gardening with Conifers for some inspiration on that front. It is one of my favorite books. I am far too scatter-brained and undisciplined to strive for such a garden so I aim for a happy medium.

One thing that evergreens cannot do though is give you that thrilling surge of excitement in the blood when you start to see deciduous plants leafing out. There is a satisfying sense of reward, accomplishment and exhuberant renewal that makes gardening so rewarding. The plants I photographed for this post are mostly evergreen but there are a few deciduous plants included. 

But enough blathering, here are my foliage shots for March.

Euphorbia myrsinites, the Myrtle Spurge or Donkeytail Spurge, is an awesome plant that has looked good all year.

Corydalis 'Purple Leaf' has emerged from winter dormancy. It actually did not go dormant until very late summer last year. I am looking forward to the blooms this year. This is a great bloomer for shady areas.

Geranium maculatum

Heuchera 'Kassandra' has had these colorful leaves all winter. I have had mixed results with these plants but this one seems to be contented after being moved several times. :(

Lupines

It took me a while to get a Mahonia in the ground. I don't know why I waited so long. I loved this plant in Alabama. This is Mahonia 'Charity', still very small but it has been blooming and they provide a great source of food for hummingbirds during the winter.

Potentilla 'Fireball'. I have never grown these before, not sure what to expect.

Rose 'Mutabilis' has survived the winter with flying colors. It took me several attempts in Alabama to keep this one alive. 

Viburnum awabuki. I got this at Joy Creek Nursery to help with screening along our back border. It is still very small but growing nicely. 

Sedum 'Angelina'

Deschampsia flexuosa 'Aurea' (Tatra Gold) aka Crinkled Hair Grass. I got this at Yard n' Garden Land last year and I love it. 

Despite its less-than-stellar reputation, Red-Tip Photinia does have some admirable characteristics such as the blood-red new growth. We inherited an entire hedge of this along our back border. It give us the needed privacy from the neighbors but it is in need of rejuvenation. They are pretty much the size of small trees now. I am not sure how to go about this.

Euonymous albomarginatus - another inherited shrub that is really nice.

Visit Pam at Digging to see what is going on in her Austin, Texas garden and to find links to more blogger's gardens.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy