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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
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October Flowers



With recent rains, the garden has exploded with growth. There is not an abundance of blooms though, just a scattering here and there.  Thursday the sun came out and it was a perfect day to be out in the garden. The grass strip was overgrown and desperately needed cutting. I did that and managed to fill the debris bin with pruning and clean-up. Notice the deepening shadows as the sun treks farther south. Our front garden faces north -


Here are some flowers from perennials that blooming this week -

Persicaria 'Blackfield'


Aster 'Purple Dome'


Alstroemeria 'Aurea'



Anenome 'Cinderella'


Fuchsia 'Voodoo'


Strawberry Tree (Arbutus 'Compacta')

Dahlias

Aruncus 'Horatio'

Geranium 'Azure Rush' - this is a new variety that is similar to 'Rozanne', the queen of hardy geraniums. It is supposed to be smaller in size. We shall see.

Persicaria 'Golden Arrow'

This post doesn't include annuals in pots and roses. I'll get to those in a future post.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. LoisOctober 14, 2023 at 10:29 PM

    Your garden is so gorgeous!!!!! Thanks for sharing the photos

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  2. Lee@A Guide to Northeastern GardeningOctober 15, 2023 at 10:37 AM

    Your fall garden is looking absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing these beautiful views. It is starting to look very fall like here as well on the other side of the country in the northeast!

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  3. Hoover BooOctober 16, 2023 at 4:58 PM

    Your garden is very sophisticated with a lot of foliage textures and color, more than floral color alone. The shaggy blue conifer on the left, palmates on lower right, Rhododendron(?) oval/shiny mid right, and so on, then all the different colors of autumn. I think I go too overboard on flowers. Must start thinking about foliage plants though it is a trick to find shrubs that will stay small enough here--with our 12 month growing season, lots of plants grow far bigger than what the tag claims.

    Beautiful purple in that Aster, especially with the blue conifer above it.

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverOctober 16, 2023 at 10:23 PM

      Thanks Hoover Boo! I have to say that I'm reaching the point where I struggle to find good spots to place sun-loving flowers. Things are growing awfully fast and I think it will be a shade garden before long. Not sure how I will cope with that!

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  4. Phillip OliverOctober 16, 2023 at 10:24 PM

    Thanks Kris! Geranium 'Rozanne' is an incredible plant!

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