Another Coprosma

I have several Coprosmas for their pretty colorful leaves. Say KO-praz-ma. The common name is Mirror Plant because the leaves are SO SHINY. They are leathery and feel really smooth. This one is Coprosma 'Evening Glow'. I think the colors are sublime! Coprosmas usually grow 3-4 feet, some bigger leaved varieties grow taller.

Kangaroo Paw

This plant is native to Australia, and Australian plants grow great in SoCal. Kangaroo Paw, Anigozanthos has a furry flower and strap like leaves. The flowers come in red, orange, yellow and green. The plants grow to about 3-4 feet when flowering. I have seen some new dwarf varieties that only grow to about 1 1/2 feet. As most Aussie natives, Kangaroo Paw is drought tolerant and will rot with too much water. Flowering usually occurs in Spring. But I have seen them bloom from winter through summer!

This orange one is growing in one of my client's garden in South Pasadena. And the color is really that bright! Research tells that the flowers are bird pollinated. So enjoy those hummingbirds!

December Fabulous

I adore Pointsettias. I must buy several every December, some for indoors and maybe one or more for my porch outdoors. I think they're beautiful! I love them perfectly red, marbled(which I can't seem to find), "Jingle Bell" which is red with white speckles, "Country Quilt" which is red and yellow, double flowered, curly flowered. I don't really care for them in white or pink though. They look kind of fake to me. But I adore this variety called "Ice Punch"! So pretty!

Poinsettias are native to Mexico so they sometimes do well planted in the ground here in SoCal. It always seem that the fancy varieties do not. I have seen them grown in gardens and they get about 7 feet tall! I was taught by a friend to prune them on St. Patrick's Day and Independence Day to manage them well.

Enjoy the holiday colors!