When one thinks about beautiful parts of a plant immediate thoughts tend to go towards the blooms, then a close second are its leaves (inverse if you're a foliage lover like we are). But there are other parts of a plant too that can give so much interest, and for some of them it is neither their blooms nor leaves that make them worthy of growing in the garden.
Just a few examples in our garden...
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| Kalopanax septemlobus |
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| Nice leaves but the prickles on the trunk also do it for me |
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| This prickly beauty is over 16' tall already |
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| Plain green but is the only bamboo that I know of that has corrugated culms - Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Marliacea' |
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| The photo doesn't do the scale of the stems justice but they are even bigger in diametert o most of our bamboo culms. Nice random stripes, bright colours, and markings too. Fallopia japonica 'Variegata' |
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| In tangent with the plant above, this one begs to be stroked...not! Heracleum dulcis |
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| Odd behaviour on this particular Schefflera taiwaniana. It shed all of its old leaves just before it flushed. But the stems remained intact. Beyond it, check out the Eucalyptus... |
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| Interesting texture on the trunk of this Schefflera rhododendrifolia |
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Great post! I completely agree, there's so much more beyond flowers and leaves. Being a succulent collector, I find myself drawn to agaves with prominent or colorful teeth, cacti with promiment spines, etc. For me it's yet another dimension of adding interest to a garden.
ReplyDeleteTrue Gerhard, and those colourful and variable teeth and spines on agaves and other succulents and cacti adds so much dimension to them, making them even more irresistible :)
DeleteI sense a new meme coming on... Stem Sentiments! (2 days after GBBD...)
ReplyDelete:)
I like that idea Alan!!
DeleteGreat post!! I like very much to see all those different color and textures. Your plants are plain beauty.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa :) plants provide so much interest on so many aspects :)
DeleteLove the prickly tree trunks. I wonder if the squirrels would? :)
ReplyDeleteNow I wonder that myself Jessica!
DeleteFantastic post! I'm a big fan of stems and bark, too. Eucalyptus, manzanitas, madrones, snakebark maples, stewartia, clethra barbinervis (and others), Acer griseum, various rhododendrons with peeling bark, lots of bamboos in black, blue, green, striped, multicolored, etc. So many plants with great bark or stems. That Schefflera taiwaniana looks kinda like it's trying to be a juvenile Pseudopanax.
ReplyDeleteVery nice selection of plants there Evan! It seems that Schefflera might end up just having leaves on top.
DeleteYes there is so much more to plants than just the flowers. I do like the foliage of the big galumphing, politically incorrect and semi legal plants such as Hog/Knot weed. No serious, eccentric gardener should be without them.
ReplyDeleteOh definitely Don ;)
DeleteOh yes! Plants have all kinds of interesting parts. I wouldn't want to lose my balance near that prickly Kalopanax.
ReplyDeleteWas thinking the same before Alison, not one to hold for support :)
DeleteWhy don't I have a Kalopanax septemlobus in my garden?
ReplyDeleteBetter ask Sean if he has some stashed away somewhere Loree :)
DeleteThat Kalopanax is very interesting but also a little scary...
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't want to be weeding near it on a windy day Kris...
DeleteI should probably pay more attention to flowers. Except for a few annuals and perennials, flowers are the last thing I think about. Foliage has always been my main focus, but your post shows how exciting trunks can be, especially the Kalopanax - which I would hope I never run into in the dark!
ReplyDeleteThere's something about a spiky trunk Debs that's irresistible :)
DeleteGreat post...I do like the idea of a new meme like Alan suggests. I love those prickly trunks! I like flowers, I love leaves but I really do look at plants structures...there shapes, stems, limbs and trunks really attract me too!
ReplyDeleteSame here Laurin :)
DeleteSpot-on ! So many plant parts to appreciate , including the expired parts. I'm a fool for dark stems...
ReplyDeleteDark stems are very nice Kathy!
DeleteHi guys,
ReplyDeleteI have been a lurked here for some time now. I think what you have accomplished in your garden is amazing.
Maybe you could help me out, I am looking for a flowering Dracunculus vulgaris for a stand with Capel Manor College at Chelsea. I have tried every exotic nursery but to no avail. As a last desperate attempt I am trying the blogosphere. I would only need to borrow for 24 hours to cover judging. As it is very very last minute I Will need to collect today and I can drop it back Tuesday.
If there is anyone that can help me then I would be so very very grateful.
Thank you, you could well be the owner off a Chelsea gold medal winning plant !
A wonderful stem on Caesalpinia cacalaco--has these lumpy-bumpy nodules on the trunk. Wonder if it would be hardy for you-- -6C, probably not?
ReplyDeleteBesides stems and bark--fragrance...must not forget fragrance--though hard to share that feature over the internet.