I confess the loss of Beaucarnea ‘Gold Star’ was one I dreaded the most during our extended absence. It was one of the first plants I rushed to check upon return. Survival of caudiciform plants was a theme.
Right up there with worrying over Beaucarnia ‘Gold Star’ was concern for its relative xCalibanus hookeri, or Calicarnea, a cross between beaucarnia and calibanus found at Lotusland. It was a mass of undifferentiated writhing leaves until I excitedly stripped away the lower growth to reveal the beautiful shape of its swollen, water-storing trunk for the first time. Caudiciform plants share this trick of being able to store water in their swollen stems, trunks, and above-ground roots. Inadvertently, I’d accumulated a small collection of them: beaucarnias, cussonias, brachychiton, and pseudobombax, and every one of them managed to survive. All but Cussonia paniculata and the calicarnea were in containers.
Admittedly, the two cabbage trees are a little thin on top. Cussonia paniculata was planted in the ground to improve its survival odds, and it was developing a nice mop of leaves until someone felt moved to chop them off. At that point, on a quick return visit, I assumed the plant was done. Seeing this new crop of leaves spurred me to move it back to a pot again in the hopes that a container implies the plant is special, that it enjoys protected status and is not to be messed with.
Cussonia spicata has always suffered from a receding hairline, so its thin canopy wasn’t much of a change. It’s been moved to a site with more sun, at the end of the pergola where the tetrapanax once held court and the Passiflora vitifolia was removed. (Tetrapanax may be in just temporary exile, lurking and waiting for more irrigation. I like him better in the coastal Oregon garden, so wouldn’t mind if he calls it quits here.). As usual I’m terrible with before-and-after documentation, but did take a short video, link here.
The trunk behind the silver dickia belongs to Brachychiton discolor. Its trunk swells but not to the pronounced effect of Brachychiton rupestris aka the Bottle Tree. My 8-foot Queensland Lacebark survived in a 14-inch pot so earned an upgrade to this heavy tank. (The tank years ago housed Agave vilmoriniana ‘Stained Glass’ but was no longer in use, I moved it to this site vacated by Grevillea ‘Poorinda Blondie’ that died while I was away.).
Pseudobombax ellipticum, the Shaving Brush Tree, is also comically tall and skinny but has earned some extra TLC. The fernleaf acacia is sporting its new limbed-up profile. A helpful neighbor was let loose with a saw and pruners. It’s a messy tree and needed handling, but it’s still a shock to see the canopy reduced to such an extent. I’ve yet to clean out the Yucca rostrata, clotted with years of debris from the acacia. Essential for shade and wildlife, nevertheless trees are the bane of a succulent garden!
87F yesterday, still in the mid 80s today, maybe some clouds by the end of the week to turn off this microwave oven of dry heat. Possibility of a frost tonight on the north Oregon coast. Take care!
You’ve been busy! I’m glad that many of your treasures managed to stay alive during your extended absence. And, given the size of the shaving brush tree growing in the local botanic garden, I was surprised to see that you have one in your back garden! When you’re gone for long periods, maybe you need a garden service to come in once a month to oversee things so you don’t have to leave you babies to the kindness of strangers?
I just watched your video, wowsa. So who thought it was okay to trim your agave leaves like that? A tenant? I would be livid! It’s wonderful to see you working your artist’s magic in this garden again.
@Kris, knowledgeable garden service is hard to find! I’ll do some more looking this winter. The best I could find was someone to do the hedges and keep the public sidewalk swept, and that’s plenty of work considering the debris from the jacaranda street trees — detailed upkeep was a nonstarter.
@Loree, general attitudes toward plants are so different from ours! The gardens, front and back, are much more spare now, and I won’t be planting them up much, that’s for sure! But the instinct to pack ’em in is still there…
It’s so good to see plants do well without our care. These caudiciforms can go seemingly forever without water.
BTW, your variegated B. recurvata is a stunner.
@Gerhard, yes, it’s gratifying to validate their bonafides as dry garden plants, though I wouldn’t recommend this kind of neglect! And succulents are also being touted as useful landscape plants in urban/wildfire interface areas,
SOMEONE needs to PUT THE PRUNERS DOWN! What the heck, who’s the butcher?
Whew, I’m thrilled for you that your ‘Gold Star’ wasn’t manhandled. As heavy handed as someone was, honestly the garden looks beautiful! It is so well put together and interesting, I love it. And the Cabbage tree looks no worse for the wear.
@Tracy, I’m letting the chopped-back plants guide me as to how to redesign things so people don’t feel so threatened! The newly exposed walls and views of the neighbors are next on my agenda — not a lot I can do but we’re going to try a couple easy (cheap!) fixes.
The video helped put things into perspective. I see what you mean by overgrown and it more clearly shows what has or hasn’t happened in the yard. I still can’t believe the liberties that people feel they can take with other people’s property. I think it is the reason that so many AirBnBs are filled with cheap chotchkes and dull kitchen knives. Don’t put anything of value or beauty because most guests won’t appreciate it. Luis mentioned AirBnBing our place once. This is the strong disincentive not to do it. Gold star is looking good as are many of the other specimen succulents.
It must be difficult to leave these special plants behind when you hit the road north ! Fortunately most appear to be tough customers . Do you ever get a greenhouse urge ? . I’ve been searching for Cussonia paniculata literally for years, and recently found a mailorder source -going to check Peacock Hort in Sebastopol first but now we’ve had 3 mornings in the high 30’s already so I expect I’ll wait for spring to roll around. Of course no one will have it then !