July 11, 2007

A BOLD ONE


Astilboides


My attraction for bold foiliage has gotten me into trouble once again. I saw a small astilboides at the garden center the other day and was immediately taken by its huge leaves. I didn't pay much attention to its culture.

I was, however, rudely awakened when I visited a client's garden and saw the gorgeous astilboides pictured above. " You mean it gets that big !? Oops ! " Got to move it or give it away because it's just too big for my small garden. I've already got a Plume Poppy out of control. Perhaps I could sneak it in by the pond?

12 comments:

  1. Carolyn - that is so cool looking! I like the new blog design too. Nice work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Gina. The new blog design isn't up yet - this is a temporary one and is the work of my Web designing son. I kinda like it, too, so we'll see.

    Thanks for stopping by !

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, impressively large and interesting leaves.

    I once saw a front yard in B.C. Canada completely planted with a perennial of similar leaf only the plants were over 6 feet tall. There was a path leading to the front door with a canopy of these very large leaves that you walked under. Very cool and interesting. I was thinking it was some kind of Gunnera but I never found out what it was.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That almost looks like a pumpkin vine gone wild, without the vine.

    I also like this new template. Your son did a good job! Keep it for awhile!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've been wanting something big and bold. I was thinking hosta but this would fit the bill even better I think!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Carolyn, I too like the look of your temporary blog. Your son did a great job.

    I saw an Astilboides on a garden tour recently and it was indeed this big. This morning on HGTV "A Gardener's Journal", they also had one and suggested that it be controlled by planting in a pot.

    Good luck on your new blog journey. I will check back to see how it goes.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ki, Carol, Apple, Bev :
    Thanks for visiting. I'm glad you like my new blog and I informed its creator of your opinion.

    Yes, I love the bold foilage of Astilboides. I'm hoping to make room for it somewhere.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Not exactly a plant for a small area, is it! I've read about it, but don't think I've seen it - or not a huge specimen like this, anyway.

    This is a plant that collapses without lots and lots of water, right? Did you get close enough to touch the leaves, Carolyn? Were they thick and rubbery or thin and flexible?
    [Oh dear, I hope that won't bring the wrong kind of search engines to your nice, new blog template!]

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

    ReplyDelete
  9. Neither one, but what were you thinking, Annie ?!

    Astilboides, or False Spirea, has round, toothed leaves that can be up to 2 feet across. It's leaves are actually more interesting than its flower. And yes, it does need a consistent, moist soil preferably in the shade.

    ReplyDelete
  10. That's a nice plant. I hope to one day have a garden big enough for some Gunneras that wouldn't take up all of my space.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks mrbrownthumb. I hope you will have a garden big enough for Gunneras as well.

    ReplyDelete
  12. OOoohhh. I have some large bare areas screaming for something big like that! My favorite plants in the garden are the overgrown hostas on steroids, this looks like their long lost cousin.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...