"A wooden cherry scent is faintly breathing the air" Tom Waits rasps in "Watch Her Disappear." A Carpenteria californica doesn't smell anywhere near cherry, but for some reason, this lyric comes to mind when I'm around it. It's not so much as a scent as it is a suggestion. The air seems cleaner, more pure with a softness that you can't put your finger on. The blooms turn this stately shrub into a confident bride, all white and lovely from Spring into Summer. Can you guess what my new favorite plant is?
Sun: Morning or filtered sun seems to be best, although near the Coast it can probably do sun
Soil: I'm getting mixed messages from my favorite research sites, so just try it and see what happens
Plant: Ideally in the Fall, but they're usually only available when they're about to bloom
Buy it: the wholesale nursery has them in 15 gallon containers (looking fabulous!) all the way down to 1 gallon. You can ask your local nursery to order one for you or try Las Pilitas or Yerba Buena
Good for: Contrasting with gray foliaged plants, English gardens, scented gardens, setting a flowery background to perennials (would look fabulous with Penstemon heterophyllus!), attracting pollinators
Thank you for the comprehensive info on the Bush Anemone. I was considering putting one into my new native plant front garden in the fall - now it is a must have.
ReplyDeleteLove this blog - I'm learning so much from it as a person new to California and its native plants!
Oh Byddi, you are so sweet! Thanks and enjoy your new little Carpenteria! What a great time to get last minute planting done- when we still have the odd shower blowing through.
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