Plant of the Week: Correa

Wow! Do the weeks go by fast or what? Here it is again, time to discuss another favorite plant.

This week I wanted to focus on two plants of the genus Correa. Have you heard of it? If not, probably because it blooms in the (non-shopping season of) winter and is marginally winter-hardy here in the Pacific Northwest. Ooh, but look at those flowers!

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

Starting in September, a succession of pretty pink or white (depending on species) two-inch bells hang from stems cloaked with small, evergreen leaves.

The white bells of Correa alba 'Ivory Bells' and C. 'Dusky Bells'

Here it is the middle of January and my plants are happy as can be, situated in pots on my covered patio. Hummingbirds enjoy nectaring on the bells, making the plants useful for wildlife which I find enormously gratifying.

I discovered Correa in 2018, while reading about winter-blooming plants. My goal was for more color in the garden, not just for the resident Anna's hummingbirds but also because it's so freaking dreary here during the winter that I needed something colorful to help me keep my sanity.

Correa is an Australia native, hence the common name Australian Fuchsia. It is a tough plant for warmer locales, tolerating poor soil, and drought. The lesson here, try not to pamper your plants too much.

Contrast the foliage of 'Dusky Bells' above to the leaves of 'Ivory Bells' below and you'll notice a distinct difference. Which do you like better?

So far, my two plants have eschewed summer's heat (I grow them in shade) and don't appear to be water-guzzlers. No bugs--including the dreaded adult root weevil--have been an issue. Super easy to grow, long blooming, year round interest... what's not to love?

In spring I move the plants (in their pots) out from under the covered patio onto my open patio that has a large Japanese maple canopy--basically a dappled shade spot. There they sit and grow, taking a backseat to the more showy plants. When they start blooming in September and October, I move them back to my covered patio.

Here you can see the chunky little buds.

C. 'Dusky Bells' was bigger when I purchased the two plants but it is also faster growing.

Correa 'Ivory Bells' last year

Correa 'Ivory Bells' this year.

This year. It's about twelve inches wide by six inches tall

This year

Unfortunately, I was unable to locate a first or second year photograph of C. 'Dusky Bells'. Below is a photo I took a few days ago. It's about two feet wide and half as tall.

Correa 'Dusky Bells' this year

This year

In-ground and in warmer locations, the plants can get quite hefty; we're talking four to six feet wide. Can you imagine the hummingbird fights? Because winters here are not quite that friendly, I'm happy to do the next best thing. I'll cater to my potted plants and enjoy them as long as they will honor me by calling this home.

There is information on C. 'Ivory Bells' here on Plant Lust's website. Information on C. 'Dusky Bells' can be found here: Plant Lust's website

Wholesale nursery, San Marcos Growers in California sells several Correa. You can see descriptions here. 

Thank you for visiting. Comments always welcome!

Brrr! It's December!

I'm afraid it's going to be one of those winters--cold and foggy. I haven't counted but I bet we've had at least twenty foggy days since October and it isn't even winter yet. We've had several frosts, none below about 25 degrees though so it could be worse and I shouldn't complain. 

One of the ways I can tell how cold it's gotten is by the looks of my hardy banana. I'd say it could and probably will get colder before spring. 

Musa basjoo (Hardy Banana)

Yes, the garden is a mess but there are still a few flowers and foliage to keep things interesting. 

The below Correa (and the white flowered one that I forgot to photograph) have been blooming since September. They're so pretty, sitting in my covered patio.

Correa x 'Dusky Bells'

On the cold nights I've been covering my patio potted plants with blankets. This Impatiens is continuing to bloom. In fact it's blooming more now than it did all summer which leads me to believe that it prefers cooler weather. 

Impatiens sodenii 'La Vida Rosa'

The same thing can be said for this Bacopa. In summer I was constantly watering and fertilizing it and although it thanked me with pretty blooms, it didn't look nearly as nice as it does now! 

Bacopa 'Rosea'

I'm hoping the temps don't drop too low because these flowers really do help stave off the winter blues.

Bacopa 'Rosea'

This Abutilon is situated in a sheltered spot and continues to pump out blooms.

Abutilon

Check out this winter-blooming Clematis 'Freckles'! The weather hasn't discouraged it in the slightest!

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurscens 'Freckles'

Aren't these the cutest flowers?

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurscens 'Freckles'

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurscens 'Freckles'

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurscens 'Freckles'

I even trained a few of its stems to cling to this makeshift trellis thingy on my patio's ceiling.

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurscens 'Freckles'

Another winter blooming Clematis is a species called urophylla. I think it is a bit more temperature-sensitive though because the blooms haven't opened. They just sit there teasing. Yes. It has really gorgeous foliage too!

Clematis aff. urophylla

These tough, easy to grow Daphne are the best! They bloom almost continually and seem to be impervious to the temperatures.

Daphne transylvanica 'Summer Ice'

The one drawback, however, is that they don't really have much fragrance when the temps are in the 30s or 40s. 

Daphne transylvanica 'Eternal Fragrance'

Daphne transylvanica 'Eternal Fragrance'

The Mexican Orange has also been blooming off and on since early fall.

Choisya ternata (Mexican Orange)

Choisya ternata  (Mexican Orange)

This little Callirhoe flower is a pleasant anomaly. 

Callihroe involucrata var. tenuissima

Neil Bell is happy and that is good  because I don't have a hummingbird feeder proper. Just flowers like these for the hummers.

Grevillea 'Neil Bell'

Reliable both in its winter-blooming and in its inability to photograph well, (Okay, maybe it's the photographer.) this Viburnum has a few blooms and tons of buds. Clematis 'Freckles' clamors up its mossy branches.

Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn'

Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn'

Here's another tender plant that I have been covering with a blanket. I really hope I'm successful in keeping it alive.

Anisodontea x 'Tara's Pink'

Reseeders like this Feverfew are tougher than they look!

Tanacetum parthenium aureum

There is an interesting story about how I came by the rosebush (below) but I won't share it here. Suffice it to say that it is a winner! I've moved it around so many times and it still rewards me with this... even in December!

Rosa 'Adelaide Hoodless'

Rosa 'Adelaide Hoodless'

Who doesn't love a tough and long blooming Penstemon?

Penstemon 'Garnet'

Speaking of tough, my Gardenia apparently didn't get the winter commencement memo and is trying to bloom!  See that fat, white bud there?

Gardenia 'Frostproof'

A few surprise blooms on this Armeria too. 

Armeria juniperfolius

And check out my Sarracenia. I know you're supposed to cut them back, but why?

Saracenia sp.

Sarracenia sp.

I'm going to have tons of baby Nicotiana seedlings next year. This plant is a blooming fool!

Nicotiana 'Mutabilis'

 I was surprised the Crinum wasn't killed back by the cold.

Crinum x powelli

Seriously, I'm not kidding. The cold weather is preserving these Clematis blossoms. They've looked like this for over a week. 

Clematis viticella 'Venosa Violacea'

More hummingbird food!

Mahonia x media 'Charity'

And this:

Arbutus enedo 'Compacata'

And lastly, I was so happy today when I saw tiny flowers appearing AGAIN on this Osmanthus. This is another plant that blooms intermittently throughout the year and it's quickly becoming a favorite. Hopefully the weather will allow me to get a whiff of its fragrance.

Osmanthus fragrans aurantiacus 'Apricolt Echo'

Winter foliage:

Hebe albicans 'Pink Elephant'

Hebe albicans 'Pink Elephant'

This Geranium, so far so great!

Geranium harveyi

With a Japanese maple towering above my patio, you can see what I have to contend with every November.

Leaves!

Pathway leaves!

Patio leaves!

Most of the leaves are now where they belong, in the beds where they will break down and feed the soil and its critters. 

Patio leaves gone!

That's the update for now. Keep warm, peeps. Spring is right around the corner.