Monday, January 16, 2012

Foliage Follow-Up - January 2012

Succulent foliage is the focus today for Foliage Follow-up hosted by Pam at Digging.  I've got a growing collection of succulents with mottled or spotted foliage.  The most fascinating one is Donkey Ears Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe Gastonis bonnieri).



Back in October leaf cuttings from a friend were stuck into potting soil and as they began to root a tiny little plant formed at the tip of this leaf.

 
I love the "mule spots" on the floppy older leaves and the silvery tone of the new leaves.  Larger plants are quite stunning in a hanging basket.  This spring these should be established well enough to move to a Mexican wire basket I found at a thrift store.  Of course I'll post about that too!


This Manfreda was also a passalong from the same gardener.  The bloom spike from this plant extends up six feet and has clusters of lily-like blooms.  Right now the spotted foliage looks good against the gravel.







Macho Mocha Manfreda has a pretty color on its mottled leaves.  That's a deer bite in the upper right and the deer have also eaten the tips so it has been moved into the fenced garden to prevent further damage.

 
Be sure to check out all the foliage posts from other garden bloggers at Digging.

21 comments:

  1. Love that Manfreda. It is a great compliment to the garden. Might have to get me one:)

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    1. Manfreda is a nice add to our gardens here. I look forward to showing off the blooms this spring.

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  2. What a coincidence...am enjoying my late cup of coffee as I check out your Macho Mocha! Too bad the Manfreda plants I've used act as herbaceous perennials from many freezes, but then again, no Bambi, either. My favorite is the Kalanchoe that offsets from the foliage...

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    1. I know what a name, couldn't pass up Macho Mocha! This is the first year for it so don't know how it will do. Last year the others died back quite a bit in our deep freeze but I still got a bloom from a first year plant.

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    1. The Manfreda will continue to spread out and look even better. Thanks for stopping by Christine.

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  4. I like the Kalanchoe. Have to look for one of those. Doesn't stand up to real cold, though, right?
    Don't you just love our little deer friends....or, maybe not! But, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

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  5. The Kalanchoes all come inside once we get down to 50F or so at night, basically houseplants in the winter. The Donkey Ear shouldn't be too hard to find up that way.

    I'm usually okay with the deer, but not happy today after some discoveries I'll post about tomorrow.

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  6. I love freckled manfredas and mangaves. Do you have 'Chocolate Chips' manfreda? It's a great addition and cold-hardy to boot.

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    1. No 'Chocolate Chips' yet, but I have seen yours and love it. These have done so well despite deer damage that I will add more as I find them.

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  7. I have the native manfreda, but I love the Macho dude---very handsome, indeed!

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    1. Thanks Tina, the subtle colors of Macho Manfreda really attracted me. I'm glad we set up a temporary fenced area so I can keep it safe.

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  8. Love the Manfredas! I got all brave (and sick of looking at it struggle in the container) and planted mine like your first (whose name I am completely blanking on) in the ground. Well see!

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    1. I need to get that one tagged. I can't remember the name even though I've seen it. It's pretty common here and Tina mentioned it's native so should be easy to find.

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  10. I like the color on the leaves. It's very interesting. My Kalanchoes loves the winter here. In summer, I have to protect from the intense sun. But it makes for a lovely plant to have around.

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    1. I saw a wonderful mature Donkey Ears Kalanchoe in the fall and loved it so was really happy to get some starts of it. I plan to keep it under cover outside in the summer just like my other. Full sun here is pretty intense too.

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  11. That Manfreda on gravel is awesome! I've got to get one now. Nice post. David :0)

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    1. Thanks David, It would look great in your gravel garden too.

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  12. Love that spotted foliage! What a fun surprise!

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  13. Thanks HolleyGarden, I plant to add more of them as I find them.

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