Thursday, June 5, 2014

The cutest plant in my garden, this week is Dyckia 'Frazzle Dazzle'

The title of this post is supposed to be "My Favorite Plant in the Garden, this week" as hosted by Loree over at Danger Garden where she shares a favorite plant each week and invites other bloggers to post theirs.  Just take a look at Dyckia choristaminea 'Frazzle Dazzle' and it's easy to see why I decided to have a little fun and change things up just a bit while joining in for the first time with this little cutie.  It's not even actually in the garden yet while I consider all the planting options and I just like seeing close to the house.



Dyckia 'Frazzle Dazzle' is more than just cute, it's touchable.  Those familiar with dyckia know that picking one out at the garden center or trying to divide one can be a painful experience because there is just no way to avoid those spiny leaves poking you.  Run your hand through Frazzle Dazzle and it's just plain fun.  A bit prickly on the tips but not nearly as much as the typical dyckia.  I could easily divide it without bringing out the leather gloves.  The leaves grow to 6" long and the yellow bloom spikes are 10" tall.  This one had just finished blooming when I spotted it at the nursery so I can expect blooms next spring.  It's so cute and reading the name "Frazzle Dazzle" on the tag was enough for me to know I needed one even if I don't know where I'll put it eventually.


While not technically succulents, dyckia are especially drought tolerant and make a good addition to my plant collection.  According to the Yucca Do website Frazzle Dazzle is exceptionally cold hardy to zone 8b so I'll probably put it in the ground.  I found my other dyckias were at least root hardy in containers to 20F last winter.

You can check out more favorite plants from bloggers by visiting Danger Garden

26 comments:

  1. Another pretty Dyckia! Makes me want to go out now and check out the only few I've got left.

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    1. They are apparently more hardy than they appear.

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  2. Very cute! I don't have the finger friendly frazzle-dazzle but have other dyckias out front along the street where they have survived heat, drought, and several hard freezes so far. Nearly every Fall I end up digging them out to pull Bermuda grass away and they shrug the disruption off. I thought mine weren't blooming but realized this year the problem is our deer are eating the flower stalks. So - forewarned - if you want to get the chance to actually see your dyckia flowers, be sure to put yours well away from Bambi and Company!

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    1. They are mostly in pots on the deck but I had considered putting a few in ground so I will keep that in mind.

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  3. I looked like a little hedgehog as I was scrolling down!! It is quite cute.

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    1. Hedgehogs are cute although I've never seen a real one.

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  4. Mine bloomed two weeks ago. It's an electrical yellow color--quite dramatic against the gray.

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    1. Wow, I can't wait to see the color. Sounds very cool, maybe next year.

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  5. Mine just finished blooming after surviving our harsh winter last year in a pot. I am in zone 8B. I need to move it on to a larger pot now it's done its bloom thing. This is my favorite Dyckia, though the chocolate one runs a close second.

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    1. I love the chocolate and dark bronze colors too.

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  6. I have one of these too and your right it's cute and friendly. Mine bloomed last year, now signs of it this year. Love this one!

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  7. Adorable little cutie! Love this silly looking plant!

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    1. It's so cute and touchable, I just had to post about it.

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  8. That's lovely. If I ran my fingers through the Dyckia on the front slope it would cut my hand off. I like yours much, much better.

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    1. They should be available in your area where they thrive in ground. This one is so much easier to deal with.

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  9. I had to giggle at some of the comments. I'm not familiar with Dyckias as my climate is too cold, but I like this one. I could see adding one to my garden if I every live in the south. It does look a bit like a hedgehog. :)

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    1. I hadn't thought of the hedgehog but it does look a lot like one.

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  10. I'm so glad you posted this! I have this plant but could not figure out what it was. I had not even thought of it as a Dykia since, as you say, most of the family has tremendously hostile spines.
    I like this plants as well.
    P.S. Mine survived down to 25, but I wouldn't push it too much below that.
    David/:0)

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    1. I did leave them out in 20 degree weather but don't plan to push it next winter. I'm glad you found the name, they do resemble agave stricta or twin flower so there are several options.

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  11. Yes, Frazzle Dazzle is cute and does well both in pots and in the ground. Gotta love it!

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    1. A good plant for getting attention as most visitors seem to want to touch it also.

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  12. It would definitely not be hardy where I live but I like the silvery color. It's a little hard to find silvery plants that will return.

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  13. This is a cute little plant. I thought it was dwarf grass at first. I love any plant that's touchable. :)

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  14. I have burgundy dyckia in pots and in the ground. They survived this past winter just fine and I'm north of you. The burgundy is the unfriendly version. That plant definitely gets you coming and going. A softer, kinder version sounds like a great idea.

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  15. Cute plant, cute name! What's not to like?

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