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California Gardening

New house with new garden- plant i.d. needed

15 years ago

Hello! We recently moved to Northern California and bought a house, along with a garden of course! But I have no clue what some of these plants are! I've tried to find them online, but no luck. Can anyone help with a little plant i.d.? Thanks very much!

Here are a few of the "unknowns":

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I posted the rest of the plant photos on my blog:

http://www.whattheheckisthisplant.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to visit if you have a moment. Thanks again!

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Comments (9)

davissue_zone9
15 years ago
In order on your website:
1. not sure, need a closer picture
2. L. angustifolia, but only an expert herbalist could tell you which variety
3. Santolina
4. I think an abutilon
5. possibly an acorus
6. Solanum rantonnetii
7. There are two species of Moraea grown, one with yellow flowers, the other with lavender.
8. Geranium "biokovo" on the right. The one on the left looks like a common weed species of geranium, but I'd need to see the flower to be sure
9. A Pittosporum of some kind
1. The flowers look like Ipheion, but the foliage looks more like some sort of irid. If the foliage smells like an onion, it's the Ipheion.
2. Podocarpus
3. you're right
4. Euonymous japonicus "microphyllus"
5. Sedges and grasses are very hard to identify. You might try posting a picture again when it blooms, that really helps
6. Arum italicum pictum
7. a jasmine of some sort
8. could be some sort of camellia, but just guessing
Hopefully, I didn't miss one and get the order mixed up! You owe me one, girl ;-).
nancy_in_venice_ca Sunset 24 z10
15 years ago
minipoodle, Sue gave you some great answers.

#4 is definitely an abutilon - a great nectar plant for hummingbirds.

I also think #5 is acorus.
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minipoodle
Original Author
15 years ago
WOW! Thank you SO MUCH! I can't tell you how helpful this is. We moved from a New England shade garden to a California full sun garden, so I'm totally clueless!

I'm going to go look these names up right now. Much appreciated! :)
inkneedeep
15 years ago
#4. Abutilon! They are so beautiful. I want to try one, but haven't found one yet!

9. Waxleaf Ligustrum???
1. I agree Fern Pine, Podacarpus
2. Does it stink and have lavender like flowerers? could be society garlic???
I am originally from New England too... sure is differant gardening here, but great to be able to garden year round!!

Have Fun!
inkneedeep
15 years ago
Just went in my garden and thought I would add info:
I wanted to add that #6 Solanum, Paraguay Nightshade, Potato Bush, Royal Robe... I have a few of these. They are versatile: can be a shrub or trained to a small tree shape. The one I have that gets morning sun, afternoon shade is growing best, although the ones in afternoon sun are fine too. I have transplanted a few times (because I can never get it right the first time)and they still florish. Now I have it with some NZ. Flax (Burgundy) and some deep yellow Daylillies...really brings our the small flowers! Not far away I have a Blue Hibiscus, which needs little water and blooms with large flowers of the same colors (beautiful plant)... Kind of mimics the flowers on the Paraguay nightshade, but on a larger scale.
juno2008
15 years ago
#3 looks exactly like my "Moonbeam" coreopsis.
#4 we call a flowering maple, and the hummingbirds do like it.
#6 we have a tree made out of this that is actually around 10 to 12 feet tall and just as tree-like as any other tree. I was amazed when I saw it. Ours blooms year-round and is a great tree for our patio (the hummingbirds also like this one and I hung a few feeders in it)
#15 an impossible weed in my yard and in my neighbors' yards. You have to dig down to get the bulb on it. I can't get to it most of the time, and they just come right back.
wanda
15 years ago
#17 may be Prunus caroliniana
melle_sacto is hot and dry in CA Zone 9/
15 years ago
You've gotten a lot of great IDs! I think #14 is garlic chives, which send up white flowers in summer and, later, lots of black seeds. Garlic chives aren't evergreen, so if this is evergreen it's something else.
Central_Cali369
15 years ago
#16 is pink jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum). It is a great winter bloomer. It blooms in late winter when there is little else in bloom.

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