I confess the loss of Beaucarnea ‘Gold Star’ was one I dreaded the most during our extended absence. It was one of the first plants I rushed to check upon return. Survival of caudiciform plants was a theme.
Right up there with worrying over Beaucarnia ‘Gold Star’ was concern for its relative xCalibanus hookeri, or Calicarnea, a cross between beaucarnia and calibanus found at Lotusland. It was a mass of undifferentiated writhing leaves until I excitedly stripped away the lower growth to reveal the beautiful shape of its swollen, water-storing trunk for the first time. Caudiciform plants share this trick of being able to store water in their swollen stems, trunks, and above-ground roots. Inadvertently, I’d accumulated a small collection of them: beaucarnias, cussonias, brachychiton, and pseudobombax, and every one of them managed to survive. All but Cussonia paniculata and the calicarnea were in containers.
Admittedly, the two cabbage trees are a little thin on top. Cussonia paniculata was planted in the ground to improve its survival odds, and it was developing a nice mop of leaves until someone felt moved to chop them off. At that point, on a quick return visit, I assumed the plant was done. Seeing this new crop of leaves spurred me to move it back to a pot again in the hopes that a container implies the plant is special, that it enjoys protected status and is not to be messed with.
Cussonia spicata has always suffered from a receding hairline, so its thin canopy wasn’t much of a change. It’s been moved to a site with more sun, at the end of the pergola where the tetrapanax once held court and the Passiflora vitifolia was removed. (Tetrapanax may be in just temporary exile, lurking and waiting for more irrigation. I like him better in the coastal Oregon garden, so wouldn’t mind if he calls it quits here.). As usual I’m terrible with before-and-after documentation, but did take a short video, link here.
The trunk behind the silver dickia belongs to Brachychiton discolor. Its trunk swells but not to the pronounced effect of Brachychiton rupestris aka the Bottle Tree. My 8-foot Queensland Lacebark survived in a 14-inch pot so earned an upgrade to this heavy tank. (The tank years ago housed Agave vilmoriniana ‘Stained Glass’ but was no longer in use, I moved it to this site vacated by Grevillea ‘Poorinda Blondie’ that died while I was away.).
Pseudobombax ellipticum, the Shaving Brush Tree, is also comically tall and skinny but has earned some extra TLC. The fernleaf acacia is sporting its new limbed-up profile. A helpful neighbor was let loose with a saw and pruners. It’s a messy tree and needed handling, but it’s still a shock to see the canopy reduced to such an extent. I’ve yet to clean out the Yucca rostrata, clotted with years of debris from the acacia. Essential for shade and wildlife, nevertheless trees are the bane of a succulent garden!
87F yesterday, still in the mid 80s today, maybe some clouds by the end of the week to turn off this microwave oven of dry heat. Possibility of a frost tonight on the north Oregon coast. Take care!