The last time I worked at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse prompted this post on Grand Park*.
Yesterday the waxflowers were in bloom, an Australian shrub that most likely passed completely unnoticed at my last visit.
The waxflower, or chamelaucium, is a member of the myrtle family. Its tiny, needle-like, evergreen leaves are arguably past the point of subtlety, but wonderfully adapted to sun and drought.
From a distance, for a moment the foamy mass had me guessing Baja spurge, Euphorbia xanti.
Branches of the waxflower are familiar to everyone as a perfunctory addition to mixed bunches from grocery stores.
But they are not seen in gardens much anymore. A single shrub is possibly a bit too precious.
Massed in the landscape they are wild things again, as good with concrete as they are with a vase.
*August 30-31, 2014, 50,000 Made in America Festival attendees will sprawl across Grand Park. Watch out for the plants, people.
Love both taxa, and use them when I can, but as you say, both are rather uncommon these days in gardens. They both require space at maturity. Long bloom season for both is a bonus.
I had a couple in the garden, but unfortunately they were short-lived. Beautiful, though.
David, the Baja spurge has some ungainly growth habits, but the waxflower has that lovely, open, vase-like shape.
Hoov, I’d be hard-pressed to suggest the name of a plant you haven’t grown!