If you remember, during the really hot weather we had from mid-June until late July, the Aucuba japonica plant I have in a pot on the terrace was suffering. It was getting too much sun, I think, and the heat was intense in June (and again in July). Since I moved it about three feet back so that it gets less direct sun, it has been looking a lot better. Some people call these "gold dust" plants. Other names are "spotted laurel" and "Japanese laurel."
Here's a second aucuba plant. It's planted in the yard, on the north side, and it gets some afternoon shade from a very big Himalayan cedar tree that's just west of it. But I think it might need even more shade. I'm not planning to move it, however. If and when the weather gets back to normal — cloudier, wetter, and cooler — maybe it will be happier.
This is a cactus that I grew from leaf cuttings taken from a plant that CHM gave me years ago. The one he gave me was planted outside on the south side of the house, in full sun. I think the heat and drought has cooked it this summer. It's called a prickly pear, among other names — I know they grow in North Carolina and Virginia. This one flowered in June but hot weather caused the flowers to dry up pretty fast. I moved it to the terrace, which is shaded in the afternoon. It also seems to be vulnerable to snails.
Another succulent that grow is this "donkey's tail" plant (Sedum morganianum). Years ago, I brought back a very small cutting taken from a plant in North Carolina. This sedum is native to Mexico. I keep the three or four I have now in fairly shaded locations, and they seem to be happy. This is one I made up from cuttings from an older plant a few months ago. It seems to be easy to propagate so I'll probably have a lot more of these as time goes by.
Your aucubas look as good as their parent plant in my yard in Paris.
ReplyDeleteThe cactus, Opuntia humifuza, is native to the East of the US and Canada. In Arlington, Va, where it comes from, it grows in full sun and I never noticed any damage either from the sun or from any critter!
It's humifusa with an S not a Z!
DeleteWell, drought and heat have killed mine. And earlier, it was definitely eaten by snails and slugs. I'll take your word for it on the scientific name.
DeleteRemember these photos of a prickly pear plant that I took in Morehead City, NC, a couple of years ago? The plants I have are sort of stunted compared to this one, which grows a 100 meters or so from the house I grew up in. In fact, the more I read about the eastern prickly pear (it doesn't grow tall but spreads over the ground) the more I think the one in my 2017 photos is not the same plant.
DeleteThe cactus cuttings I gave you years ago, came from a plant commonly known as Devil's tongue or Eastern Prickly Pear, i.e. Opuntia humifusa.
ReplyDeleteThe cactus in your 2017 post is certainly an Opuntia, but not the humifusa variety which is low growing and never as erect as the one in the N.C. photo.
Le cactus que j'ai est moins beau que celui de Morehead City, c'est sûr. J'ai regardé l'autre humifusa, qui est planté côté sud en plein soleil, et il est presque complètement ratatiné et jauni. Il a rendu l'âme, je crois.
DeleteI have had aucubas for a long time. My first plant came from Lewis' Aunt's house in Rome, Ga. It grew to be more than 5 feet tall. I have a cutting of that plant here in a pot. Maybe I'll get it in the ground this fall, I hope so. We finally have had summer showers so everything is greener.
ReplyDeleteStill so dry here — like the desert. I wish my aucuba plants would grow five feet tall. Glad you've had some rain.
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