#4 strobilanthus/Persian shield ---- in my opinion is the most beautiful foliage plant. I've kept one in a pot for several years with morning sun, in zone 10a. It loses its leaves in the fall, and then regrows in the spring. Not sure if that would work in your zone. It might not make it in full sun in my zone, haven't tried it. It's a stunning plant. I cut it back hard in the fall as it was getting too rangy, and it might not leaf out again. A replacement may be needed.

Have fun with your new plants.

Thanks! Socks, I have strobilanthus in a container along with the Penny black and the taller deep pink kangaroo paw! I thought all the colors would be dramatic together! socalgal, the blue pimpernel isn't too invasive, is it?

That sounds spectacular, kc. I got a mini=kangaroo paw last year, but it hasn't done well (in the ground). It has one bloom now but limited foliage. Maybe it will perk up in the spring.

This is the first time that it reseeded, and it did reseed a lot. I don't yet know if I would call it invasive. It takes a while to bloom, so it is easy to remove before the volunteers bloom and set seed.

I know this sounds ridiculous, but I honestly never realized the value of fertilizing and pruning even after years of gardening. I did a spring pruning and a fall fertilizing and thought it was enough. This year after kind folk on the forum have told me that fruiting and flowering plants need a lot more than that, I am finally seeing results in the garden, and am super excited! :) I also moved to a new microclimate and realized you can't just throw things down and expect them to thrive! So I am going to take my chances on "invasive" and hope that means persistent!

Growing something new, and experimenting in the garden, is one of the best joys! And every time you move, it is a new ballgame. We moved about nine miles, and are now just close enough in ocean influence, that geraniums mildew. I miss those workhorses. I hope you share how the plants grow for you!

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socalgal, that Anagallis of yours if really pretty. Have you noticed if it attracts a lot of butterflies? I'm looking for some nectar plants, but most of the small, narrow-petaled aster/composite flowers don't float my boat.

I haven't noticed butterflies on it. Have you tried Pentas?

I don't care for the dwarf pentas, and the large reds don't survive more than a year, or two if I am lucky, in our soil. I'm trying to get more plants that don't require frequent replacement.

I will definitely post back over the season! gyr, should I post on this thread, or on a new post, if I post pictures in a few months?

I have to respond to your choice of Geranium Bill Wallis because you will soon have many more. Bill Wallis seeds about and at first that seemed to me a good thing, but eventually I had enough. I'm letting a few lingering ones bloom this spring but then I'm saying a permanent goodbye to Bill.

i do very much enjoy Veronica Georgia Blue, a nice mannerly plant.

I'm hoping that means it will survive where so many have failed :)

thank you! I'll def post updates!

Geranium 'Rozanne' doesn't reseed at all, and here it flowers for about 10 months a year.

Agree on the wonderfulness of Geranium Rozanne, though she grows a lot during her ten months of bloom so, unlike a Bill Wallis, you need to give her room.

Ooh, sounds good! I will try and find it locally! Echolane, you are probably in my area. Any favorite nurseries?

Pelargonium grows like a monster, even in baked clay soils and hot dry sun.

parker, are throwing out something new to consider, or do you not realize we were discussing geraniums, not pelargoniums?

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"...should I post on this thread, or on a new post, if I post pictures in a few months?

kcandmilo, I think whichever way you prefer is fine. I'm even good with you breaking them up into a new thread per species--sometimes that makes it easier to find them when doing a search. It also allows for more discussion of the discovered merits and cons for them individually.

There are only three nurseries I go to now with any regularity since Roger Reynolds closed. Closest to home and a favorite is Ladera Nursery. Smaller, but the owner often brings in unique things and I love to stop and browse there. I also like Summerwinds, and now that I've developed an interest in natives, I always browse the large native section now too. Wegmans is a third choice. Mostly standard nursery fare there. Farther afield, I love Half Moon Bay Nursery, but it's definitely more of a drive. They have an extra large areas devoted to Annie's Annuals and I'll bet you'd find Rozanne there.

Echolane, I find the drive to Cupertino to Yamagamis worth it. I used to love Roger Reynolds, but I alway thought Ladera was a gift store and florist! I am in that area often, and will go check it out! I have been to Yerba Buena but not Half Moon Bay, and since my son goes to school up that way, I can easily swing by! Thank you!

Haven't been to Yamaguchi in years and years. I'll have to make a point to get there this spring. I hope you'll find Ladera Nursery as fun to visit as I do. I often grocery shop at next door Bianchini's market which gives me an excuse to browse the nursery. It usually winds up costing me something though!

Here is the planter with the kangaroo paw, persian shield and penny black!

And here is the rather bleak spot where i have planted the blue pimpernal

And here is a closer view at the Penny Black

Be careful with your watering--the Persian shield will probably like more than the kangaroo paw. I've seen the Penny Back in nurseries, but have never grown it. Looking forward to the later-season photos!

Good to know, thanks!