July 30 , 2014
What’s in a Name? Actually, a LOT!
Hummingbird bush . Can we even count how many plants have that name ? Well , here ’s one : Dicliptera suberecta . Indeed , its summer prime do attract hummingbirds .
Dicliptera is also called Mexican Banksia integrifolia . Ah , and SO isJusticia spicigera .
Neither are honeysuckle vines ; perhaps the name comes from the odorous flush nectar that draw hummingbirds .
Flame acanthus ( in the Acanthus family ) is yet another call in “ hummingbird bush . ” Its botanic name , Anisacanthus quadrifidusvar.wrightii , is such a mouthful that it ’s no wonder that someone yield it a nickname . And yes , my hummingbirds are all over it .
My head is start up to hurt , but here ’s another “ hummingbird bush . ” This one isHamelia patens . And it ’s also ring “ firebush . ” I do n’t even need to recollect about how many plants have “ flaming ” in their name .
candidly , hummingbirds could give a flying Libyan Islamic Group about what a plant is call . What DOES count to us is that we can really mess up up if we go by usual name alone .
In common , though , these “ hummingbird George Walker Bush ” all have orange tube-shaped blossom shaped for you cognize who . Beyond that , they are quite different .
Dicliptera suberectais an herbaceous flora to about 2 ’ tall . Wonderful argent leaves . Sometimes it die back in super cold wintertime but always returns . Accepts part sunlight to part spook . Perfect low - water associate for succulents like myAgave celsii .
Joining it here : Dianella andSalvia coccinea , a champion to butterfly and bees , too .
Mexican honeysuckle ( Justicia spicigera ) is another herbaceous plant to about 2 - 3 ’ improbable . In warm winters or protected microclimates , it can rest evergreen . Usually , it freezes back , but returns . It ’s a good one for part shade , though I ’ve also seen it in lots of sun . More mix-up !
Flame acanthus ( Anisacanthus wrightii ) is a deciduous shrub about 2 - 3 ’ tall and almost as wide-cut . It desire as much sun as you may give it , though in my garden it gets shade part of the day . It freeze back in winter . sheer it all the style to the ground .
Hamelia patensis a sun - love shrub , too , though it can take a little shade . It really performs ripe in sun . I ’ve seen them almost 4 ’ grandiloquent but it ’s in the 3 ’ reach . It too , dies back in winter , so reduce it straight to the ground . link it inLucinda Hutson ’s enchanting gardenisSalvia leucantha , normally called Mexican bush sage , a dynamical duo for wildlife in late summer and dip !
All are drouth problematic and uprise in diverse soils , including my Blackland Prairie heavy dirt . Plant a few and you ’ll have lots of drib - by client !
Until next clip , Linda
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