Plants to Enjoy

These are a few of the plants I've been enjoying recently in my garden.

PERENNIAL SHRUB: Flowering maple, Abutilon x hybridum. This genus is comprised mostly of hybrids. It is called a maple because of its leaf shape but it is not in fact a maple. Abutilon is a tropical perennial that can grow to 8 feet tall by 2 feet wide and does well in our warm climate. It is hardy in zones 9 and 10. The blossom colors vary with the cultivar and range from red to salmon, pink, yellow, orange, and white. The plant does best with 6 hours of sunlight and blooms spring to fall. It is native to South America/Central America. It is best planted in soil enriched with compost and requires moderate watering as it is not drought tolerant. Tip prune young plants, to spur new growth and get a fuller shape. These long-blooming plants bear cup- or bell-shaped flowers that are approximately three inches across. The flowers lack any notable fragrance. This plant can also be grown in containers in cooler climates so they can be moved inside in the fall.

HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL: Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is an herbaceous perennial or biennial that is often planted as an annual flower. It is a very slow-growing plant that will eventually reach a height of about 2 feet. The flowering plant, with average pointed green leaves, produces blooms in vibrant shades that attract pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. It does best in full sun with afternoon light shade. It is best suited for use in cottage gardens, perennial beds, or containers. Sweet William is generally easy to grow and likes regular water, but not overwatering. Sweet William is mildly toxic to pets and people, so make sure to plant it in an area that pets don't have access to it. It blooms in spring and summer with red, pink and white blooms. Plant in rich, well-drained soil and space plants 8 inches apart. The plants will survive in soils with various pH levels but often do best in a neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Sweet William is relatively cold-hardy and can survive light frosts but not deep freezes. If you want to see blooms in the first year of planting, you could sow the seeds indoors in cell packs or containers six to eight weeks before the last spring frost. Harden them off and transplant the seedlings outside once the danger of frost has passed.

TREE: Black Mission Fig (Ficus carica). This is the most popular fig variety in California with a sweet rich taste. The fruit's skin is purplish black and the flesh is strawberry colored. The fruit can be eaten fresh or dried, or made into jelly or jam.

The tree is native to the Mediterranean and West Asia and was brought to the California missions by Franciscan friars in the late 1700s. It is a long lived tree and grows to 20 feet tall but can be kept smaller by pruning. It produces two crops per year: ‘Breba,' a light crop in late spring to early summer, and heavy crop in late summer or early fall. A Breba crop develops on old wood during the spring after the fig leaves emerge. These branches are from the previous year's main fig crop production which develops in fall or later summer. The plant is highly adaptable, but bears the best fruit in hot inland areas.

The fig evolved with a special pollinator relationship with the fig wasp. In cultivation, however, most fig cultivars, including the ‘Black Mission' fig, do not require a pollinator to produce an abundance of edible fruits. The fig flowers are not visible because they bloom inside the fruit. I always squeeze the fruit a bit when I pick it to see if a small brown beetle comes out. I cannot find the name of this creature but have experienced it with every Mission fig tree I have had. I do this to avoid eating the bug which, though not likely harmful, is a bit disgusting.