Far Out Flora

Gardening in the Outerlands of San Francisco

Cresting Succulents

November 28, 2011 by Matti | 13 Comments

Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' crested

Graptoveria 'Fred Ives'

We’re starting to get a sweet collection of cresting succulents these days. Check out this Graptoveria ‘Fred Ives’. Fab color and adds a lot of punch amongst the green and gray succulent. Parents of this cultivar are Graptopetalum paraguayense and Echeveria gibbiflora. Crazy how some plants can cross breed between genera.

Graptopetalum paraguayense crested

Graptopetalum paraguayense crested

I believe this was the first cresting succulent that we had in our garden. Back in the day, we picked up some Graptopetalum paraguayense cuttings from a buddy. Turned out that a couple of them started to crest. We’re not exactly sure how, why or when cresting happens, but found this article from the Cactus and Succulent Society of America that explains some of it. Seems that the growing point starts to go a little funky where the single growing point turns into a growing line or plane. Then the plant may form a crest or fan shape. It’s not limited to just succulents, but can occur on a variety of other plants. Yesterday, we noticed that one of our Euphorbia flowers is starting to crest. Strange.

Echeveria 'Doris Taylor' crested

Echeveria 'Doris Taylor'

Here’s a cresting Echeveria ‘Doris Taylor’ which we added to our collection a couple of months ago. Recently, we saw one available over at Urban Bazaar, which was awesome. Sometimes known as the Woolly Rose, parents are thought to be Echeveria setosa and Echeveria pulvinata. It has hairy leaves and normally grows in a rosette.

Aeonium 'Sunburst' crested

Aeonium 'Sunburst'

Another fun succulent that I picked up from work is this cresting Aeonium ‘Sunburst’. You can really see the flat stem here caused from the growing point happening over a line. BTW, cresting is also known as Cristate.

NOID crested

NOID crested

Okay. These next two, we aren’t exactly certain what they are. Would love some help on IDing it…or even some guesses. If I had to take a bet, I would say this on above is some sort of Pachyveria.

NOID crested

NOID crested

Here’s another to we’re not exactly sure, but think it’s another Graptoveria ‘Fred Ives’…just growing under different sunlight conditions in our garden.

Senecio vitalis crested

Senecio vitalis crested

Here’s a crester we no longer have, Senecio vitalis. The succulent was growing in a container and I think it got tossed during one of our revamping our garden sessions…oops.

Echeveria 'Winter Sunset' crested

Echeveria 'Winter Sunset'

We just planted this last one, Echeveria ‘Winter Sunset’ crested form. It has a cool looking stem and the rosettes are curving more than I could hope for. Does anybody have some fave succulents cresting in their collection? Would love to hear about them. Post some pics on our Facebook.

– Far Out Flora

Alice Keck Gardens

January 3, 2011 by Megan | 11 Comments

Alice Keck Park

Alice Keck Park

Just blocks from the main drag of State Street, Santa Barbara there’s an awesome park called Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens.  Besides the ponds full of koi, turtles and patches of lawn…the place is loaded with some sweet ornamentals.  Talking about coolness…this place is so hot that there’s a cultivar named after it, Aeonium ‘Alice Keck Park’.

Alice Keck Memorial Park

Alice Keck Memorial Park

Fall color coming from their Ginkgo biloba turning yellow.  All the plants in the garden were selected for their low water use and because they grow well in Santa Barbara.  Oh, and bonus….it’s a dog park too! (on leash only).  BTW, we want to give a shout out to the friendly dog people in the park suggesting a couple off leash dog beaches.

Monarch butterfly

Monarch butterfly

Aloes blooming

Aloes spikes

Seems like winter is here because the Aloes are in full of spikes.  The Aloe below is a bit of a mystery.  It’s a climber (here’s another pic of one we saw), but have no idea what it is.

Climbing aloe

Climbing aloe

Tegetes sp?

Tegetes lemmonii ?

The plants weren’t marked, but believe that the top is a Tegetes lemmonii and Oxalis below.

Oxalis sp?

Oxalis sp?

NOID

NOID

Last one, we would really love some help IDing this one.  We don’t recall seeing anything like it before and really wanted it.  Thick succulent stem, fleshy leaves like a begonia, leaves max were about 4-6 inches wide, grew about knee to hip height.  Help.

– Far Out Flora

September 23, 2010
by Megan
8 Comments

A Squirrel Ate My Paper

Did you hear about the one where the mischievous squirrel stole Matti’s notes? Seriously…I forgot to write down the names, but think it would be fun to see who can name these mystery plants and tree.  NOID #1 (above) was … Continue reading

May 24, 2010
by Megan
2 Comments

Mystery Purple Flower

Gorgeous specimen in a front garden over near the Horticulture Bldg Ocean Campus.  But I have no clue what it is.  Anybody have any thoughts what this cool purple and blue flowering plant is? The cluster of purple flowers are … Continue reading