SAVAGE PLANTS & LANDSCAPE

Currently blooming here at the nursery, the versatile Camellia sasanqua ‘Bonanza’ has an abundant array of striking, scarlet peony shaped blooms. Bonanza grows well in shade or partial sun, as well as in wet or dry conditions, making it an easy addition to many gardens. It’s spreading habit offers more versatility than the erect, shrub form camellias, and works well manicured or left wild. Plant as a low hedge, espalier, tall ground cover, or a nice evergreen addition to a perennial bed.

Sometimes referred to as Christmas Camellias, the sasanqua varieties of Camellia are native to the evergreen, coastal forests of southern Japan. It was introduced by Dutch traders into Europe in 1869. Bonanza is a seedling of ‘Crimson Bride’.

Many of us strive for that ‘natural’ look and feel when creating our gardens and landscapes, but cringe at the thought of just letting the yard go ‘wild’.  With a little guidence, however, we can still get Mother Nature to do most of the work.

Designing a natural garden requires a little forethought, planning, and prep work.  Following these few simple preliminary steps will help you successfully create that natural feel and get Mother Nature off on the right foot. 

1. Site prep is the most crucial part to your natural landscape
   • Soil prep
     • The good topsoil in most yards is usually scraped off during house construction
       • Without it, plants will not thrive, and will need constant care
2. Carefully analyze the specific conditions in your landscape and select plants accordingly
   • Focus on plants (native & non-native alike) whose requirements match all of the conditions in your space (hardiness zone, soil type, sun, wind & water exposure)
   • Doing so, not only emulates the natural habitat for each plant, but also maximizes plant health and eliminates excess work on your part
3. Shape planting beds and place plants naturally
   • Large sweeping curves for the bed shape look more natural to the eye
   • Take into consideration existing elements and the lay of the land
     • Incorporate resident rock, logs, stumps & plants into beds
     • Blend beds smoothly with the natural layout of the sight.  Utilize existing curves, valleys, hills, etc.
   • Plant en mass
     • Larger groupings of one plant look more natural and keep the garden from looking fragmented
     • Odd numbers of plants are more natural looking & pleasing to the eye

This stunning, evergreen Euphorbia has brightly variegated foliage with wide, cream-colored margins and dark blue-green centers.  Early spring flower bracts emerge white and cream and continue to look striking, well into summer.  Whether in bloom or not, ‘Tasmanian Tiger’ makes an excellent specimen plant for container gardens, rockeries, perennial beds, and much more.  

• Size: 24-30″ tall and wide
• Exposure: Sun-Part Shade
• Bloom time: Feb.-May
• USDA Zone: 7