Plants I'm Growing: First blooms--Epilobium Canum (August 10, 2012)

My favorite of the Epilobiums (the genus formerly  known as Zauschneria) is this one, Epilobium canum, which is notable for its sturdy, erect posture, the pretty blue-green of its foliage and the screaming red of its blossoms. There are three or four Epilobium varieties in my garden. The others have already started to bloom, but I always enjoy it when this one comes into flower. These are commonly known as California fuchsias. First blooms of 2012 today. This plant bloomed on August 13 in 2011, thus calculating a year of 363 days.

Plants I'm Growing: First Blooms--Epilobium Canum

First blooms of 2011 today on the Epilobium canum plants at the front of the garden, along the driveway. This is my favorite of the Epilobiums. There are about four varieties in the garden, but this one has especially pretty grey-green foliage and long, slender, deep red blossoms that are a favorite of both hummingbirds and bees and bumblebees. It is more upright than most of the other Epilobiums (until recently these were called Zauschneria, the common name is California fuchsia) and is very drought-tolerant once established. It's a perennial and will multiply if you let it go to seed. I can recommend this one highly.