In a vase on Monday: Candy Stripe

Being winter here in Australia, it's nearly time to prune the roses (I normally do this in July). Despite the impending chop, one of my favorite roses, 'Candy Stripe' is still putting on a lovely display of blooms. 'Candy Stripe' is a tall, vigorous rose, growing to about 6 feet tall. It puts up with a lot; it's planted in heavy clay soil and each year it gets overrun by the giant Mexican tree daisy growing nearby. I've never seen even a hint of black spot on the leaves and the plant is rarely without flowers. Perhaps this rose's only downfall is its very faint perfume. I'm willing to forgive this for all its other positive attributes. 

Placed in the vase alongside 'Candy Stripe' is the spike of an unknown dark red Cymbidium sp. Usually I don't pick orchids, preferring to bring them inside in their pots to enjoy their blooms. However, this one was a lost in its pot and a little snail munched, so I thought it would be better appreciated in a vase.


The large pink camellia is a no ID, the white one with a painted pink edge is Camellia japonica 'Margaret Davis'. Plectranthus argentatus also features, and a small piece of Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides pokes out the top of the vase. The main foliage plant is a no ID volunteer which sprouted beneath other shrubs in the garden. It smells a lot like Laurus nobilis, however the leaves -with their silvery undersides- aren't right for that plant. A couple of sprigs of Iresine herbstii are tucked in to mirror the dark plum of the orchid. There's a spent Hydrangea macrophylla bloom in the mix too.


Plectranthus argentatus really does have quite a pretty bloom, when viewed up close; usually I use it for its foliage only.

Cathy over at Rambling in the Garden is the creator and weekly host of the In a Vase on Monday meme. To see what other gardeners have filled their vases with this week, check out her blog here. Perhaps you have a vase of your own garden blooms to add?

Comments

  1. StasherJune 20, 2022 at 2:44 AM

    It is always interesting to see what gardeners and flower arrangers in other parts of the world use and your choice is delightful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susie @ pbmGardenJune 20, 2022 at 3:48 AM

    Lovely! I like your Camellias.

    ReplyDelete
  3. HorticatJune 20, 2022 at 4:16 AM

    Thanks Susie, I wish I could ID the large pink one. I've been trying to propagate it, but with no luck so far :(

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 20, 2022 at 5:20 AM

    Roses! amazing. I would forgive the lack of fragrance in a second. I like the Plectranthus flower, too. I wish they would give those a better name. Sounds like a weird fish or something. So wonderful to see Camellias in summer (my summer) the shrub queen,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HorticatJune 20, 2022 at 10:02 PM

      Well, you may be in luck! according to Wikipedia, Plectranthus argentatus is now Coleus argentatus (although that name in not much better, in my opinion). And apparently now what I think of as coleus is classified as plectranthus! Those taxonomists like to keep themselves busy!

      Delete
  5. CathyJune 20, 2022 at 11:17 AM

    Who would think this was a 'winter'vase!!! The roses are really pretty, despite their lack of fragrance, and the supporting material works perfectly, especially the unidentified foliage and the tillandsia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HorticatJune 20, 2022 at 9:52 PM

      Thanks Cathy :) Yes, we are quite lucky we can have flowers year-round here. Although I think camellias will feature predominantly in vases for the next few months until the Spring blooms arrive.

      Delete
  6. Kris PetersonJune 20, 2022 at 11:17 AM

    Given that it's winter there, your garden is very generous with its blooms, Horticat. I love that Plectranthus - plants in that genus used to be a mainstay of my garden but less water and more frequent heat spells seem to have put an end to them, although I'm currently babying one remaining cutting I rooted earlier. I hesitate to cut orchid flowers too but, as most last so long, it can become irresistible near the end of their run especially if they fit a particular color scheme ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HorticatJune 20, 2022 at 9:56 PM

      That's a shame re plectranthus, Kris, but you're right, it does like a little extra water. I always find it strange that Plectranthus argentatus is an Australian native plant - I had assumed that the species name referred to Argentina, before I found out it refers to the silvery leaves.

      Delete
  7. AnnaJune 20, 2022 at 2:28 PM

    Oh such warm and rich colours and although it may be winter with you your days will be lengthening after tomorrow whilst we start to turn away from the light. The rose is most distinctive and I love the plectranthus foliage and flower.

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    Replies
    1. HorticatJune 20, 2022 at 10:00 PM

      Yes! Bring on more daylight (gardening) hours! :) I hope you have time to enjoy the bounty of Summer in your part of the world, Anna.

      Delete
  8. CathyJune 21, 2022 at 12:22 AM

    A lovely arrangement, full of gorgeous plants. The Plectranthus flower really is pretty. Winter must be bearable with such a rich mix of plants in your garden. And now your days will start growing longer too. 😉

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HorticatJune 21, 2022 at 12:49 AM

      Thanks Cathy, yes flowers definitely help to make it more bearable!

      Delete
  9. AnonymousJune 22, 2022 at 4:18 PM

    That's a lovely arrangement, and a very fine rose. Roses grow very well in gooey clay--its the gardener that struggles with the stuff, so hard to dig, so heavy.

    Enjoy the rain!

    ReplyDelete
  10. HorticatJune 23, 2022 at 5:09 PM

    Yes it’s amazing what roses will tolerate - mine certainly put up with a lot!

    ReplyDelete

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