The other Cousin It

I love walking - not specifically for the exercise (although of course, that's a bonus) but rather to have a good stickybeak at other people's gardens. If the gardener is present, that's even better. We might have a chat and perhaps I'll score a cutting or three (either that or perhaps they think I'm some sort of loitering neighbourhood weirdo ;)

Occasionally, I get lucky and stumble upon a jaw-dropping garden I haven't encountered before. This was one such garden, seen on a beachside walk, far away from where I live:

The amazing cascading bronze-tinged foliage plant is Casuarina glauca 'Cousin It' (not to be confused with Acacia cognata 'Mini Cog' - sold under the name 'Cousin Itt' in the US). The silver plant behind is cushion bush Leucophyta brownii. Purple fountain grass, Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum' is planted at the bottom of the retaining wall, with our Australian native tuckeroo Cupaniopsis anarcardiodes and variegated New Zealand Christmas bush Metrosideros excelsa 'Variegata' planted as street trees. 

I love the way the bronze highlights of 'Cousin It' match the stonework and timber cladding. I've never seen this plant take on a bronze tinge before - I suspect it is due to stressing from the harsh conditions, or perhaps it is seasonal.

According to Angus Stewart's website, 'Cousin It' copes with a wide range of soils and conditions, from dry to boggy, poorly drained soil as well as heavy frost. It is also useful for erosion control. Angus Stewart is an Australian native plant guru, plant breeder, and ex-presenter on the TV show Gardening Australia. His website is my go-to source for information on Australian native plants- I highly recommend it.

The garden is located one street back from the beach so these plants have to cope with some seriously harsh conditions. It's not surprising to see cushion bush Leucophyta brownii doing so well here. I've seen it growing in habitat, happily hugging hillsides on ragged coastal cliffs:

These pictures were taken at The Twelve Apostles in Victoria, along the Great Ocean Road.

I love all those muted tones with the misty coast in the background
 
I came across the 'Cousin It' garden some time ago, long before I started this blog (I should have taken way more photos). Now that my ankle is fixed and I'm up to walking again, I hope to track it down once more - if I can remember how to find it!

Comments

  1. Kris PetersonJune 12, 2022 at 6:54 PM

    I've only occasionally seen Casaurina 'Cousin It' (as opposed to Acacia 'Cousin Itt') here and I've never seen any sign of that bronze tinge, which is certainly a plus factor. It beautifully fits the garden and the home behind in in the neighborhood setting you photographed. A lot of my garden friends had found Acacia 'Cousin Itt' difficult to grow so, given time, Casuarina may eventually eclipse the latter in popularity.

    I'm glad to hear that your ankle has healed and that you're able to get back to your regular activities!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HorticatJune 12, 2022 at 7:31 PM

      I agree with you re Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' (and its buddy A. cognata 'Limelight'). We sell lots of them at the nursery, but I often hear tales of them just carking it (Aussie for dropping dead) suddenly. Often I think this is because people plant them in poorly-drained soil, which they do not tolerate. Also, many Acacias (though not all) are pretty short-lived generally. I still think its a beautiful plant though and would grow it if I had a spot.

      Delete
  2. HorticatJune 12, 2022 at 7:45 PM

    And thank you, Kris, it’s so good to be able to do things again!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 17, 2022 at 8:08 AM

    When I think "Casuarina", I think a tree. What a surprise "Casuarina glauca 'Cousin It'" is, cascading down the wall. That, and the stunning panoramic view of the ocean: breath taking. Imagine waking up to it every morning.
    Chavli

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In a vase on Monday: a bright little bunch

Image
I'm back this week after getting through the first trimester of pregnancy (too sleepy for gardening) and hubby's Covid (he's all good now). We are both feeling fine and finally enjoying some proper spring weather, although it continues to be very wet. Despite not contributing lately, I have enjoyed following along with everyone else's seasonal bunches, even if I haven't left a comment. Your bunches brighten my week! This week, I decided on a quick little posy of the brightest blooms in the garden: This bunch features the bright blooms of Freesia 'Bergunden Mix', Nemesia stumosa 'Patchwork', Tritonia crocata, Calendula officinalis 'Honey Babe Mix' and stocks Matthiola incana 'Imperial'.   I love all the pumpkin colours in this bunch Though parts of the garden are a total mess, having being neglected lately, other parts are looking beautiful. With some newfound energy, I enjoyed working on my yearly display of cymbidum orchids. Usua...
Read more

In a vase on Monday: pickin' in the rain

Image
I'm sneaking in late again this week as we're just back from our trip to Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park . Well...sort of...  We knew there had been significant rain in the area and that access to some areas of the park might be difficult, however when we arrived, we found that most of the roads were closed. Undeterred, we decided to check out Rawnsley Park Station instead, which is located just before the entrance to the park, overlooking Wilpena Pound . It's a fabulous spot, with beautiful views and good facilities. We had been prepared to 'rought it', so having access to a hot shower felt very luxurious! The main downside, however is that as this area has been pretty extensively grazed, so we didn't get to see the wildflowers were hoping for.  We returned home to a garden drenched by rain and with many plants in full spring bloom, including this gorgeous Leucospermum reflexum hybrid 'So Exquisite'. The 'Camp David' roses were also flower...
Read more

In a vase on Monday: bright delight

Image
Just a quick one from me today, as we are madly packing for a trip away. I love how these nasturtiums self seed and pop up all over the place. I recall planting about a dozen seeds about 10 years ago - they have done their own thing every year ever since. The mug is Polish pottery, collected on a backpacking trip around Eastern Europe in the early 2000s. We are off to enjoy Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park , located several hours' drive north of Adelaide in a semi-arid region with amazing geological features and diverse flora and fauna. The area has experienced significant rain recently, which means this usually dry country will be green and potentially full of wildflowers. I hope to have some photos to share.  Thanks to Cathy for hosting the weekly In a Vase on Monday meme. To see what's blooming in the gardens of other gardeners around the world, check out her blog, Rambling in the Garden . Perhaps you have a vase of your own you would like to share?
Read more