Opinions on Epilobium 'Select Matole' (California Fuchsia)?

I was reading a book on summer-dry gardening, and this looked like a perfect low-growing plant for some dry semi-shaded areas in my yard. From my Internet search, it looks like there's only one place around here that carries it, and it's a fair distance to get to. The plant isn't even in the PlantFiles here on DG

Given that it will take me a while to hunt this plant down, does anyone grow it? What do you think? Any pictures?

http://www.joycreek.com/248-016.htm
is a silver leaved variety at Joy Creek Nursery - which is great by the way.

http://www.joycreek.com/248-002.htm
This is the one with orange flowers

They have both of these in stock. I've never grown them but I am very fond of Australian Fuschia. They do like some shade but they are very hardy and the flowers are beautiful. They never get rangy - and you can keep them almost any shape. I've never seen the flowers as dark as this one - there are a huge number of cultivars although we only see a few in the US.
http://www.joycreek.com/445-002D4.htm

Hope this helps some.

Those are really nice, but they are a different genus than the Epilobium. There seems to be two different plant varieties that are known by the common name California Fuchsia.

I talked to a lady at Yamagami's today who had heard it was a good variety and knew someone who found it at a native plant sale. However, they said they didn't even have a source to order it.

The one source I did find for it is Native Revival Nursery in Aptos.

http://www.nativerevival.com/inventory.html

I wish I had known before, since I was just at the beach there last Friday.

Guess you'll just have to take an extra trip to the beach. Wear your sunscreen!

lilystorm,

Las Pilitas www.laspilitas.com has Zauschneria septentrionalis Mattole River

Don't know how close this is to what you want -- but thanks for mentioning it -- I will have a look next time I'm there! We have Z. californica 'Uvas Canyon' and Z. cana -- but they seem to need a lot of water where we have them planted.

Kathleen

That is similar to what I'm looking for, kaperc. When I went to the site, though, they mentioned that the plant does a lot better on the coast than inland. That's making me think twice. Maybe I don't need to plan an extra trip to Aptos after all.

I would give them a call, Lilystorm. Their nursery in Escondido is very helpful, and I'm sure the 'mother ship' is, too. Perhaps they have something similar that would work for you.

A local gas station has it planted as their primary landscape for a corner. Basically full day sun and probably never attended too. seems to be doing very well.
Do you want me to steal a few cuttings?

That's very tempting, PotEmUp. I'd glady take a couple cuttings, especially if you wanted to bring them to the Castro Valley Roundup.

One thing that concerns me is the full sun. I saw another variety of Epilobium at a local nursery. It said full sun too. I was thinking it was a part shade plant, which is what I have in the area I'm thinking of. Maybe I was just fooled by the term 'California Fuchsia' into thinking it must be a shade plant.

I just saw Zauschneria 'Mattole River' at Orchard Nursery in Lafayette today if you're still looking for it...$9.95 for a 1 gal pot. I'm not sure how many they have (there were only 5-6 out on display), but I'm sure if you call them up they'd hold one for you if you can't get up there right away.