I bought this beautiful plant labeled "Black Majic" (not magic). It looks like a cross between a Ti & a crinum. I am guessing its a dracaena. It is 4 feet tall & almost as wide. I have been looking in the plant files without luck. I am wondering how much sun it can take & how little water. Any ideas?
I was looking for something to go in back with the plumeria, but this looks really pretty in front with my Christmas Palms. I also picked up a giant crinum that has about 5 pups. Which can take more sun? Lots going on over here! If I could just get the lawn man to dig & plant that hedge! I could have had it done myself a month ago!!!
As always, thanks for your opinion.
Agreeing with Dutchlady...a Ti. Here we call it New Guinea Black...big leaf. If you have to chose between the crinum and the Ti...I would put the Crinum in the full sun. With filtered sun or partial shade, the Ti will be darker!!!
Carol
PS That Ti looks super planted around the silverish Agave...
There were actually three plants here. I put them in a triangle about each 2 feet apart. I hope that was far enough apart. It looks really nice! It will get morning through mid day sun. The crinum will go in the back yard with the plumeria & get full sun. I will have to give it extra water though. Thanks to the folks here at DG my yard is really taking shape & I am learning a ton!
terichris,
since you're a local person I took a picture of some of my Ti's this afternoon. I have all kinds and don't really know if they are Ti or what as they have different leafs and colors. I remember Red Sister and Black Majic among my buys of the past. At this point I make cuttings and let them grow over the summer to plant them in the fall. I can never get enough of them because of the color contrast against all my green gingers and heliconias etc.
Fred
Fred, that's a beautiful bed, how vivid!
Fred, those are absolutely gorgeous.
Great picture, thank you for showing us your garden.
Fred- How beautiful!!! The colors are amazing. I assumed they would be slow growers. What is your experience? Is that bed pretty shaded? Thank you for sharing your picture with us! I really appreciate local input! It helps me so much.
Teri
Hetty,
when I cut the TI back as they get leggy, I save the growing top part in 3 to 4 inch sections and set them in rootone in a shady spot. Not all make it but then I'd have too many anyway. :-) I've also tried rooting strips of stem that works but not as well.
And Teri, my garden is full of islands of a sort of microclimate. As you know many plants can't handle the direct sun of our summers and need some protection from above and from bordering plants on their sides. So I try to place what will work (not always successfully as the sun lovers tend to take over) but in general I have more shade then sun as I have lawn out there in the sun.
The island where I showed the picture surrounds a sitting area I use on occasion (not too much time for sitting). Here are a few more shots of that same island from different directions.
This is the entry. My pots need water.
Fred
PS note the vanilla climbing up a tree where I have baby orchid cactus in a basket. There is a variegated poinsettia growing in the front.
This message was edited Feb 28, 2008 9:18 AM
then there is a view from the house side of the isle with my Bismark showing off on the left and the bougi laughing up the two trees forming an archway.
and a view of the rear
this is a better view of the side natural arbor I'm building
and of the reserved seating area :-)
All I can say is WOW!!! My back yard is the size of one of your islands! That arbor is truly beautiful! May I ask how old your garden is? I say I have patience, but I think perhaps I don't!
I have learned Black Magic is a cordyline. Is that a Ti?
Teri you asked if the TI are slow growers. Don't know your parameters but one season is usually enough to get mature growth. The second season you probably need to cut them back already. I always hate that but it's the only way to keep them bushy and striving to grow again.
Here's a typical shot of another area under the trees. The peace lilies are happy in partial sun but will yellow in direct sun light.
Fred
What is the plant at the base of the tree on the left? i see those everywhere except the nursery!
Thanks Fred, It sure is good to wake up to such beautiful pictures.
Now I am inspired to do a backyard makeover.
Teri,
you're welcome to visit any time. I bought a small house surrounded by mostly jungle in 2003 on 2.5 acres here in the Golden Gate Estates. People told me nothing would grow here as it's nothing but sand. That was a challenge I could not resist. I've always had gardens and have yet to accept that nothing will grow as a premiss. Love of gardening will overcome all barriers.
This placewas supposed to be just a winter home but I got carried away and started landscaping. We've now decided to make this our home. But basically we did clearing in 2003 and I started laying out the islands and design the whole place in 2004. I have zoysia sod everywhere and had to do various adjustments as the water was killing my plants. Too much sodium and lime. Over time my expensive lawn was dying. So I had an acid injection system built into the irrigation along with liquid fertilizer as needed. Now the landscapers did my lawn a horrible disfavor in that I asked them to kill some weeds using my chemicals but they sprayed too much and now I have dead spots all over the place. If you don't do it yourself ....
Anyway, last year I finished with my plan and now I'm working on the neighboring 5 acres but will leave things in a pretty natural state just clean of invasives and undergrowth. I'm building a trellis over there now to give us some color against the forest behind.
I don't know the difference between the TI and cordyline plants. In the end it doesn't matter as long as they look pretty for me. :-)
Fred
PS below my other hobby
Fred, between your yard, your orchids and your neighbor's yard, when do you have time to sleep? :-)
Beautiful place, thanks for sharing!
Cathy
Teri,
you ask about a plant at the left base of a tree. Which tree? :-)
Cathy, I wish that all I had to do was take care of my garden. That's not my neighbor's 5 acres. It's mine but I just purchased it last year as the price came down to a reasonable number. I just sank a 1000 gal tank in there for a generator system which will provide power to us and my koi. The pond takes more time then anything as that is another world all to itself. The orchids have been neglected and I'm now trying to make up for it by repotting and looking at them a little more.
Here's the tank in a hole.
Fred
Teri, maybe it's the cardboard fern you're asking about? http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=4600205
Fred, congratulations on your purchase- more room for plants! A friend just had a backup generator & propane tank installed, hope it went smoothly for you. Hers was a little involved...
Gotta love those palm tree roots, ick, they are not my favorite.
Have you posted pictures of your pond, maybe I missed them?
Cathy
Yes, it is the cardboard fern I was talking about. I like the look of those. Are their any negatives? Wow - so a total of 7 1/2 acres! I look forward to seeing it!
Great news! Thanks Hetty.
I neglected to follow up on the question as to what the plant was to the left of my tree under discussion above.
A cardboard palm or fern is a zamia (Zamia furfuracea) and a cycad. The red seeds are poisonous and have been know to kill animals who eat them.
What I have is a true tropical plant called variously: ZZ Plant, Aroid Palm or Succulent Philodendron (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
It is also poisonous and can be rooted from leaf cuttings. It is drought-tolerant and suitable for xeriscaping. It is suitable for growing indoors in colder climates.
I hope that straightens that out. :-)
fred
Thank you Fred. I think I will try rooting some from some leaves.
Ok Hetty, I'll give it a go.
will let you know when they're cooked
fred
