October, 2000
An Austin Autumn
Bats in the Belfry
Austin, Texas has the largest urban bat colony in North America.  By the end of October most of the Mexican Free Tail bats that live under our Congress Street Bridge have headed south to their winter home, but we can still have Mexican bats in our gardens....Bat Faced Cuphea, that is.
bat faced cuphea
This tender perennial from Mexico is a new addition to Ann Marie's home garden.  It is growing in a container and will be brought inside to protect it if frost threatens.  Next spring it will be planted in the ground.  Friends have grown it, their plants froze during winter, but reseeded heavily and they had bat faced cuphea sprouting as our real bats returned in the spring.  It will grow 2 ft tall and up to 3 ft wide.  It is reputed to be heat resistant but does need regular watering and will grow in sun or partial shade.
BOO!
Want to plant a Halloween Garden?  Here are a few other "eerie dearies"...Ann Marie has read about them in books but hasn't grown them.
Salvia transylvanica
This salvia is described in A Book of Salvias by Betsy Clebsch.  It has a large, sprawling form and rich violet colored flowers and is hardy to 0 degrees F.
Ghost plant
Graptopetalum paraguayense - A succulent native to Northeastern Mexico.  It has fleshy gray rosettes and is hardy to 15 degrees F.  Perfect for containers and raised beds, plant it where it receives afternoon shade
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis sp. - Several species of witch hazel exist.  Their bright yellow or orange winter flowers are a fragrant delight.  Unfortunately, most of the witch hazels require acidic soil and struggle in the Central Texas.  The common witch hazel, H. virginiana, may be slightly less fussy, it would be the one to try in Austin, keep it well composted.
Devil's shoestring
Nolina lindheimeriana - This yucca relative has fountains of narrow 2-3 ft long leaves.  Plant it in dray areas and full sun.
Green Wizard Rudbeckia
Listed in the Park Seed Catalog, sounds like a great plant to start for your 2001 Halloween Garden...or maybe it is time for a Harry Potter flower bed?????
cuphea in pumpkin

Back to Home Page