Soquel Nursery Growers
November - December  2006, January 2007 Newsletter
Click here for an index of back issues of the newsletter.
BACK TO TOP
Home   Availability  How to buy How to Find Us   Email Us
Soquel Nursery Growers 3645 North Main Street Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 475-3533 (800) 552-0802 (831) 475-1608 fax
Holiday Schedule
Closed Thanksgiving, November 23 & 24.
Closed December 18 - January 1
Winter Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:00 – 4:00
Rock Garden Favorites

If you have a well-drained spot in full sun or dappled light shade, we have a delightful combination of plants for you.


Phlox subulata or Moss Pink forms a beautiful blue-green carpet of foliage
covered with pink and white starry flowers. The variety ‘Candy Stripe’ blooms
repeatedly throughout the winter and early spring.  It looks especially nice
rambling around rocks and stepping stones.  Mix with Sedum reflexum for an
elegant textural contrast. The Sedum reflexum will have yellow flowers in the
summer, when the Phlox stops blooming.

Aquilegia flabellata is one of the earliest blooming Columbines. It has rounded, fan-shaped leaves and a compact
growth habit to 15” tall. The flowers have the classic columbine shape in pink, white, or blue. This is one of the more
mildew-resistant species. Sorry we don't have a picture yet!





Saxifraga decipiens forms a low cushion of intriguingly serrated foliage, which
turns crimson in the winter.  In the spring it has the cutest little pink flowers and
bright green leaves.




To make your rock garden complete, add Iberis ‘Alexander’s White’.  This
evergreen Candytuft blooms reliably all winter. In full bloom it looks like a fluffy
little white cloud.  It will have a few more flowers all year if you shear it
occasionally and give it enough sun.
Breath of Heaven


The feathery bright green foliage of Coleonema pulchrum
makes it popular all year, but its tiny pink flowers really
cheer up the grey winter days. Plant it near a path to enjoy
the fragrance of the leaves. Coleonema looks great
combined with just about anything. Try it with our
Coprosmas or with Erica caniculata. You can shear it into a
dense form, or selectively remove a few branches for an
open, airy look. Plant it in a breezy spot to enjoy watching it
wave in the wind.
Hardenbergia



We are growing Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’
in one-gallon cans this year, no fives. This vine will be
covered with little purple sweet-pea flowers throughout
the winter and spring. Gophers love it almost as much as
people do, so you might want to plant it in a wire basket.
This is a twining vine so give it something to curl around.
Give it rich, well drained soil in sun or light shade.
Hardenbergia ‘Happy Wanderer’ is one of the most hardy
and vigorous selections.  
Cordyline 'Red Sensation'

Cordyline has a wonderful bold texture that makes a dramatic
focal point. The smoky reddish-purple ‘Red Sensation’ looks
spectacular with silver and blue-gray foliage such as
Artemesia ‘Powis Castle’, Juncus patens, and Westringia
‘Wynyabbie Gem’. Cordylines are often mistaken for
Phormiums when they are young. When they get older they
form a trunk, and get mistaken for Yuccas.  Cordyline ‘Red
Sensation’ eventually gets 6’ tall or more. Cut it back when
young if you want to encourage multiple trunks. Keeping it in a
large pot will slow its growth. Change the potting soil
periodically to keep it healthy.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COLOR?

Yes, we do. In addition to color, we have many fabulous shapes and
textures. If you buy from us, you have no excuse for a boring garden at any
time of year, even the middle of winter. If you are visiting the nursery, the
most fun thing to do is to stand up on an electric cart, or on top of the soil
pile, and look out over our fourteen acres of color.
This little list will help you out.
Violas or Pansies:
Ultima Morpho (blue and yellow), Antique Shades (mix of peach, burgundy, yellow)
and Imperial Frosty Rose (purple and white)
Nemesias will last and last and last.
For best results, shear every six weeks and replace every three years.
We have Nemesia fruticans 'Bluebird' and the best of the Sunsatia Series: Mango, Peach and Raspberry.  
Say “Sun-say-sha”, like “Sensational”.
Arctotis or African Daisies bloom now and throughout the year.
We have Burgundy, Flamingo, Golden Sunburst, Orange, Purple, Pumpkin Pie, and Sunspot.
Check our on-line availability listing to see which ones look the best each week.






Lobelia cardinalis or Cardinal Flower blooms in the summer, but its dark red
leaves look great all winter.
Euryops virgineus



Euryops virgineus has finely textured needle-like leaves and
masses of tiny yellow flowers. The sweet fragrance of the
flowers gives it the common name Honey Euryops. This
South African native grows to 4’x 4’ in full sun. Its bright
green foliage looks fresh and tidy when out of bloom.