Soquel Nursery Growers
October 2007 Newsletter
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Soquel Nursery Growers 3645 North Main Street Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 475-3533 (800) 552-0802 (831) 475-1608 fax
Fall is Prime Planting Time

This is the best time of year to plant many perennials, shrubs and trees. The soil is at its warmest temperature of the
year, stimulating root growth, while the days are short, slowing down leaf growth. This combination gets plants off
to a healthy start. It makes for longer-lived, sturdier plants and a big growth spurt in spring
Free Soil

We have lots of used potting soil to give away.  You can use it for raised
beds, large containers or amending garden soil.  You may have to pick out
some labels and tie tape.  Come by any time and load it yourself.  Just
check in at the office and tell us you are here.  We can load it for you on
Fridays after 3:00 only.
Sambucus ‘Sutherland Gold’

The Red Elderberry Sambucus ‘Sutherland Gold’ has
spectacular finely serrated and deeply cut golden foliage.  
It holds its golden color better and is more scorch resistant
than other golden cultivars. The more shade it gets, the
greener it will be. The new growth is copper-red in spring.
In summer it will have lacy umbels of white flowers for
butterflies followed by bright red berries for the birds.
Plant it where it will get sun for part of the day for best
color. Sambucus grows quickly to 10’ tall or more.
Primulas

4” Polyanthus Primroses are here to brighten those bleak winter
flowerbeds. We have the short-stemmed Danova series and the Pacific
Giant series. Starting primulas in the nursery is like making popcorn. They
won’t all be ready at once. Our crops start off with a few flowers at a
time, gradually building to a crescendo. Once you plant them, they should
all bloom reliably for months if you remove the dead flowers.
Fuchsia procumbens

This is not your ordinary Fuchsia! Fuchsia procumbens has soft,
round little leaves and trailing habit. The tiny flowers are yellow,
black and green with bright purple and red stamens.  They are very
intriguing and it is worth getting up close to see them. The edible
pink fruits are very large and showy. Fuchsia procumbens makes a
wonderful groundcover in a shady rock garden.
Muhlenbergia rigens

Muhlenbergia rigens or Deer Grass is a beautiful and useful California
native. It grows quickly to form a 4’x 4’ clump of finely textured olive-
green leaves. Its deep root system makes it excellent for erosion control
and drought resistance. The flower spikes are narrow, stiff and vertical,
giving a nice airy screening effect. It tolerates a wide variety of soil
types and growing conditions. Muhlenbergia rigens is very long lived and
looks great all year. You can shear it periodically to refresh it. Give it an
occasional deep watering in summer to keep it looking its best.
Chamomile Sunray

Helipterum or Rhodanthe anthemoides ‘Paper Cascade’ forms a billowy
cloud of silvery grey foliage with a faint chamomile smell.  The flower
buds are red and open into little white daisies. They have a papery
texture and will dry beautifully.  One nice feature is that they bloom in
winter and early spring, when little else is blooming.  Give it sun or light
shade and moderate water. Helipterum ‘Paper Cascade’ grows to 1’x 2’
with trailing habit.
Carex secta

Carex secta, also known as Makura Grass or Purei, is native to
stream banks and marshes of New Zealand. The foliage is bright
green and bold-textured. It forms an interesting short, thick trunk of
old roots and stems. The plant will grow to about 3’x 3’. In summer it
will have shiny brown seed heads. Plant in full sun with regular water.
This is a great plant for the edge of a pond. If you plant it in groups
it can make good habitat for water birds.
Salvia uliginosa

The unusual sky-blue color of Salvia uliginosa or Bog Sage
is a delightful addition to the fall garden. This is a good
plant for that problem spot with poor drainage or constant
moisture. It will grow in drier areas, too. Vigorous growth to
4’ tall and 6’ wide. Cut back in winter for best appearance.
It makes a sparkling combination with orange flowers such
as Leonotis leonorus and Arctotis ‘Pumpkin Pie’. If you like
blue and yellow, try planting it with Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’.
Leonotis leonorus
Arctotis 'Pumpkin Pie'
Coreopsis 'Moonbeam'
Furcraea roezlii

Furcraea roezlii is a member of the Agave family from southern Mexico. When young, its
stiff-looking jade-green leaves are arranged in a geometric pattern around the base.
Unlike many Agaves and Yuccas the leaves are soft and bendable.  You can brush against
them without injury.  Eventually it will grow to about 4’ x 4’. After several years it gets
even more spectacular when a 10’ spike with long trailing branches appears. The branches
are studded with little baby plants called bulbils. The parent plant will die, but don’t be
sad. If you have mulched your garden properly, you can stick the bulbils into the mulch
and they will sprout. Furcraea roezlii likes full sun on the coast, but inland you can give
it a little light shade. It is drought tolerant once established.