My Cuppa Cobaea Overfloweth - Cobaea scandens

September 05, 2014 in Inspiration, Plants, Style

|Cobaea scandens CU floral profile|

Are you feeling this? Won't you join me...in the purple rain? As the above image hints...something vivid...something vibrant is making itself known. Question. Are you experienced? Well, if not, welcome to the lush and luxurious world of Cobaea scandens, commonly referred to as the Cup-And-Saucer Vine or Cathedral Bells Vine. Here is a case of a plant that I absolutely love to grow. Why? Well, for me, it has been one of the easiest plants to grow and it really delivers what a plant-a-holic, such as myself, craves. It's got it all!

|Cobaea scandens foliage + form|

The foliage of Cobaea scandens forms on whip-like vining tendrils and stems of jungle green, with some bits steeped in rich warm color. The foliage, itself, emerges in pistachio and rich pinot noir hues. As the foliage matures, it settles on a sophisticated elliptical form that radiates a luxuriously rich palette of soothing green combinations.

|Cobaea scandens bud + tendril + leaf|

In midsummer, papery lantern-like flower buds emerge from the fabric of its foliage signaling a forecast for an opulent outpouring of fantastical-floral-lusciousness . The sepals of the flower open to form a saucer-like shape from which strong petals make themselves known and iris open to form a cup-like floret to accompany its saucer.

|Cobaea scandens phases of flower|

The results are stunning and can satiate even the finickiest of floral appetites! The flowers are sizable, 4-5 inches, but not too big. At first, as flowers open, they appear void of any color. But in the day to follow the petals will blush in colors of pink and soft lilac. Then, usually, on day two after opening, the flowers are a flood of rich, vibrant purple color. The color is so true and so affecting that you'll be hard pressed to not fall under its spell of tropical allure.

Cobaea scandens can be treated as an annual vine in areas where temps fall below 25 degrees fahrenheit/-3 degrees celsius. In temperate areas it will remain perennial. Vines can grow up to 25 feet long. It can engulf a fence or trellis in one season and kick out an amazing display of flowers from summer through late autumn. It likes full sun to part shade conditions, regular to fertile, well-draining soil, average water, and the occasional feeding of fertilizer. In areas where it remains perennial, cutting back vines at the start of the following growing season can encourage bushier, lush growth.

I originally got a 4" container start of Cobaea scandens from the amazing Annies Annuals. Later on, I found that Botanical Interest have seed for it. I also, hope to have a nice crop of it for sale next spring at The Plant Provocateur shop. It is so well worth planting! Wait, what? The Plant Provocateur shop. What is he on about now?

Give 2 Me Your Leather. Take From Me My Lace. - Alsobia dianthiflora

August 26, 2014 in Habitat, Plants, Style

|Alsobia dianthiflora petal detail|

So lately, in my world, a hot topic has been super sexy houseplants. I know that might sound a bit racy for some of you, but, I'm talking about houseplants that offer a little more than a lump of static greenery. Now don't get me wrong, there are some outstanding green foliage houseplants out there. You just gotta know where to look. In my travels this summer, I stumbled across a plant that I don't see too often. Don't know if you've met? Everyone...this is Alsobia dianthiflora. Alsobia dianthiflora this is everyone.

|Alsobia dianthiflora floral profile|

In some circles, this gorgeous angel of elegance is referred to as Episcia dianthiflora and commonly in others as the Lace Flower Vine. It is in the gesneriad family of plants. You know some of Alsobia's common name cousins...African Violet and Gloxinia. When I first saw the fringe and frill of its dreamy, illuminating ivory flowers I was a goner. So elegant yet so savage. Be still my horticultural heart! Alsobia dianthiflora comes to us from the climes of places like southern Mexico and Costa Rica. It is a perennial plant that is replete with sumptuously soft, downy deep green leaves and produces stunning white trumpet-like flowers, whose petals are detailed in a filigree of white foxy fringe. As an added bonus, for those who like to look a bit closer, the throat of each flower is delicately spotted with dreamy drops of violet color.

|Alsobia dianthiflora foliage + flower + form|

Alsobia dianthiflora likes bright, indirect light, shady spots, and can tolerate a part-sun situation outdoors. It vines up to around 3 feet long if it's happy and gets about 8" tall. It's low and likes to stroll. It likes to set its roots down in a well-draining, fertile soil and prefers regular water. It's hardy down to around 35 degrees fahrenheit/1.6 degrees celsius, if outdoors. I keep mine on the porch and let it creep and sprawl its way around. Looks so luxurious that way. It also does well indoors and makes for one sexy houseplant. So if you're in the mood for a houseplant with a lush, plush, knight-in-white-satin kind of vibe... look for, find, and grow Alsobia dianthiflora. You can find them online here. You might even find them at The Plant Provocateur. Huh?! What's that you say? Stay tuned...

Big Things Have Small Beginnings...The Plant Provocateur Store at Silver Lake Farmer's Market

August 14, 2014 in Food + Drink, Inspiration, Plants, Style

|TPP at the Silver Lake Farmer's Market|

Call me crazy! Call me nuts! The Plant Provocateur has taken the show on the road so-to-speak and set up shop at the Silver Lake Farmer's Market in Los Angeles! Here's my chance to see if you, the public, are interested in what your Plant Provocateur has to offer. Every Saturday from 8am-1:30pm is my chance to welcome you face-to-face into the world of The Plant Provocateur.

|Farmer's Market Palette|

So here's what's happening. I'm offering mostly stuff grown by yours truly in The Plant Provocateur Botanical Garden. Having a shop gives me the opportunity to meet you...the plant loving public, show off some amazingly beautiful stuff to grow, love, and obsess over, as well as, give people the opportunity to bring this type of beauty into their lives. As one of my recent clients stated...Plants first, People second!

The shop is also the seed of, hopefully, an actual brick-and-mortar store to come. Right now, an actual store is just an idea...a little something I'm working on. There's a lot to do to make that happen but I figure the Silver Lake Farmer's Market is a great place to start. So, on a Saturday...any Saturday...this Saturday... come on down. Check out what's going on. I'll have plants, my Sunset Book - Sunset Outdoor Design and Build Guide: Container Gardening, and from time to time some super extraordinary botanically inspired products that you probably won't find anywhere else.

Tantalizing TriColor Sunset Supernova - Stictocardia beraviensis

July 05, 2014 in Habitat, Inspiration, Plants, Style

|Stictocardia beraviensis floral detail|

Outside it's hot, hazy, and humid. My daily diorama is complete with blue skies and fluffy thunderhead tufts playing hide and seek behind the San Gabriel Mountains. Yep, summer in L.A. is in full swing! The Plant Provocateur Botanical Garden is killing it right now with crazy cool flowers and fragrances. One such standout is the Stictocardia beraviensis vine that is kickin' out some tantalizing tricolor sunset supernovas. Check it!

|Stictocardia beraviensis bud + flower + detail|

Isn't the color ridiculous!? So vibrant, so rich. Très tropical! Stictocardia beraviensis is commonly referred to as the Hawaiian Sunset Vine or Braveheart Vine. It is related to the Morning Glory vine. Although there's mention of Hawaiian in its common name, this vine comes to us from tropical Africa and Asia. It's a lightning fast growing/twiner that can cover a fence or wall in no time.

|Stictocardia beraviensis tendril + texture|

Stictocardia beraviensis can grow in sun or shade. It outfits itself in gorgeous, luxuriously pleated, heart-shaped leaves. Leaves in the shade can grow up to 1 foot wide giving off some serious tropical realness. In the sun, leaves grow up to 1/2 that size but still cover their vines in a tropical tapestry of verdant voluptuousness. Vines can grow 10 to 12 feet long. From spring to fall, it produces dramatically dreamy, 2 to 3 inch wide, cup-shaped flowers that will remind you of the most beautiful hawaiian sunset. Their ultra-vivid color will carry your senses away to a tropical island complete with tropical breezes, beaches of white sugar sand, azure ocean, and tall tiki glasses spilling over with Mai Tais. Who's with me?!

|Stictocardia beraviensis bud + flower + foliage|

In warmer climates, this evergreen vine will even bloom in December and January. It prefers to grow in well-draining soil, receive regular water, and is hardy down to around 30 degrees fahrenheit/-1 degrees celsius. I find mine defoliates a bit when the temps drop below 40 degrees fahrenheit/4.5 degrees celsius but springs right back with a vengeance when the temps heat back up. Also, big bonus for container gardeners, it does great in containers. Wanna create a cool tropical vibe on your balcony? Try growing this in a container and let it wrap its way around your railings or some trellis action. In no time, you can have a tropical backdrop for the perfect 'stay-cation'!

So, if you're an exotic plant nut like I am, search the internet, look high and low for this super cool, super sexy vine. It's totally worth it! Maybe one day, The Plant Provocateur might be able to offer some up. Stay tuned!

Whiplash White Burns With A Heavenly Hotness - Michauxia campanuloides

June 19, 2014 in Habitat, Inspiration, Plants, Style

|Michauxia campanuloides floral profile|

Our story begins a few years ago when I spied a mysterious beauty in the pages of a catalog. Now, understand, the purpose of this catalog was to seduce the reader with tales and promise of unfathomable beauty and what I'd call 'exotitude'...exotic attitude. The pictures contained within this catalog succeeded in inebriating me with a plant lust so powerful and possessive that I had no defense when it came to resisting its charm! And now, I can confess to the world that, although I've said I'm not a huge fan of white flowers, I have now eaten those words and savored their exhilarating taste. The overpowering, seductively alluring flowers of Michauxia campanuloides have made me a true believer in the powerful beauty of white flowers.

|Michauxia campanuloides bud + bloom|

Michauxia campanuloides also commonly called Michaux's Bellflower or Rough-Leaved Michauxia is a short lived perennial or biennial in the Campanulaceae family that comes to us from the Israel, Lebanon, and other parts of the eastern Mediterranean.

|Michauxia campanuloides foliage + form|

Michauxia campanuloides can grow to be up to 6 feet tall with wide spreading stems up to 3 feet if not supported. Supported, it takes on a tall, narrow, upright profile. It starts off with a compact basal clump of bristly leaves that produce stout stems that telescope upward to form arching canes jeweled with solitary, nodding white flower buds reminiscent of white pastry bags filled with fondant. When the buds open in late spring and summer they reveal an elaborate array of arresting flower form... a crown-like calyx, curly semi-corkscrewed petals, and a crazy octopus-like stigma. It's almost a visual overload. Provocative indeed! Also, a stunning candidate for those who dig cut flowers.

|Michauxia campanuloides floral detail|

If the fascinating flower form weren't enough, Michauxia campanuloides flowers exude a deliciously dreamy fragrance of delicate hyacinth! Now that's pure heaven in my book. This biennial plant is fairly easy to grow. It likes full sun to part-shade conditions, well-drained soil, regular to low water, and is hardy down to around 0 degrees fahrenheit/-17 degrees celsius. This is one floral fantasy that must be experienced to be believed. Once you witness it's beauty, I'm positive it too will become one of the top flowers on your list. Find it! Grow it! Soon you won't have to look that far...stay tuned...

The Plant Provocateur LIVE At The Huntington Botanical Gardens Thurs. June 12th, 2014

June 06, 2014 in Inspiration, Plants, Style

|Atlantis Succulent Container|

This just in...Whatcha' doin' next Thursday? Will you be in the SoCal area? Pasadena? San Marino? If so, check this out. The Plant Provocateur will be live and in concert, so-to-speak, next Thursday, June 12th, giving a talk and demonstration about designing deliciously dynamic container gardens at The Huntington Botanical Gardens as part of their 2nd Thursday Garden Talk and Sale series! Click here for more info. I'm super excited to be a featured speaker at The Huntington Botanical Gardens. The event is free and oh yeah, what's a Plant Provocateur event without a few surprises?! Come on down and find out. So come one, come all, feast your eyes and be tantalized by new ideas for super stylish container gardens!

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens are located at: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108. The garden talk and sale is taking place in the Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical Center. Start time is 2:30pm. No reservations required. Contact number for the event is 626-405-2100. If you've never been to The Huntington you should definitely make a day of it. There is so much to see and do!

The Sugary Gloss of Persian Mimosa Floss - Albizia julibrissin

June 04, 2014 in Habitat, Plants, Style

|Albizia julibrissin filaments|

My last post created a bit of controversy! I featured a plant called Tamarix ramosissima. I got quite a few comments about how some people see it as nasty weed. One thing you should know dear reader, is that one person's weed is another person's wonder. When it comes to my love of plants, I often fall into the later category. Plant life is my drug, my addiction. As a result, much of my taste, when it comes to plants, is on the provocative side. Sometimes beauty isn't always pretty or well behaved, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be fascinated by what it displays. Such is the case of this post. First, I want to kick things off with the above image. What you are experiencing above is a visual explosion of silky stamens from the flowers of Albizia julibrissin also known as Mimosa, Silk-Tree, or Persian Silk Tree.

|Albizia julibrissin foliage|

Here we have another case of one person's weed and another person's wonder. Albizia julibrisson is native to Persia and Asia. It is a deciduous tree known for its lushly tropical, fashionably fern-like, bipinnate foliage and its ethereal eruption of diaphanously delicate floss-like flowers, which burst forth in late spring from clustering constellations of delicate buds. One cool feature to note is that this tree folds it foliage closed at night or during long periods of rain. It's a tree of many moods...I love that concept!

|Albizia julibrissin buds|

I recently came across one of these trees in my neighborhood while walking Lulu.

|The Late Lulu Chillin'|

Ironically, it wasn't the display of candy floss flowers that immediately caught my attention. It was the fragrance in the air that wrapped around me and lifted my senses upward. You see the flowers have a very delicate, soft gardenia/jasmine like fragrance. When they are blooming en masse the scent is absolutely captivating! Makes you feel like you're in mysterious locale a million miles away that smells exotically sensual; beckoning you to lose yourself in paradise.

|Albizia julibrissin form + bud + flower|

Albizia julibrissin can grow up to 40 feet tall, with a broad fleecy canopy reminiscent of the iconic trees one can see growing in the Serengeti. This deciduous tree likes full sun or part shade conditions, summer heat, regular water, well-draining soil, and is hardy down to around 10 degrees fahrenheit/-12 degrees celsius.

Now, Albizia julibrissin can be weedy in some areas. After flowering, it produces flattened bean-like pods filled with seeds. If the conditions are favorable you can expect a lot of seedlings from fallen seed. However, in a place like Los Angeles, this tree seems to be kept in check. Discovering this tree the other day on my walk through the cityscape of Silver Lake was like stumbling into an oasis in paradise. Weed or wonder, the beautiful benefits of this tree are certainly worth experiencing.

The Pink Opaque Of Beauty And The Beast - Tamarix ramosissima

May 15, 2014 in Habitat, Plants, Style

|Tamarix ramosissima in bud|

Do you ever let your mind wonder? If you don't, you should try it. I find when I do... sometimes I discover the most amazing things. Here is one such case. In Los Angeles it is rare to have cloudy day, but when we have one and the clouds are big and fluffy, it puts me in a daydreamy mood. On a recent cloudy day I was driving along, head in the clouds so-to-speak, when my attention was captured by a tree reaching skyward looking like a big ol' carnival serving of pink cotton candy. It was a tree I had never seen before. Excitedly, I parked my car and ran over to investigate. What I discovered was indeed something brand new to me! I love those moments. The tree I was discovering for the first time is called Tamarix ramosissima commonly referred to as Tamarisk or Salt Cedar. It was covered in delicate plumes of rosy pink buds and flowers that seemed to have the bees going wild and my senses stimulated!

|Tamarix ramosissima floral detail|

Tamarix ramosissima is considered a deciduous shrub or small tree. It comes to us from Europe, Africa, and Asia where it is usually found thriving in dry desert or seaside conditions. It can grow to 15 feet tall and wide or sometimes larger. What makes this shrub/tree so distinctive is its foliage. It's very conifer and scale-like. Reminds me of a juniper bush.

|Tamarix ramosissima flower + foliage + form|

In spring, at least here in L.A., it produces a bounty of buds that bloom and transform the shrub/tree into a dreamy 'draizy' cloud of pink cotton candy. Flowering is known to occur from spring through summer. So that's the beauty part. The beast part is that this plant is highly invasive in certain situations. Tamarix ramosissima is resistant to salt, arid conditions, wind, and thrives in poor soils. When planted near waterways it can take over by reseeding and suckering up a storm.

On the plus side, this shrub/tree is tough! It can be kept as a stunning specimen as long as it is pruned regularly, after flowering or before new spring growth emerges, and given some watchful maintenance. It is great for desert gardens and can handle salty seaside conditions. Makes a great windbreak. It just needs full sun, well-draining soil, little to regular water, and is hardy down to -40 degrees fahrenheit and celsius! Tough as nails and as beautiful as spun sugar.

Rouge Romantique - Bauhinia galpinii

April 23, 2014 in Habitat, Inspiration, Plants, Style

|Bauhinia galpinii - ECU|

What are we looking at? Is it an old Cocteau Twins album cover? The filaments of some psychedelic light bulb? What we're looking at is beauty. Something so vivid, so mysterious, yet so romantic. Have you ever seen such a symphony of hot color? Sometimes to see beauty you have to look closer, fall deeper, and allow yourself to let what you see wash over you. Here is one glorious case. Maybe you've met before. Maybe you haven't. Let me introduce Bauhinia galpinii also commonly referred to as Red Bauhinia, Pride-Of-The-Kaap ("Cape"), or South African Orchid Bush.

|Bauhinia galpinii - floral profile|

Bauhinia galpinii is a semi-deciduous shrub that comes to us from Southeast Africa. I never encountered it until I moved to Los Angeles. We first met when I spied it growing in an overgrown garden of some old hollywood star. Its exotic flowers lured me in like the song of a siren. Bauhinia galpinii can grow up to 10 feet tall and wide; 25 feet at maturity if provided with ample nutrients. It tends to have a horizontal branching habit. Branches are outfitted with bilobed, fan-shaped leaves that remind me, for some reason, of lily pads floating on a still pond. The 3" flowers it produces are five petalled and look as if they are made from a richly delicate crepe paper. They appear mostly in spring. Flower color appears in hues of vivid scarlet to soft salmon. Lightly pruning after bloom encourages bushier growth, keeping its size in check, and promotes a future of abundant flowering.

|Bauhinia galpinii - form + foliage + flower|

Bauhinia galpinii likes full sun, fertile, well-draining soil, regular water, becomes drought resistant once established, and is hardy to around 25 degrees fahrenheit/-3 degrees celsius. There is something fantastical about this shrub. Its presence in the garden or cut in a vase conjures a tropical vision so romantic, so soul satisfying, that it's as if paradise has been found.

Lemon Delicious - Justicia aurea

April 08, 2014 in Habitat, Plants, Style

|Justicia aurea - CU buds|

It is said that the color yellow is the color of creativity, courage, enlightenment, and optimism. It is also a color that reminds us of the warmth of the sun. It's a power color. The Plant Provocateur believes it is a color of luxury. In the case of Justicia aurea, commonly referred to as Golden Brazilian Plume, that luxury is no more evident than in its stunning bloom and lush tropical foliage.

|Justicia aurea - bud + flower + form|

There is something so familiar, yet so exotic about Justicia aurea. This evergreen shrub presents itself as a verdant treasure of lusciously large 12 inch pleated leaves steeped in refreshing spring color. Hailing from the subtropical climes of Mexico and Central America, it possesses a jungle-like beauty in an elegantly upright manageable form that grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide. In late summer, spires of whispy bracts telescope outward and upward to present lemon yellow buds that will ignite into a luminous torch of dazzling flowers as vibrant as the rays of the sun.

|Justicia aurea - form + flower detail|

Justicia aurea prefers to grow in part sun/part shade locations. It looks amazing, especially in the stillness of the late afternoon, where it seems to luxuriate and beckon you to come closer, leave your cares behind, and fall under its exotic spell. Justicia aurea likes fertile, well-draining soil, regular water, and is hardy down to around 30 degrees fahrenheit/-1 degree celsius. This shrub benefits from being planted between plants that can shelter it from wind and potential frost exposure. It also can be grown in a container indoors, but with full sun exposure. It needs the warmth to bloom. Cutting plants back in early spring encourages lusher, bushier growth. The more stems...the more beautiful torch-like flowers are likely to appear. It definitely gives off a chic vibe. Very 'calgon-take-me-away'. So, if you want to elevate your estate, so to speak, why not lavish your garden or home with some delicious lemon luxury.

Opulent Origami - Koelreuteria bipinnata

March 22, 2014 in Plants, Style

|Koelreuteria bipinnata - CU Capsule|

I'm gonna say it now... it's not always about the flowers. Culturally, we've been taught to worship the flower but sometimes plants do cool things that take our attention away from those florific hoggers-of-the-spotlight. Sometimes they ornament themselves in eye-catching accoutrement. Such is the case of the opulent origami seed capsules of Koelreuteria bipinnata also known as the Chinese Flame Tree.

|Koelreuteria bipinnata - bark + canopy + foliage|

Koelreuteria bippinata is a deciduous tree coming to us from the Yunnan Province of Southwestern China. It outfits itself with fresh green, subtly sawtooth margined, bipinnate foliage. Its tree bark is stippled with spots of sandalwood color and creviced with splits reminiscent of a pound cake fresh out of the oven.

|Koelreuteria bipinnata - floral details|

In late summer, a flurry of teeny tiny flowers cluster and bloom. If you look closely, some flowers display the most amazing anthers you'll ever see with pollen so mysteriously and inconceivably blue. Some flowers also display a spirited stain of red on their petals. As the flowers fade, 2" large pillowy seed capsules form that remind me of piñatas made from richly dyed crepe paper.

|Koelreuteria bipinnata - capsule cluster|

Koelreuteria bipinnata's latern-like seed capsules come in shades of brilliant fuchsia, salmon, and rosy red. Their display blankets the tree's canopy, which can then be seen from miles away. These trees tend to grow up to 30 feet tall and 25 wide at maturity. They set deep, noninvasive roots and also make a beautiful street tree. Foliage fall color is rich and golden. They like full sun to part shade, well-draining soil, regular water, and are hardy down to around 10 degrees fahrenheit/-12 degrees celsius. Wanna keep the hood classy...say it with Koelreuteria bipinnata.

Smokin' Hot Electric Lava Drops - Seemannia sylvatica

March 07, 2014 in Habitat, Plants, Style

|Seemannia sylvatica - throat detail|

Have you ever stared down into the mouth of a volcano? Take a closer look. Can you feel the visual heat? It makes me sweat with excitement just looking at it. What you are looking at is the inside of the amazingly electric, tubular bell-like flowers of a plant from the Gesneriaceae family. Same plant family as the African Violet. Let me introduce you to 'Violet's' cousin from the new world tropics, Seemannia sylvatica also referred to as Gloxinia sylvatica and Bolivian Sunset.

|Seemannia slyvatica - foliage + form + flower|

Seemannia sylvatica comes to us from the eastern Bolivian slopes of the Andes. It's a rhizomatous perennial that forms a trailing, yet bushy groundcover outfitted in narrow, satiny lance-like leaves. Slight hairs on their surfaces give them that extra luster. Plants grow to around 2 feet by 2 feet in size. When seasonal temperatures are on the cool side, Seemannia sylvatica punctuates its plush stems and foliage with lusciously luminous flowers that are symbolic of smokin'-hot-electric-lava-drops. The color demands to be visually tasted, leaving you stimulated by its electric eruption of deliciousness. And if that weren't enough, the flowers continue to intoxicate with their stunningly seductive yellow-orange throats speckled with volcanic visions of rich, riotous red.

|Seemannia sylvatica - bud + bloom|

Seemannia sylvatica likes to luxuriate in part sun/bright light conditions with regular moisture and, ideally, some humidity. It likes to grow in fertile, well-draining soil and is a colorful candidate to grow indoors as well as out. It is fairly hardy down to 30 degrees fahrenheit/-1 degrees celsius. Another thing to note is that it can get scorched and wilt in hot, dry conditions.

I first saw Seemannia sylvatica in the Conservatory at The Huntington Botanical Gardens. Stopped me in my tracks. If you want to check it out in bloom, visit late autumn through spring to catch the light show. This is definitely one stylish plant to know and grow. If you can find it (I've only seen it available online), get yourself one and bask in its electric awesomeness!

Botanical Bain De Soleil - Cucumis metuliferus

February 21, 2014 in Food + Drink, Plants, Style

|Cucumis metuliferus pulp detail|

So this might be a weird way to start a post but...if you're having a problem with keeping ghosts out of your house and need a way to kick those pesky paranormals to the curb, why not take the roots of Cucumis metuliferus, also commonly referred to as the African Horned Melon or Jelly Melon, pound them up, mix 'em with some lard, and smear the produced paste liberally all over your body. The elderly persons of the Okavango region in Southwest Africa say it'll do the trick. In my honest opinion, I kinda think sporting this botanical-bain-de-soleil while hanging out at home might scare anyone away. If you're into it...let me know how it goes. Well, what is this ghost repelling Cucumis metuliferus, anyway? It's one of the coolest looking funky fruits I've seen in a while. Seeing is believing.

|Cucumis metuliferus fruit + detail|

Behold! Have you ever seen anything like it?! I only discovered Cucumis metuliferus, native to Africa, recently and was even more excited to find it is easy to grow from seed and bonus...is edible. Last season, I got seed for this alien apparition from my friends at Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. Once I got my seedlings planted, they took off on my bamboo trellis and created a bountiful harvest of armed egg-like fruits covered in a spine tingling greenish-yellow skin that later turned bright orange. When I sliced open the fruit, an insanely contrasting and juicy lime green pulp was revealed. Unbelievably beautiful! Of course, I tried the pulp to see what magical mystery tour awaited my taste buds and what I got was a TART, with a capital 'T', taste of something vaguely cucumber-ish with a very subtle note of lime and a hint of sugar-free banana. Now I will admit, it's a taste that I don't find all that knock-down, drag out amazing. Not in the least. However, if you scoop out the pulp, strain it to remove the seeds, and add simple syrup to the remaining juice, something interesting starts to happen for the old taste buds. Something exotic and new.

|Cucumis metuliferus vine + fruit + tendril|

Although the taste of this fruit may not be for everyone, at least Cucumis metuliferus gives us something fun and funky to grow in the garden. The vines are lushly outfitted with beautiful leaves, ticklish tendrils, and produce some of the most intriguing looking fruit ever seen. Here's a little fact for you...I've seen this fruit at grocery stores for around $9-$10 per fruit! Why spend that when you can grow your own!?

Cucumis metuliferus is an annual vine. It likes full sun, rich, fertile soil, and regular water. Be sure to let soil dry in-between waterings. It will grow almost anywhere you can grow other melons. So, why not put some fun and intrigue back into the garden? Use the fruit as decor or better yet make an exotic elixir so green, so mysterious, and serve it at your next get together. Dare your friends to go where they've never gone before...on a surreal taste safari.

Fade To Black - Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl'

February 05, 2014 in Inspiration, Plants, Style

|Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl' detail|

I read a quote today..."There are as many styles of beauty as there are visions of happiness." Before your eyes lies a type of beauty that lies way beyond visions of happiness, in my honest opinion. It's almost unattainable, but oh so mysteriously real. What could be so black and almost metallic, making my flora loving heart skip not one, but two beats?

|Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl' profile|

Welcome to the sensual world of an orchid hybrid known as Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl'. I discovered this beauty at the Huntington Botanical Gardens Orchid Show last year. Growing this plant and watching it produce these mind-bogglingly beautiful and beguiling black flowers has made me a confirmed flora futurist. I've never seen anything like it. Have you? Well, the horticulturalists at Sunset Valley Orchids in Vista, California have definitely blinded me with some serious science. Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl' is a masterpiece. It was love at first sight!

||Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl' profile + pseudobulb|

Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl' is a hybrid cross between genus of the orchids Catasetum, Clowesia, and Mormodes. It produces interesting thick bamboo shoot-like pseudobulbs that produce large pleated straps of tropical foliage. The foliage is deciduous and begins to drop off as late autumn/early winter dormancy sets in. This hybrid is fairly easy to grow as long as you follow some strict rules. When the plants begin to shed their leaves, STOP ALL WATERING. The decrease in water will encourage mature pseudobulbs to extend 2 to 4 pendant inflorescences with as many as 15 to 22 flowers on each of them!

|Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl' floral forms|

And as you can see the flowers are spectacular! They'll last up to 6 or 7 weeks before falling off in a beautiful black shower of rich robust blossoms. I grow mine in a mix of fine bark, sphagnum moss, and perlite. It prefers bright light and warm indoor conditions. Does great on the mantel of my living room. When it breaks dormancy and new growth occurs in spring, resume watering and fertilize regularly. 1 tablespoon of fertilizer per gallon of water should create the right mix. These plants can die easily if overwatered so take care to keep moisture fairly even during growth periods and let them dry out when foliage begins to yellow and drop. If pseudobulbs get really shriveled during dormancy, give them a teeny tiny sip of water once or twice a month to sustain their vitality. Remember the lack of water encourages remarkable flowering. So if you have an appetite for something excitingly exotic, treat yourself to the mystical magnificence of Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl'. Tell Sunset Valley Orchids The Plant Provocateur sent ya!

Viva La Brazilian Bombshell! - Aechmea cylindrata

January 25, 2014 in Plants, Style

|Aechmea cylindrata floral detail|

Ok. I die! To witness such colossal contrast in color simply blows my mind! So bold. So graphic. So vivid and, one of my favorite adjectives, electric! I'm seriously crushing on this combination of beguiling blue and the turn-on-your-heartlight tones of fiery fuchsia. It almost doesn't seem real but here it is. Nature has again manifested visual magnificence in the floral form of a bromeliad known as Aechmea cylindrata. Stunning!

|Aechmea cylindrata floral profile|

Aechmea cylindrata comes to us from Brazil. It produces stiff, upright rosettes of deep green leaves similar to those of a pineapple, that can exhibit blushes of red in lots of light. Rosettes of foliage can reach up to 1 1/2 feet tall and wide. In spring and summer, Aechmea cylindrata sends up spectacular flower spikes that explode with riotous rosy fuchsia bracts and dreamy 'draizy' blue buds of 'beauticiouness' that are then followed by polite pink berries.

|Aechmea cylindrata foliage + flower|

Aechmea cylindrata loves to lounge in part sun to shade conditions. It loves growing and spreading as a clumping groundcover under dense tree or overhead foliage canopies. Seeing a sweeping wave of its foliage en masse topped by its arrestingly luminous lanterns of tantalizing technicolor is beyond beautiful. If you ever get to the Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA you should definitely find out if their lot are in bloom. It's a visual display that will set your emotional controls to bliss mode.

Growing Aechmea cylindrata is fairly simple. They don't mind taking in moisture from soil, but would rather prefer what gets distributed within their tank-like wells at the center of their foliage. It's always a good idea to flush water from their center about once a week and replenish with fresh water. Leaving water for long periods can lead to stinky stagnation, bacterial infections, salinity build up, and create the perfect environment for mosquitos to set up shop, party, lay eggs, and produce more mosquitos. Also, if you want to prevent salinity build up use rain or distilled water. This plant is hardy down to around the 26 degrees fahrenheit/-3 degrees celsius. I've seen it thrive in both dry and humid situations.

If you've got the fever to grow something fab, check out Aechmea cylindrata. Its floral beauty is a reward like almost no other. Grow it indoors or out and surrender yourself to its beguiling beauty!

I've Got A Burnin' Desire For U Baby - Lime-Scented Flax Dressing

January 19, 2014 in Food + Drink, Inspiration, Plants

|Clockwise from L to R - Fresh Lime, Flaxseed Oil, Garlic, and Cayenne Pepper|

As some of you know, I mentioned that it was time for The Plant Provocateur to get into a healthier frame of mind. Well, in order to take those steps I decided to do a dietary cleanse. Now, the results are in. I lost 15 lbs in 14 days. Awesome! I must admit that doing a cleanse takes a bit of discipline, which I don't always have when it comes to food. I love to eat! But lucky for me, my cleanse included some amazingly delicious recipes to tingle the old taste buds. One of my favorite recipes is the Lime-Scented Flax Dressing found in the book, Fat Flush Plan by Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S.. This dressing has become a staple in my cooking. It pairs great with the greens I've been growing and harvesting for my insatiable appetite of fresh greens. It also tastes amazing drizzled on freshly steamed vegetables. I mentioned this dressing in a previous post and many of you have asked for it so here ya go...

|CU Lime-Scented Flax Dressing|

Lime-Scented Flax Dressing

4 tablespoons flaxseed oil

4 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

*Put all ingredients in a small covered jar, and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Drizzle on leafy greens or vegetables and toss.

|Lime-Scented Flax Dressing|

The flavor is beyond! It's fresh, citrusy, exciting, with a zing of cayenne pepper heat that kicks the deliciousness into high gear. The other thing that's cool about making this dressing is that you can practically grow all of the ingredients yourself. The lime I used came from my Bearss' Lime tree, the cayenne pepper grown and ground from my Baker Creek Seeds Cayenne Long Thin Pepper, and garlic grown, harvested, and dried from my Territorial Seed Organic Garlic Cloves. The flaxseed oil was store bought but you can grow flaxseed, Linum usitatissimum, and if you're really industrious learn how to produce your own oil.

New Year New You New Me - The Plant Provocateur

January 08, 2014 in Inspiration, Plants, Style

|Rhazes Little Gem Lettuce|

It's time for The Plant Provocateur to fess up. So, I must admit, I strayed waaaaayyy off my usually healthy regimen this past holiday season and my body paid the price. How was I to know that the coconut cake, the key lime pies, the peppermint meringues, I made, would all taste so good?! I also curse the Trader's Joe grocery chain for introducing me to their truly outrageous tin of treats known as Jingle Jangle. So now, it's time for The Plant Provocateur to pay up and get in to a healthy frame of mind again.

|Little Gem Lettuce + Arugula|

So January 2nd, I pulled myself together and began a 14 day long dietary cleanse. It's day 7 and things are positively shaping up! I didn't have to go far for the produce required for my cleanse. Just out my backdoor, in fact, and into my garden. Every year I plant for spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Living and growing in California can be awesome. For now, with the world's climate changing, I don't have to deal with any 'Polar Vortexes' or 'Arctic Expresses'. As a result, this winter's harvest has been a bountiful one. Oceans of arugula, lanes of luscious little gem lettuces, plumes of piquant parsley, all from organic seed, have created a tasty tapestry in my winter garden beds.

|Flat Leaf Parsley + Italiko Rosso Dandelion|

The Plant Provocateur has a serious hankerin' (get it?) for dandelion greens. The more the bitter the better. Italiko Rosso is one of my favorites with its rich wine red ribs and pleated greens. One cool benefit about all of this amazing food, grown from organic seed, in my organically prepared garden beds, is that as far as pests are concerned, they pretty much leave most of it alone and, as a result, it looks pristinely delicious as well as magazine spread ready. The other benefit is that it fits the bill for my cleanse. The bitter dandelion is great for cleaning up the liver. The kale is nutrient rich. The lettuces are sweet and the parsley is refreshingly aromatic. Throw them all in a bowl (washed beforehand, of course), add a little lime scented flax dressing with garlic (lemme know if you want the recipe), and prepare for a delectable taste explosion. So good!

|Outredgeous Romain Lettuce + Vates Kale|

Growing your own leafy greens is so easy and so satisfying. There are a lot of great seed companies out there like High Mowing Organic Seeds in Vermont - www.highmowingseeds.com, Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company in Missouri - www.rareseeds.com, and Territorial Seed Company in Oregon - www.territorialseed.com. The other cool thing about growing your own greens is that there are so many delicious, colorful varieties available out there. Foliage color in reds, purples, golds, bronzes and greens will give your garden some serious stylin'-profilin' gourmet glam! And right now, 'tis the season for ordering seeds. Many of the aforementioned seed companies have brilliant catalogs on-line and a treasure trove of offerings. Oh, and if you talk to them, tell 'em The Plant Provocateur sent ya!

Everything Is Electric - The Plant Provocateur v.2014

January 06, 2014 in Inspiration, Plants, Style

|theplantprovocateur|

What on earth?! Does that look like a plant to you? Me neither, but The Plant Provocateur thought it might be time to change things up a bit. Happy New Year to all of you out there in TPP land! I'm quite happy to wave bye bye to the year past and am feeling electrified for today and the year future to follow.

To kick things off, I thought I might try revealing a bit more about my Plant Provocateur self to the world. As a result of looking back at The Plant Provocateur blog of the past year, it's time to evolve. I've received a lot of feedback about what I should do, where I should take things, how to approach you, and spread more of The Plant Provocateur magic. Well, I've planted all of these seeds, so to speak, let them germinate, and voilà, things are sprouting in an electric way.

So first, let me say thank you for all of your ongoing support! The snap above, I can't quite bring myself to say 'selfie', is of yours truly. Hank. The Plant Provocateur. Now you can put a name with a face. How do you do?

Moving forward, I have lots of cool things to show you and share. This year is not only, of course, about featuring amazing plants, but also one of bringing even more of my world to you through cool provocateur product offerings through the new shop, resources, collaborations, events and other surprises. Oh, and did I mention The Plant Provocateur blog is getting a serious upgrade? So, stay tuned!

|2014 Flora Montage|

The Plant Provocateur KraftLab Holiday Pop Up Is On! Postponed until 12/8!

December 03, 2013 in Inspiration, Plants, Style

|KraftLabHolidayFlyer|

Update: Alert! Due to weather conditions KraftLab Holiday Pop Up has been postponed until tomorrow, Sunday, Dec. 8, same time, same place! Pass it on!

The Plant Provocateur is super excited to say that Ilan Dei Venice has provided a venue for the hosting of KraftLab Holiday Pop Up! A couple of vendors have been added to the roster and I'm excited to say that this is gonna be HUGE! Come on down to Venice to check out the holiday offerings of The Plant Provocateur and friends. It's gonna be a great time because not only is the Pop Up going on, but also The Abbot Kinney Annual Holiday Stroll will be happening. So come on down and show your holiday love.

Lots of handmade magic to see and buy! The Plant Provocateur will be selling super chic holiday wreaths, cool designer plants, and featuring the amazing holiday cookies of L.A.'s caterer to the stars Darren The Chef. Also, on hand will be the beyond delicious confections of Confectionally Yours, the chic and unique holiday decor of CushStudio, the visually fresh artistic awesomeness of JoryLab, the purifying perfection of The Potion Shoppe organic apothecary products for men and women, and the design deliciousness of Ilan Dei Venice featuring the california cool fashion of Sundry. If you're in the L.A. area on Saturday come on over to Venice and experience KraftLab. Hope to see you there!

The Plant Provocateur Wreaths Project

November 26, 2013 in Inspiration, Plants, Style

|Wreath Set 1|

Some of you have been asking about The Plant Provocateur Wreaths Project. Here are the results. I've worked to find unique or 'different' plant material to create mod updated versions of the holiday wreath. I like the idea of both living, transitioning, and dried results. Some are for hanging and others are for tabletop decor. The Plant Provocateur is all about aspiring creativity and inspiring natural luxury through the rich world of plants. So many colors and shapes are out there…you just have to find them and craft. Here is what The Plant Provocateur has to offer. What do you think?

|Wreath Set 2|

As I mentioned in a previous post, The Plant Provocateur wreaths are all handmade and one of kind due to the differences in the detailing. Wreaths are priced between $65 and $140 usd not including shipping and supplies are limited due to the seasonal availability of some plant materials. Wreaths are available through the blog at the moment. If you have any interest please send any inquiries to [email protected].

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