Lipstick cherry all over!  I'm loving the vibrant visual these flowers are giving.  They heat up the lens in such a succulent, sumptuous way.  This beautiful blast of color comes to us from a super cool, awesomely architectural succulent known as Crassula falcata.  This South African succulent is one you should know and one you should grow!  It is commonly referred to as the Propellor Plant, Airplane Plant, or Scarlet Paintbrush.  The later moniker refers to the amazing display of flowers that erupt from this sculptural succulent in late summer, which tends to be a time when things are fairly quiet in the drought tolerant succulent garden.  Crassula falcata's flowers can set the scenery ablaze for almost a month.  It's a delicious spectacle to behold.

The truly unique feature of Crassula falcata is its propellor-like foliage that looks as though it's made of stone.  The leaves stack themselves in an angular fashion, one on top of the other, to create a stylishly sculptural display of cool graphic form.

Crassula falcata tends to grow slowly in an upright, semi-branchless, clumping form up to 2 feet tall and wide.  It does great in both full sun and light shade conditions.  It likes a well-draining, cactus soil mix and requires low amounts of water to thrive.  In hot locations, it looks best if it gets a bit more water.  As for hardiness, if you grow it outside, it's hardy down to 25 degrees fahrenheit/-3 degrees celsius.

If you're into succulents, this is definitely one for the collection.  If you're into graphic design decor, this is definitely a cool candidate for some fashionable foliage for a container indoors in a bright sunny room or as a conversation piece out on the balcony, porch, or patio.

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!

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.

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.

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?

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!