Strawflower

This is strawflower. Formerly called Bracteantha bracteata, the current scientific name of strawflower is Xerochrysum bracteatum. This is an Asteraceae plant, as it appears to be, but it only has disk flowers. What appear to be ray flowers are not flowers but papery involucral bracts.

Link to involucral bracts:


Pictures taken Nov. 23, 2009.

Link to Xerochrysum bracteatum:

Link to Xerochrysum bracteatum:

Link to strawflower:

Clearout time

The Horticulture gardens were mostly cleared out for the winter last Tuesday Nov. 24. There are now just a few things growing there and of course the trees are still there.

Signet Marigold

This is Signet Marigold, Tagetes tenuifolia 'Lemon Gem'

Picture taken November 13, 2009.

Link to Tagetes tenuifolia:

Link to Tagetes tenuifolia:

Link to Tagetes:

Cold-hardy banana

The Musa basjoo banana was just today taken inside. Here is a picture of it a few days ago, November 2, 2009. It is tough enough to stand a few days of Indiana November. Notice the ensete had been taken away before this.

Link to this Musa basjoo this summer:

Link to earlier post on ensete:

Miscanthus sinensis

A few varieties of Miscanthus sinensis ornamental grass can be viewed at Purdue Horticulture Gardens. The picture shows Maiden grass, Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus', November 2, 2009.

Other Miscanthus plantings nearby are:

Zebra grass, Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'
Eulalia grass, Miscanthus sinensis 'Yaku Jima'
Striped Eulalia grass, Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus'

Link to Miscanthus sinensis:

Link to Miscanthus sinensis:

Link to Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus':

Link to future post on Miscanthus sinensis:

Senecio cineraria

This is Senecio cineraria 'Silver Dust', also called Dusty Miller. Picture taken November 2, 2009.

Link to Senecio cineraria:

Link to Senecio cineraria:

Link to Senecio cineraria:

Link to Senecio cineraria in its native habitat:

Silver Dichondra

This is Silver Dichondra, (Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls'). It's in the morning-glory family (Convolvulaceae).

Link to Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls':

Link to Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls':

Link to Dichondra argentea:


This dichondra is spreading out of where it was planted and is rooting into the mulch of the footpath.

Link to spreading dichondra:

Pictures taken November 2, 2009.