Tickled by Cat Whiskers

I was tickled to discover a new plant this year: Orthosiphon aristatus, commonly called Cat Whiskers.It is an unusual plant that comes from the tropics, native to Southeast Asia and Australia. It has beautiful ethereal blooms with long white stamens that look very much like kitty whiskers, thus inspiring its common name. 

This is a fast growing perennial herb in USDA zones 9-11. In my zone 7b/8a climate it will be an annual. It is not always an easy plant to find. It will grow from seed, but it is much easier to propagate by cuttings. It roots easily in water or soil, so I plan to try to keep some cuttings over winter to replant next spring. 

The striking flower spikes come in white or shades of blue. Mine has white blooms with a faint hint of blue. The flowers fairly glow and would look fantastic in an evening garden. The plant forms a bushy, medium to deep green clump up to 4' high by 3' wide. Mine has been in the ground a couple of months and is about half that large. It will bloom summer into fall and attracts both butterflies and hummingbirds. With its upright growth and spiky flowers, Cat Whiskers will look good with many other garden plants. Use in the mixed border or as an accent plant in the herb or flower garden. 

Cat Whiskers will grow in full sun to partial shade, though it will bloom best with more sun. This plant likes rich soil and plenty of water. It loves summer heat, but it appreciates a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch to conserve moisture during hot, dry weather. Removing spent blooms will encourage development of new blooms and will promote density of the plant's architecture. Cat Whiskers is not picky about fertilization, but for maximum blooms fertilize once or twice in spring or summer, more often if it is grown in a pot. 

A member of the mint family, in some cultures Orthosiphon aristatus also has a long history as a medicinal plant known as Java Tea and is used to treat kidney symptoms.

Going Bananas

I have decided to embrace my tropical side. Every year I moan about the hot, humid summer; I lament the passing of spring; I fuss about heat stressed perennials. No more. I now realize that I live in the best of all climates. The fact is, I can have it all. 

Winter? Sure. Just a touch of arctic air, enough to justify a winter wardrobe, and once in a while snow, just enough for it to be a delight rather than a burden. Spring? Absolutely wonderful. Fall? The land glows with colors of the sunset as aging plants prepare for dormancy. Cooling temperatures, football! 

And summer. Summer here has a tropical edge. It is not for wimps. It is steamy and full of creatures that fly and slither and make strange noises all night. We are not quite in the tropics, but there is enough of the jungle flavor to give one a taste. Many exotic plants thrive in the heat and moist air. So I have had an attitude adjustment; I have gone bananas!

I recently planted the ornamental red banana plant, Ensete ventricosum 'Maurellii', beside my patio. The above photos show my new red banana plant, snuggling in amongst its non-tropical neighbors.This plant is fun to photograph! The back of the huge leaves are burgundy, and the tops are tinted in shades of red, green, and yellow.

There are many cultivars of red banana. Some will grow up to 25 feet tall and will produce delicious fruit in frost-free climates. In my climate I doubt mine will grow much larger than 8 feet, as it will stop growing when temperatures cool in the fall. It is not frost hardy. I could cut it back, then dig up the corm and store it inside till next year. But it will probably survive outdoors here if the stalk is cut to the ground and the plant is heavily mulched for the winter, and that is what I am planning to do.

All banana plants need heat and moisture. They should be planted in humus rich, well draining soil. They need to be watered several times a week and need to be fertilized every month with a high nitrogen, organic fertilizer. They do best in full sun, though some will grow in partial shade, especially in the hottest climates. Their beautiful leaves are subject to wind damage, so a sheltered location is best. 

The red banana plant is one of several tropical plants I have added to my garden, so I am saying a hearty welcome to summer. (But give me a fan and a tall glass of iced tea, please!)