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2014 Rare Plant Research Open House

June 10, 2014

I’ve known about Rare Plant Research for as long as I’ve been interested in plants, but it wasn’t until a coworker tipped me off that I became aware of their renowned annual plant sale and open house. Of course, long-time Portland residents like Loree of Danger Garden have been in on the secret for years. But if you think a true plant fanatic is going to pass on the opportunity to scope out and scoop up some rare plants, even after years of visits, well. You’d better think again.

A Tuscan villa with vineyard grapes at home in Oregon.
The home of Rare Plant Research.

As a first-timer, you can imagine my surprise at finding this enormous Spanish-style villa overlooking the surrounding farmland just minutes outside of downtown Oregon City. And you can imagine my non-plant-obsessed boyfriend’s surprise at just how many people had turned up for the event. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and he was content to sit under a tent next to the food truck while I plundered the greenhouses.

Lewisia with bright pink flowers at Rare Plant Research in Oregon.
Around the greenhouses are beds growing Eucomis and Canna in-ground, as well as one devoted to hundreds of different kinds of Lewisia, like this one.
Agave americana marginata at Rare Plant Research in Oregon
Surely one of the main draws of Rare Plant Research is the large selection of succulents. I can’t say I’ve fallen back in love with them, but seeing them so out of place here in Oregon does give me a new sense of appreciation.
Alpinia zerumbet, or variegated ginger, at Rare Plant Research in Oregon
Alpinia zerumbet, common name variegated ginger.
Canna edulis at Rare Plant Research in Oregon
Cannas, as well as the variegated ginger above, were overused landscape staples when I was working in San Diego. Here, they’re considered a rarity! Amazing what a few hundred miles can do (931 miles as the crow flies, to be exact).
Colocasia 'Limeade' at Rare Plant Research in Oregon
Colocasia ‘Limeade’.
Echeveria 'Afterglow' at Rare Plant Research in Oregon
Echeveria ‘Afterglow’.
Eryngium agavifolium at Rare Plant Research in Oregon
Eryngium agavifolium. This one, I like. So much cooler than an actual agave, if you ask me.
Sarracenia 'Scarlet Belle' at Rare Plant Research in Oregon.
The carnivorous plants were what I was most interested in. That, and I had hoped to find some ant plants somewhere in the mix, but no luck.
Euphorbia tirucalli, or sticks on fire, at Rare Plant Research in Oregon
Euphorbia tirucalli, or sticks on fire. Yawn.
A Gymnocalycium and Melocactus, or Turk's head, cactus at Rare Plant Research in Oregon
I do have a small collection of 3″ cacti, including a Gymnocalycium similar to the one pictured to the left. I love their iridescent purple sheen. And I would make room for a Melocactus, pictured right, if it was as cute as this one.
Pachypodium seedlings at Rare Plant Research in Oregon.
Pachypodium seedlings! How darling! Their fat little bottoms make me pine for the baby myrmecodia I lost in the move.
A Hippeastrum at Rare Plant Research in Oregon.
An unidentified Hippeastrum growing in-ground in one of the greenhouses, beside more Eucomis and some Albuca.

After I finished perusing the greenhouses and chowing down on a boar burger (yum!) it was time to head up the hill. Walking up to the house, I was surprised to see a large Ceanothus thriving on the hillside. To be honest, I didn’t realize there were species native to Oregon as well as to California. All of the beds around the house were a mix of plants that I thought would be goners in a freeze: yucca, agaves, eucalyptus. In addition to the villa, there were two large lakes – one complete with a dock – an amphitheater and an atrium where wine was being served.

A Tuscan villa at home in Oregon.
You can’t tell me those bromeliads are going to survive winter outdoors without protection. Can you?
A tunnel of Laburnum watereri, or weeping golden chain, at Rare Plant Research in Oregon.
An absolutely stunning tunnel covered in Laburnum watereri. If I took one piece of inspiration away from the visit, this was it.
Ceanothus at Rare Plant Research in Oregon
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus.

Believe it or not, I managed to walk away without purchasing a single plant. I did bump into some familiar faces, and I can’t say all of them were doing as well. But, to be fair, if I owned a yard of my own I’m sure Sid would have had to drag me out of there before I spent all our rent money. We both enjoyed the trip and I see how it can become an annual tradition. Even if you’re not in the market for unusual plants, it’s a beautiful location and a nice chance to eat, drink, take in the scenery and make a few friends.

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7 Comments


Carmen
June 10, 2014 at 5:03 PM
Reply

Hey! I didn’t realize you were in Portland! You gotta come up the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle. I volunteer in the gift shop there and we have a plant sale twice a year with alls kinds of rare stuff as well as propagations from the collection. The next one is on the second Saturday morning of September.



Loree/danger garden
June 10, 2014 at 9:35 PM
Reply

Ah it was fun to run into you and I’m glad you enjoyed your visit even if you didn’t come away with any plants. Oh and your right, those bromeliads do not live outside over winter. The joys of owning a greenhouse (or many…)



    plantpropaganda
    June 12, 2014 at 10:42 AM
    Reply

    I know! A greenhouse is definitely on the “dream home” slash “when I have expendable income” list. Sigh.

      Shahildul
      April 6, 2015 at 5:30 PM

      A pack of seeds will have a number of seeds in it, could be 25 or more. You shluod put 2 or 3 seeds in each pot to make sure you get one to germinate. You will have to water the plant once a day before it sprouts to keep the soil moist. After it sprouts, you will water as needed, maybe once a day, maybe every other day. The soil shluod not be soggy but shluod not be allowed to completely dry out. Good luck.

    Escuela
    April 7, 2015 at 6:02 AM
    Reply

    Thanks Donna! We aim to have one viable plant in each cell of the flat. Because not each seed will geanrmite, we overseed each cell by about 25%. Once they have sprouted, we remove extra seedlings to ensure the strongest plant has space to grow to the next stage of transplanting. Hope that helps!

Ming
July 1, 2014 at 6:44 AM
Reply

If you have ant plant lust, I’ve seen both dischidia pectinoides and hydnophytum at Portland nursery… But that was years ago.



    plantpropaganda
    July 1, 2014 at 10:36 AM
    Reply

    Thanks! I do, bad. I’ve seen the dischidia there, they are so tempting but I’ve killed two of them in the last year. ): I do much better with the terrestrial ones.

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