Taking care of the family jewels
I'm a big proponent of gardening being fun. That's why I feel that gardening "rules" should be thought of more as guidelines. My gardening rule is: Do what makes you happy.
As part of embracing that philosophy, this spring I bought a plant for no reason other than that I thought it was funny. I actually first saw this plant in New Zealand and I've been searching for it ever since. It's Asclepias physocarpa but its common name—Family Jewels tree (aka Hairy Balls plant, or the far more boring Balloonplant) says far more about what this member of the milkweed family actually looks like.
It's a tender perennial in zone 7, so it is most certainly an annual in my zone 5b garden, but I wanted to give it a shot anyway. It first started flowering a couple weeks ago so I was worried that I wouldn't get to see any of the seed pods that give it its common names. Never fear, the family jewels are here.
There are several seed pods now and they are growing rather rapidly (obviously I'm not watering it with cold water ;) ) but I'm really enjoying this plant for its form as well. It has an elongated leaf that isn't unlike what you'd find on an olive tree. I absolutely love olive trees because I think they are just so pretty. I hate olives though. Go figure. Anyway, it's difficult to find an elongated, slightly blueish leaf on a plant that will grow in northern climates so this was a nice surprise.
I'm going to try to save a few of the seeds and grow this from seed next year. Any plant that makes me laugh every time I see it is certainly one worth growing. Even if it means that you have a rather juvenile sense of humor.
P.S. I think I should receive some sort of award for keeps the puns to a minimum in this post. Feel free to add as many as you like in the comments though. If you have the cojones.
As part of embracing that philosophy, this spring I bought a plant for no reason other than that I thought it was funny. I actually first saw this plant in New Zealand and I've been searching for it ever since. It's Asclepias physocarpa but its common name—Family Jewels tree (aka Hairy Balls plant, or the far more boring Balloonplant) says far more about what this member of the milkweed family actually looks like.
It's a tender perennial in zone 7, so it is most certainly an annual in my zone 5b garden, but I wanted to give it a shot anyway. It first started flowering a couple weeks ago so I was worried that I wouldn't get to see any of the seed pods that give it its common names. Never fear, the family jewels are here.
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| It's OK, you can giggle. You know you want to. |
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| The flowers are diminutive but pretty with a lovely light scent. |
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| The plant stands about 5 feet 6 inches tall and has a sort of free-form habit. I like it. |
P.S. I think I should receive some sort of award for keeps the puns to a minimum in this post. Feel free to add as many as you like in the comments though. If you have the cojones.
Labels: family jewels, garden, great plants, new plants
posted by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener at
11:22 AM
11 Comments:
Hi Erin, Thanks for such a great blog which I've been enjoying heaps here in NZ. I'm pretty sure these are Swan Plants. If you're interested, google that name and you'll find they are beloved by Monarch caterpillars and lots of kiwis grow them especially to help increase the butterflies population. If you squint and imagine very hard the seed pods do look a bit like a swan. But ... hairy balls is hysterical (never heard them called that over here) and how on earth do I put that out of my mind ... oh no, think that's what they will end up being called at my farm from now on!
I'm so glad you've been enjoying the blog! You're right, they are also called Swan plants (almost as boring as Balloonplant and certainly not nearly as fun as the Hairy Balls plant!) I've not seen one caterpillar on mine, but they say they do love them (as they should seeing as how it's part of the milkweed family). So happy to hear this plant will have a new name on your farm! If I remember correctly I first saw this plant growing over a fence in Russell while we were on a sailing charter up in the Bay of Islands. Obviously it stuck with me!
Okay I squinted and I can't see a swan. Hairy Balls it is!! Too funny really. But a striking plant nonetheless. Your name game brought back to mind that SNL sketch with Alec Baldwin - Schweady Balls. Remember?
We saw this at Olbrich a couple of years ago and definitely guffawed! Really cool plant and you are so right about finding blue plants for our climate.
Just found your post while looking up Hairy Ball Plant. I need to send this link to several people who are questioning my sanity after I sent them pictures of this plant in my garden and told them the name. My garden club really cracked up over this and we are not 13 years old - more like over 60!
I'm glad you found the post. I still think it's the funniest plant I've ever had in the garden. It's also quite pretty. Unfortunately I had a horrible aphid problem with it so I opted not to plant it again this year. Here's the post on the aphids: http://www.theimpatientgardener.com/2012/09/ok-thats-just-gross.html
My Family Jewels is doing so well here in San Jose (drought and all!). I was looking up how to treat it in the winter and came across your blog. If you (or any of your readers) know what I am supposed to do with it over the cooler months (do I trim it back to the stem, leave it alone, cut it short???) I would love more information as I am really proud of my balls!! (I am 42, but I do teach high school art so I am juvenile at best!).
I appreciate any insight.
Is it self pollinating?
Is it self pollinating?
Hi there,
I believe you said the Hairy Balls tree is an annual. Does that mean that it will die? My tree was doing so well and then in a matter of two weeks, it looks dead:( We did notice some aphids on it, but I don't think the aphids killed the tree. Do you have suggestions or ideas of what we should do. We leave in San Diego and this dyeing of the tree happened in early August.
I should have been more specific: In my zone (5) it's an annual, but it is hardy in zones 7 to 10, which San Diego would be in. Not sure why yours would have died, but its supposed to be a self-sower, so you might get lucky with that. Here's a link to information on it that might help: https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=122
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