Spadefoot Podcast no. 1: Turpentine Broom, Desert Lavender, Green Lacewing

This is Katy & Jared’s first Spadefoot Nursery podcast. In this episode they discuss some of their favorite plants, lacewing bugs, spurge, and talk about their grand opening!

Images below are for reference to the podcast:

Jared’s plant choice for this episode: Thamnosma (two species, T. montana and T. texanum) commonly known as desert rue, turpentine broom, cordoncillo, or Dutchman’s breeches.

Thamnosma montana

Look at those dark purple flowers!

Thamnosma texana

These flowers are much lighter in color.

Thamnosma montana

The seed pods or “Dutchman’s breeches”.

Thamnosma montana

A perspective showing how glandular they usually are—the “freckles” are glands.

Katy’s plant choice for this episode: Condea emoryi (more commonly known as Hyptis emoryi, the old botanical name), or desert lavender.

Condea emoryi

The typical growing habit of desert lavender.

Condea emoryi

The more xeric-growing plants (plants in dry locations) will have more silvery foliage.

Condea emoryi

When the plant is well-watered or in a slightly shadier spot, it can be much greener.

The various life stages of the green lacewing: Chrysopa spp., Chrysoperla spp.

Green Lacewing

The sweet adult that flutters around like an angel or pixie and sips on nectar.

Green Lacewing

The larval stage: a metal, death machine that will eat you if you can fit in its mouth.

Green Lacewing

The eggs, suspended on stalks to prevent the little monsters from eating their siblings.

Spurge (Euphorbia spp.), is it a weed?

Euphorbia albomarginata

Euphorbia arizonica

Euphorbia prostrata

Euphorbia maculata