Lethal Beauties

So on the way back to my truck after my noon yoga class today in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood, I happened upon this attractive pairing in a small front yard garden: a row of Iochroma cyaneum (Violet Churur) at least 7' tall mingling with a backdrop of vigorous Solanum jasminoides (Potato Vine) smartly used to cover an unsightly chain link fence. The Iochroma sort of poked through the vine, its pretty tubular violet flowers sort of dancing in the breeze together with the vine's delicate white blossoms. The effect was striking.

It was the distinct flower shape of the purple Iochroma blooms that seized my attention because I have this same plant in my shady backyard woodland garden. Flanking the compost bin, it only gets a smidgen of sun in the afternoon. I'm now convinced I need to move it into more sun so it will bloom more generously - like the ones I saw today.

While this perennial shrub and vine make an eye-catching combination, it's important to also know about their dark side: Both plants are from the poisonous Solanaceae family. You could think of them as a sort of botanical Bonnie and Clyde. Avoid planting them if you have toddlers or pets. If either took a bite of the leaves, it wouldn't be pretty.