Ptilotus exaltatus 'Joey'

 Last spring, as we were shopping for things for our patio containers, we spotted a little, somewhat nondescript plant among the annuals. Hardly a showstopper, especially surrounded by all the other floriferous selections, there was something about it that caught our eye.

Perhaps it was the tidy, dark green foliage, or its somewhat stiff habit. Most likely it was the little cone-shaped tight buds that promised…something to come.

 The plant is Ptilotus exaltatus 'Joey,' commonly called Pink Mulla Mulla. It is a native of Australia.

As summer winds down, they have really come into their glory. The plants are covered with large (3-4 inch tall) fuzzy blooms that are covered with bees on sunny days. The foliage is a fresh as it was last May, and the blooms show no signs of flagging.

Viewed from the top, the individual flowers reveal their slightly spiraling arrangement. Wonderful!

We will definitely look for these again next year.