Rhododendron (subgenus Rhododendron) 'Kristin Marie'
Rhododendron
Type Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range 5B to 7B
Height 6' to 8' / 1.80m to 2.40m
Spread 6' to 10' / 1.80m to 3.00m
Growth rate Slow
Form Rounded
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence Evergreen
Bloom Color Pink and white
Bloom Time Spring and Summer
The flowers are very showy.
Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is an acidic (less than 6.8) soil.
Leaf Color Green
Fall Color No change in fall color
Culture Notes
Partially shaded location gives good growth, provided drainage is adequate. Roots rot in soil that drains poorly. I (Dr. Gilman) have had no trouble transplanting these plants balled in burlap, although many are grown in containers. Pinch back the flowers after they have faded to eliminate the brown developing fruit if you wish. However, this is not essential for good flowering the following year. After all, these plants have been flowering quite nicely without our intervention. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people. Organic amendments in the backfill help establish plants quickly by encouraging roots to grow out of the container and into backfill soil.
Rhododendrons are ornamental, ericaceous, broad-leaved evergreens. Azaleas belong to this genus, but many are not evergreen. They grow best in shade or partial shade. A south or southwest exposure increases the chance of winter injury to evergreen types when grown in northern climates. Plant in an acidic, moist, well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.5. Transplanting balled and burlapped or potted plants is most successful. The shallow root systems are easily injured by deep cultivation, but benefit from mulching.
Plants fail to absorb iron and have yellow leaves with green veins if the soil is not sufficiently acidic. Finely ground sulphur can be added to the soil to increase acidity. Have the soil tested before planting in order to determine the pH. Apply a 2:1:1 N:P:K ratio fertilizer two or three times each year before and after blooming and perhaps again as plants enter dormancy - timing is not as critical as previously believed. Prevent winter burn in northern climates by avoiding exposed planting sites and by shading during winter.
Planting and establishing shrubs The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep. Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery. In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.
Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth. Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer. This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water. Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.
Acer palmatum 'Pixie'
Japanese Maple
Type Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range 5B to 8A
Height 8' to 12' / 2.40m to 3.60m
Spread 10' to 15' / 3.00m to 4.60m
Growth rate Slow
Form Rounded and spreading or horizontal
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Deciduous
Bloom Color Red
Bloom Time Spring
This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic (less than 6.8) soil.
Leaf Color Purple
Fall Color Red
This plant has attractive foliage and attractive fall colors.
Culture Notes
This large shrub or small tree tends to leaf out early, so it may be injured by spring frosts. Protect them from drying winds and direct sun by providing exposure to partial or filtered shade and well-drained, acid soil with plenty of organic matter, particularly in the southern part of its range. Leaves often scorch in hot summer weather in USDA hardiness zones 7b and 8, unless they are in some shade or irrigated during dry weather. More direct sun can be tolerated in the northern part of the range.
Be sure drainage is maintained and never allow water to stand around the roots. Grows fine on clay soils as long as the ground is sloped so water does not accumulate in the soil. Responds well to several inches of mulch placed beneath the canopy. Not for western Texas or western Oklahoma but grows well in the shade in Dallas/Fort Worth.
Maintain adequate mulch area
Solenostemon x syn. Coleus x hybridus 'Kaleidoscope'
Coleus
Type Perennial
Hardy range 9B to 11
Height 12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Spread 8" to 12" / 20cm to 30cm
Growth rate Fast
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Full shade to partial sun
Persistence Evergreen
Bloom Color Blue and white
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.
Leaf Color Green, pink, purple and variegated
Fall Color No change in fall color
This plant has attractive foliage.
Culture Notes
These plants are usually grown as annuals in cooler zones, but can be perennials in frost free areas. Flowers can be left on these plants, but removing them will help the plant maintain its bright foliage. Once plants begin to flower, even the new shoots that develop after pinching produce flowers. This signals that it is time to begin thinking about replacing the plants with new ones. The foliage of Coleus plants looks great when arranged with freshly cut flowers.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Globosa Nana'
Japanese Cedar, Sugi
Type Tree, woody plant
Hardy range 6A to 8A
Height 6' to 8' / 1.80m to 2.40m
Spread 4' to 8' / 1.20m to 2.40m
Growth rate Slow
Form Oval and pyramidal
Exposure Full sun
Persistence Evergreen
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in very dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.
Leaf Color Blue and green
Fall Color Copper
Crown, Branch and Twig
This plant is symmetrical with a fine texture and has a dense crown.
This plant's bark is showy.
Branches or twigs are of medium thickness.
This plant is often grown with multiple trunks.
Culture Notes
Provide an acid soil and protection from winter winds. Locate the tree so air circulation is good, particularly during summer to help prevent leaf blight. Best with afternoon shade in southern part of its range. A number of cultivars are available varying in growth habit and ability to hold green foliage color in the winter. This one is very slow growing, and remains small and mostly green in winter.
Cryptomeriais tolerant of compacted soil and performs well in parking lots and other tough, urban sites with some irrigation in drought. It makes a wonderful accent, screen, or border tree for larger properties. This one remains small so it is well suited for residential landscapes.Planting and establishing shrubsThe most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep. Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery. In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.
Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth. Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer. This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water. Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.
Hyacinthus orientalis 'Jan Bos'
Hyacinth
Type Perennial
Hardy range 3A to 7A
Height 6" to 10" / 15cm to 25cm
Spread 3" to 5" / 8cm to 13cm
Growth rate Slow
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Full sun
Persistence Deciduous
Bloom Color Pink and red
Bloom Time Spring
Environment
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.
Leaf Color Green
Culture Notes
Bulbs should be purchased and planted in late autumn. Once the tubular flowers are finished in the spring, they should be removed. Feed the bulb generously until the foliage goes dormant in the summer. In colder climates, mulch to protect from the cold winters. Often the bulbs will not bloom as well in later seasons. Hyacinths are more commonly used as forced plants, and the plants are discarded after the plant goes dormant.
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