Wide Wide World Daylily, Featured Plant of The Day

Hemerocallis x 'Wide Wide World'

Daylily

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    2A to 6A
Height    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Spread    24" to 4' / 60cm to 1.20m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Irregular or sprawling and upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Red
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
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
Fall Color    No change in fall color
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Hemerocallis hybrids come in a wide range of colors, flowering times and  sizes, and some even come with a fragrance.  For the most part, daylilies are long-lived, hardy perennials that are tolerant of the sun.  However, some species will show sun scald and prefer partial sun.  Daylilies are adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, and most bloom from late June until the first frost (depending on the cultivar).  These plants attract both butterflies and hummingbirds and, usually, are both heat and drought resistant.  Hemerocallis are extremely tough plants that spread rapidly in most conditions, thereby choking out weeds without becoming invasive themselves.  The best time to plant daylilies is early spring.  Although the individual blooms are short-lived, the number of blooms you get from an average flower stalk continues on for weeks.

Daylilies adapt to almost any location that provides at least six hours of sunlight, but it's best to plant them in a prepared, raised bed of soil that is high in organic matter.  For clay soil, coarse sand and organic matter should be mixed in.  When planted, the crown should be even with the soil line.  The growth rate of daylilies can be increased via generous irrigation practices.  At the end of the flowering season, remove the spent flower stalks only so that the remaining dying foliage will protect the center of the plant through the colder winter months.   Also, division of the plant every two or three years will increase stem strength and flower size.

'Wide Wide World' has rosey-red petals with a light orange throat.  It is a repeat bloomer and goes dormant during the winter months.  As a tetraploid Daylily, it is generally a stronger plant and has larger, richer and more vivid blooms and color.

Beechwood Landscape is Featured on Cover of a National Magazine!

GOLDFLAME SPIREA

Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame'
    Japanese Spirea

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    4A to 8A
Height    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Spread    36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded and spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are very showy.

Environment
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 to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Green, purple and yellow
Fall Color    Purple and red
This plant has attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes
Foliage emerges red and fades to light yellow and then green in warm climates. Flowers are not especially showy. Spirea grows best in full sun or high shifting shade.  Plants receiving less than 4 or 5 hours of direct sun become thin and flower poorly.  Plant on 4 to 5-foot centers to form a mass planting.  As with other light colored-flowering plants, place in front of other green foliage plants or other dark background to show the best flower display. Spireas combine well with ornamental grasses and plants with large foliage. Remove spent seed heads and developing seed heads to improve the neat look of the plants. Some foliage emerges green and these can be removed to keep the plant in yellow foliage.

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.

Starbright Champagne Rhododendron, Featured Plant of The Day

Rhododendron (subgenus Rhododendron) 'Starbright Champagne' 

Rhododendron

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    7A to 8B
Height    36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Spread    36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    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.

'Starbright Champagne' has creamy yellow blossoms with pointed petals.

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.

Trail Blazer Rhododendron, Featured Plant of The Day

Rhododendron (subgenus Rhododendron) 'Trail Blazer'
    Rhododendron

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    5B to 6A
Height    4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m
Spread    4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Pink
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.

'Trail Blazer' has a vigorous growth pattern and sports light pink blossoms with deep red, center blotches.

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.

Blue Oat Grass Featured Plant of The Day

Helictotrichon sempervirens

syn. Avena sempervirens
    Blue Oat Grass,  Blue Oatgrass

Type    Annual, perennial, grass
Height    18" to 30" / 45cm to 75cm
Spread    12" to 30" / 30cm to 75cm
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous and evergreen

Bloom Color    Brown
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are showy.

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Blue, green and silvery
Fall Color    Brown and copper
This plant has attractive foliage and attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes
Blue Oat Grass is attractive as a single accent plant in a very small garden, or it can be massed in groups for a beautiful, fine-textured drift.  Blue Oat Grass prefers a full sun exposure, but will tolerate light shade.  It prefers a moist soil that is well-drained; however it will tolerate sandy as well as heavy clay soils as long as water does not sit on the soil surface.  If planted in heavy clay soil, this grass is prone to root rot.

Plant about 2 feet apart to form a solid mass of fine-textured foliage or in groups in front of a shrub border or in a row along a walk.

Blue Oat Grass has attractive thin gray-green, or blue leaves.  Leaf blades grow to about 12 inches long, are 1/2 inch wide and taper to a fine point.  Plants grow 18 to 30 inches tall.  The glaucous foliage provides a welcomed contrast to a green border.  Beige terminal panicles are produced in June through August, maturing to a light brown by the fall when they break apart and fall from the plant.  Attractive, light brown, fall foliage color persists throughout the winter.

No more than yearly fertilization is needed to keep plants healthy, and they should last for many years.

Windsor Rose Bearded Iris

Iris germanica 'Windsor Rose'
    Bearded Iris,  Tall Bearded German Iris,  Orris Root

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 10A
Height    18" to 30" / 45cm to 75cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are fragrant and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green

Culture Notes
Prefers a sunny well-drained fertile soil.  Will tolerate some shade in well-drained areas.  Division can be done in the fall as well as early spring before new growth. The Orris Root can be dried and used in potpourris and other mixtures needing a lavender scent.

Paul's Glory Hosta, Featured Plant of The Day

Hosta x 'Paul's Glory'
    Hosta,  Plantain Lily,  Plantain Lily

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 8A
Height    18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Spread    36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Full shade to partial sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Lavender
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
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    Blue, green, variegated and yellow
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Remove flower heads when flowers are spent.  Hostas will grow best in a moist, fertile loamy soil in a woodland setting.  Plants go well with: Astilbe, Ferns, Epimedium, Rodgersia, and Dicentra sp. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

'Paul's Glory' has yellow foliage with a blue-green edge.   A medium-size hosta, it has bell-shaped blooms which top 2" scapes.  Its leaves are thicker than most hostas, making it less prone to slug attack and other pests.  Deer and rabbits are, however, attracted to 'Paul's Glory'.  There should be a reduction in nitrogen in late summer so as to allow the plant to get ready for fall dormancy.  'Paul's Glory' was selected by the American Hosta Growers Association in 1999 for its outstanding merits.

Hachmann's Erato Rhododendron

Rhododendron (subgenus Rhododendron) 'Hachmann's Erato'
    Rhododendron

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    5B to 8B
Height    4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m
Spread    4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Red
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.

Sweet Azalea, Featured Plant of The Day

Rhododendron arborescens
    Sweet Azalea,  Smooth Azalea

Type    Shrub, woody plant

Hardy range    6A to 8A
Height    4' to 6' / 1.20m to 1.80m
Spread    6' to 10' / 1.80m to 3.00m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Oval and upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink and white
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are fragrant and very showy.

Environment
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 to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color

Culture Notes
Provide this plant with excellent drainage and organic soil.  It is not salt tolerant or drought tolerant and does not do well to sweeping winter winds. Rhododendrons are ornamental, ericaceous, broad-leaved evergreens. 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 acid, moist, well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.5. Flowers are said to be fragrant but I (Dr. Gilman) can smell nothing from this flower. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people. Foliage from most members of this genus is considered poisonous when ingested.

Transplanting balled and burlapped or potted plants is most successful.  The shallow root systems are easily injured by deep cultivation but benefit from mulching.  Remove the old flower clusters as the flowers fade.  Plants fail to absorb iron and have yellow leaves with green veins if the soil is not sufficiently acid.  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 bloom 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.

Plants serve as butterfly nectar sources.

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.

Himalayan Fleece Flower, Featured Plant of The Day

Polygonum affine 'Border Jewel'     

syn. Persicaria affinis
    Knotweed,  Fleece Flower,  Himalayan Fleece Flower

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 9A
Height    10" to 12" / 25cm to 30cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    Red
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
This plant forms mats of foliage and is long blooming.  The leaves turn reddish with cold weather and persist through the winter months.  Dead flowers fall off the plant.

Edging Lobelia, Featured Plant of The Day

Lobelia erinus

Edging Lobelia

Type    Annual
Height    4" to 8" / 10cm to 20cm
Spread    6" to 8" / 15cm to 20cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color    Blue, purple and white
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green

Culture Notes
These plants do best in the cooler zones, so they will need partial shade in the warmer zones.  If plants become leggy, cut back to encourage growth.  Seeds should be planted in the spring.

Lewisia, Featured Plant of The Day

Lewisia cotyledon 'Ashwood Strain'

Lewisia

Type Perennial, succulent

Hardy range 6A to 8A

Height 9" to 12" / 23cm to 30cm

Growth rate Slow

Form Prostrate and spreading or horizontal

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Evergreen

Bloom Color Orange, pink, red, salmon and yellow

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

The flowers are showy.

Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
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

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
This plant is a succulent with long, flat, smooth-edged leaves. Each rosette head of this plant will produce a flower stalk in spring. After flowering, the plant dies back and reappears the next year.

Please feel free to comment on any post at any time all feedback is welcome and we’d love to hear all of your thoughts.

Featuring The Dianthus

Dianthus gratianopolitanus syn. Dianthus caesius 'Spotty'

Cheddar Pink, Rock Garden Pink

Type Perennial

Hardy range 3A to 9A

Height 4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm

Spread 18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm

Growth rate Slow

Form Rounded

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Semi-evergreen

Bloom Color Red and white

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are fragrant and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates drought.
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 Blue and silvery
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes Seeds can be gathered after flowering, but the plant will loose some vigor if allowed to seed. For the best appearance remove all the flower heads when most of the flowers are finished. Trim to the congestion of foliage. Division can be made after flowering. Plant with: Iberis, Armeria, Artemisia, and Phlox subulata. 'Spotty' has bicolored red and white blossoms.

Dianthus gratianopolitanus syn. Dianthus caesius

Cheddar Pink, Rock Garden Pink

Type Perennial

Hardy range 3A to 8A

Height 9" to 12" / 23cm to 30cm

Spread 8" to 12" / 20cm to 30cm

Growth rate Average

Form Rounded

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Semi-evergreen

Bloom Color Pink and red

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

The flowers are fragrant and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is a neutral to slightly alkaline (6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Blue and silvery
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes Seeds can be gathered after flowering, but the plant will loose some vigor if allowed to seed. For the best appearance, remove all the flower heads when most of the flowers are finished. Trim to the congestion of foliage. Division can be made after flowering. Plant with: Iberis, Armeria, Artemisia, and Phlox subulata.

 

Dianthus plumarius 'Ideal Violet'

Cottage Pink

Type Perennial

Hardy range 4A to 9A

Height 6" to 12" / 15cm to 30cm

Spread 12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm

Growth rate Slow

Form Rounded

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Deciduous and evergreen

Bloom Color Purple

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

The flowers are fragrant and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Silvery
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes 'Ideal Violet' was chosen by All-America Selection as a 1992 winner. It was the first dianthus to receive this honored bedding plant award. It has purplish-violet blossoms with a white eye. In warmer climates, the mother plant will sometimes live through the winter. Treated as an annual, this plant is often times confused for a perennial. Division should be made from first year plants. Seeds will differ from mother plant and can be collected after blooming in the summer. Plants go well with: Myosotis, Asclepias, and Gaillardia sp.

 

Dianthus gratianopolitanus syn. Dianthus caesius 'Dottie'

Cheddar Pink, Rock Garden Pink

Type Perennial

Hardy range 3A to 9A

Height 4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm

Spread 8" to 12" / 20cm to 30cm

Growth rate Fast

Form Rounded and spreading or horizontal

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Semi-evergreen

Bloom Color White

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral to slightly alkaline (6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes Seeds can be gathered after flowering, but the plant will loose some vigor if allowed to seed. For the best appearance, remove all the flower heads when most of the flowers are finished. Trim to the congestion of foliage. Division can be made after flowering. Full sun is acceptable in the northern United States; however, light shade is a must in the southeast. Plant with: Iberis, Armeria, Artemisia, and Phlox subulata. Deadheading spent blossoms will increase the number of blooms.

 

Dianthus deltoides 'Zing Rose'

Maiden Pink

Type Perennial

Hardy range 4A to 8A

Height 4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm

Spread 18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm

Growth rate Fast

Form Rounded and spreading or horizontal

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Deciduous and evergreen

Bloom Color Red

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are fragrant and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral to alkaline (6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes Cut spent flowers to maintain neatness of the plant and to promote growth. This Dianthus can seed itself readily, so plant it where it can be allowed to spread. Plant in a gritty well-drained soil. Plants go well with: Other Dianthus sp., Thymus, Sempervivum, and Teucrium sp. D. deltoides forms loose spreading mats and blooms continuously for up to two and a half months. It's excellent when used as a ground cover.

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Willow-leaf Magnolia, Featured Tree Of The Day

Magnolia salicifolia 'Wada's Memory'

Anise Magnolia, Willow-leaf Magnolia

Type Tree, woody plant

Hardy range 4B to 7B

Height 25' to 50' / 7.60m to 15.20m

Spread 25' to 35' / 7.60m to 10.60m

Growth rate Average

Form Oval, pyramidal and upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color White
Bloom Time Spring

The flowers are fragrant and showy.

Environment 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 to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green
Fall Color Yellow

This plant has attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes Kobus Magnolia should be grown in full sun or partial shade on any well-drained soil. Probably not for poorly-drained areas but supposedly tolerant of soil with an alkaline pH. Although the plant takes as long as 25-30 years to flower, it is well worth the wait. This would make an incredible street tree.

Wood is considered diffuse porous meaning that there is little difference in size of pores between spring and summer wood.

Maintain adequate mulch area Clear all turf away from beneath the branches and mulch to the drip line, especially on young trees, to reduce competition with turf and weeds. This will allow roots to become well established and keep plants healthier. Prune the tree so trunks and branches will not rub each other. Remove some secondary branches on main branches with included bark. This reduces the likelihood of the main branch splitting from the tree later when it has grown to become an important part of the landscape. Locate the tree properly, taking into account the ultimate size, since the tree looks best if it is not pruned to control size. The tree can enhance any landscape with its delightful spring flush of foliage. It can be the centerpiece of your landscape if properly located.

Tree establishment specifications Choose good quality trees for planting. The most common cause of young tree failure is planting too deep. In most instances, the point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk (referred to as the root flare zone or root collar) should be located just above the soil surface. You may have to dig into the root ball to find the root flare. If there is nursery soil over this area, scrape it off. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider because roots grow best in loose soil. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, extensive research clearly shows that there is no need to incorporate any amendments into the backfill soil. Simply use the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Simply planting with the topmost portion of the root ball slightly higher than the surrounding soil might still install the tree too deep - be sure to locate the root flare.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch to at least a six-foot diameter circle around the tree. This area should be at least two feet in diameter for each inch of tree trunk diameter and maintained during the establishment period. Apply a thinner layer of mulch directly over the root ball but keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. This allows rainwater, irrigation and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk and 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 after planting encourages rapid root growth that is essential for tree establishment. Trees provided with regular irrigation through the first growing season after transplanting require about 3 months (hardiness zones 9-11), 6 months (hardiness zones 7-8), or one year or more (hardiness zones 2-6) per inch of trunk diameter to fully establish roots in the landscape soil. Trees in desert climates may take longer to establish. Trees that are under-irrigated during this establishment period (and most trees are) often require additional time to establish because roots grow more slowly. Be prepared to irrigate through the entire establishment period, especially during periods of drought.

Irrigation also helps maintain and encourage the desirable dominant leader in the tree canopy on large-maturing trees. Instead of a dominant leader, trees that are under-irrigated during the establishment period often develop undesirable, low, co-dominant stems and double leaders that can split from the tree later.

Unlike established plants, which do best with deep, infrequent irrigation, research clearly shows that recently transplanted trees and shrubs establish quickest with light, frequent irrigation. For trees planted in spring or summer, provide one (cooler hardiness zones) to three irrigations (warmer hardiness zones) each week during the first few months after planting. Daily irrigation in the warmest hardiness zones provides the quickest establishment. Following the initial few months of frequent irrigation, provide weekly irrigation until plants are fully established. With every irrigation, apply one (cool climates) to two (warm climates) gallons of water per inch trunk diameter (e.g. 2 to 4 gallons for a 2-inch tree) over the root ball only. In most landscapes that receive more than 30 inches of rain or irrigation annually, if the mulch area is maintained weed-free, irrigation does not need to be applied outside of the root ball. Never add water if the root ball is saturated.

In cooler hardiness zones, in all but the driest years, irrigation of spring- and summer-planted trees usually can be discontinued once fall color has begun. Irrigation of fall planted trees, however, should be continued until foliage has dropped from the deciduous trees in the region. In warmer climates, irrigate fall-and winter-planted trees as described for the spring- and summer-planted trees.

In drier, desert climates there is benefit to be gained from applying additional irrigation outside of the root ball area. This is best done by making a large diameter berm four to six inches high, then filling it with water so it percolates into the soil. For the first two years, irrigate twice each week through the spring, once per week in summer provided monsoons arrive, and twice each week again in fall if it remains warm. Taper off watering to once or twice each month in winter and resume twice weekly next spring. For years three to five, water twice per month in spring, summer, and fall and once or twice per month in winter. During years five through seven, water once every three weeks in warm weather and once every six weeks in winter. After this, the drought-tolerant desert trees should be able to survive on natural rainfall.

Trees with good, strong structure need no pruning at planting, except to remove broken twigs. Do not remove branches to compensate for root loss - research has shown that this can be detrimental to establishment.

*** SPRING TRANSPLANT IS BEST**

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Sea Pink Thrift, Featured Plant of The Day

Armeria 'Juncea'
    Hybrid Thrift,  Sea Pink

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 8A
Height    3" to 4" / 8cm to 10cm
Spread    6" to 12" / 15cm to 30cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous and evergreen

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates drought and salt well.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green

Culture Notes
Shear flowers after blooming to increase blooming period.  Plant divisions should be done in the early spring and are necessary to rejuvenate the plant.

Do not fertilize.  Plant may rot in center with poorly drained soil.

Camano Choice Dahlia Featured Plant of The Day

Dahlia 'Camano Choice'

Dahlia

Type Annual

Height 12" to 6' / 30cm to 1.80m

Growth rate Average

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color Pink

Bloom Time Summer and Fall

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

EnvironmentThis plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture NotesThe height of this plant ranges from 1 foot for dwarf species to over 6 feet for the giants. Consult your nursery for the specifics. Dahlias have long bloom periods if spent blooms are removed regularly.

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