Featured Plant of The Day: 'Walker's Low' Catmint

Nepeta x faassenii 'Walker's  Low'

syn. Nepeta mussinii

Catmint

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 8A
Height    8" to 10" / 20cm to 25cm
Spread    12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Irregular or sprawling, spreading or horizontal and upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue and lavender
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

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

Leaf Color    Green and silvery
This plant has attractive foliage and fragrant foliage.

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Rock garden
-    Seashore planting
-    Border
-    Groundcover

Attributes and Features
-    Attracts butterflies
-    Extended bloom season
-    Sensitive to humidity

Culture Notes
Cut after blooming to encourage new growth and a denser plant.  Nepeta likes to spill over and needs periodic pruning to maintain its shape.  Prefers full sun, planted in a moist, well-drained soil.  Division of this plant can be done in the spring.  'Walker's Low' has long blooming, lavender-blue flowers.

Flush growth is in the center - prune older foliage on the outside edges after first blooms start drying.

Featured Plant of The Day: Rudbeckia hirta 'Goldilocks'

Rudbeckia hirta 'Goldilocks'

syn. Rudbeckia flava
    Black-eyed Susan,  Coneflower,  Gloriosa Daisy

Type    Annual, biennial, perennial
Height    10" to 15" / 25cm to 40cm
Spread    24" to 30" / 60cm to 75cm
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Rounded and upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

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

Leaf Color    Green

Native Habitat
Species native to North America.

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Border
-    Foundation planting
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Naturalizing
-    Attracts butterflies
-    Sensitive to humidity

Culture Notes
This plant is a short-lived perennial or biennial and is often grown as an annual.  It self-sows easily and cuttings can be taken in late summer and rooted in the cold frame.  This plant prefers a sunny spot, with a well-drained fertile soil.  Plants serve as butterfly nectar sources.  'Goldilocks' is a Fleuroselect winner.  It is more compact and has double or semidouble yellow blossoms.

Featured Plant of The Day: Purple Loosestrife 'Firecandle'

Lythrum salicaria 'Firecandle'

Purple Loosestrife

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 9B
Height    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Spread    12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink and purple
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

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

Leaf Color    Green

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Seashore planting
-    Border
-    Massing
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Naturalizing
-    Wetlands plant
-    Attracts butterflies

Culture Notes
Many cultivars are available which should not be confused with the species.  The species is outlawed in many states because it will quickly take over a wetland habitat. The cultivars are slower to increase and are usually divided in the spring. Self-sows easily.  Expect fall color from the foliage.  'Firecandle' has bright rosey-red blossoms.

Featured Plant of The Day: 'Gold Greenheart' False Sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides ssp. scabra 'Gold Greenheart'
    Ox Eye,  Goldgefinger,  False Sunflower

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 10A
Height    36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Spread    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

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

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

 Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

 Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Border

 Attributes and Features
-    Naturalizing

 Culture Notes
This plant may need staking.  Removal of spent flowers is needed to extend the blooming period.  Division can be done in spring, but will be slow to reestablish.

Featured Plant of The Day: 'Klaus Jelitto' Stoke's Aster

Stokesia laevis 'Klaus Jelitto'

syn. Stokesia cyanea 

Omega Skyrocket Stoke's Aster,  Stoke

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    5A to 9A
Height    12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Spread    16" to 18" / 40cm to 45cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Lavender
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

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

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

 Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Border

Attributes and Features
-    Attracts butterflies

Culture Notes
The leaves of this plant are evergreen in warmer climates.  This plant can tolerate dry conditions and partial sun, but it prefers full sun and a well-drained sandy soil.  Mulch this plant in colder areas during the winter months.  In the spring, remove dead foliage only. Deadhead spent flowers after blooming, and fall cut back to basal foliage.  Propagate by seeds, root cuttings, and division in spring.  The lavender, daisy-like blossoms of 'Klaus Jelitto' are somewhat larger than the species.