Tropaeolum majus 'Alaska'
Nasturtium, Indian Cress
Type Annual
Height 18" to 30" / 45cm to 75cm
Growth rate Fast
Form Rounded
Exposure Full sun
Persistence Evergreen
Bloom Color Orange
Bloom Time Spring through Fall
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, variegated and yellow
This plant has attractive foliage.
Culture Notes Habit of this plant can be either mounding or trailing. Nasturtium is easily grown, prefers full sun, tolerates poor soil and dry conditions. Propagate by seeds directly sown or by sowing under glass in early spring. Will bloom throughout summer in cooler areas only. The foliage stays fresh looking provided the plants receive some afternoon shade, and looks best when provided with occasional irrigation when the weather gets dry.
Nasturtium has several interesting benefits. Because it attracts aphids, it could prove beneficial in the garden, planted next to weaker plants, to protect them from these troublesome pests. It also has several culinary and purported medicinal uses. For example, fresh or dried Nasturtium leaves can be used as a peppery flavoring (although it's quite strong) in sandwiches and salads. Many believe this plant helps prevent colds, relieves itching and soothes the scalp.
Anemone sylvestris
Snowdrop Anemone, Snowdrop Windflower
Type Perennial
Hardy range 4A to 9A
Height 6" to 18" / 15cm to 45cm
Growth rate Fast
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence Deciduous
Bloom Color White
Bloom Time Spring and Summer
EnvironmentThis 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 soil.
Leaf Color Green
This plant has attractive foliage.
Culture NotesThis plant is found natively in meadows and light open woodlands. It spreads quickly and prefers a gritty, well-drained soil with lots of organic matter. Cut back to basal foliage after blooming. Divide as necessary to keep plant in its place. This plant will tolerate dry conditions during the summer months, with some protection from the hot summer sun. The parsley-like leaves of these plants are quite attractive, and the ornate parts of their daisy-like blossoms are actually sepals.
Amaranthus x 'Intensa Pink'
Amaranth, Amaranthus
Type Annual
Height 4' to 6' / 1.20m to 1.80m
Spread 18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Growth rate Average
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Bloom Color Pink
Bloom Time Spring through Fall
EnvironmentThis 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 NotesAmaranthus is an annual that is usually grown for it unusual blooms and attractive foliage.
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
Smooth Hydrangea, Ashy Hydrangea, Wild Hydrangea
Type Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range 4A to 9A
Height 36" to 5' / 90cm to 1.60m
Spread 36" to 5' / 90cm to 1.60m
Growth rate Average
Form Rounded
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Deciduous
Bloom Color Lavender and white
Bloom Time Spring and Summer
Environment This plant tolerates occasional wetness.
This plant will grow in occasionally wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to alkaline (less than 6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.
Leaf Color Green
Fall Color No change in fall color
Culture Notes The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society selected this plant as one of the Gold Medal Plants for 2001. This award recognizes exceptional woody plants hardy from New York to Washington, D.C. It has nice pure white flowers in spring and is certainly one of the best hydrangeas. Do not allow plants to become too dry. The foliage will let you know when plants need water as they wilt predictably at the first sign of drought. Cut plants back nearly to the ground each winter/spring. The plant suckers and spreads forming large clumps if left on its own. Positioning the plant in a shrub border helps hold up the flower laden branches and prevents plants from becoming floppy.
Flowers dry nicely and have been used for a long time by florists for this purpose.
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.
Celosia argentea (Cristata Group) 'Bombay Purple'
Cockscomb, Crested Celosia
Type Annual
Height 6" to 24" / 15cm to 60cm
Growth rate Average
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Full sun
Bloom Color Purple and red
Bloom Time Summer and Fall
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 The annual, Celosia, belongs to the Amaranthaceae family which originates in Africa, explaining its preference for light and warmth. The Celosia (Cristata Group) is characterized by the cock, comb-like growth from the flower spike producing a flattened flower form. This is in contrast to the C. plumosa which forms a crest. The long-stemmed Cristata is exceptionally suitable for professional growers. The exotic form and colors are a challenge for any florist or flower arranger.
A Gold Medal was awarded to 'Bombay Purple' in the trials carried out by Fleuroselect, the international organization of flower breeders, for its beauty, uniformity and productivity. It performed better than any existing variety. It has striking flattish flowers which are almost geometrically triangular. The flowers are a reddish-purple color and although fading somewhat, the color remains after drying. This makes 'Bombay Purple' a real acquisition in the cut flower assortment. It can reach into modern and exotic lifestyle cultures where its color and form will harmonize distinctively.
Its uniformity and productivity make 'Bombay Purple' especially suitable for professional flower cultivation under glass. The culture is not simple, but certainly viable for the right professional. Celosia argentea cristata or the Cockscomb will never undergo mass production, but will stay an exclusive product, cultivated for distinction.
Just as the cock raises its comb to show off, the Cockscomb 'Bombay Purple' is showing off against the established cut flower varieties, daring the industry out to use varieties which suit artistic and fashion-conscious lifestyles. Flower growers and florists show good professionalism and sound economic insight with their choice of 'Bombay Purple'.
Amaranthus tricolor var. salicifolius 'Joseph's Coat'
Summer Poinsettia, Chinese Spinach, Fountain Plant, Joseph's Coat
Type Annual
Height 24" to 4' / 60cm to 1.20m
Growth rate Average
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Full sun
Bloom Color Red
Bloom Time Summer
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 Variegated
This plant has attractive foliage.
Culture Notes This plant sprouts and grows quickly. It has long lasting flowers and displays well with ornamental grasses.
Campanula punctata syn. Campanula nobilis 'Cherry Bells'
Spotted Bellflower
Type Perennial
Hardy range 5A to 9A
Height 20" to 26" / 50cm to 65cm
Growth rate Fast
Form Spreading or horizontal and upright or erect
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Bloom Color Red
Bloom Time Summer
Environment This plant will grow in 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 Green
Culture Notes Campanula will not do well in dry or wet soils or if humidity is high. As long as there is adequate drainage, this plant will easily spread to show off its numerous bell-shaped flowers. It's a good idea to remove spent flower heads for continuous blooming. C. punctata is noted for its pendulous, tubular blossoms that have tiny purple spots on the inside. A Terra Nova introduction, 'Cherry Bells' has a strong, upright habit and unusual tubular, red flowers. This plant attracts hummingbirds.
Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Baby Cole'
Blanket Flower
Type Perennial
Hardy range 3A to 8A
Height 6" to 8" / 15cm to 20cm
Spread 20" to 24" / 50cm to 60cm
Growth rate Fast
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Full sun
Persistence Deciduous
Bloom Color Red and yellow
Bloom Time Summer and Fall
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 and silvery
Culture Notes G. grandiflora is a perennial, treated as an annual. In late summer, cut back spent blossoms to encourage a fall bloom. Do not remove foliage from the plant in late fall. This helps to protect the plant in colder climates. Stem cuttings can also be taken in late summer and seeds can be collected after flowering. Spring cut dead foliage only; after blooming, deadhead spent flowers to keep plant attractive. Plants go well with: Coreopsis, Stokesia, Caryopteris, and Platycodon. 'Baby Cole' is a dwarf, compact variety with red blossoms and yellow margins.
Viola x wittrockiana 'Joker® Rot-Gold'
Pansy, Heart's Ease, Ladies Delight, Stepmother's Flower
Type Biennial, perennial
Hardy range 6A to 9A
Height 4" to 8" / 10cm to 20cm
Growth rate Average
Form Irregular or sprawling and spreading or horizontal
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Evergreen
Bloom Color Red and yellow
Bloom Time Spring and Summer
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 Short lived perennials that are usually grown as biennials or annuals. Pansies are grown to provide color in the early season, and they will usually fade away when summer arrives. 'Joker Rot-Gold' is gorgeous and bi-colored, with deep red and gold markings. Remove spent blooms to encourage a second flowering.
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