BEFORE, DURING & AFTER

Blazing Star, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

Liatris spicata 'Kobold'
    Blazing Star,  Spiked Blazing Star,  Gayfeather

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 9A
Height    18" to 36" / 45cm to 90cm
Spread    12" to 16" / 30cm to 40cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Purple
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 dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is sandy or clay.
The pH preference is a neutral to alkaline (6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage

Culture Notes
This plant may need mulching in colder climates.  Liatris spicata prefers soil that will retain water, but not so much that winter rotting will occur due to excessive water.  Root structure is thick and fleshy, corm-like.  Seeds can be collected in the summer.  Deadhead spent flowers after blooming and, in the fall, cut back to ground level.  Plants go well with: Ornamental grasses, Rudbeckia, Coreopsis, Echinacea, and Artemisia sp.

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Rocky Mountain Columbine, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

 

Aquilegia caerulea
    Rocky Mountain Columbine

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 8A
Height    16" to 18" / 40cm to 45cm
Spread    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are suitable for dried flowers.

Environment
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Leaf miners often develop after flowering, and the foliage should be removed and destroyed.  The plant will regrow in a few weeks.  Aquilegia's have a long carrot like root making them difficult to transplant.

Wire cages may be necessary for rabbit problems.

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Rock Spiraea, Evergreen ground-cover Of The Day

Petrophytum hendersonii
    Rock Spiraea

Type    Shrub, groundcover, woody plant
Hardy range    5A to 8A
Height    4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm
Spread    36" to 6' / 90cm to 1.80m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Prostrate and spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    White
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are showy.

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    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Provide full sun and exceptional drainage for this small, low growing ground cover. Plants look great in a rock garden and cascading over a wall.

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Indian Paintbrush, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

Asclepias tuberosa
    Butterfly Weed,  Indian Paintbrush

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 9A
Height    18" to 30" / 45cm to 75cm
Spread    12" to 36" / 30cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Orange, red and yellow
Bloom Time    Summer

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

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought and a little salt.
This plant will grow in dry to 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
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Seeds will be dispersed in late summer or early fall, and offsets will emerge in the fall at the base of the mother plant.  Asclepias has a large taproot, making it difficult to transplant.  This plant is so late to break dormancy in the spring, one might wonder if it made it through the winter.  If interested in crafts, the fresh flowers from this plant can be used to make yellow dye.   Plants serve provide nectar for butterflies and are hosts for butterfly larvae.

Plant with Solidago, Heliopsis, Helianthus and Penstemon.

Cut back during growth periods to encourage a fuller plant.

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Siberian Iris, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

Iris sibirica 'Silver Edge'

Siberian Iris

Type Perennial

Hardy range 3A to 9A

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

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

Growth rate Fast

Form Upright or erect and vase shaped

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Blue

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

EnvironmentThis plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color Green
Fall Color Orange

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture NotesThese plants are very hardy, easy to grow, and increase readily. They will grow in shade, but will bloom and grow better in the sun. Division should take place every 3 years. Plants go well with: Iris pallida, Dianthus sp., Aquilegia, Artemisia, and Carex sp. 'Silver Edge' has lovely blue blossoms with a narrow edge of silver to set it off.

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Spotted Bellflower, Perennial Of The Day

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

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.


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.

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Red Fox, Annual Of The Day

Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) 'Flamingo'
    Red Fox,  Celosia,  Wheat

Type    Annual
Height    10" to 18" / 25cm to 45cm
Spread    12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    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.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

 Culture Notes
Celosia is really a tender perennial, but it is usually grown as an annual because it is not hardy in areas which have consistent freezing temperatures.  It reseeds easily to the point of being a pest.  Seedlings can be grown sown under glass early spring.

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Darwin Barberry, Evergreen Shrub, Woody Plant Of The Day

Berberis darwinii
    Darwin Barberry

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    7A to 9A
Height    6' to 8' / 1.80m to 2.40m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Spring

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

Leaf Color    Green

Culture Notes
Barberry is fairly adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions but looks its best when grown on rich, somewhat moist, soil in full sun or light shifting shade.   Plants will require some pruning to maintain them in bounds if planted in too small an area.  Wear heavy gloves and a long-sleeved shirt when pruning Barberry. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

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.

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Dancing Girl Ginger, Perennial Of The Day

Globba marantina 'Yellow Dancing Girl'     

syn. Globba schomburgkii
    Dancing Girl Ginger,  Yellow Dancing Ladies

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    7B to 11
Height    18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full shade

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are showy.

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    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
These plants do quite well as a groundcover under tropical shrubs.  During their growth spurts, they require lots of water and high humidity.

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Eastern Arborvitae, Evergreen Tree, woody plant Of The Day

Thuja occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost'
    Eastern Arborvitae,  American Arborvitae,  Siberian Arborvitae,  Northern White Cedar,  White Cedar

Type    Tree, woody plant
Hardy range    3A to 7A
Height    12' to 20' / 3.60m to 6.00m
Spread    4' to 7' / 1.20m to 2.20m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Pyramidal
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Spring

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought, flooding and a little salt.
This plant will grow in dry to wet or submerged 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, variegated and yellow
Fall Color    Yellow
This plant has attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes
Transplanting is moderately easy if plants are root-pruned and either balled and burlapped or potted.  White-Cedar likes high humidity and tolerates wet soils and some drought, but not salt exposure of any kind.  The foliage turns brownish in winter, especially on cultivars with colored foliage and on exposed sites open to the wind.  Many of the natural stands in the United States have been cut.  Some remain in isolated areas along rivers throughout the East. Some variegation is present on some branches.

Maintain adequate mulch area

Be sure to clear all turf away from beneath the branches and mulch to the drip line (the edge of the branches), especially on young trees, to reduce competition with turf and weeds.  This will allow roots to become well established and keep plants healthier.  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.

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Weeping Rocky Mountian Juniper, Evergreen Tree / Woody Plant Of The Day

Juniperus scopulorum 'Tolleson's Green Weeping'
    Colorado Red Cedar,  Rocky Mountain Juniper,  Weeping Rocky Mountian Juniper

Type    Tree, woody plant
Hardy range    4A to 9A
Height    20' to 25' / 6.00m to 7.60m
Spread    8' to 12' / 2.40m to 3.60m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Irregular or sprawling and weeping
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

 Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in very dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
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
This plant has fragrant foliage.

 Culture Notes
Juniperus scopulorum is a native plant that can be found in the western United States. It is similar to other Junipers in that it requires a full sun exposure and will tolerate dry and arid soils. It is useful as a privacy screen or specimen. This Juniper is difficult to grow in the southern U.S. due to disease problems. If you try it there, provide full sun, excellent drainage and keep the foliage dry - good luck!

Natural habitat is dry and windy with full sun exposure.  It looks best in an open site with no shade during the day.  This allows the foliage to dry quickly in the morning and helps prevent foliage disease from thinning the canopy.  A well-drained soil is essential for good growth.  Wet soil rots the roots and causes plant decline.

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.

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Hardy Biokova Geranium, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Biokovo'
    Cambridge Geranium,  Cranesbill,  Hardy Biokova Geranium

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 7A
Height    6" to 8" / 15cm 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
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    White
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

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
This plant has attractive foliage and fragrant foliage.

Culture Notes
Biokova is long blooming and will rebloom if the spent flowers are removed.  Its blossoms are white, with a pink tone in the center.

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Balloon Flower, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

Platycodon grandiflorus 'Hakone Blue'    

syn. Platycodon glaucus
    Balloon Flower

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 8A
Height    18" to 20" / 45cm to 50cm
Spread    18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color    Green

Culture Notes
The flowers of these long-blooming plants begin in the shape of a balloon before opening.  They are easy to grow and can be neglected. Cultivars will not come true from seed, but the seed will germinate readily.  These plants do not like being transplanted and are slow to reestablish.  Plants may need staking for support.  Deadhead spent flowers after blooming. In the fall, cut back to 6".  The blue, double blossoms on 'Hakone Blue' are lovely

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Rose Mallow, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Anne Arundel'

Rose Mallow, Wild Cotton, Common Rosemallow, Eastern Rosemallow, Swamp Rosemallow

Type Perennial
Hardy range 4A to 9A
Height 4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m
Spread 24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Growth rate Fast
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Deciduous
Bloom Color Pink

Bloom Time Summer


Environment
This plant tolerates occasional wetness and a little salt.This plant will grow in dry to wet 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
The flowers are showy.

Culture Notes
The Scarlet Rose Mallow is a narrow, upright, herbaceous perennial that can reach a height of 4 to 8 feet.  The 5- to 6-inch-long leaves of this plant are palmately lobed into 3, 5, or 7 parts.  These finger-like lobes are slender and have jagged teeth along their margins.  In the case of 'Anne Arundel', deep pink flowers that are up to 9 inches wide appear in mid to late summer.  These flowers are funnelform and occur on long axillary peduncles.  There are 10 or more involucral bracts present on the flower.  They are curved upward and are much shorter than the calyx lobes.

The Scarlet Rose Mallow is frequently used as a specimen and can be placed in a border.  It may also be utilized around the edge of a pond or along a stream since this type site is similar to their native Georgia and Florida habitat.  Although the Scarlet Rose Mallow is native to wetland areas, it is also tolerant of somewhat drier soils.  This plant requires a full sun or partial shade location in the landscape.  Flowering and growth in the shade are poor.

Hibiscus appreciates abundant watering and fertilization when newly planted, but requires little care once established.  Plants make attractive specimen plantings when given enough room to allow development of their natural arching form.  Cut back stem in early spring.  Propagate by soft-wood cuttings in the spring or by hard-wood cuttings in the fall. Plants can also be divided.

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