Spanish Blue Bell, Featured Plant of The Day

Hyacinthoides hispanica     syn. Endymion hispanicus
    Spanish Blue Bell

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 9A
Height    12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Spread    8" to 12" / 20cm to 30cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Irregular or sprawling
Exposure    Full shade to partial sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue, pink, purple and white
Bloom Time    Spring

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.

Culture Notes
Prefers a woodland setting.  Will naturalize in the garden, so give it space.  It is recommended that these bulbs not be dug or divided unless necessary.  Bell-shaped flowers in pyramidal racemes appear on sturdy stems.  Since this plant's leaves eventually turn yellow and die, it's best to plant them with a mixture of other perennials (Pachysandra, Phlox divaricata and Hosta) that can take over.

Dwarf Forsythia Featured Plant of The Day

Forsythia x 'Courtasol (Gold Tide®)'

Type Shrub, groundcover, woody plant

Hardy range 5A to 8A

Height 18" to 36" / 45cm to 90cm

Spread 6' to 12' / 1.80m to 3.60m

Growth rate Fast

Form Spreading or horizontal

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Yellow

Bloom Time Spring

The flowers are very showy.

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

Leaf Color Green
Fall Color Purple

This plant has attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes Gold Tide is unlike other Forsythia dwarfs because it is a heavy bloomer and has a good shape. Plant in a sunny growing area with a well-drained soil. This dwarf grows rapidly and transplants well. Thin occasionally by cutting off old wood at ground level. After a severe winter, only the protected lower branches have flowers. Forsythia tolerates city conditions but not crowding.

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.

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Persian Violet Featured Plant of The Day

Exacum affine

German Violet, Arabian Violet, Persian Violet

Type Perennial

Hardy range 9A to 10B

Height 12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm

Growth rate Slow

Form Rounded

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun

Bloom Color Lavender and white

Bloom Time Spring through Fall

The flowers are fragrant and 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

Culture NotesThis plant's sweet smelling flowers make it a great houseplant.

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

Day Of The Spring Bloomers

Tulipa bakeri 'Lilac Wonder' 

Tulip

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    6A to 8A
Height    4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm
Spread    4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Purple
Bloom Time    Spring

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 soil.

Leaf Color    Green

Culture Notes
Lifting and replanting of bulbs is recommended every 2-3 years in the fall to prevent crowding. Tulips prefer a moist, but well-drained soil.

Tulipa x 'Early Harvest'
    Hybrid Tulip

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 8A
Height    12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Spread    6" to 10" / 15cm to 25cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous


Bloom Color    Red
Bloom Time    Spring

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
Most of the hybrids bloom for a few seasons and then need to be divided or removed.  Tulips should be planted in the fall in soil that is fertile and well-drained.  Deadheading and feeding can promote longevity.

Tulipa clusiana
    Lady Tulip

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 8A
Height    9" to 12" / 23cm to 30cm
Spread    6" to 10" / 15cm to 25cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color    Red and white
Bloom Time    Spring

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
Lifting and replanting of bulbs is recommended every 2-3 years in the fall to prevent crowding. Dead heading and feeding can promote longevity.  T. clusiana yields striking white blossoms with red stripes.

Curcuma alismatifolia 

Siam Tulip,  Summer Tulip

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    8A to 11
Height    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, red and white
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.


Environment
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


Culture Notes
Many new white, pink, red and rose cultivars of this plant have been introduced.  This low-maintenance, exotic ginger blooms better in bright light.  The tips of its snapdragon-looking bracts contain chlorophyll, thereby adding green highlights to the ends.  Blooming covers an extended period of time, from June all the way through November.  Its vase life is also long, lasting anywhere from 6 to 18 days as a cut flower.

Tulipa x 'Texas Fire' 

Hybrid Tulip

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 8A
Height    12" to 30" / 30cm to 75cm
Spread    6" to 10" / 15cm to 25cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Purple and red
Bloom Time    Spring

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
Most of the hybrids bloom for a few seasons and then need to be divided or removed.  Tulips should be planted in the fall in soil that is fertile and well-drained.  Dead heading and feeding can promote longevity.

Tulipa x 'Johann Strauss'
    Hybrid Tulip

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 8A
Height    12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Spread    6" to 10" / 15cm to 25cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous


Bloom Color    White
Bloom Time    Spring

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, purple and variegated


Culture Notes
Most of the hybrids bloom for a few seasons and then need to be divided or removed.  Tulips should be planted in the fall in soil that is fertile and well-drained.  Deadheading and feeding can promote longevity.