Queen Sophia French Marigold, Featured Plant of The Day

Tagetes patula 'Queen Sophia' 

French Marigold,  Dwarf French Marigold  

Type    Annual
Height    10" to 12" / 25cm to 30cm
Spread    18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun

Bloom Color    Orange
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are 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.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has fragrant foliage.

Culture Notes
These plants do very well in hot, dry climates.  Seeds can be sown under glass in early spring.  Dead head frequently to encourage more blooms.  This species has a larger flower head than the Tagetes erecta.  These tender annuals are killed by frost and will sometimes self sow.  In addition to the ability to deter white flies from tomato plants, via its scent, the root of the French Marigold is also able to exude secretions which repel the potentially destructive eelworm.  This plant has several decorative and aromatic uses as well.

Common Torch Lily, Featured Plant of The Day

Kniphofia 'Little Maid'

Common Torch Lily, Red Hot Poker

Type

Perennial

Hardy range

6A to 9B

Height

20" to 35" / 50cm to 90cm

Spread

24" to 4' / 60cm to 1.20m

Growth rate

Average

Form

Irregular or sprawling

Exposure

Full sun

Persistence

Deciduous
Bloom Color
White and yellow
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
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Kniphofia demands a well-drained soil and protection from intense sun in the warmer zones. In colder zones, mulch well for winter protection. Plants go well with: Echinops, Yucca, Oenothera, Sedum and Coreopsis sp. 'Little Maid' is a dwarf variety of this plant with spikes of ivory tips and soft yellow.
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Serenata Clematis, Featured Plant of The Day

Clematis (jackmanii x group)(n) 'Serenata'
    Clematis

Type    Perennial, vine
Hardy range    4A to 8A
Height    8' to 12' / 2.40m to 3.60m
Spread    8' to 12' / 2.40m to 3.60m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Spreading or horizontal and variable spread
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Purple
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

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

 Leaf Color    Green

 Culture Notes
Most Clematis are hybridized and do not come true from seed.  Stem cuttings can be taken early summer.  Removing spent flowers often increases the blooming period.  Plant so that roots are shaded.

Since Clematis do not climb by tendrils or aerial roots, their leaf petioles will twine around anything close by (including themselves) for support.  Clematis are beautiful specimens climbing up (with proper support wires, etc.) a fence, trellis, lamp post or wall.  It's best not to plant Clematis in an area where it would have to fight for its water supply, such as next to the roots of a tree.  'Serenata' has beautiful 5-6" purple blossoms with a dark purple bar and yellow stamens.

When using a trellis, add compost or cow manure in the spring to the base of this plant.  Also use a water soluble fertilizer (15-30-15) every two weeks through May, June and July.

Purple Loosestrife, Featured Plant of The Day

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

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.

Royal Purple Lirope, Featured Plant of The Day

Liriope muscari 'Royal Purple'

syn. Liriope graminifolia densiflora

Lilyturf,  Border Grass,  Blue Lilyturf,  Liriope,  Bigblue Liriope

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    6A to 10A
Height    12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Spread    12" to 36" / 30cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Purple
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought and some salt.
This plant will grow in moist 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
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Attractive, violet-blue flowers give this plant its charm. Lilyturf is a 6- to 12-inch-tall herbaceous perennial that is useful in the landscape as a ground cover and accent plant.  This plant spreads slowly by rhizomes and forms thick tubers that look like small potatoes.  The 8- to 20-inch-long, grass-like leaves arise from a central crown.  The small, purple flowers of Lilyturf occur in terminal racemes that sit atop an 8-to 10-inch tall, violet-brown scape.  These flowers appear in the summer and are followed by blue-black berrylike fruits.  Flowers are mostly inconspicuous due to the brightly colored foliage. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

Lilyturf is a great plant for bordering a sidewalk or as an edging for a landscape bed.  It will grow well underneath trees or around shrubs.  However, it will not tolerate foot traffic. Liriope will grow in a sunny location, but prefers one that has partial shade or full shade.  It prefers well-drained soils and is moderately tolerant of drought and salt spray.  This plant does have a negative reaction to high temperatures and can melt out in warm weather.

Blue Stocking Bee Balm, Featured Plant of The Day

 Monarda didyma 'Blue Stocking'     

syn. Monarda coccinea 

Bee Balm,  Bergamot,  Horsemint,  Oswego Tea

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4B to 10A
Height    36" to 5' / 90cm to 1.60m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Purple
Bloom Time    Summer

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
This plant has fragrant foliage.

Culture Notes
These plants can be easily divided in the spring.  Cultivars will not come true from seed.  Monarda should be planted in areas with good air circulation in the full sun.  Attracts pollinators.  In the spring, remove dead foliage only. In the fall, cut back to 6", and deadhead spent flowers after blooming is done.  The blossoms and foliage of this fragrant plant can be used either fresh or dried in salads, wines and fruit drinks.  Other possible uses include pot pourris and, as a purported calming element, Bergamot tea or milk.

This plant is often infected with mildew after flowering.  If so, cut down to new foliage.

Glow Astilbe, Featured Plant of The Day

Astilbe x arendsii 'Glow(Glut™)'

Astilbe,  False Spirea

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 9A
Height    24" to 30" / 60cm to 75cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Irregular or sprawling
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Red
Bloom Time    Summer

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

Environment
This plant will grow in moist to wet 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 and purple
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Astilbes vary in size, bloom shape, bloom color, bloom time and leaf color.  Although frequently categorized as a shade plant, they can grow in full sun in moderate climates, but require a rich, moist, acidic soil and some protection in the warmer climates.  The flower heads last longer if they are planted to avoid the afternoon sun.  After blooming, spring cut to basal foliage.  Cultivars, Cattleya, Granat, and White Gloria, have glorious bloom heads and Fanal has dark bronze foliage.  Fluffy spikes of colorful, elegant and lacy foliage occur during June and July, for the most part.  Astilbes are excellent when used in flower arrangements, either fresh or dried.

Bushy Aster, Featured Plant of The Day

Aster dumosus 'Rose Serenade' 

Bushy Aster

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 9A
Height    12" to 39" / 30cm to 100cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

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  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color

Culture Notes
This is a great plant for low perennial borders.  This plant is somewhat drought tolerant, but should be watered deeply during dry periods.  Avoid getting water on the foliage.

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