'Regal Robe' Heuchera Featured Plant of The Day

Heuchera 'Regal Robe'

Alumroot,  Coral Bells

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 9A
Height    4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm
Spread    12" to 15" / 30cm to 40cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

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

Leaf Color    Purple, silvery and variegated
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
These herbaceous, evergreen, perennial herbs are increasing in popularity due to the fact that newer varieties of Heucheras offer taller and larger flowers, ruffled foliage and increased hardiness to heat, humidity and cold.  Heucheras are already valued for their lovely, varied foliage and striking, bell-shaped  flowers in various colors.  Their stalks spike up from the center of the plant and vary in height.

When planting, make sure crowns are just above the soil level.  Keep plants moist, but well-drained, and mulch before the onset of cold weather.   It's highly unlikely that Heucheras will survive in clay.   In the South, Heucheras do best if planted in partial shade; if grown in cooler climates, the plant flowers longer if spent blossoms are removed.  Many Heucheras will attract both hummingbirds and bees.

Although a compact plant, 'Regal Robe' has leaves up to 10" across that are marbled with lavender and silver.

Meadow Saffron Featured Plant of The Day

Colchicum autumnal

Autumn Crocus, Meadow Saffron

Type  Perennial 
Hardy range  6A to 9A
Height  6" to 12" / 15cm to 30cm
Spread  4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm
Growth rate  Average
Form  Upright or erect
Exposure  Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence  Deciduous

Bloom Color Lavender, pink and white
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

Culture Notes
Strap shaped leaves will be produced in spring, then plant will go dormant during the summer with flowers emerging in the fall. There are double forms. Colchicum prefer sheltered areas that receive afternoon sun. Heavy shade inhibits blooming and causes blooms to be spindly. Transplant corms after the leaves have died and before new growth returns.
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'Victoria Blue' Forget-me-not: Featured Plant of The Day

Myosotis sylvatica 'Victoria Blue' 

Forget-me-not,  Scorpion Grass

Type    Biennial, perennial
Hardy range    4A to 8A
Height    6" to 8" / 15cm to 20cm
Spread    4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color    Blue
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

The flowers are fragrant.

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

Leaf Color    Green

Culture Notes
There are about 50 sorts of Myosotis known, the majority originating in Europe and North America. The small, round plants have spiral forming, long leaves and flowers borne on small heads or spikes. The blue variant M. sylvatica is far and away the most common and is used most frequently in breeding, but white and pink sorts are also known. Myosotis is a real biennial. Sown in the summer, it flowers in the spring, normally slightly later than Pansies and Bellis.

The gardener can of course buy Myosotis in the garden center where it is in plentiful supply, but raising it from seed is still more fun. It should be sown in June/July under glass onto damp soil. After germination the seedlings grow best at 18° C in a light and airy environment. In September, the young plants can be planted outside in a lightly shaded or sunny spot in the garden spaced at approximately 25 cm. The plants are hardy, but in extremely cold conditions a light covering is recommended. Myosotis likes a well-drained soil.

Planted in pots or containers, or in the full ground, they give an extra dimension to the spring.

'Balzac' Azalea: Fetured Plant of The Day

Rhododendron (subgenus Azalea) 'Balzac'
    Azalea

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    5A to 8A
Height    36" to 6' / 90cm to 1.80m
Spread    36" to 6' / 90cm to 1.80m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Orange
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are fragrant and very showy.

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic (less than 6.8) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color

Culture Notes
Provide this plant with excellent drainage, organic soil and mulching.  Do not cultivate around it, since it has surface roots, and do not let the soil cover the stem.   It is not salt tolerant or drought tolerant and does not do well in sweeping winter winds.

Partial shaded location gives good growth provided drainage is adequate. Roots rot in soil that drains poorly. I (Dr. Gilman) have had no trouble transplanting balled in burlap, although many are grown in containers. Pinch back the flowers after they have faded to eliminate the brown developing fruit if you wish. However, this is not essential for good flowering the following year. After all, these plants have flowered for millennia without our intervention. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.  Organic amendments in the backfill help establish plants quickly by encouraging roots to grow out of the container and into backfill soil.

Azaleas grow best in shade or partial shade.  A south or southwest exposure increases the chance of winter injury to evergreen types when grown in northern climates.  Plant in an acid, moist, well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.5.  Transplanting balled and burlapped or potted plants is most successful.  The shallow root systems are easily injured by deep cultivation but benefit from mulching.

Plants fail to absorb iron and have yellow leaves with green veins if the soil is not sufficiently acidic.  Finely ground sulphur can be added to the soil to increase acidity.  Have the soil tested before planting in order to determine the pH. Apply a 2:1:1 N:P:K ratio fertilizer two or three times each year before and after blooming and, perhaps, again as plants enter dormancy - timing is not as critical as previously believed.   Prevent winter burn in northern climates by avoiding exposed planting sites and by shading during winter.

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.

Dianthus caesius: Featured Plant of The Day

Dianthus gratianopolitanus

 syn. Dianthus caesius
    Cheddar Pink,  Rock Garden Pink

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 8A
Height    9" to 12" / 23cm to 30cm
Spread    8" to 12" / 20cm to 30cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Semi-evergreen

Bloom Color    Pink and red
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

The flowers are fragrant and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry to 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    Blue and silvery
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Seeds can be gathered after flowering, but the plant will loose some vigor if allowed to seed.  For the best appearance, remove all the flower heads when most of the flowers are finished.  Trim to the congestion of foliage.  Division can be made after flowering.  Plant with: Iberis, Armeria, Artemisia, and Phlox subulata.

'Baby Moon' Daffodil: Featured Plant of The Day

Narcissus 'Baby Moon' 

Daffodil

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    5A to 9A
Height    4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm
Spread    12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Spring

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 attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Clump forming bulbs that can be lifted and divided in the fall.  Will increase in numbers if left undisturbed and dry in late summer.  'Baby Moon' is a dwarf variety Division 5 triandrus cultivar.

'Strawberry Ice' Azalea: Featured Plant of The Day

 Rhododendron (subgenus Azalea) 'Strawberry Ice'
    Azalea

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    5A to 9A
Height    4' to 7' / 1.20m to 2.20m
Spread    5' to 7' / 1.60m to 2.20m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are very showy.

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

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes
Partially shaded locations give good growth, provided drainage is adequate. Roots rot in soil that drains poorly. I (Dr. Gilman) have had no trouble transplanting balled in burlap, although many are grown in containers. Pinch back the flowers after they have faded to eliminate the brown developing fruit if you wish. However, this is not essential for good flowering the following year. After all, these plants have flowered for millennia without our intervention. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.  Organic amendments in the backfill help establish plants quickly by encouraging roots to grow out of the container and into backfill soil.

Azaleas grow best in shade or partial shade.  A south or southwest exposure increases the chance of winter injury to evergreen types when grown in northern climates.  Plant in an acidic, moist, well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.5.  Transplanting balled and burlapped or potted plants is most successful.  The shallow root systems are easily injured by deep cultivation but benefit from mulching.

Plants fail to absorb iron and have yellow leaves with green veins if the soil is not sufficiently acidic.  Finely ground sulphur can be added to the soil to increase acidity.  Have the soil tested before planting in order to determine the pH. Apply a 2:1:1 N:P:K ratio fertilizer two or three times each year before and after blooming and, perhaps, again as plants enter dormancy - timing is not as critical as previously believed.   Prevent winter burn in northern climates by avoiding exposed planting sites and by shading during winter.

'Strawberry Ice' has deep pink blossoms with a yellow throat.

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.