Deciduous Shrub Of The Day

Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet'

Japanese Spirea

Type Shrub, groundcover, woody plant

Hardy range 5B to 7B

Height 12" to 36" / 30cm to 90cm

Spread 36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m

Growth rate Average

Form Rounded and spreading or horizontal

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Pink

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

The flowers are fragrant and very showy.

Environment This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry 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, purple and yellow
Fall Color Copper and yellow

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes 'Magic Carpet' (Patent # 9,363) grows best in full sun or high shifting shade. Plants receiving less than 4 or 5 hours of direct sun become thin and flower poorly. Plant on 3 to 4-foot centers to form a mass planting. As with other light colored-flowering plants, place in front of other green foliage plants or other dark background to show the best flower display. Spireas combine well with ornamental grasses and plants with large foliage. Remove spent seed heads and developing seed heads to improve the neat look of the plants. There appear to be no shoot reversions on this cultivar. Makes a tight ground cover with fabulous flowers.

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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Perennial Of The Day

Primula x polyantha 'Pacific Giants'

Polyanthus Primrose

Type Perennial

Hardy range 5A to 8A

Height 6" to 8" / 15cm to 20cm

Spread 7" to 9" / 18cm to 23cm

Growth rate Average

Form Rounded

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun

Persistence Semi-evergreen

Bloom Color Blue, pink, red, white and yellow

Bloom Time Spring

The flowers are fragrant and suitable for cut flowers.

EnvironmentThis 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 NotesIn moderate climates, these plants can endure full sun, but they prefer partial shade and a cool area. Used as an underplanting for bulbs. 'Pacific Giants' have large, 2"-wide flowers and come in a wide range of colors. They look good when planted with dwarf hostas, bleeding hearts, forget-me-nots and hellebores.

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Perennial Of The Day

Tricyrtis hirta 'Miyazaki'

Toad Lily, Japanese Toad Lily

Type Perennial

Hardy range 4A to 8A

Height 24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm

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

Growth rate Average

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Full shade to partial sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Purple and white
Bloom Time Summer and Fall

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates drought.
This 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

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes Toad lilies are grown primarily for their unusual spotted blossoms. They self-sow easily, and stem cuttings taken in the summer are easily rooted. These plants prefer a moist, well-drained soil and are able to tolerate a half day of sun. In the spring, cut away dead foliage only. Deadhead spent flowers after blooming and, in the fall, cut back to the ground. 'Miyazaki' is noted for its white lily-like blossoms that are heavily spotted in purple. This is an excellent plant for those shaded areas of the garden.

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Perennial Of The Day

Haemanthus coccineus

Blood Lily

Type Perennial

Hardy range 10A to 11

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

Spread 10" to 12" / 25cm to 30cm

Growth rate Average

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Red

Bloom Time Summer and Fall

The flowers are showy.

Environment This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes When planted in containers, repot when signs of new growth are evident. However they flower best when their roots fill the container. Propagate by removing the small bulblets in the spring and plant.

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Vine Of The Day

Campsis grandiflora

Trumpet Vine

Type Vine

Hardy range 7A to 10A

Height 25' to 50' / 7.60m to 15.20m

Spread 40' to 50' / 12.20m to 15.20m

Growth rate Fast

Form Spreading or horizontal, variable height and variable spread

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Orange and yellow

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are very showy.


Environment This plant tolerates drought and occasional wetness.
This plant will grow in very dry to occasionally wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green
Fall Color Yellow

Culture Notes Like many vines, Trumpet Vine flowers best in a full sun location. It grows but flowers poorly in a shaded location. It will do fine in any soil except those kept continually wet and flooded. Trumpet Vine climbs to 30 feet or more when given support. The brilliant orange flowers are borne in summer and are often visited by hummingbirds. They will hang down from an arbor or trellis making a wonder "wall" or "ceiling" in a garden. Rapid growth makes training easy, but regular pinching and pruning is required to establish this vine on a structure. This hybrid is wonderful in flower.

This plant is related to the native Campsis but is much less aggressive. 'Morning Calm' bears coral flowers. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

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.

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