Deciduous Shrub Of The Day

Abeliophyllum distichum

White Forsythia

Type Shrub, woody plant

Hardy range 5A to 9A

Height 36" to 5' / 90cm to 1.60m

Spread 6' to 8' / 1.80m to 2.40m

Growth rate Average

Form Spreading or horizontal and vase shaped

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color White

Bloom Time Spring and Winter

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

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes In cool coastal areas, plant near a warm wall to encourage flowering. Prune as soon as flowers fade to maintain vigor and encourage bloom. Every few years prune hard nearly to the ground. Plants in sun or partial shade grow and flower respectfully. Flowers are light pink appearing almost white on twigs produced a year earlier; you may want to wait to do any substantial pruning until after you enjoy the flower display. Flower pollen can cause allergy in some people. Twigs often root as they touch the ground.

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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Deciduous Shrub Of The Day

 

Philadelphus x lemoinei

Mock Orange

Type Shrub, woody plant

Hardy range 5A to 8A

Height 4' to 8' / 1.20m to 2.40m

Spread 8' to 12' / 2.40m to 3.60m

Growth rate Average

Form Rounded and upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color White

Bloom Time Spring

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 slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green
Fall Color No change in fall color



Culture Notes A sight to behold and smell in full bloom, plants perform best in full sun in moist soil. Like many garden plants, those supplied with some organic matter in the root zone before planting make the best growth. Plants offer little after they flower. Might be best located in a shrub border where the plant in smelled but not seen for most of the year. Flowers are extremely fragrant compared to other Philadelphus. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

Philadelphus will not flower following annual hard pruning because plants flower on last year's growth.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

 

 

Galanthus nivalis

Common Snowdrop

Type Perennial

Hardy range 3A to 9A

Height 4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm

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 and Winter

The flowers are fragrant.

Environment This plant will grow in moist 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 Plant in sun to partial sun, avoid wet soils, and do not allow the soil to stay dry during the summer. Usually plant in groups or large masses. Fall is the time to plant new bulbs, and just after the honey-scented flowers fade is the time to divide and move the plants. A good winter chill is important for good growth and blooms.

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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.

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

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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