Annual Of The Day

Nemesia strumosa

Nemesia

Type Annual

Height 8" to 24" / 20cm to 60cm

Spread 6" to 10" / 15cm to 25cm

Growth rate Fast

Form Irregular or sprawling

Exposure Full shade to partial sun

Bloom Color Orange, pink, purple, white and yellow

Bloom Time Spring through Fall

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 an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes A frost tender annual that grows best in a cool, moist, well-drained spot. Pinch plant regularly to maintain shape. In very hot conditions this plant will tend to burn.

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Day Of The Hollyhock

Alcea rugosa

Hollyhock

Type Biennial, perennial

Hardy range 2A to 8A

Height 5' to 6' / 1.60m to 1.80m

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

Growth rate Fast

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Full sun

Bloom Color Yellow

Bloom Time Summer and Fall

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates some drought and some salt.
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 This tall plant will need staking if not planted next to a fence or a wall. Remember that cultivars will not come true from seed. This plant is usually grown as a biennial, but can be grown as a perennial if, after flowering, it is cut to 6in/15cm above the ground. Burn the remains.
A. rugosa (Russian Hollyhock) has large, single, yellow (sometimes appearing as yellowish-orange) blooms and deeply lobed foliage. It tends to have less of a problem with hollyhock rust than some of the other cultivars.

 

Alcea rosea syn. Althaea rosea 'Powder Puff'

Hollyhock

Type Biennial, perennial

Hardy range 5B to 9A

Height 4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m

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

Growth rate Fast

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color Salmon

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 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 This tall plant will need staking if not planted next to a fence or a wall. Remember that cultivars will not come true from seed. This plant is usually grown as a biennial, but can be grown as a perennial if, after flowering, it is cut to 6in/15cm above the ground. Burn the remains.

 

Alcea rosea syn. Althaea rosea 'Indian Spring'

Hollyhock

Type Biennial, perennial

Hardy range 5B to 9A

Height 4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m

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

Growth rate Fast

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Full sun

Bloom Color Pink and red

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 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 This tall plant will need staking if not planted next to a fence or a wall. Remember that cultivars will not come true from seed. This plant is usually grown as a biennial, but can be grown as a perennial if, after flowering, it is cut to 6in/15cm above the ground. Burn the remains.
Cut to basil foliage after blooming.

 

Alcea rosea syn. Althaea rosea 'Nigra'

Hollyhock

Type Biennial, perennial

Hardy range 5B to 9A

Height 4' to 6' / 1.20m to 1.80m

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

Growth rate Fast

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Full sun

Bloom Color Brown and red

Bloom Time Summer and Fall

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates some drought and some salt.
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 This tall plant will need staking if not planted next to a fence or a wall. Remember that cultivars will not come true from seed. This plant is usually grown as a biennial, but can be grown as a perennial if, after flowering, it is cut to 6in/15cm above the ground. Burn the remains.
'Nigra' is quite striking due to its deep chocolate-red blossoms and perfectly round foliage. It attracts both bees and butterflies.

 

Alcea rosea syn. Althaea rosea

Hollyhock

Type Biennial, perennial

Hardy range 5B to 9A

Height 6' to 10' / 1.80m to 3.00m

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

Growth rate Fast

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color Lavender, orange, pink, purple, red, salmon, white and yellow

Bloom Time Summer and Fall

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment This plant tolerates some drought and some salt.
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 This tall plant will need staking if not planted next to a fence or a wall. Remember that cultivars will not come true from seed. This plant is usually grown as a biennial, but can be grown as a perennial if, after flowering, it is cut to 6in/15cm above the ground. Burn the remains UNLESS you are interested in dye making and/or paper making. Hollyhocks produce dye colors of yellow, pink, maroon, brown and olive. The plant's bast fiber is used to produce paper.

 

 

 

Alcea x 'Summer Memories'

Hollyhock

Type Biennial, perennial

Hardy range 2A to 8A

Height 5' to 6' / 1.60m to 1.80m

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

Growth rate Fast

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Full sun

Bloom Color Orange, pink, purple, salmon and yellow

Bloom Time Summer

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

Environment This plant tolerates some drought and some salt.
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 This tall plant will need staking if not planted next to a fence or a wall. Remember that cultivars will not come true from seed. This plant is usually grown as a stately biennial, but can be grown as a short-lived perennial if, after flowering, it is cut to 6in/15cm above the ground. Burn the remains. 'Summer Memories' comes in mixed colors and has medium green foliage.

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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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