Sweet William Dianthus, Biennial -Perennial Of The Day

Dianthus barbatus
    Sweet William

Type    Biennial, perennial
Hardy range    4A to 10A
Height    12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm
Spread    12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink, red and white
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

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

Environment
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is a neutral to alkaline (6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Green

Culture Notes
This Dianthus is a biennial or a short lived perennial.  Only in warmer climates will the mother plant sometimes live through the winter.  Division should be made from first year plant.  Seeds will differ from mother plant and can be collected after bloom in the summer.  Plants go well with: Myosotis, Asclepias, and Gaillardia sp.

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Pulmonaria 'Raspberry Splash', Perennial Of The Day

Pulmonaria x 'Raspberry Splash'
    Lungwort,  Bethlehem Sage

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 9A
Height    10" to 13" / 25cm to 35cm
Spread    18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full shade to partial sun

Bloom Color    Pink and red
Bloom Time    Spring

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

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

Culture Notes
This plant needs moist, cool soil that is in a partly shaded area.  Overly dry conditions will cause wilting of its leaves.  The silver spots appearing on the  leaves of  'Raspberry Splash' make its foliage quite attractive, even after its raspberry-pink flowers cease to bloom.  'Raspberry Splash'  is resistant to mildew, deer and slugs and provides a valuable source of nectar for honey bees.  Asexual propagation of this plant is prohibited.

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'Meadowbrook' Rhododendron, Evergreen Shrub Of The Day

Rhododendron (subgenus Rhododendron) 'Meadowbrook'

Rhododendron

Type Shrub, woody plant

Hardy range 6A to 7B

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

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

Growth rate Slow

Form Rounded

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun

Persistence Evergreen

Bloom Color Red

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

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
Fall Color No change in fall color

Culture Notes
Partially shaded location gives good growth, provided drainage is adequate. Roots rot in soil that drains poorly. I (Dr. Gilman) have had no trouble transplanting these plants 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 been flowering quite nicely 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.
Rhododendrons are ornamental, ericaceous, broad-leaved evergreens. Azaleas belong to this genus, but many are not evergreen. They 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.

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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White Trillium, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

Trillium grandiflorum
    Large Flowered Trillium,  White Trillium,  Large Flower Wakerobin

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 9A
Height    12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Spread    14" to 18" / 35cm to 45cm
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full shade to partial sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink and white
Bloom Time    Spring

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
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Division can be done by lifting the plant during summer dormancy and dividing the rhizome.  Seeds can be allowed to drop and germinate, and the new seedling can be dug in the spring.  Flowers will fade to pink with age. Plants serve as butterfly nectar sources.

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Snow in Summer, Semi-evergreen Perennial Of The Day

Cerastium tomentosum syn. Cerastium bierbersteinii 'Yo Yo'

Taurus Cerastium, Mouse-Ear Chickweed, Silver Carpet, Snow in Summer

Type Perennial

Hardy range 3A to 7A

Height 3" to 6" / 8cm to 15cm

Spread 6" to 12" / 15cm to 30cm

Growth rate Fast

Form Spreading or horizontal

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Semi-evergreen

Bloom Color White

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

EnvironmentThis plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green and silvery

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes Depending on the cultivars, this mat-forming plant can be invasive. Shear after the plant has bloomed to keep it neat and contained. Excellent as a ground cover, both for its white flowers and fuzzy-green/gray foliage. 'Yo Yo' is a compact plant with free flowering capabilities. It is well used as a spreading ground cover.
Well drained, infertile soil is preferable.

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