Hardy Orchid: Featured Plant of The Day

 Bletilla striata
    Chinese Ground Orchid,  Hyacinth Bletilla,  Hardy Orchid

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    5B to 9B
Height    10" to 18" / 25cm to 45cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Irregular or sprawling
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Lavender
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

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

Leaf Color    Green

Culture Notes
Soil should not dry out, as this will cause less flowering on the plant the next season.   Mulch deeply when in the northern climates, but dig the bulbs when frost is near and store them inside.  Otherwise, a deep mulch will provide protection.  With milder winters, plant about 1" deep in the fall; otherwise, plant as soon as possible in the spring.  Keep cool and dry once the ribbed leaves have fallen.  The rare cultivar, 'Alba', will flower white.

'Prism Sunshine' Garden Petunia: Featured Plant of The Day

Petunia x hybrida 'Prism Sunshine'
    Garden Petunia

Type    Annual
Height    12" to 14" / 30cm to 35cm
Spread    15" to 20" / 40cm to 50cm
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are fragrant and 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  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has fragrant foliage.

Culture Notes
Petunias belong to the Solanaceae family and come originally from South America. The current hybrid varieties originate from crosses between Petunia axillaris and P. violacea. The most important culture groups are the large flowering (Grandiflora) and the slightly smaller (Multiflora). In addition, the hanging types, such as the "Surfinia" and "Wave" series, and small flowering types ("Milliflora") are gaining ground strongly. Thanks to new, fashionable sorts and colors, Petunia is still one of the most popular summer flowers. The attractively colored plants require little care and can tolerate sun and heat, but need regular watering.

The yellow, grandiflora Petunia 'Prism Sunshine' earned the Gold Medal award for its compactness, uniformity (F1 hybrid) and rapid growth.  However, what is most predominant about this plant is its beautiful, light yellow flowers that, in contrast to existing yellow varieties, do not fade or discolor. In the garden, it grows to form an impressive plant with a very attractive radiating color that flowers abundantly over a long period.  It also was a 1998 All America Selections bedding plant winner.

Petunias are usually purchased in flower, but 'Prism Sunshine' is perfect for hobby gardeners to sow. In the middle of May or after the last frost, the Petunia can be planted outside in the garden or in pots on a sunny patio or balcony. Ensure good porous ground, sufficient water and not too much fertilizer. The sunny color contrasts superbly against the dark ground, or against darker tinted flowers such as other Petunias, Fuchsia 'Florabelle' or scarlet Lobelia speciosa. This medal winning Petunia really comes into glory standing alone between low bushes and leafy plants, bringing a ray of sunshine to the garden or the balcony.

Blue-eyed Grass: Featured Plant of The Day

Sisyrinchium bermudianum
 Blue-eyed Grass

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    5A to 8B
Height    8" to 10" / 20cm to 25cm
Spread    8" to 12" / 20cm to 30cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color    Blue
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

Environment
This plant tolerates some salt.
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
Do not allow this plant to dry out during the growing season.  It self-sows readily, and division is recommended after its long flowering season.  The blue star-like blossoms of S. bermudianum really stand out against its dark green foliage.

Wine & Roses Weigelia: Featured Plant of The Day

Weigela florida 'Alexandra (Wine & Roses™)' 

Old Fashioned Weigela,  Rose Weigela

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    4B to 8A
Height    4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m
Spread    4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are 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 alkaline (less than 6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Purple
This plant has attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes
Weigela grows best in a sunny location and moist soil.  Shaded plants are straggly.  Weigela also dislikes crowding.  The growth rate is moderate and the shrub transplants well.  Some annual dieback and winter injury make annual pruning necessary.   Plants suffer in the deep south eastern part of the US. Foliage does not fade to green in summer heat. This cultivar recently received the Pennsylvania Horticulture Association Gold Medal Award 2000.

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.

Alpine Geranium: Featured Plant of The Day

Erodium reichardii 'Roseum'  syn. Erodium chamaedryoides 

Alpine Geranium,  Heron's Bill,  Stork's Bill

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    5A to 7A
Height    2" to 3" / 5cm to 8cm
Spread    6" to 9" / 15cm to 23cm
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

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

Leaf Color    Green

Culture Notes
Overly moist conditions will seriously harm this alpine plant.  This mat forming plant can be increased by division in the spring or by stem cuttings in early summer.  'Roseum', with its pink blooms and darker veins, is probably the most available plant of this species.