Monday, March 2, 2015

Featured Plant of the Day: 'Asessippi' Lilac

Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Asessippi'
    Lilac

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    3B to 7B
Height    8' to 12' / 2.40m to 3.60m
Spread    8' to 12' / 2.40m to 3.60m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded and vase shaped
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue and lavender
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are fragrant and very showy.

Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in very 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

Landscape Uses
-    Specimen

Culture Notes
Lilac is a common flowering shrub that grows best in a sunny location.  The plant will grow in shade but flowering is poor and powdery mildew is likely to be severe. Pollen bothers certain people. The growth rate is rapid and the plant produces many suckers. Pruning should be completed after flowering and by late spring to ensure next year's flower buds are not removed.

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.


Monday, February 23, 2015

Featured Plant of the Day: 'Album' Geranium

Geranium sanguineum 'Album'
    Blood Red Cranesbill,  Bloody Cranesbill,  Geranium

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 8A
Height    10" to 12" / 25cm to 30cm
Spread    20" to 24" / 50cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    White
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

The flowers are showy 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
Fall Color    Purple and red
This plant has attractive foliage.

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Alpine garden
-    Rock garden
-    Border
-    Specimen
-    Groundcover

Attributes and Features
-    Attracts butterflies
-    Extended bloom season
-    Sensitive to humidity

Culture Notes
Geraniums are long blooming and will rebloom if the spent flowers are removed.  Division can be done in the spring, and cuttings can be taken in the summer.  These plants will be evergreen in mild winters and, usually, the leaves turns reddish in the fall.  Plants go well with: Thymus, Phlox, and Dianthus sp.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Featured Plant of the Day: 'Mr. Fokker' Crown Anemone


Anemone coronaria 'Mr. Fokker'
    Poppy Anemone,  Crown Anemone,  Windfower

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    6A to 8A
Height    6" to 18" / 15cm to 45cm
Spread    6" to 9" / 15cm to 23cm
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

The flowers are 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 or sandy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Rock garden
-    Seashore planting
-    Border
-    Massing
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Attracts butterflies
-    Sensitive to humidity

Culture Notes
Leave anemones undisturbed after planting.  Do not let the soil get too wet, or rotting may occur.  The flowers of the anemone close at night and during cloudy weather.  This tuber is not reliably hardy north of zone 8.  Will germinate better if freshly collected seed is used.


Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Featured Plant of the Day: 'White Delight' Creeping Phlox


Phlox subulata 'White Delight'
Flowering Moss,  Creeping Phlox,  Moss Phlox,  Mountain Phlox,  Ground Pink,  Moss Pink

 Type    Perennial
Hardy range    2A to 9A
Height    4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm
Spread    18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Prostrate, spreading or horizontal and variable spread
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous and evergreen

 Bloom Color    White
Bloom Time    Spring

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

 Environment
This plant tolerates some drought and a little salt.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

 Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

 Landscape Uses
-    Alpine garden
-    Rock garden
-    Seashore planting
-    Border
-    Groundcover

 Attributes and Features
-    Naturalizing
-    Inconspicuous fruit

 Propagation and Root Form
Propagation is from  cuttings and  division.
Best propagation time is in the  fall and  spring.
This plant's roots are  fibrous.

 Culture Notes
Plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.  Prune after flowering for a healthier, denser plant and further blooming.  In the spring, remove dead foliage only; shear lightly after blooming.   However, do not cut plant back after mid-August.  Phlox subulata nearly doubles in size once spring blooming begins.  Often used as a ground cover, an edging plant, or for planting in cracks in walls.  Good plant to use with your spring blooming bulbs.  'White Delight' has large, pure white blossoms.