Spotted Bellflower, Perennial Of The Day

Campanula punctata syn. Campanula nobilis 'Cherry Bells'

Spotted Bellflower

Type Perennial

Hardy range 5A to 9A

Height 20" to 26" / 50cm to 65cm

Growth rate Fast

Form Spreading or horizontal and upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color Red

Bloom Time Summer

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 a neutral to slightly alkaline (6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes Campanula will not do well in dry or wet soils or if humidity is high. As long as there is adequate drainage, this plant will easily spread to show off its numerous bell-shaped flowers. It's a good idea to remove spent flower heads for continuous blooming. C. punctata is noted for its pendulous, tubular blossoms that have tiny purple spots on the inside. A Terra Nova introduction, 'Cherry Bells' has a strong, upright habit and unusual tubular, red flowers. This plant attracts hummingbirds.

Please feel free to comment on any post at any time. All feedback is welcome and we’d love to receive all of your thoughts.

Thank You

Red Fox, Annual Of The Day

Celosia argentea (Spicata Group) 'Flamingo'
    Red Fox,  Celosia,  Wheat

Type    Annual
Height    10" to 18" / 25cm to 45cm
Spread    12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

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

Environment
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 attractive foliage.

 Culture Notes
Celosia is really a tender perennial, but it is usually grown as an annual because it is not hardy in areas which have consistent freezing temperatures.  It reseeds easily to the point of being a pest.  Seedlings can be grown sown under glass early spring.

Please feel free to comment on any post at any time. All feedback is welcome and we’d love to receive all of your thoughts.

Thank You

Darwin Barberry, Evergreen Shrub, Woody Plant Of The Day

Berberis darwinii
    Darwin Barberry

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    7A to 9A
Height    6' to 8' / 1.80m to 2.40m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Spring

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Green

Culture Notes
Barberry is fairly adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions but looks its best when grown on rich, somewhat moist, soil in full sun or light shifting shade.   Plants will require some pruning to maintain them in bounds if planted in too small an area.  Wear heavy gloves and a long-sleeved shirt when pruning Barberry. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

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.

Please feel free to comment on any post at any time. All feedback is welcome and we’d love to receive all of your thoughts.

Thank You

Dancing Girl Ginger, Perennial Of The Day

Globba marantina 'Yellow Dancing Girl'     

syn. Globba schomburgkii
    Dancing Girl Ginger,  Yellow Dancing Ladies

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    7B to 11
Height    18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full shade

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are showy.

Environment
This plant will grow in 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
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
These plants do quite well as a groundcover under tropical shrubs.  During their growth spurts, they require lots of water and high humidity.

Please feel free to comment on any post at any time. All feedback is welcome and we’d love to receive all of your thoughts.

Thank You

Eastern Arborvitae, Evergreen Tree, woody plant Of The Day

Thuja occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost'
    Eastern Arborvitae,  American Arborvitae,  Siberian Arborvitae,  Northern White Cedar,  White Cedar

Type    Tree, woody plant
Hardy range    3A to 7A
Height    12' to 20' / 3.60m to 6.00m
Spread    4' to 7' / 1.20m to 2.20m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Pyramidal
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Spring

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought, flooding and a little salt.
This plant will grow in dry to wet or submerged 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    Green, variegated and yellow
Fall Color    Yellow
This plant has attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes
Transplanting is moderately easy if plants are root-pruned and either balled and burlapped or potted.  White-Cedar likes high humidity and tolerates wet soils and some drought, but not salt exposure of any kind.  The foliage turns brownish in winter, especially on cultivars with colored foliage and on exposed sites open to the wind.  Many of the natural stands in the United States have been cut.  Some remain in isolated areas along rivers throughout the East. Some variegation is present on some branches.

Maintain adequate mulch area

Be sure to clear all turf away from beneath the branches and mulch to the drip line (the edge of the branches), especially on young trees, to reduce competition with turf and weeds.  This will allow roots to become well established and keep plants healthier.  Locate the tree properly, taking into account the ultimate size, since the tree looks best if it is not pruned to control size.  The tree can enhance any landscape with its delightful spring flush of foliage.  It can be the centerpiece of your landscape if properly located.

Please feel free to comment on any post at any time. All feedback is welcome and we’d love to receive all of your thoughts.

Thank You