Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Black Chokeberry, Deciduous Shrub Of The Day
Aronia melanocarpa 'Autumn Magic'
Black Chokeberry, Black Berried Aronia
Type Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range 4B to 9A
Height 4' to 6' / 1.20m to 1.80m
Spread 36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Growth rate Average
Form Oval
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Deciduous
Bloom Color Pink and white
Leaf Color Green
Fall Color Red
Leaf Color Green
Fall Color Red
Bloom Time Spring
This plant has attractive fall colors.
This plant has attractive fall colors.
Environment
Culture Notes
Spreading by seeds and suckers, Chokeberry transplants well, has a moderate growth rate and is very hardy. Attractive in borders and clumps, Chokeberry thrives in moist soil but will tolerate dry soils in sun or partial shade, also growing in coastal areas. Chokeberry is much prized for natural landscapes due to its easy care and the popularity of the berries to wildlife, especially birds.
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 hear it.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Persian Violet, Perennial Of The Day
Cyclamen coum
Persian Violet, Sowbread, Alpine Violet
Type PerennialHardy range 6A to 9A
Height 4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm
Growth rate Average
Form Rounded
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun
Bloom Color Pink
Bloom Time Spring and Winter
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 slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.
Leaf Color Green
This plant has attractive foliage.
Culture Notes
Plant in late summer when this cyclamen goes dormant Water during growing period and sparingly during dormancy. Protect from winds, do not cultivate around roots and mulch in the cooler zones.
Please feel free to comment on any post at any time all feedback is welcome and we’d love to hear it.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Chinese Holly, Featured Evergreen Tree, Woody Plant of The Day
Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii'
Chinese Holly, Horned Holly
Chinese Holly, Horned Holly
Type Tree, woody plant
Hardy range 7A to 9A
Height 15' to 25' / 4.60m to 7.60m
Spread 15' to 25' / 4.60m to 7.60m
Growth rate Average
Form Rounded and vase shaped
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Evergreen
Hardy range 7A to 9A
Height 15' to 25' / 4.60m to 7.60m
Spread 15' to 25' / 4.60m to 7.60m
Growth rate Average
Form Rounded and vase shaped
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Evergreen
Bloom Color White
Bloom Time Spring
Bloom Time Spring
Environment
This plant tolerates drought, flooding and some salt.
This plant will grow in very 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.
This plant tolerates drought, flooding and some salt.
This plant will grow in very 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
Fall Color No change in fall color
Fall Color No change in fall color
Culture Notes
Burford Holly does well in full sun or part shade and is very tolerant of drought. In fact they are so resistant to drought that cut stems last a long time and can be used in flower arrangements. Flowering and subsequent fruiting is reduced in shady locations. It is well suited for low-maintenance landscapes which receive little or no irrigation or fertilizer after trees are established. Burford Holly is surprisingly flood tolerant - better than any other hollies tested. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people. Plants in containers tolerate moderate soil salt solutions up to about 4 mmhos/cm according to the saturated media extract method.
Plants can be limbed up to form a multi-trunked small tree well suited for the patio or in another location requiring a small tree. The canopy fills with a dense thicket of foliage which makes a good rousting site for birds. Trees have also been used along streets where overhead power lines limit usage of large trees. It also does well in small sidewalk cutouts. This plant grows too tall to be used as a hedge. The Dwarf Burford is better suited for this purpose although this too grows to more than 15 feet tall.
Wood is considered diffuse porous meaning that there is little difference in size of pores between spring and summer wood.
Use as a street tree
This plant can be grown as a multi-trunk tree for use in highway median strips and in landscapes, or can be used as a street tree where there is not a need for tall-vehicle clearance beneath the crown. The small stature and low, spreading, branching habit makes pruning for vehicular clearance difficult unless it is properly trained from an early age to develop one main trunk. The effort required initially to train this tree for street tree use, however, may be offset by its advantages.
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.
Burford Holly does well in full sun or part shade and is very tolerant of drought. In fact they are so resistant to drought that cut stems last a long time and can be used in flower arrangements. Flowering and subsequent fruiting is reduced in shady locations. It is well suited for low-maintenance landscapes which receive little or no irrigation or fertilizer after trees are established. Burford Holly is surprisingly flood tolerant - better than any other hollies tested. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people. Plants in containers tolerate moderate soil salt solutions up to about 4 mmhos/cm according to the saturated media extract method.
Plants can be limbed up to form a multi-trunked small tree well suited for the patio or in another location requiring a small tree. The canopy fills with a dense thicket of foliage which makes a good rousting site for birds. Trees have also been used along streets where overhead power lines limit usage of large trees. It also does well in small sidewalk cutouts. This plant grows too tall to be used as a hedge. The Dwarf Burford is better suited for this purpose although this too grows to more than 15 feet tall.
Wood is considered diffuse porous meaning that there is little difference in size of pores between spring and summer wood.
Use as a street tree
This plant can be grown as a multi-trunk tree for use in highway median strips and in landscapes, or can be used as a street tree where there is not a need for tall-vehicle clearance beneath the crown. The small stature and low, spreading, branching habit makes pruning for vehicular clearance difficult unless it is properly trained from an early age to develop one main trunk. The effort required initially to train this tree for street tree use, however, may be offset by its advantages.
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.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Lamb's Ears, Featured Evergreen Perennial of The Day
Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears'
Lamb's Ears, Woundwort
Type Perennial
Hardy range 4A to 8B
Height 6" to 18" / 15cm to 45cm
Spread 18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Growth rate Fast
Form Spreading or horizontal
Exposure Full sun
Persistence Evergreen
Hardy range 4A to 8B
Height 6" to 18" / 15cm to 45cm
Spread 18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm
Growth rate Fast
Form Spreading or horizontal
Exposure Full sun
Persistence Evergreen
Bloom Color Lavender
Bloom Time Summer
The flowers are fragrant, suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.
Bloom Time Summer
The flowers are fragrant, suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.
Environment
This 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.
This 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 Silvery
This plant has attractive foliage and fragrant foliage.
This plant has attractive foliage and fragrant foliage.
Culture Notes
Stachys tends to rot in hot humid summers. Cut back old foliage in the spring and divide plants every few years to control overcrowding. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.
Stachys tends to rot in hot humid summers. Cut back old foliage in the spring and divide plants every few years to control overcrowding. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)