Aztec Lily, Perennial Of The Day

Sprekelia formosissima 'Superba'

Jacobean Lily, Aztec Lily, St. James Lily

Type Perennial
Hardy range 9A to 11
Height 12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Spread 5" to 6" / 13cm to 15cm
Growth rate Average
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Full sun
Bloom Color Red
Bloom Time Spring and Summer
The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

This plant will grow in dry soil.

Environment
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes
This long flowering bulb makes a wonderful greenhouse plant and needs to be treated as a tropical bulb. Plant bulb with the top at soil level, in full sun and a well-drained soil. Needs to stay on the dry side during winter. Propagate by lifting and dividing the bulbs after the foliage has died. If growing in a container, re-pot every 2-3 years.

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Lavender Globe Lily, Perennial Of The Day

Allium tanguticum

Lavender Globe Lily

Type Biennial, perennial

Hardy range 3A to 7A

Height 8" to 16" / 20cm to 40cm

Growth rate Fast

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color Lavender

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

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 or sandy.
The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes A. tanguticum is put to good use when used as an ornamental or edging plant. Its flat, linear leaves are shorter than the stems, thus showing off the sphere-shaped blooms.

  

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Zinnia, Annual Of The Day

Zinnia x 'Profusion White'

Zinnia

Type Annual

Height 12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm

Spread 12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm

Growth rate Average

Form Upright or erect

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color White

Bloom Time Spring through Fall

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment

This plant tolerates some drought.

This plant will grow in dry soil.

Suitable soil is sandy.

The pH preference is a neutral soil.

Leaf Color Green

Culture Notes

This plant must have good drainage. The leaves are narrow and grasslike. Once planted, this plant should not be moved or disturbed. Protection may be needed in spring as new shoots emerge.

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Fernleaf Peony, Perennial Of The Day

Paeonia tenuifolia 'Rubra Flora Plena'

Fernleaf Peony

Type Perennial
Hardy range 3A to 8A
Height 12" to 15" / 30cm to 40cm
Spread 12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm
Growth rate Average
Form Rounded
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color Red
Bloom Time Spring

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

Environment
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

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
When planting Paeonia, place the "eyes" of the roots between 1"-2" below the surface. Needs partial shade in hotter climates. Some of these plants that have heavy blooms may need staking to support the blooms. The buds of this plant attract ants, and it is thought that the ants help the buds open. Peonies should be planted in areas with good air circulation. However, established plants are best left undisturbed. Avoid watering overhead when the plants are setting buds. Removal of the lateral buds on the stem will allow the single flower to grow larger. Remove flower heads as soon as they start to fade. In autumn remove foliage to ground and destroy it. Do not compost this to prevent the spread of disease. When preparing the planting bed, incorporate equal amounts of composted oak leaf mulch and coarse sand to your soil. Some plants will want a small amount of lime added to the soil.

'Rubra Flora Plena' has deep red, double flowers and fernlike, deep green foliage.

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Blood Red Cranesbill, Evergreen Perennial Of The Day

Geranium sanguineum 'John Elsley'
Blood Red Cranesbill, Bloody Cranesbill, Geranium

Type Perennial
Hardy range 3A to 8A
Height 9" to 12" / 23cm to 30cm
Spread 12" to 24" / 30cm to 60cm
Growth rate Average
Form Spreading or horizontal
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Evergreen

Bloom Color Pink
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 and fragrant foliage.

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. G. sanguineum is one of the more heat and cold tolerant species of geraniums, and it is one of the most trouble-free species for southern gardens. Plants go well with: Thymus, Phlox, and Dianthus sp. 'John Elsley' is quite similar to 'Alan Bloom', but it is somewhat taller.

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