Cushion Spurge, Featured Plant of The Day

Euphorbia polychroma     syn. Euphorbia epithymoides
    Cushion Spurge,  Spurge

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    5A to 9A
Height    12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Spread    18" to 20" / 45cm to 50cm
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Yellow
Bloom Time    Spring and Summer

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.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Plant is easily grown if a well-drained soil is provided and some afternoon shade.  It is a notorious self-sower and will quickly colonize a garden if not deadheaded prior to seed formation.  Plant with other mound forming plants.

Does not transplant well.  Divide every 10 years. Delay deadheading to allow for seed collection, if so desired.

Wild Petunia Featured Plant of The Day

Ruellia caroliniensis
    Wild Petunia

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    6B to 10A
Height    6" to 12" / 15cm to 30cm
Spread    12" to 36" / 30cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Full shade to partial sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue and purple
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

The flowers are showy.

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought and occasional wetness.
This plant will grow in dry to 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
Fall Color    No change in fall color

Culture Notes
Wild Petunia is a native wildflower found throughout the eastern part of the United States' woodlands.  They spread and are known as strong growers under adverse conditions.  Wild Petunia has light green leaves that are medium in texture.  Blue or violet flowers appear on this perennial in the spring, summer and fall.  These flowers are showy, and their nectar is appealing to various species of butterflies.

Wild Petunia may be used as flowering ground cover and in front of perennial borders.  They are attractive when massed together or planted in a container where flexible stems droop over the pot.  They would make an attractive hanging basket.

Place Ruellia in an area of the landscape that receives full to partial shade.  These species will grow best in well-drained soils and are very drought tolerant.  If Ruellia is frozen to the ground in the winter, regrowth should occur from the roots.

These plants may be propagated by seed or cuttings.  Ruellia can spread, as it readily reseeds itself. These plants bloom profusely, especially in the spring and fall.

Blue Fortune Mexican Hyssop, Featured Plant of The Day

Agastache x 'Blue Fortune'
    Mexican Hyssop,  Giant Hyssop

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    6A to 9A
Height    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Spread    12" to 4' / 30cm to 1.00m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Bloom Color    Blue
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage and fragrant foliage.

Culture Notes
This plant has a compact habit.  It is a hybrid between A. rugosa and A. foeniculum.  It was bred and selected by Gert Fortgens of the Arboretum Trompenberg in Rotterdam.  The foliage is fragrant, and it is heat and drought tolerant.  This plant attracts hummingbirds and is excellent for sandy soils. Plants serve as butterfly nectar sources. 'Blue Fortune' requires little maintenance and does not require staking.

Emerald Tiara Hosta, Featured Plant of The Day

Hosta x 'Emerald Tiara'
    Hosta,  Plantain Lily,  Plantain Lily

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 9A
Height    12" to 17" / 30cm to 45cm
Spread    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Full shade to partial sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Purple
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are showy and suitable for cut flowers.

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, variegated and yellow
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Remove flower heads when flowers are spent.  Hostas will grow best in a moist, fertile loamy soil in a woodland setting.  Plants go well with: Astilbe, Ferns, Epimedium, Rodgersia, and Dicentra sp. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

'Emerald Tiara' Hybrid is the opposite of 'Golden Tiara' in that its leaf margins are green with a golden center.  The lavender blooms display purple veins, and sit atop 24" scapes.  Blooms may sometimes reoccur.

Rosea Showy Primrose, Featured Plant of The Day

Oenothera speciosa 'Rosea'     syn. Oenothera berlandieri
    White Evening Primrose,  Mexican Evening Primrose,  Showy Primrose

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 6A
Height    6" to 12" / 15cm to 30cm
Spread    12" to 18" / 30cm to 45cm
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are showy.

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

Culture Notes
This plant should be grown in infertile, well-drained soil in a sunny location.  Otherwise, its aggressive runners will become invasive.