Plants of the Week of August 24th

Cheyenne Skies Switch Grass is a heat loving grass that starts out green and turns red as the summer wains into fall.  It reaches 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, staying in nice clumps. It's also easy to care just water and fertilizer.  Can be used in low water use gardens.  It prefers at least 6 hours of sunlight.

Frida Kahlo Rose is a floribunda (flowers in clusters) with red blush and gold stripes honoring the famous Frida Kahlo of Mexico who once said, "I paint flowers so they will not die.".  It's a heavy bloomer and has had very disease issues at the nursery. The swirl pattern is delightful.  Like other roses they prefer at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.  This grows to about 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.

Plants of the Week of August 17th, 2018

This week is a Rose of Sharon twofer.  It's Rose of Sharon season and pollinators love them as you can see with the huge bumble bee. Rose of Sharons reach about 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide.  They prefer to be planted in full sun but can tolerate morning shade.  They are great for focal points or privacy screens. They flower from July to September, while it's hot out.

Lavender Chiffon is a double lavender variety that has a full petal count.  It's one of the fullest of the double bloomers.  A vigorous grower that wants to flower when it's hot out. 

Blue Chiffon is a blue lavender semi-double bloom.  Not quite as full as the Lavender Chiffon but the color is a good blue for July gardens to celebrate the Fourth of July. 

Plants of the Week of August 11th

Since it's been hot out, here are a couple more sun lovers that prefer at least 4 hours of sunlight a day.

The Asian Moon Butterfly Bush is a sterile butterfly bush that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.  It's blue lavender flowers start in July and bloom through September for a long show.  It reaches 7 feet tall and wide, so it works well for a summer backdrop with perennials in front of it.  Great for a pollinator garden as well.

The Sombrero Adobe Orange Coneflower has a bold color orange for spots that need to be lit.  The orange color is striking on this compact coneflower with a height of 20 inches and a spread of 2 to 3 feet. It flowers throughout the summer and would work well with ornamental grasses, daylilies, daisies or other sun loving perennials.  Easy to care for. 

Plants of the Week of August 3rd

This week's featured plants are both sun lovers preferring at least 4 hours of sunlight a day to all day sun.

Kim's Knee High Coneflower is a dwarf coneflower that reaches 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide with a rich rose pink flowers that bloom mid to late summer.  Attracts butterflies and bumble bees!  Easy to care for and maintain.

Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea is a sun loving hydrangea that bloom white in July/August and when it cools down in Sepetember the blooms become strawberry ice cream pink, so don't be too hasty on pruning the old flowers off.  This one is a compact grower that grows to 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. 

Plants of the Week of July 27th

Tie Dye Hibiscus is a sun loving, high blooming perennial that loves our hot weather.  The hotter the better as far it's concerned.  Tie Dye starts blooming in July and goes until the weather cools down.  Again it needs at least 6 hours of sun preferably in the afternoon. It is a medium water user like a rose bush, but can be used as a bog plant on pond shelf.  So if you have wet spot in full sun this is your plant.  Reaches about 4 to 5 feet tall and wide.

Last Man Standing Daylily is a non yellow daylily that has large blooms in July.  It likes full sun to partial shade.  Last Man Standing gets 26 inches tall and about 3 feet wide. The color is outstanding with light and dark pink colors.  It does re-bloom but it is a short season of July.  Great to mix with lavender or catmint for a color contrast.

Plant of Week for July 20th

Lucifer Crocosmia is a multi interest plant with sword like foliage and red flowers.  It always reminds me of a floral arrangement.  They look great in mass or alone.  Flowers from mid to late summer and prefers at least 6 hours of sunlight. Reaches 36 to 42 inches tall.

Whoops-a-daisy Daisy is a dwarf shasta daisy that flowers from early to mid summer with deadheading. It has a dense habit to give it more of a fuller appearance.  Only reaches about 15 inches tall and like at least 6 hours of sun.  

Plants of the Week for July 13th

These two summer blooming "trees" love the sun and stay less than 12 feet tall, making them work were a tree look is needed without the size of a tree.  I say "trees" because they are really shrubs trained into trees.

The first "tree" is the Phantom Hydrangea a vigorous growing tree that blooms heavy white cone shape flowers. It grows to 8 to 10 feet tall and wide.  Phantom enjoys full sun to partial shade. Cold hardy to negative 30 degrees F, so it will weather our winters with no issue.  Starts flowering in late June and July, then the flowers dry to a blush pink for a lasting effect.

The second "tree" or shrub is the Tahiti Rose of Sharon has a semi double lavender flower.  I have a tree form in my yard since 2015 and it handled the hard winter very well.  Rose of Sharons prefer heat, so plan to plant this in at least 6 hours of sunlight.  You will enjoy the flowers from July to September. Reaches 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide.

Plants of the Week for July 6th

E.H. Wilson Mimosa (Silk Tree) is one of the most cold hardy mimosas offered on the market.  We have been happy with the variety for a number of years and we enjoy the dark pink blooms in the summer. E.H. Wilson reaches 30 feet tall and 30 feet wide. If prefers full sun.  Fun characteristic is the leaves fold up when the plant is dry.   It enjoys our hot summers but sometimes in harsh winters can take some damage.  It gives a tropical look to the yard.

Glowing Embers Hydrangea is a shade loving Hydrangea that flowers in July.  It is an old wood bloomer so it only blooms once but has a sharp dark pink color and large blooms.  It reaches 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. Prefers to be shaded from noon to 5 pm.  Glowing Embers doesn't need any soil pH adjustments in the Tri-Cities to keep it's color. This is one of my favorite Hydrangeas.

Plants of the Week of June 29th

Midnight Raider Daylily is a reblooming bi-color daylily that reaches 30 inches tall with sturdy scapes to support the burgundy blooms.  Does well in 4 or more hours of sun just like other daylilies. Daylilies can handle all sorts of soil conditions and exposures. 

Fireworks Rodgersia is a shade perennial with cool foliage interest.  It does have pink flowers in summer but I think it looks like a dinosaur plant.   Reaches 3 feet tall and spreads 5 feet wide. Would work well with Hostas and Hydrangeas.

Drop Dead Red Rose is a floribunda rose (blooms in clusters) that blooms heavily true red blooms.  It's glossy color compliments it's the flowers as well as it is very disease resistant. One of my favorite red roses.  It grows to about 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.

Plants of the Week for June 22nd

This week's plants are all from the same species.  They are all types of Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). In our area they prefer afternoon shade from noon to 5 pm. 

Peacock is a black stemmed variety that flowers on new and old wood. It boasts very large blooms on sturdy stems.  It can very in color from pale pink to blue depending on soil pH. 3 to 6 feet tall and wide.

Fire Island  is a compact Hydrangea that grows 3 by 3 feet tall and wide.  It's multi tone pink blooms are gorgeous.  It also repeat blooms through the summer.

Blushing Bride is a white re-blooming hydrangea that is great for moonlight gardens. It has large flowers and has a clean white color.  Though if you acidify your soil it will have a blue tint to it.  Grows to about 3 to 6 feet tall and wide.

Plants of the Week for June 15th

Easy Spirit Rose is a floribunda rose that flowers very pretty cream white and is very disease resistant.  I like the form of the flower and look forward to seeing these roses in a few years when they are fully loaded with flowers. It flowers in clusters May to Nov, reaching about 3 to 4 feet. Prefers at least six hours of sun and best if it gets more.

Hot Summer Coneflower is an orange colored coneflower that reaches 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. It likes hot and dry spots and flowers from June to August. Hot Summer needs at least 4 to 6 hours of sun, preferably in the afternoon. Pair with catmints, black eyed susans and day lilies. 

Sea Breeze Fleabane is a coastal native that enjoys sunny spots, so it will like it here.  It likes spots that get at least 4 to 6 hours of sun.  Sea Breeze flowers from June into fall, taking a break in high temps. It's lavender pink blooms are stunning!

Plants of the Week for June 1st 2018

Oak Leaf Hydrangea gets its name because the leaves on it look like an oak leaf.  They reach 4 to 6 ft tall and wide.  They enjoy sun but like a little shade around 3 to 4 pm.  They flower white in June and the flowers age to pink over time.  The fall colors are shades of red and is striking.

Rugged Charm Maple is a small tree that actually makes use of it’s helicopters.  They turn red in June so it looks like the tree is flowering!  Rugged Charm grows to 20 to 25 feet tall and about 20 feet wide.  Works great for small spaces or yards.  Handles full sun and wind with no issues.  Fall color is orange red.

Plants of the Week for May 25th

Parade Day Rose is a new variety for 2018.  It's a fuchsia and white striped rose with a strong citrus fragrance.  I like the form and color blend.  It's found in our Hybrid Tea section but it's really a grandiflora which can bloom one flower per stem or in clusters and reaches 5 to 6 feet tall and wide.  Roses prefer full sun and good airflow.  

Cheyenne Privet is typically a hedge plant that responds well to pruning.  It's deciduous with dark green leaves.  What earns it's spot in the weekly highlights is the white fragrant flowers.  The flower are lilac smelling and very strong.    Privets enjoy both full sun to partial sun exposures.  Can be used for privacy or a fragrant back drop. Reaches 12 to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide.

Plants of the Week for May 18th 2018

Here are my two picks for this week going that are going to be vibrant flower colors for a long bloom season.

The Crimson Kisses Weigela is a sun loving hummingbird attracting, bush with a great red flower color.  It stays compact at 3 feet tall and wide.  The foliage is a dark green that contrasts well with red bloom that rebloom throughout the summer. Crimson Kisses is supposed to not get lanky like other weigela varieties, so far it's proving as marketed at staying nice and compact.

The Ignition Purple Salvia is a heat loving plant for hot and dry areas that blooms a rich purple spring through summer.  It can have morning shade but prefers all day sun. Reaches 2 feet tall and about 3 feet wide.  It's works well with Yarrow, Black Eyed Susan and Russian Sage as a brilliant contrast to their flower colors.

Plants of the Week for May 11th

This week was hard to pick out three plants.  Itoh Peonies are in full bloom, salvia are all happy and so were the Matrix lilies. These all receive honorable mention this week.

Our first plant is another one from my yard the Onadaga Viburnum, it has red new growth and in early May white lace cap blooms that resemble a Hydrangea.  Except it lives in full to partial sun.  It's as tough as a Snowball Viburnum.  It grows to 10 to 12 feet tall and 5 to 7 feet wall.  It can be a great privacy hedge mixed with Rose of Sharon, Lilacs or even Arborvitae.

The Klondike Exbury Azalea is part of the deciduous azalea group where they lose their foliage in the fall with beautiful fall color.  The orange rhododendron-like flowers are wonderful this time of year.  Klondike gets 4 to 6 feet tall and wide.  They do best with filtered shade at 3 to 5 pm in summer.  

Wine and Roses Weigela is a chocolate or bronze foliage that flowers magenta pink blooms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies in May. It reaches 4 to 6 feet tall and wide.  For best foliage color, plant in full sun but it will take some shade. Responds well to pruning if it gets raggedy.   Great contrast to blue grey or green leafed plants.   

Plants of the Week of April 27th 2018

Percy Wiseman Rhododendron has bright colored flowers of pinks and corals.  Rhododendrons are shade loving evergreens in our area, needing to be shaded from noon to 5 by trees or buildings.  Percy reaches about 4 feet tall and wide. Likes soils that moist but not boggy and acidic soils.

Kimono May Snow Azalea is a new azalea with large pure white blooms.  They flower later than standard azaleas and behaves like a ground-cover keeping to about 16 inches tall and 36 inches wide. Like Rhodies, they are best planted in noon to 5 shade. Likes soils that moist but not boggy and acidic soils. Azaleas are semi evergreen in our area where they can loose their leaves if the winters are cold enough.

President Grevy Lilac is a "blue" lilac with a strong fragrance and lots of blooms!  Lilacs handle full sun to part sun conditions.  President Grevy is tall growing to about 8 to 10 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide.  It makes a great backdrop to other plants or can be used as a hedge mixed with either evergreens or summer blooming plants. Lilacs love alkaline soil and chili winters, so our area is great for them.

Plant of the Week of April 20th

Hoki and High Noon are both Tree Peonies.  These are shrub type peonies that do not need staking or caging.  You also don't cut them to the ground at the end of the growing season either.  Tree Peonies are a woody shrubs that reaches about 6 ft tall.  Slow growing and does well in full sun to part sun conditions. Tree peonies bloom before garden peonies, in mid to late April. 

Headliner Blueberry Swirl Petunia is a mounding type petunia with a great bicolor bloom of purple and white.  Heat loving and flowers from spring into fall.  Reaches 10" tall and spreads to 24 to 30 inches wide.  Easily filling a bed or pot with a great color show.  Does not need deadheading to keep flowering. Feed and water regularly to keep happy. 

Plant of the Week of April 13th

Champagne Bubbles Poppy is a mixture of colors for a plant that likes well drained soil.  They love full to partial sun.  To encourage more flowers remove spent flowers as they fade. Also allow the poppies to reseed themselves to extend their life.

Black Mamba Petunia is a spreading petunia that doens't need deadheading and offers a rich purple black color.  Reminds me of black felt. Great to contrast white flowers or sweet potato vines. Like other petunias they prefer full to partial sun. Routine fertilizing is best for petunias. 

Orange Storm Quince is a thorn less, fruitless Quince that offers coral orange flowers to welcome spring!  The color is striking that runs along the branches. They reach 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. They prefer full to partial sun. Let Orange Storm be a backdrop to perennials or smaller shrubs.