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Plant of the Week: Season 2

Episode 201: Prairie Lace Crapemyrtle

Common Name: Prairie Lace Crapemyrtle

Scientific Name: Lagerstroemia indica 'Prairie Lace'

Type: Deciduous shrub

Size: 4-6' +

Habit: Upright. Semi-compact shrub

Flowers: Pannicles 4-12"   Medium  pink banded with white on outer margin. Flowers mid June- late Sept.

Leaves:Thicker than species, Emerge wine red in Spring, Fall color red-red orange, Mildew resistant-- supposedly

Culture: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought tolerant, Prune in early Spring as buds break

Use: Specimen, Accent, Summer color

Episode 202: Limelight Hydrangea

Common Name: Limelight Hydrangea

Scientific Name: Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'

Type: Deciduous shrub

Size: 10'-20'depending on cultivar

Habit: Upright to spreading habit.  Responds well to pruning.

Flowers: Pannicle type.  Lime green as they open changing to a white color with age.Summer:  June- September

Culture: Full sun to slightly partial shade.  Soil tolerant-not notably drought tolerant.Prune in late winter to early spring down to 12'-18'

Use: Accent plant, mixed shrub border

Episode 203: Drooping Leucothoe fontanesiana 

Common Name: Drooping Leucothoe fontanesiana

Scientific Name: Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Scarletta', Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Girard's Rainbow'

Type: Evergreen Shrub

Size: Grows 3-6' x 3-6'

Habit: Mounded to weeping habit-slow growing

Flowers: White flowers in early Spring.--- fountain-like effect

Light: Partial shade to shade --- Acidic soils

Soil: Moist soils-good OM-No drought - protect from wind

Use: Used as: foundation plant, naturalizing, borders---As much for foliage as for flowers

Cultivars: Cultivars - 'Scarletta' --- red new growth ---- bronze winter appearance, 'Girard's Rainbow'-multicolored new growth--- turns whiteand green

Episode 204: Downy Thorn Apple

Common Name: Downy Thorn Apple

Scientific Name: Datura metel

Type: herbaceous annual

Size:

    2-4' x 2-4'
    Habit: spreading

Flowers:

    (June-early September) Trumpet-shaped-white, yellow, double purple, other cultivars
    Blooms in the late evening through early morning
    Flowers last only about 12 hours

Culture: partial sun to full sun

Other:

    attracts butterflies and bees
    all parts of plant highly are poisonous if ingested

Episode 205: Rose of Sharon, Althea

Common Name: Rose of Sharon, Althea

Scientific Name: Hibiscus syriacus

Type: Deciduous shrub related to the tropical hibiscus

Size: 10-15 ft.

Habit: vase-shaped habit

Flowers:

    Pink, purple, white, red, single and double
    June-September
    Many cultivars

Culture: Full sun. Soil tolerant.

Episode 206: "Bluebeard"

Common Name: “Bluebeard”

Scientific Name: Caryopteris clandonensis ‘Ferndown’

Type: Shrub

Size: 36-48 inches high and 36 inches wide

Habit: Rounded to spreading

Flowers: Deep blue-violet flowers in August and September Green foliage with a touch of gray

Culture: Full sun, well-drained soil Cut back to about 6” in early to mid March

Use: mixed borders, flower beds Attracts insects (bees)

Episode 207: Variegated Serissa

Common Name: The Variegated Serissa

Scientific Name: Serissa foetida ‘Variegata’

Type: Evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub, tiny green leaves variegated yellow margins

Size: 2-4 ft. x 2-4 ft

Flowers: Flowers small pink to white flowers spring- fall

Culture: Good bonsai. Sun- partial shade AM sun best

Use: Great in mixed shrub borders and outdoor containers (protect roots)

Episode 208: Mandevilla

Common Name: Mandevilla

Scientific Name: Mandevilla splendens

Type: Tropical vine native to Brazil, Tender perennial

Size: 4-10ft on a support

Foliage: Large simple leaves, dark green

Flowers:

    Large trumpet-shaped with wavy margins
    Pink, rose, red-depending on the cultivar
    Blooms throughout the summer, repeatedly
    Attracts bees, butterflies, and humming birds

Culture:

    Full sun to partial shade outdoors
    Full sun indoors
    Keep soil amply moist

Use: Climbing vine for arbor, trellis, mailbox, containers on decks and patios

Popular Cultivars:

    'Alice Dupont'- pink
    'Red Velvet'- red  (especially when hot)

Episode 209: Knockout Rose

Common Name: Knockout Rose

Scientific Name: Rosa 'Knockout'

Type: deciduous shrub

Size: 4'x 4'

Foliage: dark green to purplish green

Flowers:

    single rose flowers through summer-fall
    red/pink

Culture:

    Full sun to partial shade- 6 hrs. minimum
    Black spot resistant
    Japanese beetle resistant
    Very low maintenance-thrives on neglect
    No deadheading needed, humidity hardy

Use:

    Shrub border, accent, even foundation
    Mass planting

Cultivar: 'Blushing Knockout'

Episode 210: Virginia Sweetspire

Common Name: Virginia Sweetspire

Scientific Name: Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet'

Type: deciduous shrub

Size:

    3-4 ft. x 4-6ft.
    Root suture rhizomes-spread

Flowers:

    white flowers early Spring- fragrant
    fantastic Fall color- red

Soil: medium to wet

Culture: Full sun to partial shade

Use:

    Woodland near water for patches of color - Spring and Fall
    Foundation - in groups - shrub borders

Episode 211: New England Aster

Common Name: New England Aster

Scientific Name: Aster novae-angliae

Type: Herbaceous perennial

Size: 3-6' tall

Flowers:

    Aug.-Oct.
    Pink, blue, purple
    Attracts butterflies and other insects

Culture: Full sun

Use: Use in borders towards the back in full garden

Other Asters:

      Common Name:
      Dwarf Aster Collection

       Scientific Name:
       Aster novi-belgii

       Asters in the dwarf collection:

          'Dark Pixie' purple
          'Bonnie Blue' violet
          'Alert' crimson
          'Snow Flurry' white
          'Peter Pan' pink

Episode 212: Staghorn Sumac

Common Name: Staghorn Sumac

Scientific Name: Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes'

Type: Deciduous shrub

Size: Height: 12 ft, Spread: 15 ft form

Habit: Upright spreading

Foliage:

    Bright red fall color
    New foliage emerges lime-green and turns a beautiful golden-yellow as it matures. Lacy foliage drapes down from upright angled branches.

Culture: Full sun

Other:

    Grows rapidly
    Tolerates moist exposures and poor soil but is short-lived.
    Red mid-vein and hairy stems

Use: Mass plantings in natural areas

Also:

     Common Name: Cut Leaf Sumac

     Scientific Name: Rhus typhina 'Dissecta'

Episode 213: Tangerine Beauty Cross Vine

Common Name: Tangerine Beauty Cross Vine

Scientific Name: Bignonia capreolata 'Tangerine Beauty'

Type: Woody vine

Size: Average height 10 to 20 feet, but can reach up to 30'

Flowers:

    2 inches long, cluster at the leaf axils and have yellow throats surrounded by tangerine colored tubes.
    Flowers late spring and throughout the summer

Foliage: Semi-evergreen to evergreen

Culture:

    Full sun to partial shade
    Well-drained soil
    Grows quickly
    Needs minimal training

Use: Commonly grown on trelliswork or walls

Episode 214: Aster

Common Name: Aster

Scientific Name: Aster frikartii 'Monch'

Type: Herbaceous perennial

Size: Grows 2-3' high

Habit: Clump forming

Flowers: Lavender-blue flowers from mid-summer to fall

Culture: Full sun

Use: Borders

Episode 215: Gunnera

Common Name: Gunnera

Scientific Name: Gunnera manicata

Type: Hardy herbaceous perennial

Size: 6-8ft. tall -- up to 10ft. spread

Habit: forms huge domed mounds

Foliage: huge umbrella-size leaves

Flowers:

    Bronzy-pink, conical flowers
    Summer

Culture: full sun to partial shade

Use: makes a great poolside plant

Episode 216: Graber's Pyracantha 

Common Name: Graber's Pyracantha

Scientific Name: Pyracantha fortuneana 'Graberi'

Type: evergreen - semi-evergreen shrub

Size:

    10-12 ft. tall, 8-10ft. wide
    fast grower

Habit: upright

Foliage: dark green

Flowers:

    white flowers in early spring
    orange/red fruit produced in late summer early fall

Culture: full sun

Use:

    can be trained to a standard tree form
    barrier hedge
    windbreak

Episode 217: Winter Sun Mahonia

Common Name: Winter Sun Mahonia

Scientific Name: Mahonia x media 'Winter Sun'

Type: evergreen shrub

Foliage: dark green, leathery, spiny, pinnate leaves

Flowers:

    Fragrant yellow racemes produced in upright spikes
    Flowers late fall to winter

Culture: full sun

Soil: well-drained

Episode 218: Norfolk Island Pine

Common Name: Norfolk Island Pine

Scientific Name: Araucaria heterophylla

Type: evergreen

Foliage: soft, short needle-like leaves

Light: full sun, but will tolerate some shade

Temp: Cool - medium. 50 - 70 (degrees F) days, 45 - 65 nights.

Humidity: Prefers high, 50% or more, good ventilation. Tolerates average

Water: Frequent. Water thoroughly, keep soil evenly moist to touch (not saturated). Don't let sit in water.

Uses:

    Houseplant
    Living Christmas Tree
    Container plant indoors or outdoors
    Landscape

Problems:

    Root rot: Provide adequate drainage. Do not let plant sit in water.
    Spider mites: Wash with soapy water and apply miticide.
    Leaf scorch: Provide adequate water and humidity. Do not overfertilize.
    Leaf drop: Avoid conditions that are too dry or too wet.

Episode 219: Kalanchoe

Common Name: Kalanchoe

Scientific Name: Kahlanchoe blossfeldiana

Type: perennial, succulent

Habit: erect, upright

Flowers:

    Produced in small clusters
    Tubular in shape
    Colors: yellow, orange, pink, purple,red & white
    Flowers mid to late Nov. through winter

Foliage: dark green

Light: full sun to partial shade

Soil: open free draining

Use: makes a great houseplant or holiday plant-place in sunny window

Episode 220: Winter Honeysuckle

Common Name: Winter Honeysuckle

Scientific Name: Lonicera x purpusii

Type: hardy shrub

Habit: vase-shaped with rounded crown

Flowers:

     The nickel-sized, waxy, creamy-white flowers with prominent yellow anthers have a lemon-scented fragrance.

     A red berry sometimes develops from the flowers, which attracts birds.

    The first buds open on bare stems in early December and will continue to bloom until late January or longer.

Foliage: Bluish-green

Light: full sun to partial shade

Episode 221: Marble Queen Pathos

Common Name: Marble Queen Pathos

Scientific Name: Epipremnum aureum 'Marble Queen'

Habit: cascading, climbing

Foliage:

    white and green
    variegated, heart-shaped leaves

Light: Low

Care:

    Easy
    Tolerates a wide range of conditions.  Good for a beginner.

Uses: ground cover, hanging basket, small container

Episode 222: Bromeliads

Plant Group: Bromeliads

Bromeliads are in the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae), a family native to the American Tropics. Two widely known members of this family are pineapple (Ananas comosus) and Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides).

Foliage: Variations in foliage are as wide as those in flowering

Flowers: leaves may be green, gray, maroon, spotted or striped. Leaves range from grass-like and less than 2 inches long in some tillandsias, to broad and several feet long in billbergias. The upper leaves of many species change color when plants are about to flower. The gray-green, grass-like foliage of Tillandsia ionantha turns pink, and deep purple-blue flowers arise among the pink leaves.

Features: The most distinctive feature of this plant group is the rosette of leaves that mold into a cup to hold the water that nourishes the plant.  In some varieties, flowers and large colorful bracts emerge from the center to create a spectacular display.  These bracts are modified leaves that grow from the same axils as the flowers.

Light: Bright light but no direct hot afternoon sun.

Uses: makes a great houseplant

Episode 223: Hellebore Lenten Rose 

Common Name: Hellebore Lenten Rose

Scientific Name: Helleborus x hybridus

Habit: clumping

Flowers: Begin blooming in Jan. or earlier and continue blooming into Spring. Various colors—red, pink, white, cream, yellow

Light: partial to full shade Water: Keep surface of soil moist, but not soggy

Uses: Hellebores are wonderful, evergreen plants for the partially shaded garden. Use them with spring wildflowers and early bulbs, or use them as a foundation with deciduous shrubs and ornamentals. They blend nicely with the landscape after flowering.