Nothing beats lantana for nonstop color throughout the growing season. The cheerful flower clusters—in a rainbow of single and multi-hues—bloom nonstop from late spring through frost, and nearly year-round in warmer climates. Known for its carefree nature, lantana is grown as an annual in northern regions, and a broadleaf evergreen shrub or ground cover in frost-free climates. The flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and insect pollinators.
A member of the verbena family, it is native to tropical regions of the Americas and South Africa. Though there are 150 different species, those most widely available to home gardeners are Lantana camara and modern hybrids. Also known as Spanish flag, lantana thrives in hot, dry weather and is tolerant of salt and sandy soil, making it a popular choice for seaside landscapes. These same attributes are what allow it to become invasive in some areas.
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A sea of semi-double to double coral pink fragrant flowers surf just above the mounding evergreen foliage. Great heat and humidity tolerance. Dianthus Classic Coral flaunts much sought-after attributes: low maintenance, drought tolerance, evergreen foliage, attractive to beneficial pollinators and provides charming bouquets for a favorite bud vase.
Few herbs have the lasting impact of lavender. The plant is adept as either a culinary, aromatic, or cosmetic herb. One of the most tolerant forms is Phenomenal.
What is Phenomenal lavender? The plant withstands both summer heat and winter cold. Best of all, Phenomenal lavender care is a breeze. Plant breeders have really hit a home run with (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’) plants. Not only are they adaptable to very cold and hot temperatures, but the plants tolerate a variety of soil conditions provided it is well draining. The biggest tip when growing Phenomenal lavender is sun. In full sun, this plant will provide no fuss beauty and scent in your garden. Phenomenal is a French lavender hybrid especially developed for winter hardiness combined with heat and humidity tolerance. Lavandula ‘Phenomenal’ plants form naturally soft mounds of silvery green foliage. The flower spikes are deeply purple-blue and heavily scented, a magnet for a variety of pollinating insects. What’s neat about Hostas is there are many sizes, heights, textures, and colors to work with! They fit into different kinds of gardens (patio, border, container, rock, shade) and are cold-hardy, too.
Most varieties tend to have a spread and height of between 1 and 3 feet, but larger or smaller varieties are readily available. Leaf colors include variegated white, lime green, and blue-green, to name just a few. The texture and shape of Hosta leaves are also diverse, ranging from smooth and narrow to ridged and heart-shaped. Though mainly known for their attractive foliage, the plants also produce lovely flowers from early summer to early fall in pink, lavender, light blue, or white. Hummingbirds and other pollinators love the flowers, and the flowers may even be fragrant, depending on variety. Note: Slugs, snails, rabbits, and especially deer like Hostas almost as much as people do. Keep this in mind if you have deer regularly wandering into your garden, as they will readily graze a Hosta patch down to just stems. |
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August 2024
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