Flowers
 What is woodland phlox? It is a native plant that grows wild in the eastern areas of the country. However, increasing numbers of gardeners add woodland phlox plants to their gardens as ornamentals. If you would like to bring blue woodland phlox flowers into your garden, you’ll want to know how to grow woodland phlox. For information about woodland phlox flowers, and tips on how to grow them, read on.
What is Woodland Phlox? Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) is a perennial that can be seen in dappled woodland or meadows from Quebec to Florida and west to Texas. You may know this plant by any of a number of other common names like Louisiana phlox, wild blue phlox, and wild sweet William. Woodland phlox is a relative of creeping phlox, a variety that grows in sun and spreads quickly. In contrast, woodland phlox prefers partial shade and spreads slowly. Woodland phlox plants have hairy, sticky leaves. The root system of woodland phlox plants forms a loose mat of foliage that can grow a foot high (31 cm.). How to Grow Woodland Phlox If you are considering growing woodland phlox, you should be aware that the blossoms of the plant require pollination by long-tongued insects. Pollinators include tiger swallowtails, skippers, bumblebees, hummingbird clearwing, and sphinx moths. Fruits follow the flowers. The first thing to take into consideration is hardiness. The plants thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. You’ll do best growing woodland phlox in medium moisture, rich soil that is well-drained. It prefers partial shade to full shade. These native plants require little maintenance, but you might add a light mulch in summer to help keep the moisture in the soil. Where to start growing woodland phlox? You can use this plant in rock gardens, cottage gardens, or native plant gardens. Or, if you want to plant spring bulbs, it makes a great shallow-rooted cover.
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 If you’re in the mood to plant something a little different to dazzle your neighbors and make them say ooh and ahh, consider planting a few flamingo cockscomb plants. Growing this bright, eye-catching annual couldn’t be much easier. Read on to learn all about growing flamingo cockscomb. Growing Flamingo Cockscomb Flamingo cockscomb (Celosia spicata) is also known as celosia ‘flamingo feather’ or cockscomb ‘flamingo feather.’ Flamingo cockscomb plants are easy to grow as long as you provide them with well-drained soil and at least five hours of sunshine per day. Like other cockscomb plants, Celosia flamingo feather is easily propagated by planting seed indoors about four weeks before the last expected frost in spring, or sowing them directly into the garden after you’re sure all danger of frost has passed. Seeds germinate in temperatures between 65 and 70 F. (18-21 C.) An even easier way of getting started with celosia flamingo feather is to purchase starter plants at a garden center or nursery. Plant bedding plants soon after the last frost. Caring for Flamingo Cockscomb Celosia care is relatively simple. Water flamingo cockscomb plants regularly. Although the plant is somewhat drought tolerant, flower spikes are smaller and less dramatic in dry conditions. Keep in mind that the soil should be moist but never waterlogged. Apply a weak solution of a general-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer every two to four weeks (Be careful not to over-feed celosia flamingo feather. If the plant is hale and hearty or if the soil is especially rich, fertilizer may not be needed.). Deadhead flamingo cockscomb plants regularly by pinching or clipping wilted blooms. This easy task keeps the plants neat, encourages more blooms, and prevents rampant reseeding. Watch for spider mites and aphids. Spray as needed with insecticidal soap spray or horticultural oil. Celosia flamingo feather plants tend to be sturdy, but taller plants may require staking to keep them upright.  Teacup roses are just the thing if you want to fill a small space with the beauty of full-sized roses. We planted this lovely in honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's birthday last year. This year it bloomed for the first time on Coronation Day for King Charles III.
These petite bloomers stay small, so you can plant them in containers, use them as a small border, fill in a cramped corner, or add them anywhere else you need a bold display but don’t have a ton of room. Some miniature roses grow better than others. There are hybrids and cultivars out there that produce an unimpressive display or that struggle with pests and diseases. If you’ve ever been gifted a living mini rose in a pot from a florist or grocery store, you probably know what I’m talking about. These rarely grow into healthy plants. “Teacup” isn’t a precise term. There isn’t any definition for a teacup rose available from the American Rose Society (ARS), which is the body that governs the registration and classification of roses. In general, when people talk about teacup roses, they mean those that are petite. In other words, “teacups” are miniature plants. Most miniature roses are simply shrubs that stay under two feet or so, while the blossoms may be more standard sized or correspondingly petite. You might also see full-sized shrubs with tiny flowers, but these aren’t considered miniature plants. These are often wild species that simply have small blossoms. It’s also worth noting that you might see a Rosa species with small blossoms in a tiny container available at many florists, but if you put that plant in the ground, you’ll soon be greeted by a massive bush. In other words, just because a plant is small to start with, that doesn’t mean it will stay that way.  Tall and stately foxglove plants (Digitalis purpurea) have long been included in garden areas where vertical interest and lovely flowers are desired. Foxglove flowers grow on stems which may reach 6 feet (2 m.) in height, depending on variety. Foxglove flowers are clusters of tubular shaped blooms in colors of white, lavender, yellow, pink, red, and purple.
Growing foxgloves thrive in full sun to partial shade to full shade, depending on the summer heat. They are hardy in gardening zones 4 through 10 and in the hottest areas prefer more midday and afternoon shade for optimum performance. The hotter the summers, the more shade the plant needs. How to Grow Foxgloves Foxglove plants grow best in rich, well draining soil. Caring for foxglove plants will include keeping the soil moist. As a biennial or short lived perennial, the gardener can encourage re-growth of foxglove flowers by not allowing the soil to dry out or to get too soggy. Foxglove flowers may be grown from seed, producing blossoms in the second year. If flower heads are not removed, foxglove plants reseed themselves abundantly. Using them as cut flowers can decrease reseeding. If flowers are allowed to drop seeds, thin the seedlings next year to about 18 inches (46 cm.) apart, allowing growing foxgloves room to develop. If you want additional foxglove plants next year, leave the last flowers of the season to dry on the stalk and drop seeds for new growth. The foxglove plant is grown commercially for distillation of the heart medication Digitalis. Caring for the foxglove plant should include keeping children and pets away, as all parts can be toxic when consumed. This may explain why deer and rabbits leave them alone. Hummingbirds are attracted by their nectar. Varieties of Foxglove Flowers Rusty foxgloves are the tallest variety of this specimen and may reach 6 feet, sometimes requiring staking. Foxy Hybrids foxglove reaches just 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm.) and may be an option for those growing foxgloves in small gardens. Sizes in between the two come from planting the common foxglove, which reaches 4 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) and hybrid types. Now that you’ve learned how to grow foxglove flowers, include them in a safe, background area of the flower bed or garden to add the vertical beauty of foxglove blooms  If you’re looking for stunning color in the garden, then why not consider planting the coral bells perennial. Not only will you receive lots of color, but you’ll fall in love with the plant’s intense variety of foliage color too.
Coral Bells Perennial Coral bells (Heuchera) may also be known by alumroot. These perennial plants are hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 3 and though they’re usually listed as evergreens in many climates, they can actually be found in several foliage colors—like bronze, purple, and more. The spikes of tall, bell-shaped blooms are where the coral bells flowers get their name and are just as impressive as the foliage color, blooming in late spring to early summer. There are also late-blooming types available. The flower color varies too, with colors ranging from white and pink to light coral and deep red.  Cherry Pie, Mary Fox, White Queen — they all refer to that old, cottage garden beauty: heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens). Hard to find for many years, this little darling is making a comeback. Heliotrope flowers were a favorite in my grandmother’s garden and heliotrope care was a regular part of her summer routine. She knew what many modern gardeners forgot. Growing a heliotrope plant brings satisfaction to the gardener, not only in its dense cluster of delicate flowers but in its delicious aroma. Some people claim it’s the scent of vanilla, but my vote has always gone to its common namesake, cherry pie. Heliotrope Flowers These sweethearts are temperate perennials usually grown as annuals, and growing a heliotrope plant will be an additional pleasure for those who live in places with hot, dry summers. They are drought and heat tolerant and deer hate them. Today, heliotrope flowers come in varieties of white and pale lavender, but the hardiest and most fragrant is still the traditional deep purple our grandmothers loved. Small, shrub-like plants, heliotrope flowers grow from 1 to 4 feet high (0.5 to 1 m.). Their leaves are long ovals of dark green. They are long bloomers that begin flowering in summer and offer up their fragrant bounty through the first frost. Heliotrope plants grow in one-sided clusters that follow the sun, hence the name from the Greek words helios (sun) and tropos (turn). NOTE: There is one warning that should accompany any discussion in the care of heliotrope plants. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and animals if ingested. So keep them away from children and pets. How to Grow Heliotrope Seeds and Cuttings If you’re wondering how to grow heliotrope, seeds are the most popular method. Start your seeds indoors using regular potting soil ten to twelve weeks before the last spring frost date for your area, allowing for 28 to 42 days for germination. They’ll also need temperatures of 70-75 F. (21-24 C.) to germinate. Transplant your seedlings outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 60 F. (16 C.). Propagation by cuttings is the preferred method to grow heliotrope plants that are true to the parent plant’s color and scent. They also provide sturdier seedlings to set out in the spring. The best time to take cuttings is in late summer when the plants sometimes become leggy. Pinching them back both makes for a bushier plant and creates cuttings for propagation. Heliotrope Care: Tips for Growing a Heliotrope Plant The directions on how to grow heliotrope are short, but they do have a few requirements for healthy growth. A heliotrope plant needs at least six hours of sun a day and prefers morning sun. The hotter the climate, the more afternoon shade they need. They appreciate rich, loamy soil and even moisture, particularly if planted in containers. They don’t do well in heavy clay. Growing heliotrope plants in containers is a great way to enjoy their scent in places where it wouldn’t normally reach. They make wonderful additions to any container garden because they are not invasive or susceptible to insects or diseases, like powdery mildew, which can be a problem with closely packed plants. The care of heliotrope plants in containers is about the same as other container plants. They are heavy feeders in the garden, but in containers, they become voracious. Feed them every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer meant for flowering plants. These fertilizers are easy to find in any garden department and are easily distinguished by the larger middle number (phosphorus). Whether in the garden or in containers, heliotrope care includes pinching plants back. You can start pinching back the tips all over the plant while it is still young to encourage bushiness. This will delay the initial bloom time, but later on, you’ll be rewarded with a larger, more constant supply of blossoms. Care of Heliotrope Plants in Winter When summer is over and frost is on the way, try bringing one of your plants indoors. Cut the branches and stems back by one-half to two-thirds and pot it up in rich, pre-fertilized houseplant soil. Heliotrope winter care is the same as for most houseplants. Find a warm place in a sunny window and water sparingly. They make wonderful houseplants and you can enjoy the smell of cherry pie all year long.   Blanket Flower SpinTop Mariachi Copper Sun Blanket flowers are an interesting and colorful addition to the flower bed or garden, offering long lasting blooms if deadheaded, a necessary part of the care of blanket flowers. A member of the Daisy family, blanket flowers are similar to those of the familiar wildflower. Learning how to grow blanket flower is a fairly simple process. They are easily started from seeds or may be purchased as seedlings for a garden display of blooms in red and yellow colors of the traditional Indian blanket. Blanket Flowers in the Garden Gaillardia aristata is a resilient wildflower, often used in roadside plantings for its ease of naturalizing and care. Cultivars ‘Goblin’, ‘Burgundy Wheels’ and Arizona Sun’ drop seeds for more of the growing blanket flowers and are parented by G. aristata. The perennial blanket flower, Gaillardia grandiflora is available in different cultivars, such as the recently introduced ‘Oranges and Lemons’, ‘Dazzler’ and ‘The Sun’. Flower stems reach 1 to 3 feet (30-90 cm.) and bloom from early summer until frost arrives when getting proper blanket flowers care. Gaillardia pulchella is an annual version of blanket flowers, sharing the characteristics of long bloom and easy blanket flowers care. When crossed with G. arista, versions of G. grandiflora are created. How to Grow Blanket Flowers Sow seeds into a well-draining soil and cover slightly. Although drought tolerant once established, care of blanket flowers includes keeping the seeds moist until germination occurs. Once established, occasional watering should become a part of blanket flowers’ care. This assists in a longer display of the colorful blooms. Care of blanket flowers includes planting in a full sun location to keep this fast growing specimen happy. As a native plant to the central United States and Mexico, blanket flower is a heat loving flower that attracts butterflies. Growing blanket flowers are drought tolerant and do not like wet feet from soggy soil. They are also quite cold hardy, and will usually survive in areas as cold as USDA zone 5 or even 3. Now that you are familiar with growing blanket flowers, you can add then to a bed or border for eye catching color. Growing blanket flowers can naturalize in a meadow or field adding hues of color. Easy care of blanket flowers makes them an ideal specimen for many landscape uses.
 Hosta plants are a perennial favorite among gardeners. Their lush foliage and easy care make them ideal for a low maintenance garden. Originating in the Orient and brought to the Europe in the 1700s, today there are over 2,500 cultivars with such variety in leaf shape, size and texture, that an entire garden could be devoted to growing hostas alone. While hosta care is considered easy, it helps to know a little bit about how to grow hostas to help the plants reach their full garden potential.
Where and How to Grow Hostas Although hosta plants are touted as shade lovers, their sunlight requirements vary widely. Successfully growing hostas in the shade depends on color. Hosta leaves come in a variety of greens, ranging from a color so deep it’s called blue to a light chartreuse to a soft creamy white A good rule of thumb for the placement and care of hostas is the lighter the foliage, the brighter the sun. The deeper darker foliage retains it color best in moderate shade. The variegated varieties need more sunlight to keep their white and gold stripes. All hostas need some shade and few, if any, will do well in strong direct sunlight. They will fully mature in four to eight years. or the best care of hostas, plant them in rich organic soil with a slightly acidic pH. You’ll only have to do it once. Dig the planting hole about a foot (.3 m.) deep, and wide enough to accommodate the spread of a full sized plant. This will make it easier for the roots to establish a foothold and begin their horizontal spread. In spite of their almost tropical look, hostas are rugged and once established, they tolerate almost any soil and will grow for years. When discussing how to grow hostas, drainage is most important. Dormant season crown rot is one of the few diseases that attack these plants. Good hosta care requires good drainage. When newly planted, keep the roots moist, not wet. Once established, hosta plants aren’t fussy and are very tolerant of summer drought. Tips for Hosta Care Once your plant is established, hosta care becomes a matter of simple maintenance. To keep your growing hostas healthy, fertilize them each spring with an all-purpose garden fertilizer. Additional summer fertilizing may be helpful, but not necessary. Granular fertilizers should never sit on the leaves. With the exception of crown rot and leaf rot, Hosta plants are relatively disease free. Deer find them tasty and if deer are a problem in your neighborhood, you might try planting daffodils around your hosta to keep them away from the emerging shoots. Another difficulty in hosta care is slugs, which leave unsightly holes in the leaves. A light scattering of sand around your plants will help keep them away. Hosta plants are a beautiful addition to any garden and fit well in a variety of spaces, ranging from a few inches to four feet (1.2 m.) across. Care of hostas is easy and now you’ve discovered the basics of how to grow hostas, you’ll find them a welcome addition to your yard.  Hosta plants are a perennial favorite among gardeners. Their lush foliage and easy care make them ideal for a low maintenance garden. Originating in the Orient and brought to the Europe in the 1700s, today there are over 2,500 cultivars with such variety in leaf shape, size and texture, that an entire garden could be devoted to growing hostas alone. While hosta care is considered easy, it helps to know a little bit about how to grow hostas to help the plants reach their full garden potential.
Where and How to Grow Hostas Although hosta plants are touted as shade lovers, their sunlight requirements vary widely. Successfully growing hostas in the shade depends on color. Hosta leaves come in a variety of greens, ranging from a color so deep it’s called blue to a light chartreuse to a soft creamy white A good rule of thumb for the placement and care of hostas is the lighter the foliage, the brighter the sun. The deeper darker foliage retains it color best in moderate shade. The variegated varieties need more sunlight to keep their white and gold stripes. All hostas need some shade and few, if any, will do well in strong direct sunlight. They will fully mature in four to eight years. or the best care of hostas, plant them in rich organic soil with a slightly acidic pH. You’ll only have to do it once. Dig the planting hole about a foot (.3 m.) deep, and wide enough to accommodate the spread of a full sized plant. This will make it easier for the roots to establish a foothold and begin their horizontal spread. In spite of their almost tropical look, hostas are rugged and once established, they tolerate almost any soil and will grow for years. When discussing how to grow hostas, drainage is most important. Dormant season crown rot is one of the few diseases that attack these plants. Good hosta care requires good drainage. When newly planted, keep the roots moist, not wet. Once established, hosta plants aren’t fussy and are very tolerant of summer drought. Tips for Hosta Care Once your plant is established, hosta care becomes a matter of simple maintenance. To keep your growing hostas healthy, fertilize them each spring with an all-purpose garden fertilizer. Additional summer fertilizing may be helpful, but not necessary. Granular fertilizers should never sit on the leaves. With the exception of crown rot and leaf rot, Hosta plants are relatively disease free. Deer find them tasty and if deer are a problem in your neighborhood, you might try planting daffodils around your hosta to keep them away from the emerging shoots. Another difficulty in hosta care is slugs, which leave unsightly holes in the leaves. A light scattering of sand around your plants will help keep them away. Hosta plants are a beautiful addition to any garden and fit well in a variety of spaces, ranging from a few inches to four feet (1.2 m.) across. Care of hostas is easy and now you’ve discovered the basics of how to grow hostas, you’ll find them a welcome addition to your yard.  Cosmos plants (Cosmos bipinnatus) are an essential for many summer gardens, reaching varying heights in many colors, adding frilly texture to the flower bed. Growing cosmos is simple and cosmos flower care is easy as well as rewarding when single or double blooms appear on stems reaching 1 to 4 feet (0.5-1 m.).
Cosmos plants may be featured at the back of a descending garden or in the middle of an island garden. Taller varieties may need staking if not planted in an area protected from the wind. Planting cosmos flowers results in many uses of the specimen, such as cut flowers for the indoor display and backgrounds for other plants. Cosmos can even be used as screens to hide unsightly elements in the landscape. How to Grow Cosmos Flowers When planting cosmos flowers, locate them in soil that has not been heavily amended. Hot dry conditions, along with poor to average soil, are optimum conditions for growing cosmos. Cosmos plants are usually grown from seed. Scatter seeds of the cosmos onto a bare area in the location where you wish to have growing cosmos. Once planted, this annual flower self-seeds and will provide more cosmos flowers in the area for years to come. Daisy-like flowers of the cosmos plant appear atop tall stems with lacy foliage. Cosmos flower care can include the deadheading of flowers as they appear. This practice forces growth lower on the flower stem and results in a stronger plant with more flowers. Cosmos flower care can include cutting flowers for indoor use, achieving the same effect on the growing cosmos plant. If there are no cosmos to self-seed in your flower bed, get some started this year. Direct sow this frilly flower into a bare area of the bed that will benefit from tall, colorful, easy care blooms. |
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