Plant of the Week: 'Viva Polonia' Clematis

Clematis for everyone!

Clematis are intimidating. They're kind of like Baked Alaska in that I really like them but figure that they are best left to people who know what they're doing. Until now.

Szczepan Marczynski has produced a fine array of easy to grow Clematis that even I am not afraid to grow. There's no complicated pruning regime with these plants. Just prune them back to 2-3' in spring and let them do their thing.

 

'Viva Polonia' gets its name for its resemblance to the Polish flag. It will grow in full sun or part shade and is hardy to USDA Zone 4. It gets 4-6' tall and wide.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

Plant of the Week: Fire Light® Hydrangea

Fired up for spring!

Fire Light® is the standard to measure all panicle hydrangeas! This easy-to-grow, reliable panicle hydrangea was developed in Michigan, selected for its huge, full flower heads and sturdy, strong stems. Blooms emerge creamy-white and age to a vivid red for lots of summer color. It makes a great cut flower, fresh or dried, and can be used as a hedge, specimen, or incorporated into flower gardens and foundation plantings.

Hardy to USDA Zone 3, they bloom every year - even after bad winters. The flowers open white and then turn pink-red. Need a smaller variety? Try a dwarf variety such as Little Quick Fire®.


But what about blue?

Sorry, these hydrangea aren't going to turn blue. White, then pink-red. That's what they do.

If you want a blue hydrangea you need to grow a H. macrophylla or H. serrata. And you need to grow it with attention to flower color.

This isn't an overnight process. You can't go out to a crop of beautiful pink mophead hydrangeas and change them to blue instantly. But with proper planning and execution you can have that sea of blue flowers.

Here is a very good article about shifting hydrangea color. It has more detail than most such articles, and really helpful! 

If you need something a little less technical, we have a really nice pdf that you are welcome to link to and share.

Plant of the Week: Behold the Tundra Rose

 

Yes, Tundra Rose. I think it's a much better common name than Bush Cinquefoil. Actually, this is one of the few plants where the botanical name is more popular than the common name. But Tundra Rose does have a certain flair.

It's fairly accurate, too. After all, Potentilla are hardy to USDA Zone 2. I saw them growing in Alaska, which seems like legit tundra to me. And they are a member of the rose family. So there you go

We selected Happy Face® Potentilla for their full, compact habits and exceptional flowering. Older varieties have a tendency to look kind of weedy and ratty; these stay nice and full. The color of the Happy Face® varieties is outstanding; Happy Face® Pink Paradise is the best pink variety we've seen. The pink flowers hold their color longer than any other pink variety.

These plants grow 2-3' tall and wide and are a durable, easy to grow choice with good deer resistance. If you think of Potentilla as being an old-fashioned plant, check out these new varieties. They're kind of retro-cool. And pretty useful in the landscape, too.
Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles