February 27, 2017

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.

February 13, 2017

Plant of the Week: Red Rover® Cornus


Send Red Rover Right Over!

Cornus obliqua, or silky dogwood, is a native species of Cornus that thrives in damp sites. Another common name for it is swamp dogwood, but that makes me think of mosquitoes and snakes so I'm sticking with silky dogwood.

While the species may reach 12' in height, Red Rover® Cornus is a compact selection that stays around 5' tall. That makes it a better fit for most landscapes. It has clean green foliage that turns wine red in fall. Blue fall fruit adds to its autumn appeal.

Hardy to USDA Zone 4, it will grow in full sun or partial shade. Give this plant a try in rain gardens or near streams and ponds.
 

Going to the dogs.

There was a sporting event last weekend. You may have heard something about a big comeback (or epic meltdown, depending on your point of view.) Maybe the end of the football season has you feeling a little...deflated. Fear not, there's another big showdown coming this weekend: the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show! With all due respect to NFL players, these athletes are cuter.

As a cat person, I would argue with the dog's claim to be man's best friend. But I do think that dogwoods have a strong case to be the gardener's loyal ally. Various species give us stunning flowers, dramatic fruit, and much needed color in the winter landscape.  
Our native silky dogwood is a workhorse breed that thrives in soggy sites that may challenge other plants. Think of it like a water spaniel, or a fishing cat. The flowers support our pollinator populations, and songbirds love the fruit. This is a great plant for the gardener who wants to incorporate a little bit of wilderness into the landscape.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

February 6, 2017

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

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Plant of the Week: Emerald Envy® Viburnum

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