Plant of the Week: Sugar Shack® Cephalanthus

It's been a cold, wet spring. The Great Lakes and our surrounding rivers are at record levels and there's more rain coming.

We know that this is just an inconvenience, not the catastrophe faced by farmers in Iowa and Nebraska, but it's still frustrating. While many ornamental plants like regular watering this might be a bit much for some of them, not to mention the increased risk of fungal problems such weather can bring.

Luckily there are some plants that genuinely like wet conditions. Cephalanthus occidentalis, or buttonbush, is one of them.

Sugar Shack® is a dwarf form of this delightful native plant, growing to about half the size of the species.

Sugar Shack® buttonbush  summer flower

It has the same crazy summer flowers that bees and other pollinators love, yet will have showy red fruit in fall rather than the typical green. It's not just bees that like the blooms; the fragrance is appealing to humans, too.

Sugar Shack® buttonbush fall fruit

It's a great plant for soggy spots in the landscape or near ponds and streams. Sugar Shack® will grow about 3-4' tall and wide, and takes either full sun or partial shade. It's hardy to USDA Zone 4.

Enjoy these long days.
We're nearing the longest days of the year, which means long, soft twilight hours here in the North Country. It's wonderful to sit outside (on nights it isn't raining, anyway) and enjoy the evening with family and friends.

Evening is when we really appreciate the light colored flowers like those of Cephalanthus - the sweet scent is nice, too.

People without at least a few white flowers in the landscape are missing out on one of the simple joys of a summer evening. Here are some suggestions for other white blooms to add to gardens.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

Plant of the Week: Fire Light® Hydrangea paniculata

Fired up for hydrangeas!
We like to say that Fire Light® is the standard by which you can measure all panicle hydrangeas. Plus, it's the 2019 Proven Winners® hydrangea of the year! 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®.

Fire Light® Hydrangea paniculata

Fire Light® Hydrangea paniculata in container

But what about blue?
Sorry, these hydrangea aren't going to turn blue. They start out white, then transition to 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 is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

Plant of the Week: Sunjoy Todo™ Berberis

Some plants just like the heat. Berberis is one of them.

Heat hasn't been a problem in Michigan (yet). We've had a cool, rainy spring so far. But we know that warmer days are coming. That's great for an afternoon on Lake Michigan but can be rough on some plants.

Barberry, however, thrives in full sun and plenty of heat. New to garden centers this year, Sunjoy Todo™ (pronounced tow-dough) is no exception. It has deep purple color that just grows richer as the August sun beats down on it.

With its semi-dwarf size and nice, consistent habit, this is an easy and responsible way to add durable color to hot, dry areas. As with other barberries, it has good deer resistance and will do best in full sun and well-drained soil.

Sunjoy Todo™ Berberis in flower

Sunjoy Todo™ barberry grows 1.5-2' tall and is hardy to USDA Zone 6. It's a semi-evergreen selection with really showy yellow flowers. Don't worry - the berries produced by these flowers do not have seeds. They are hollow!

Barberry rehabilitated.
It's easy to hate barberry; Berberis is considered invasive in many areas. And we don't want to plant things that will become a problem.

Sunjoy Todo™ Berberis

But barberry came to be a popular landscape plant because it is a really useful option for challenging sites. Heat, drought - even deer are not a problem for this plant. I'm thinking of some businesses I've seen on busy streets - they want a landscape but whatever is there needs to tolerate air pollution and general neglect. In goes the barberry.

So providing a non-invasive barberry for such conditions is something we're really proud of. We know some people have those difficult spaces to fill in their landscapes, or maybe they just want something colorful and durable for their yards. Let's use the plants that meet this need but don't cause problems for the environment.

It's not just barberry - if there's a problem plant in your area, see if there's a non-invasive alternative. If you're not sure, ask. Plant geeks love to help other plant geeks discover new plants!

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles