Archive for the ‘Flowering Plant Guides’ Category

Here are some easy tips for how to grow Calibrachoa plants: These plants are winter hardy perennials in some zones but annual plants in others. Calibrachoa plants go into the garden in spring, after the last frost. Use a well-draining soil rich in organic matter. These annual plants grow best in full sun; some afternoon shade is okay. Calibrachoa plants are drought tolerant; over-watering causes root rot.

Pronunciation: kal-ih-bruh-KO-uh

Common Name(s): Million Bells; Trailing Petunia

Description: They look like regular Petunia plants, with tiny (1-inch) trumpet-shaped flowers in a wide variety of bold colors like chocolate, hot pink, bronze and dark red. Newer hybrids like ruffled double flowers and blooms with a dark ‘eye’ are very showy. Calibrachoa plants have thick, sticky leaves; their small flowers open during the day and close at night. Calibrachoa grows in compact mounds with trailing branches. They grow very fast and the flowers bloom for a long time (spring through late fall.) Depending on the type, Calibrachoa can grow from 5-10 in. tall and spread from 12-24 in. wide.

Propagation: Stem cuttings.

Origin of Plant/Name: Mexico. Plant named after a 19th century Mexican botanist.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Annual plants in all zones; in zones 9-11, winter hardy perennial plants.

Companion Plants: Coral Bells, Creeping Jenny

Fertilizer Needs: Control-release (1 Tablespoon per 1 Gallon water) weekly. If Million Bells plants show yellow leaves, it means these annual plants need iron. Use Miracid to fix pH levels.

Maintenance: Low. Water when top of soil feels dry. Pinch back for bushier look (may not bloom for 2 wks. afterward).

Display: Containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, flowerbed border.

Wildlife Value: Leaves of Million Bells plants draw hummingbirds.

Overwinter: Zones 7-11. Before first frost, bring container into cool room (like a garage). Needs 4-6 hrs. sun daily. Cut back leggy stems. Water once a week during winter; water until liquid drains from bottom. Use general purpose fertilizer once a month. Follow package directions.

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Here are some easy tips on how to grow Alcea plants: After the last frost, set out year-old plants 12-24 inches apart; dig well-rotted manure into soil. Use 2-3 in. organic mulch. Water daily at first, then twice a week, or more if very hot/dry.

Pronunciation: AL-see-uh or al-SEE-uh

Common Name: Hollyhock

Propagation: Self-seeds

Description: Old-fashioned favorites, Alcea plants reach 8-12 ft. tall and 3-4 ft. wide.  Single or double spiked flowers in a wide range of colors grow on an upright stem with large, coarse leaves. Flowers bloom from the bottom up. Gardeners can choose from modern hybrids like miniatures (3-4 ft.tall) and the double flower (looks like a cabbage rose).

Origin of Plant: China

USDA Hardiness Zones:  3-8

Companion Plants: Yarrow, Marigold, Daisy, or Bellflower. Keep away from Lilacs: Hollyhock plants steal water and nutrients from plants with delicate roots.

Fertilizer Needs: 10-10-10 or 15-15-15. Twice a year: early spring and again in the fall.

Sunlight: Needs full sun.

Maintenance: High. Biennial Hollyhock plants act like perennial plants if deadheaded and cut down to the base when flowers are done. Starting in June, pull off all yellow leaves, also leaves ruined by Japanese beetles and/or rust. Destroy rust-infested leaves. Cut out all old flowering stems and old leaves in late summer when flowering stops. New leaf growth holds up over mild winters, or if kept covered by snow. In spring, pull off winter-damaged leaves. Tall Alcea plants, if cut down once or twice before flowering, will grow back as later-blooming shorter plants that don’t need staking. (Flower spikes will also be shorter.) Protect these perennial plants from high winds to keep them from getting broken.

Pests/Diseases: Rust, weevils, Japanese beetles, cutworms, slugs, and caterpillars. Avoid overcrowding when planting: damp, still air is a breeding ground for rust. Avoid over-wet or over-dry conditions; both weaken these perennial plants. Water the soil around the plant; rust grows on damp or wet leaves. Destroy all cuttings–never compost!

Wildlife Value: Alcea brings bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds into the garden.

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Here are some easy tips for how to grow Bougainvillea Plants: Plant in a hole as deep as the root ball (and 2x the width). Pack soil to get air out. Soak with 1 gallon of water. Add 2 in. organic mulch. Use a well-draining soil of equal parts sand, silt, and clay mixed with some organic matter. Use a soil mix labeled “Quick Draining.”  Bougainvillea plants have two growth cycles: vegetative (new leaves and stems) and a blooming period (flowers 3-5 wks.) Flowers need 5 hrs. minimum full sun daily to bloom.

Common Name: Paper Flower

How to Pronounce: (boo- or boh-gun-VEE-yuh)

Description: A large, shrub-like tropical vine with heart-shaped leaves and masses of paper-thin flowers (bracts) on thorny branches. These annual plants grow 15-20 ft. tall and need support, like a trellis, wall, or arbor. Bougainvillea plants like well-draining, slightly acid soil. The many cultivars include double-flower and variegated types.

Propagation: None

Origin: South America; Named by a French botanist

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11

Companion Plants: Salvia, Periwinkle, and Coral Bells

Fertilizer Needs: The roots of these annual plants are weak and need iron. In bloom, Bougainvillea plants are heavy feeders. Use a 6-8-10 water soluble or granular food monthly. Follow package directions.

Maintenance: For fuller growth, pinch about 1/2 inch off the soft tips of young plants. New stems grow from 2-3 leaf buds down below the pinch. Best time to do this is after the flowering cycle. Bougainvillea only blooms on new growth, so prune in early summer to shape and strengthen them.

Water: Paper Flower plants are drought-hardy; water 2-3 in. once a week. Let soil dry in between, but not bone dry. Make sure water drains away; they don’t like wet feet.

Environment/Light Needs: Paper Flower plants need a minimum nighttime temp. of 60 degrees; they can survive in daytime temps. of 100 degrees or more. They do best with 8-10 hours of full sun.

Overwinter: Grows in full sun (60-70 degrees); take indoors before first frost. Use a soil-less (lightweight, easy-draining) mix. Overwintered, Bougainvillea will usually not bloom.

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Here are some easy tips on how to grow Ajuga plants: These perennial plants are easy to grow and maintain in a wide range of soils: sand, loam, or clay. Just make sure the soil is acid. Plant them in holes wide and deep enough for the root ball; space 8-15 in. apart.

Common Name(s): Bugleweed; Carpet Bugle

How to pronounce Ajuga: (ah-JEW-gah)

Description: Ajuga is in the mint family, so it grows and spreads very fast. It looks nice in rock gardens, along paths, or in pots. Ajuga plants reach 6-9 in. tall and 6-18 in. wide. Ajuga looks like a mat of glossy oval leaves with spiky flowers that bloom from spring to early summer. Leaves can be solid green or variegated. The small flowers can be blue, pink, or white. Can be grown from seed.

Propagation: By dividing roots in fall or early spring or from young runners taken from the mother plant.

Origins: Europe, Asia, and Africa

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Companion Plants: Hosta, Coral Bells

Fertilizer Needs: When planting, use 1 Tablesp/1 Gal of 16-12-10

Maintenance: Remove runners from Bugleweed plants as needed to keep them from taking over the yard or garden. To control rapid growth, either mow or cut back to the ground. About every 3 years thin out large crowded groups to avoid crown rot. If solid-color leaves show up on a variegated-leaf plant, remove them to stop the leaves from changing to an all green color.

Sun/Light Needs: Ajuga plants grow in a wide range of light: from full sun to full shade. Keep in mind with full sun you get smaller leaves and bigger flowers.

Water Needs: Weekly. Need to water well in first growing season, so Bugleweed plants put down strong roots.

Wildlife Value: These perennial plants attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Bugleweed plants also are deer-resistant.

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Here are some easy tips on how to grow Actaea plants: This native perennial plant likes average, medium moist soil. It grows best in full shade or brief morning sun. Actaea (ACK-tea-uh or ack-TEA-uh) needs to be kept cool and moist; it likes woods and stream banks.

Common Name(s): Black Cohosh, Bugbane, Fairy Candles

Propagation: Two ways: root division (early spring or late fall) or by seed (collected in fall and planted right away). This is a slow-growing plant

Description: These upright perennial plants can reach 4 to 8 ft. tall and spread 2 to 4 ft. wide.  Flowery spikes are creamy white and fragrant; they bloom late summer to early fall. The stems of Black Cohosh plants are an attractive, deep green. Actaea is called Bugbane because the plant gives off a smell that chases away bugs.

Origin of Name: Algonquin (N. American Indian) word for “rough”; it refers to the stem.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Companion Plants: Joe Pye Weed, Columbine

Fertilizer Needs: Actaea plants need organic soil, rich in compost. No other fertilizer needed.

Maintenance: Low, but in Zones 6-8, it is very important to keep Actaea plants shaded, mulched and watered. No serious insect or disease problems. If soil is not kept moist, leaves may scorch around the edges, and the plant may stop growing. Plants may need staking if very tall.

Herbal/Medicinal Uses:  In Native American medicine, used for snakebites and to keep biting bugs away. Today, used for women’s health.

Wildlife Value: Attracts the Spring Azure butterfly and many insects good for the garden.

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Here are some easy tips on how to grow Agastache plants: This perennial plant likes a well-drained alkaline soil. It grows best in full sun. Planting in early fall gives the roots time to set up. Mulch with a loose layer of straw or leaf compost before hard frost to stop roots from heaving. Divide plants in fall or late winter to early spring, before spring growth starts.

Pronunciation: ah-gah-STOCK-ee

Origin of Name: From the Greek words for “spiky” and “a lot of”

Common Names: Hyssop, Mosquito Plant, Mexican Bee Balm

Propagation: Division or stem cuttings

Description: The Hyssop plant is a member of the mint family and is very easy to grow. It has a long bloom season: mid-summer to early fall. It has strong, upright stems that carry fragrant blooms that smell like licorice or bubblegum. The spiky flowers look like a bottlebrush. Hyssop plants grow from 2 to 5 ft. tall and spread from 2 to 3 ft. wide. Most types are heat and drought tolerant.

Fertilizer Needs: Use liquid fish emulsion twice a year, or in early spring apply slow-release pellets. This will help your Agastache plants last through the year. Do not apply fertilizer in the winter when plant is dormant.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-10

Maintenance: Pull off any broken-down stems, but leave the seed heads for the birds. Pruning back Agastache in fall weakens the plant. Cut the dead stems back in early spring to help with new growth.

Companion Plants: Butterfly Bush, Globe Thistle, Black-Eyed Susan

Herbal/Medicinal Uses: The dried flowers of the Agastache plant can be made into a tea.  Mixed with white horehound or licorice, the flowers of this perennial plant can be used to treat coughs. Crush the plant to release the natural anise smell that bugs hate.

Wildlife/Garden Value: The nectar of the Agastache plant attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies. Pick the flowers after the birds and butterflies are done with them to make nice dried arrangements.

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Here are some easy tips on how to grow Begonia plants: Begonias grow from fleshy stems called tubers. Fill a starter pot 3/4 full of loose potting soil. Place the tuber in the pot, with the hollow side pointing up. Cover lightly with 1 in. potting soil. Water well; do not let soil dry out. Move into a permanent pot when plant sprouts to 1-2 in. tall. Fill pot 3/4 with a potting soil/vermiculite mix. Make a hole big enough to fit the roots; gently put Begonia plant in pot. Cover with 2 in. of soil. Water lightly. Once danger of frost is over, move plant outdoors.

Common Name: Begonia

Propagation: Stem cuttings made in the spring

Description: Begonia plants are flowering tubers. They grow both indoors and out. In hot, humid areas, they make good houseplants. These annual plants have long-lasting blooms from summer up to first frost. They are heat and drought tolerant. Begonias grow from 6 to 18 in. tall.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-11

Companion Plants: Lobelia, Impatiens, Fuchsia

Fertilizer Needs: For flowerbeds, add fertilizer to the soil in the bed before spring planting. Use 1 lb. of 10-10-10 fertilizer for every 100 sq. ft. in the flowerbed. Do not get any fertilizer on the plant stems or leaves. Water flowerbeds after each feeding. Poke your finger into the soil; it should feel damp as deep as 6 in. down. Stop fertilizing in late summer or early fall (about 8 wks. before the first fall frost) to stop any late-season growth.

For container-grown Begonias, fertilize in spring when plants send up the first shoots. Use a balanced liquid houseplant food at half the rate given on the package. Feed every 2 wks. all spring and summer.

Maintenance: Low; these annual plants are easy to grow and care for. Just keep watered in hot weather.

Display Tips: Begonias grow well in flowerbeds under trees and near shrubs. They look nice in containers like window boxes and hanging baskets. They can grow in sun, partial sun, or shade.

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Here are some easy tips for how to grow Bacopa plants: This annual plant likes full sun and acid soil. To grow outdoors in the ground, plant at least 6 in. deep; space Bacopa about 16 in. apart. Mix some peat moss into the soil so ground stays moist. Put 3-4 inches of mulch down. Water the Bacopa plants well; give each plant 1-2 cups of water. Bacopa does not wilt when it dries out, but instead loses its flowers. It takes 2-3 weeks to bloom again. Give the plant at least 1 inch of water daily. Make sure soil drains well. Bacopa also grows in hanging baskets, window boxes, or pots.

Common Name: Water Hyssop

Description: Water Hyssop is a trailing plant growing 4 to 8 in. tall and 2 to 3 ft. wide; colors range from white to blue, purple, or lavender. The 10 to 12 in. long stems hold groups of small, five-petal flowers. Crush the fleshy leaves and they smell sharply of lemon.

Propagation: By seed or stem cutting. Take a 4- to 6-inch stem cutting and put it in a glass of water.  Set glass in a sunny window. Change the water every 1-2 days. When you see roots growing, remove from glass and pot up the new Bacopa plant.

Origin of Name: South Africa

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-10

Companion Plants: Begonia, Geranium

Fertilizer Needs: Monthly with an all-purpose food, or use liquid seaweed every week or two.

Maintenance: These annual plants are easy to grow. Trim stems to shape plants and keep them looking good, but don’t over prune. Deadhead old, faded flowers to keep your Water Hyssop plant blooming. Remove dead stems from under the plants to stop disease.

Display Tips: Bacopa plants look nice as groundcover at the edge of flower beds. For a real show, mix Bacopa with trailing Verbenas in colors from pink to dark purple or with trailing Snapdragons in bronze and yellow.

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Following are some tips for how to grow Achillea plants.

Common Names: Milfoil, Yarrow, Thousand-Seal, Nosebleed Plant

Description: This hardy perennial is easily identified by its spicy chrysanthemum-like smell, feathery grey-green leaves, and mustard-yellow flower heads. But it also comes in a dark, orange-red color. It stands 18 to 36 in. tall and spreads out anywhere from 9 to 12 in. around. It grows best in a well-drained, acid or neutral mix of loam and sand. Yarrow can take partial shade or full sun. It is a fast-growing plant. In Europe, the leaves and flowers (collected from June through August) are used as medicine. A bitter herb, the Achillea plant stimulates the appetite and helps with digestion. It’s also used in treating liver and gall bladder problems. It is thought to have a wound-healing effect. This multi-purpose plant is used in skin treatments; yarrow is supposed to be good for oily skin. Some folks chop the young leaves into a spring salad with equal parts plantain and watercress or else mix the herb into butter as a healthy breakfast spread.

USDA Zones of Hardiness: From Zone 3 to 10

Propagation: From seed: Plant indoors in March or early April, using a mix of leaf mold, sand, and garden soil. Set outdoors in early May. Plants generally flower the first season. To grow from root division, chop root clump with a spade into smaller clumps.

Origin of name: Comes from the Greek hero Achilles, a soldier in the Trojan War.

Maintenance: Milfoil is a dependable, low-maintenance perennial plant. It attracts butterflies and birds. The flowers are nice dried. The herb makes a good filler plant or can be used to edge the lawn or garden bed. Deadhead the plants to keep them blooming. Cut back after the second bloom to refresh these perennial plants; it also reduces the need for staking. Divide the plants every 2 to 3 years.

Companion Plants: The flat flowers and the feathery leaves look nice planted next to spiky plants like liatris, penstemon, or veronica.

Fertilizer Needs: Use a 5-30-5 fertilizer. Follow package directions. Water Achillea plants well afterwards.

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Here are some helpful hints on how to grow Alternanthera plants.

Common Names: Calico Plant, Joseph’s Coat, Alligator Weed, Parrot Leaf, Joyweed

Description: A tropical and tender perennial, the Calico Plant is treated as an annual and grown for its brightly colored leaves. They come in a wide range of showy shades: red, green, pink, copper, purple, and yellow. The broad, oval leaves may also be marked with blotches of orange, red, or yellow and look similar to coleus. In late fall, check for white flowers, set on short stalks; they are small and hard to see. A compact, fast-growing annual plant, the Alternanthera (all-ter-NAN-ther-ah) has been a landscaper’s favorite for centuries. The small mounds and showy colors were used in English knot gardens and even inspired Victorian needlework designs. This exotic plant is also used as a medicinal in Africa, India, and Taiwan. There are nearly 200 different types of Joyweed growing all across the U.S. and around the world. In some places, it’s called an invasive weed.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Winter hardy in Zones 10-11.

Growth and Shape: Plant 4 to 9 in. apart for ground cover; can also be used to edge the lawn. Since Joseph’s Coat grows quickly, you’ll need to pinch off stems or trim with shears to keep the compact, mounded shape.

Maintenance: Alternanthera plants need a rich, organic soil that drains well and is kept moist. Full sun develops the best colors, although it can stand partial shade.

Fertilizer Needs: Liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks or granular once a month; granular needs water to activate it. Follow directions on container.

Propagation: From seed: start Alternanthera seeds indoors in late winter and transplant outdoors after last frost. Check seed packet for directions. Stem tip cuttings may be done in late summer. Order live Alternanthera plants for the more popular varieties if you choose not to bother with the seed or the cuttings.

Display Tips: For a tropical garden, start with some elephant ears, cannas, or caladiums to contrast with your alternanthera annual plants. If a cottage garden is more to your liking, try Black-eyed Susans, shasta daisies, purple coneflower, or blue salvia alongside your Joseph’s Coat. “Purple Knight” Alternanthera looks nice with Tidal Wave Petunia, New Gold Lantana, or the French Dwarf Marigold Bonanza. This tropical perennial also makes a striking accent plant grown in a container.

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