Flowers

Bodacious Baptisia

Written on May 12, 2010 at 7:57 am , by Justin W. Hancock

Looking for a big-impact, low-care perennial for your landscape? Try baptisia!

Also called false indigo, baptisia is North American native plant that bursts into bloom in late spring/early summer — usually about the same time as the peonies, Siberian iris, and ‘Globemaster’ alliums.

Here are some things to love about baptisia:

• Deer and rabbits leave it alone (at least that’s always been my experience).
• The lovely blue-green foliage looks great from spring to fall.
• It tolerates heat and drought like a champion.
• The seedpods, which start chartreuse and eventually turn charcoal-black, are fun decorations!
• It comes in a range of colors (from dark purple Twilite Prairieblues to silvery Starlight Prairieblues to golden ‘Carolina Moonlight’).
• It’s not too fast growing (so you don’t need to worry about it taking over your garden like you do some native prairie plants).

If you try baptisia out, be sure to give it plenty of room. The plant usually looks really small and scrawny in pots at the garden center, but within three or four years, they can mature into stunning 4-foot-wide mounds.

Heavenly Hydrangeas

Written on November 25, 2009 at 7:44 am , by Justin W. Hancock

What’s America’s favorite flower? Based on the amount of mail we get about them, I’d guess it’s hydrangeas. It’s not hard to see why, with their beautiful blooms. Add on the fact that hydrangeas are relatively deer resistant (I know there are lots of you out there who may disagree, but many gardeners do grow these shrubs without fear of seeing them mowed down by Bambi) and it’s like a match made in heaven.

If, that is, you choose the right varieties for you. There are several different kinds, and unfortunately none of them are one-size-fits-all plants. Here’s a quick cheat sheet on hydrangea types:

If you have sun, choose varieties of Hydrangea paniculata. They’re also a good bet if you live in a cold climate (Zones 3 or 4). Most are white, but some newer varieties like Quick Fire and Vanilla Strawberry have a red or pink blush.
If you want cut flowers, choose reblooming varieties of Hydrangea macrophylla. They’ll start producing flowers in June and usually continue through fall. Endless Summer is the classic type, but there are others such as the Let’s Dance series or Mini Penny if you look hard enough.
If you want a no-brainer, go with oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia). This is the more carefree hydrangea I’ve ever grown, and it puts on the best fall show of any of my hydrangeas, too.

Interest piqued? Learn about other great types and varieties here!
By the way: What’s your favorite hydrangea? Share by commenting below!

Reblooming Lilac

Written on October 4, 2009 at 6:12 am , by Justin W. Hancock

‘Bloomerang’, a new lilac variety that blooms in spring, then puts out new flushes of flowers from midsummer until frost is one of the hottest shrubs of 2009.

Like other lilacs, it features wonderfully fragrant flowers. But this one fits in just about any garden as it grows about 5 feet tall and wide. It’s perfect for a medium-size hedge, as a foundation planting by your front door, or mixed in with you favorite perennials.

Interested in trying ‘Bloomerang’ in your garden? Check it out at:  White Flower Farm