There are over 100 species of evening primroses (Oenothera spp.) worldwide, several native to the U.S. The night-blooming evening primrose (O. glazioviana) is a great reason to plan more parties. Invite friends and neighbors, including children of all ages, although you may keep them up past their normal bedtime hour. This night blooming hardy biennial […]
Archive for the ‘Summer flowering’ Category
Nocturnal Daylilies For Gardeners Who Work 9 To 5
A typical daylily flower opens early in the morning and fades in late afternoon. There is a class of night-blooming (nocturnal) daylilies recognized by the American Hemerocallus Society (AHS). Flowers of nocturnal daylilies open anytime from late afternoon to dusk, bloom through the night, and close-up (wither) starting in mid-morning. Introducing the true nocturnals…they open […]
Summer Chocolate™ Mimosa Tree Worth A Try
Mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin) is treasured as a four month landscape tree for its tropical-like foliage and flowering. This small deciduous tree grows 20 to 25 feet tall and its horizontal branching reaches out widely. Mimosa leafs out in late May with lush green, tropical-looking pinnately compound foliage and growth is very rapid. From mid-June […]
Give Lots of Space To Bottlebrush Buckeye
If you have lots of planting space, aggressive bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parvifolia) is what you want. This deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub grows 8 to 12 feet tall and 8 to 15 feet wide.A Southeastern U.S. native, bottlebrush buckeye is a late spring flowering shrub and requires little extra attention other than pruning. Plant in full sun […]
Pest Alert – Gardeners Should Avoid Planting Garden Impatiens
Downy mildew in impatiens (Plasmopara obducens) infects garden impatiens, double impatiens and balsam. However, New Guinea impatiens, SunPatiens™, and most annual summer flowering plants are not susceptible. Impatiens are the favorite flowering annual used in shady garden areas. Double impatiens and balsam are favorites in hanging pots and other types of containers. U.S. greenhouse growers […]
‘Thailand Giant’ Elephant Ears A Tropical Wonder
In many areas of the U.S.’Thailand Giant’ elephant ears (Colocasia gigantea) is classified as an annual (USDA hardiness zone 8-10). It grows best in full to partial sunlight (6-hours minimum) and planted in a compost-rich well-drained garden soil or good container potting media. A young plant should be moved outdoors and brought back indoors when […]
Summer Flowering Heleniums Should Not Make You Sneeze
Helenium, named for Helen of Troy from Greek mythology, is U.S. prairie perennial. In times past powdered disk flowers and leaves of some heleniums were used as snuff, hence the common name. It’s difficult to sell ‘sneezeweed” and many garden catalogs now list it as “helenium”. A number of good hybrid selections have been introduced […]
A Marigold Revival
Over the past 2-3 years marigolds are regaining their popularity. Marigolds are easy to grow and come in vibrant shades of yellows and oranges. Tall African type marigolds grow 24-42 inches tall and belong in garden beds. Intermediate (15-24 inch height) and dwarf French types (10-12 inch height) are suited for both bedding and container plantings. Plant marigolds in […]
Cool Blooming Osteospermums
Osteospermums (Osteospermum x hybrida ) are members of the daisy (Asteraceae) family, commonly called African Daisy, Blue-eyed Daisy, or Cape Daisy. Osteos are cool season annuals that excel in northern and less so in southern U.S. gardens. Osteos bloom more profusely in full sun, but want some cooling relief during the summers. Osteos have always […]
Hardy or Not– Grow Agapanthus
Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus praecox orientalis) is native to South Africa (USDA Zones 8–11), and is not reliably hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zone 6 and 7). However, many gardeners are successfully growing it as a “tender perennial”. Agapanthus grows in an outdoor flower bed or in a container. The ball shaped light blue or white […]

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