For many years of floral beauty in your perennial garden, get off to a good start. Plant in an area in full or partial sun along with good air circulation to avoid mildew and leaf spot disease problems. Before planting, generously amend soil with compost and well-drained ground. Irrigate the first year to establish the landscape planting. […]
Archive for the ‘Lobelia (cardnial flower)’ Category
Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year
In case you didn’t already know, Pantone Color Institute has become a worldwide color authority with identifying trendy colors consumers will crave in the New Year. Their Color of the Year selections are often featured in fashion, interior design, outdoor living products and even in landscape plants. Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year is Viva […]
Plants That Attract Birds To Your Property
Birds visit trees, shrubs, vines and perennials for five things: fruits (berries), sweet nectar (flowers), insects (particularly caterpillars), nuts and seeds, and shelter. This list is a compilation from the North Carolina and Tennessee chapters of the Audubon Society of ornamental plants common in the Southern Appalachian region. Trees and Shrubs Maples (Acer spp.) Downy […]
Attracting Hummingbirds
In early spring many area gardeners rush to set out hummingbird feeders filled with a sugary solution to encourage these feathery critters to visit. However, the sugary drink also attracts ants, bees, and wasps. The solution does not furnish vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids that hummingbirds pick up from pollinating flowers and eating insects. In addition, […]
Repel Deer And Rabbits
We live at a time that deer population numbers have grown out of control in many areas of the U.S. The internet lists plants that “DEER DON’T EAT”. However, deer have not read these lists, and secondly, a starving deer will eat just about anything. An adult deer may eat 5-6 pounds of plant material […]
Attracting Hummingbirds
This time of year many gardeners are setting out bird feeders, including those filled with a sugar solution to encourage hummingbirds to visit your garden. Unfortunately, the sugary drink will also attracts numerous ants, bees, and wasps. When warm spring and summer weather arrives, the solution clouds up with bacteria which ferments or perhaps fatal […]
Two Native Cardinal Flowers Add Up To A Stunning Combination
Great lobelia or blue cardinal flower (Lobelia siphilitica) is a native perennial USDA hardiness zones 4-8). They bloom about a month later than cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis). They’re part of the late summer perennial bloom season that includes turtlehead (Chelone obliqua), asters (Symphtrictum), ‘Henry Eilers’ black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa). and dahlias (Dahlia spp.). Add […]
Cardinal Flower Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies
With their vibrant red colored blooms in July and August and a strong vertical growth habit, you visually can’t miss with our native cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Hummingbirds and butterflies won’t pass them by either. Cardinal flowers are also called scarlet lobelias. Their vibrant red single raceme flowers single them out […]