Plant Of The Week- Anemone

There are many different species of anemones so knowing as much as you can about anemone flower care is crucial if you want them to survive and thrive. The plant is a perennial that can be found in three different varieties. These are the spring flowering type, the tuberous Mediterranean, and the larger fall flowering type.


Although these are all different types of plants, there are some commonalities in anemone flower care. In general, anemones should be planted in the fall. The tuberous types should be separated in the spring as should those with rhizomatous roots. The anemones with fibrous roots can be separated in spring or fall, but should be kept in the pot for a year to ensure that it is well established before transplanting them to your garden.


It is important to water your anemones regularly. They need to be planted in well-drained soil that is moderately fertile. They need either full sun or sparse shade. Soak the flowers overnight before planting them and plant them 3-4 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart. In the fall you can cut them back to the ground and they will grow again in the spring. You should also divide the clumps every 2-3 years.


The anemones produce pretty flowers in varying colors, including purple, red, blue, white, and sometimes yellow. These flowers are cup-shaped and grow on elongated stems. The anemone is used medicinally to treat emotional distress and menstrual cramps and other related menstrual problems.


Anemones are a common plant that grows wild throughout North America, Japan, and many countries in Europe. The most common anemone is the Japanese anemone, which is due to the fact that they are not only beautiful, but relatively easy to care for. These anemones do well in many soil types, from sandy to clay-rich, and they can easily do well without a lot of supplementary irrigation. You can grow these plants in partly shaded areas.


The Japanese anemone is not really from Japan, but was developed by botanists in England, France, and Germany. They used Chinese species from which to develop the Japanese anemone and these plants are completely manmade. However, they are seen in abundance in many gardens and most varieties that exist are more than 100 years old.


Anemones are exceptionally beautiful flowering plants that serve to enhance the look and feel of any garden. So if you are looking for a new addition or to experiment with something new just for the fun of it, then you can take on anemone flower care in your garden and see the fruits of your labor grow into exceptional brilliance. 

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Rock gardens present the gardener with a challenging growing environment more options than just an ugly spot in their landscape. It is a solution to

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Hanging baskets extend a touch of the garden to the home, porch, or patio. Many garden flowers and foliage plants can be

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Japanese Blood Grass

Also known as Imperator Cylindrical, Japanese blood grass is an ornamental grass variety and is mostly used for landscaping gardens. With its bright-red colour spiked blades, the grass looks stunning when

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Star Jasmine

Common names for the star jasmine: Scientific name is Trachelospermum Jasminoides, also known by the more common name of confederate jasmine. Star Jasmine is

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Cannas, or canna lilies, look like banana trees without the trunk. That's no accident - they're kin to bananas and gingers, and

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Columbine (Aquilegia) flowers are an excellent choice for any decorative garden as they come in a variety of bright colors. Additionally, the columbine flower is

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Astilbe

Native to the far east, these beautiful plants and their hybrids have revolutionized the perennial possibilites of moist, shaded American gardens. Astilbes are

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Popular as ground cover, the blue star creeper, botanically known as Isotoma fluviatilis, makes for an interesting plant on a landscape. It is favored over

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Nasturtiums

Nasturtium plants were discovered in the jungles of Peru and Mexico in the 16th century. They are easy to grow, edible, cheerful and they are great companion plants as well. Nasturtiums help deter aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, cucumber beetles and other pests. Plant them with tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, and under fruit trees. They come in vibrant colors, or muted tones-variegated leaves or plain-and some are fairly dwarfed while others can be used as a vine, climbing five foot or more.

Although the blossoms appear delicate, they are actually very durable and make for vibrant and long-lasting garnishes, one of their best uses. Use the blossoms either whole or chopped to decorate creamy soups, salads, butters, cakes and platters. Their sweet, peppery taste (both in the leaves and in the flowers) adds to the enjoyment. In fact, it is for its tangy taste that nasturtium gets its common name. It comes from the Latin "Nasus Tortus" meaning convulsed nose, referring to the faces people made when tasting the spicy plant. 

~Here's what you need to get growing:

Nasturtium seeds - there are many varieties including climbing, variegated leaves and dwarf. Colors range from a vanilla white to fiery red and even multi-colored. We have listed resources for the seeds below.


Soil - Nasturtiums grow best in semi-neglected areas. If you feed them too much they will grow huge and green but you won't get many flowers. Just make sure it's well drained as they don't like their feet to wet.

A garden area or large pot to grow them in. Dwarf varieties make great edging plants and the climbing varieties are lovely on a back fence in the garden or in pots with trellises. The cascading varieties are wonderful for hanging baskets.


To get a faster sprout soak your seeds (they are large and pretty hard) in some warm water overnight and then place directly in the garden or pots where you want to grow them. Nasturtiums are annuals so plant the seeds in spring when the danger of frost has passed. 


Once they are established, nasturtiums will continue to spread and bloom until the first frost, with very little work or water from you. They will grow in partial shade but you will get mostly foliage as they don't flower as well in those conditions as they do in their preferred full sun location.

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Lithodora  is a hardy evergreen creeping groundcover originating in southern Europe  requiring only a little attention. It can hug the ground very closely or mound upward to six inches or rarely as high as a foot. 

It spreads as a dark green mat that produces its first few bright azure blue flowers as early as March, but is really going to town blooming in May and June, continuing to bloom at intervals  less overtly up to Autumn's first frost. In mild weather, it will even produce the occasional bloom, one or two bright blue spots at a time, in any month of the winter.

It likes a little acidity in the soil, but isn't fussy. It likes lots of sun but will tolerate shade. It is very cold-hardy but prefers temperate weather won't often thrive in American South or Southwest climates. It does not want much moistness can even survive in droughty conditions under conifers, though blooms will be fewer without sun. It is ideal for rockery ledges, which is where we've planted ours.

Each plant will quickly spread to two feet, in the longer run could conceivably spread to six feet, though so easily pruned to size there's no risk of it becoming aggressive. When it stops blooming, for the most part in early autumn, that's the time to trim it every other year or so, to keep it from getting too spindly to encourage regrowth at the center.

Plant Of The Week

Clematis

Clematis is an amazing climbing vine that produces a profusion of exquisite flowers. To obtain spectacular flowers continuously from late spring through autumn plant a combination of early, midseason, and late bloomers. The ingenuity and vigor of this plant is sure to delight avid gardeners and beginners alike. Stems intertwine with any nearby object to obtain support for the plant's sunward climb.

 Some varieties can grow up to 20 feet in a single season. Clematis are wonderfully versatile, with some varieties being suited to container culture and others useful as ground covers. The majority will climb up trellises, through shrubs, and wander among evergreens and small trees. Varieties that produce blue flowers are especially sought after.

Clematis perform best when their roots are cool and their foliage is in the sun. 4" of mulch will help keep the roots cool. Most Clematis need at least 5 to 6 hours of sun everyday. It is ideal to locate your clematis where the roots are shaded by perennials or small shrubs, but with plenty of sun 3' to 4' off the ground for the clematis foliage to climb towards. In hotter climates, planting pink varieties in bright shade helps to minimize fading.

As with every garden plant, the most critical factor for insuring the survival of your new clematis is the care you take in preparing the planting site. In heavy clay soil, dig a hole at least 24" deep and 24" wide to insure good drainage. In lighter or sandy soil, a hole 18" x 18" will be sufficient. Amend your soil with organic material like compost or well-aged cow manure. Gently remove the Clematis rootball from its container and plant it in the hole so that the base of the plant is sunk 3" to 5" below soil level. Leave the original stake on the Clematis for the first year to act as a support as well as a protection against accidental breakage.

Clematis require regular fertilizing to perform their best. In spring, once the Clematis buds are about 2 inches long, start fertilizing. Feedings every four weeks are required if you have good garden soil high in organic matter. If you have poor soil, fertilize your clematis every two weeks, except when the flowers are in full bloom. Resume feeding after main flowering period. Avoid fertilizers that are overweighted in Nitrogen.

Pruning is primarily done to remove old blooms and make way for a better profusion next season. Pruning should be done annually, and in the months depending upon the type of species or hybrids grown. The groups have been mentioned above. Early bloomers should be pruned back as soon as the bloom gets over, before the end of July. 

Flowering hybrids can be pruned in February or March, the cuts should be no more than a few inches from the stem tips. Late bloomers can be pruned in February or March, cut each deadhead flower stem to a height of about two to three feet. Prune all dead and old wood. For a vine that has gotten too tangled you can change its taring shape by giving it a hard prune according to its specific pruning season

Plant Of The Week

Gerbera Daisy

Distinguished by large flowering heads that closely resemble those of sunflowers, gerbera daisies come in a vibrant rainbow of colors. Bright pink, snow white, sunny yellow, and ruby red are just a few of the gorgeous colors that these happy flowers boast.

The gerbera daisy was discovered in 1884 near Barberton, South Africa, by Scotsman Robert Jameson. While the flower’s scientific name, Gerbera jamesonii, recollects the name of its founder, the meaning of its common name draws from German naturalist Traugott Gerber. Breeding programs that began in England in 1890 enhanced the flower’s quality and color variations. The gerbera daisy’s popularity soon traveled to growers in the Netherlands which, along with Columbia, is the primary distributor of the flower’s cut version today. The gerbera currently ranks as the fifth most popular flower in the world behind the rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, and tulip.


The meanings of gerbera daisies stem from those attributed to the general daisy family. These meanings include innocence and purity, and daisies are also a classic symbol of beauty. However, the gerbera variety holds an added meaning of cheerfulness, which stems from the assortment of colors available. An assorted bouquet of gerbera daisies can lift the spirit and sending one is an ideal way to brighten someone’s day. The sheer multitude of available varieties has helped the gerbera daisy become a favorite choice for many different occasions – birthdays, get well, congratulations, thank you, and more.

There are many types of flowers which can help to express our thoughts and feelings for our loved ones, but the gerbera daisy and its meaning stand out as one of the most distinctly bright and merry. With its bold and striking appearance, the gerbera daisy has become the most highly-prized daisy variety. When you send gerbera daisies, know that these fresh flowers convey a deeply meaningful message and make a lively lasting impression.

Your Gerbera Daisy plant flowers best when it is growing in a small container and is slightly pot bound. Repot growing Gerbera Daisies in April. Use an open, free draining soil mix. When repotting ensure that the crown of the plant is above the level of the soil. Rot will occur if the crowns are buried or the drainage is poor. After repotting keep them in a shaded location until they're established.

The best position for growing Gerbera Daisies is in full sunlight to ensure maximum flower production. A shaded situation results in poor flowering. Keep your plant slightly moist at all times, especially when in bloom, but don't let the pot sit in water. In summer feed regularly every 2 weeks with a weak liquid fertilizer, and regularly pick off the dead flowers to promote further flowering. Indoor growing Gerbera Daisies can flower all year round. Also remove old leaves regularly to prevent fungus infections developing.


The optimal temperature for growing Gerbera Daisies is around 75 deg  but 61-70 deg   days, and 56-65 deg  nights is suitable. In Winter they are best kept above 50 deg F . In a greenhouse the minimum temperature is 40 deg. Freezing will kill the plant. From November to May, water only when the soil becomes fairly dry.

Plant Of The Week

Mexican Heather Plant (Cuphea hyssopifolia)

The Mexican Heather (or False Heather) plant tends to grow around one foot in height but may be as tall as eighteen inches. In terms of spacing, anywhere from nine inches to a foot is average. Moreover, this beautiful plant blooms throughout the year making it a highly attractive plant year around. The booms are generally a shade of purple with the leaves being an evergreen, however, the flowers can also be a shade of pink or even white. Most people believe this plant looks very similar to a fern and therefore also makes an excellent houseplant.


Anyone wishing to plant the Mexican Heater plant should live in plant hardiness zones eight through eleven for best results. Be prepared to plant this floral in an area that has either full sun exposure or partial shade. For soil requirements, the ideal pH level is anywhere between 6.6 and 7.8; therefore, the plant prefers either neutral or slightly alkaline soil and does not tolerate acidity.

These plants are great when sowed directly into the ground after the last frost of the year, but also make an excellent indoors plant. Anyone planting this floral indoors should be sure to keep it in a sunny place in order to get the appropriate sun exposure needed for proper growth. Either way, the plant tends to bloom relatively early and can tolerate high temperatures as well as a considerate amount of drought. Be sure to water the plant frequently in extreme heat but avoid over watering. The plant will not be able to thrive in soggy soil. As with most plants, the Mexican Heather plant does best in well-drained soil.

One of the best features of this plant is the fact that pruning is rarely needed and therefore it is very low maintenance. Obviously it is best if you add fertilizer to the soil, specifically organic fertilizer.As an added bonus, the plant may attract beautiful creatures such as hummingbirds and butterflies.

The Mexican Heather plant is an excellent addition to either your landscape or for accenting your house indoors. Not only is the plant tolerant of high temperatures, but it actually does relatively well in periods of drought (when watered properly). Furthermore, this plant is very colorful adding shades of pink and purple flowers to your flowerbeds, porch decorations, as well as indoors. This fern-like plant is a low maintenance plant that is perfect for anyone wishing to add a splash of color indoors our out with evergreen foliage.