IN THE GARDEN BY BETTY MORRELL

IN THE GARDEN BY BETTY MORRELL

conspicuous color

With warm weather plants bursting into bloom, add color to your landscape this month with robust bloomers like Clethera Ruby Spice and Armeria Dreameria Sweet Dreams.

The fireworks are over, but did you notice the red, white, and blue flags, banners, hats, clothing, and the beautiful red, white, and blue flowers in many gardens? It’s fun to try to coordinate colors with events on the calendar.

An interesting native bush with a red color is Clethera “Ruby Spice.” It has the darkest red of all the Summer Sweet varieties. (Also known as Summer Sweet and Sweet Pepperbush.) This lovely bush produces sweetly fragrant rosyred blooms in late summer. In autumn, the handsome green foliage ignites into flaming shades of yellow. This shrub is showy all year-round. This easy-to-grow, multi-season shrub grows to 4 feet tall and wide. The color shines best in sun if constant moisture is provided, so semishade is preferred.

Ruby Spice is an ideal foundation plant, but it’s wonderful in coastal gardens, too. Ruby tolerates salt spray, so try it if you are near the water. This easy-care, fragrant, free bloomer attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, and it’s a fast grower. Use in borders, as a specimen, or as a hedge for beautiful fall color.

How about Armeria Dreameria “Sweet Dreams” new plant with PP. Sweet Dreams are also known as Thrifts or Sea Pinks. Blooming from mid-spring to late fall, it has a moderately vigorous compact, tightly mounded growth habit of dark green foliage, growing 12 inches by 12 inches. Butterflies love this easy care, repeat bloomer, which makes this plant a season-long delight. It is heat and drought-tolerant.

Masses of large globe shaped mauve, pink flower heads top strong stems. The flowers attract butterflies and make long-lasting cut flower displays. This plant is a low-maintenance beauty perfect for full sun.

A vibrant Heuchera-Coral Bells named “Timeless Treasure” has arrived. This PP plant is stunning with diminutive dark leaves of silvered purple and a profusion of large deep rose-pink flowers that appear to float above ground on long, erect, dark red stems from early summer to late fall. The plants form small tidy mounds that are great for the edge of the garden or in containers.

These compact plants flower well in afternoon shade in our area. Light shade will prevent bleaching of the leaves. The root system is shallow, so if no rain falls, watering is necessary, one inch per week. You can pair plant Timeless Treasure with Ferns, Hosta, Phlox, Plumaria, and many others. Planting against the foliage of woody plants in a border will make a definite statement.

These plants are mostly pest-free. Prune them by removing the old top growth after flowering in late summer to expose fresh foliage. Remove dead leaves over the growing season to keep that beautiful foliage looking vibrant.

If you have any questions, email me at bamorrell33@gmail.com. In the meantime, Happy Gardening!

TIP OF THE MONTH

Fertilize shrubs that will flower next season now. Deadhead existing annuals and perennials to keep the garden fresh. A little Miracle Grow helps, and Milorganite is safe for lawns and everything else as it won’t burn.