IN THE GARDEN

IN THE GARDEN

BY BETTY MORRELL

With the planting season just around the corner, it’s time to dream about new additions to your landscape, like Perennial Peanut and the colorful “Miss Scarlett” Illicium.

September brings wishful dreaming of fall and the many things we can plant for the new season. They say October is the beginning of the planting season in Florida, so let’s get ready!

First, I had a question about Perennial Peanut, where it would grow best and whether it is a good groundcover. Yes, yes, yes. An awesome, tough little plant, it survives in our hot summer heat and sandy soil. It is a versatile groundcover that blooms all summer with happy little golden flowers.

This groundcover is effective on sites with erosion problems, as the rhizomes grow to form a mat that helps keep the soil in place. Perennial Peanut can also be used as a lawn substitute and can be mowed without damage to the plants. It should be planted as a lawn where there is little foot traffic.

When using it as a groundcover, use metal or fiberglass edging along the landscape beds to stop it from jumping into adjacent areas. Water well when first planted, and once established, it will serve you well. It is resistant to nematodes, pathogens, and drought, and requires very little fertilizer. Perennial Peanut likes full sun, but tolerates some shade.

If you want to liven up some boring shrubs, try the dramatic “Miss Scarlett” Illicium, with its fiery red, star-shaped 2-inch flowers with buttery yellow eyes that rise above the foliage in mid-spring and are on display for 4 to 6 weeks. Th e green foliage emerges chartreuse in spring, and the glossy evergreen narrow leaves remain green through winter. It produces brown capsules in midsummer. When the leaves are crushed, they smell like anise, and the star-shaped seeds are similar to the culinary anise, bur these are toxic.

This Southern Living plant has a compact growth habit and will reach 4 to 6 feet in height and 3 to 4 feet in width, filling out right to the ground. Th is hardy shrub does best in part-shade to shade. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the root zone to conserve soil moisture. Warning: this plant is toxic to humans and animals, so plant accordingly. Use in mass plantings, as hedges or screening, naturalize it, or plant in woodland garden. It can be grown in containers, but it will need more water. This is a fairly new PP24640 plant.

I am heading to the Florida Growers Association trade show, and I’m so excited to take you all with me. We will explore the new plants, new products, ideas, tips, and hints beginning next month.

Lastly, if you have Confederate or Carolina jasmine growing near your house, be sure to clip it off the building as the tendrils will pull off finishes like stucco. I trimmed mine recently, since with all the rain we’ve been having, everything seems to be thriving and becoming invasive.

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

TIP OF THE MONTH TIP OF THE MONTH

It’s not too early to start preparing your beds for new plants and transplants. After planting, apply new mulch, this will keep you plants healthy and happy. Be sure to deadhead perennials and annuals to prolong their blooming.

COURTESY SOUTHERN LIVING PLANT COLLECTION “Miss Scarlett” Illicium