Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’
Common Name: montbretia
Type: Perennial Bulb
Height: 2-4 feet
Spread: 1-2 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Scarlet red
Sun: Full sun -Part shade
Water: Medium amount, but regular watering
Maintenance: Medium
Attributes: Showy Flowers, Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds, Deer Resistant,
Use: Cut Garden, Mass plantings, Pool-side planting, Borders, Containers, Contemporary Garden, Cottage Garden, Hummingbird Gardens.
USDA Zone: 5-9
Category Archives: Horticulture Reports
Horticulture Report: Cotoneaster salicifolius
Plant Name: Cotoneaster salicifolius
Common name: Willow-leaf cotoneaster
Plant type: Broadleaf Evergreen shrub
Height: 6-8 ft
Width: 6-10 ft
Bloom Time: May
Flower Color: Small White
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well-drained Sandy Loam
Water Needs: Average, tolerates drought
Attributes: Non-edible Showy Red Berries in Winter, Arching Habit with open branches, Bird-friendly.
Uses: Border, Specimen, Background plant, Bank Cover, Group/Mass Plantings, Hedge, Year-round Interest.
Note: In hot areas part sun is best.
Native to: Western China & Northern India
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-8
Low-growing varieties:
Cotoneaster salicifolius ‘Repens’: Low-growing form. Can use as a groundcover. Covered in red pomes fruits in the fall. Semi-evergreen in severe winter areas. ‘Green Carpet’ is very similar in habit.
Cotoneaster salicifolius ‘Scarlet Leader’ – Prostrate form creates a mat-like low ground cover only 2-3′ tall but spreads 8- 10′. Foliage is glossy & disease-free. Leaves can have purple hue in winter. Produces abundant scarlet berries in the winter.
Flowers for Hummingbirds
Bee Balm
Bee Balm (Monarda bradburiana: Perennial USDA Zone 5-8, Blooms May, Full Sun -Part Shade.
Zinnas: Annual USDA Zone 2-11 , Blooms June –Frost, Full Sun
Zinna
Hostas: Perennial USDA Zone 3-8, Blooms May, Part Shade to Full Shade.
Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans): Perennial USDA Zone 8-11, Blooms August –October, Full Sun. Deer resistant!
Hibiscus
Hibiscus, aka:‘Hardy Hibiscus’: Perennial USDA Zone 5-9, Blooms July – Sept., Full Sun.
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’–aka: Montbretia: Perennial USDA Zone 5-9, Blooms June –August, Full Sun-Part Shade. Deer resistant!
Salvia Amistad, aka: ‘Friendship Sage’: Perennial USDA Zone 8-10, Blooms July – Frost, Full Sun. Deer resistant!
Hot Lips Salvia (Salvia microphylla): Perennial USDA Zone 8-10, Blooms June – Frost, Full Sun. Deer resistant!
Hot Lips Salvia
Scarlet Sage (Salvia splendens): Perennial USDA Zone 10-11, otherwise an annual, Blooms June –Frost, Full Sun – Part Shade
Alstroemeria: Perennial USDA Zone 8-10, Blooms June – Sept., Full Sun with afternoon shade.
Duchess of Edinburgh Clematis
A large-flowered variety; 4″-6″ white double rosettes with a pale green tint. Blooms May-June. Height – 8-12 ft. Deadhead after first wave of blooms to promote new blooms. Often re-blooms in late summer. Plant clematis in full sun or part shade. Requires moist well-drained soil, and a trellis or arbor for support. Clematis’ needs their roots shaded, so plants other plants at its feet or cover the soil with small stones. USDA Zones 4-8.
Fragrant Annuals
Annual plants fill-in the “flower gap” in your perennial garden and there are a many beautiful annuals your can choose, but below are some of the most fragrant!
Stocks (Matthiola incana)
Height: 1-3 ft
Bloom Time: May-July
Flower Colors Available in: Blue, White, Pink, Yellow, Red
Exposure: Full Sun-Part Shade
Attributes: Dense Showy clusters of cove-scented flowers, Deer Tolerant
Uses: Border gardens, Containers, Moon Garden (white flowers), Cut Garden, Bouquets
Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)
Height: 3-8 ft
Bloom Time: May – July (In cool weather areas, blooms until fall)
Flower Colors Available in: All colors ( Except Yellow)
Exposure: Full Sun (but, not in high heat areas)
Attributes: Fragrant Colorful Climber
Uses: Border Gardens, Cottage Garden
Note: Needs to grow on a support structure such as a trellis, a fence, stakes with strings or a bamboo pyramid. Plants do poorly in high heat & humid areas! Sweet pea fruits are inedible and poisonous to humans.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritime)
Height: 3-6 inches
Bloom Time: April – June
Flower Colors Available in: White, Purple, Pink, Lavender, Violet
Exposure: Full sun – partial shade
Attributes: Ground plant, Delicate Flowers, Fragrant, Re-seeds
Uses: Flowerbed Edges, Containers, Hanging Baskets, Window Boxes
Nicotiana (Nicotiana alata)
Height: 3-5 ft.
Flower Colors Available in: Red, White, Purple, Pink, Yellow, Pale Green
Exposure: Full sun – partial shade
Attributes: Tubular flowers star-shaped fragrant flowers
Uses: Attracts Birds & Butterflies, Fragrant, Moon Garden (White flowers)
Four o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)
Height: 2-3 ft.
Bloom Time: June- Frost
Flower Colors Available in: Red, Pink, Rose, Magenta, White, Sometimes Striped
Exposure: Full Sun
Attributes: Trumpet-shaped flowers, Blooms in late afternoon, Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds. Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested!
Heucheras (Coral Bells)
Heucheras: Shade-Loving & Deer-Resistant
Common name: Coral Bells
Plant Type: Perennial
USDA Zone: 4 – 9
Heuchera ‘Red Lightening’
Flower Color: White, Flower time: June– July
Plant Height: 11 in , Width: 16 in
Soil & Water : Rich well-drained soil, moderately moist.
Attributes: Golden lime green leaves with crimson veins. Flowers attract hummingbirds & butterflies. Humidity & heat tolerant. Deer resistant. Full -Part Shade.
Heuchera ‘Wild Rose’
Flower Color: Rosy Pink, Flower time: July–August
Plant Height: 8-10 inches, Width: 24 inches
Soil & Water : Rich well-drained soil, moderately moist.
Attributes: Purple Leaves with dark veins. Flowers attract hummingbirds & butterflies. Salt tolerant. Loves shade. Deer resistant. Full Shade-Part Sun.
Heuchera ‘Georgia Peach’
Flower Color: Creamy White Flower time: June –July
Plant Height: 12-24 inches Width: 18-24 inches
Soil & Water : Rich well-drained soil, moderately moist.
Attributes: Attracts hummingbirds & butterflies. Heat tolerant. Leaves turn purple in the fall. Deer resistant. Part Shade-Part Sun
Heuchera- Dolce‘ Blackberry Ice’
Flower Color: Creamy White Flower time: June–July
Plant Height: 12-18 inches Width: 12-18 inches
Soil & Water : Rich well-drained soil, moderately moist.
Attributes: Iridescent purple leaves with black veining. Leaves turn metallic pewter in summer hear. Heat tolerant. Deer resistant. Prefers Part Sun.
Heuchera- Dolce ‘Cinnamon Curls’
Flower Color: Cream on burgundy stems
Flower time: June–July
Plant Height: 12-18 inches Width: 18-24 inches
Soil & Water : Rich well-drained soil and moderately moist.
Attributes: Stunning leaves! Heavily ruffled, leathery, glossy. Emerge fiery orange-red in the spring, turning cinnamon, red and purple in the summer. Undersides are bright magenta! Deer resistant. Full Shade-Part Sun.