Today in the garden…
Plant Name: Verbascum
Common name: hybrid ‘Southern Charm’
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Height: 2-3 ft
Spread: 1-2 ft
Bloom Time: May- September (de-head to continue blooming time)
Flower Color: Pastel shades: lavender, buff, cream, soft rose
Exposure: Full sun
Soil Requirements: Well drained soil, grows on rocky slopes. Avoid highly fertile and wet soils!
Water Needs: Dry to medium
Attributes: Showy erect flowers, velvet leaves
Note: Drought tolerate, deer resistant ( maybe!), short lived perennial but it self-seeds
Uses: Perennial garden, cottage garden, vertical accent, cut flower
Native to: Europe to North Africa to Western and Central Asia.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Category Archives: Horticulture Reports
Filling in the Spaces: Part 2
Creeping Phlox/ Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata): Vigorous mat-forming 6” high plant that rambles through rocks and drapes over rock walls. Dense ground cover excellent for controlling erosion on slopes. Note: Not for pathways, it does not tolerate foot traffic. Perennial, Full sun, Flowers can be white, rose, hot pink or magenta, Deer Resistant. USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9.
Hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum)
Ground-hugging, cold hardy, sun loving, drought tolerant succulent. Leaves form in rosette shapes, propagate by offsets (chicks). With 3,000 cultivars available leaf colors range from shades of green, to silver-blues, to dark purple, and delicate pink. Use in rock gardens, containers or areas you want to “fill-in”. Perennial, Full sun to Part Sun, Likes Sandy/ Gritty Soil, Drought Tolerant, Deer proof. Groundcover. USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 10.
Irish Moss/Corsican Pearl Wort (Sagina subulata)
Handsome lush low-growing green moss that forms a carpet-like foliage 1″ tall. Tiny translucent star-shaped white flowers. Irish Moss is prefect for rock gardens, between stone or paver pathways. Perennial, Evergreen, Full or Part Shade, Needs Water & Well-Draining Soil, White Flowers, Deer Proof, Groundcover. USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 10.
Article by Carlotta Lucas
Filling in the Spaces
The small spaces between rocks, and stone pathways are tough area to grow anything except weeds, but here are a few plants that thrive between the cracks and crevices.
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum): Excellent for pathways, grows flat and tolerates foot traffic. Likes well-drained soil. Soft fuzzy Appearance. Herbaceous Perennial, Fragrant, Pink flower, Sun/Part Shade, Deer Proof, Attracts Bees. USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9.
Wooly Thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus): Durable plant perfect for filling in between stepping stones, or rock gardens. Soft foliage creates a low, lush mat with pink flowers. Herbaceous Perennial, Attracts Butterflies & Bees, Sun/Part Shade, Drought Tolerant/ Water Wise Groundcover, Deer Proof. USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8.
Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis): A wonderful creeping perennial for filling in. Use between stepping stones, under shrubs, in rockery, around ponds. Tiny green leaves form a dense, low mat ½ inches high. Produces tiny light blue star-shaped flowers which cover the plant late spring into fall. Perennial, Evergreen, Full Sun/Part Shade, Tolerates Foot Traffic, Like Moisture, Deer Proof. USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9.
Dappled Japanese Willow
Plant Name: Salix Integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’
Common Name: Dappled Japanese Willow
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Height: 4-6 ft
Spread: 5-7 ft
Bloom Time: March- April
Flower Color: Yellow with small catkins (insignificant)
Exposure: Full Sun (with afternoon shade) – Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Fertile well-drained
Water Needs: Medium to Wet
Attributes: Colorful Variegated Leaves which are pink in the spring, then mature to variegated shades of pink, creamy white & green, Fall Color of yellow leaves
Uses: Hedge, Shrub Borders, Stream or Pond Edges, Rain Garden, Wet areas, Erosion control, Winter Interest with gray/green bark
Note: Tolerates Black Walnut, Tolerates wet areas
Native to: China, Japan, Korea & southeastern Siberia
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Horticulture Report: Allium Moly
Plant Name: Allium Moly (Yellow ornamental onion)
Allium Moly: ‘Jeannine’
Common Name: Lilly Leek or Golden Garlic
Plant type: Perennial bulb
Height: 18 inches
Spread: 6-9 inches
Bloom Time: May – June
Flower Color: Golden Yellow 2-3 inches
Exposure: Morning Sun, Afternoon Shade
Soil Requirements: Average well-drained soil
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes: Showy Flowers, Attracts Butterflies, Fragrant Leaf
Note: Tolerates Black Walnut, Deer & Rabbit Resistant
Uses: Naturalize, Mixed flower beds, Borders, Cut Flowers
Native to: Southern and Southeastern Europe (Mediterranean)
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Horticulture Report: Nigella damascena
Plant Name: Nigella damascena
Common Name: Love-in-a- Mist
Plant type: Annual Flower
Height: 1.5-2.5 ft
Spread: 1-1.5 ft
Bloom Time: May-August
Flower Color: Blue with cultivars available in White, Purple, Pink, Rose
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Average well-drained soil
Water Needs: Medium, but constant water
Attributes: Showy Flowers, Attractive egg-shaped Seed Pods, Self-seeds, Lacy Leaves,
Note: Flowers best in cooler locations, Flowers may decline in hot temperatures
Uses: Cut Flower Garden, Containers, Mixed Beds, Borders, Cottage Garden, Pollinator Garden
Native to: Southern Europe, northern Africa
USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-11
