Firewise Plant: Muscari armeniacum Grape Hyacinth

Plant Name:  Muscari armeniacum
Common name:  Grape Hyacinth
Plant Type: Bulbous Perennial
Plant Height: .5’ – .75’
Plant Width:  .25’ – .50’
Bloom Time: April
Flower Color:  Royal Blue with thin White Rim
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well Drained; Sandy; Loam
Water Needs: Medium
Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 10 – Plant 10’+ from structure.
Attributes: Showy Flower; Fragrant; Good Cut Flower; Deer Resistant; Tolerates Clay Soil; Attracts Bees/Butterflies.
Uses: Mass in Open Areas; Around Shrubs; Under Deciduous Trees; Rock Gardens; Front of the Border; Container Plant.
Note:  Reduce Watering After Foliage Begins to Die Back.
Native to: Western Asia, Southeastern Europe
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member, Master Gardener

Photo by (c)2008 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), GFDL 1.2 http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html, via Wikimedia Commons

Firewise Plant: Lathyrus odoratus

Plant Name: Lathyrus odoratus

Winter Elegance Mix

Common name:  ‘Winter Elegance’ Sweet Pea

Plant Type: Annual

Plant Height: 8” – 8’

Plant Width:  2’ – 3’

Bloom Time: May – July

Flower Color:  All Colors

Exposure: Full Sun

Soil Requirements: Well-Drained Sandy/Loam

Water Needs: Low – Average; Avoid Overhead Watering.

Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 1 – 10+ feet from Structure.

Attributes: Good Cut Flower; Fragrant; Deer Resistant; Attracts Bees/Butterflies.

Uses: Arbors; Trellis; Beds & Borders; Containers; Cottage Garden.

Note:  Fertilize Regularly During Growing Season with Balanced Liquid Fertilizer; Deadhead to Prolong Bloom; Don’t Plant in Same Area in Consecutive Years.

Native to: Crete, Italy, Sicily

Oregon Native:  NO

 USDA Hardiness Zone:  2 – 11

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member, Jackson Co. Master Gardener

Firewise Plant: Tall Bearded Iris

Plant Name: Iris hybrids
Common name:  Tall Bearded Iris
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 16” – 30”
Plant Width:  14” – 24”
Bloom Time: May – June
Flower Color:  Multi-colored including Bicolor
Exposure: Full Sun
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 1:  Plant 30+ feet from Structure.
Soil Requirements: High Organic Matter; Good Drainage.
Water Needs: Infrequent Watering, but Deeply.
Attributes: Good Cut Flower; Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant.
Uses: Perennial Border; Cutting Garden; Mass Planted in Naturalized Area.
Note:  Lift & Divided Clumps Every 3 – 4 years in Late Summer After Bloom;
Plant at Soil Level or Slightly Covered; Fertilize in Early Spring; Iris Borer is an Insect Pest;
Additional Problems:  Fungal Diseases/Crown Rot/Mosaic Virus.
Native to: Mediterranean Area
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 10

AGC Board Members:

Report by: Viki Ashford, Master Gardener

Photos by: Carlotta Lucas (All photo rights reserved)

Firewise Plant: Dianthus, Garden Carnation

Plant Name:  Dianthus species
Common name: Garden Carnation or Pinks
Plant Type:  Annual; Evergreen Perennial; Subshrub; Over 300 Species
Plant Height:  2” – 12”
Plant Width:  6” – 16”
Bloom Time:  May – August
Flower Color: Pink, White, Red, or Yellow
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained Soil
Water Need:  Low
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 1 – 20’+ from House.
Attributes: Grayish-Green Foliage; Deer Resistant; Attracts Butterflies; Good Cut Flower; Sweet Clove Fragrance.
Uses:  Rock Gardens; Cottage Gardens.
Note: Regularly Deadhead for Repeat Bloom; Do Not Mulch in Winter with Compost.
Native to: Asia & Europe
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9

Viki Ashford, AGC Member / Master Gardener

Scabiosa ( Pincushion Flowers)

Plant Name:  Scabiosa
Common name: Pincushion
Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 1’ – 1.5’
Plant Width:  1’ – 1.5’
Bloom Time:  April to Frost
Flower Color:  Lavender Blue
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements:  Average, Medium, Well-Drained.
Water Needs:  Medium
Attributes: Showy Flower; Attracts Butterflies; Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant
Note: Remove Spent Flowers to Encourage More Bloom; Watch for Aphids, White Flies, Powdery Mildew.  80 species of annuals, biennials and perennials primarily from the Mediterranean region 
Uses: Massing in Border Fronts; Cottage Garden, Perennial Gardens, Cut flowers, Mediterranean Garden
Native to:  Mediterranean, Africa, Asia
Oregon Native:   NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member, Master Gardener

Photo by: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org

Oregon Native: Collomia grandiflora

Plant Name:  Collomia grandiflora
Common name: Large Flower Collomia
Plant Type:  Annual Herb
Plant Height:  4” – 3’
Bloom Time: April – June
Flower Color:  Yellow Salmon to White with Blue Pollen
Exposure:  Part Shade to Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Dry
Water Needs:  Low to No Water.
Attributes: Pollen for Bees.
Note:  Flowers are eaten by deer.  Powdery mildew is possible.
Uses: Cut Flower; Native Garden; Wildflower gardening; Pollinator Garden.
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  6a – 9b

Report by: Viki Ashford