Denny's Soapbox

Summer Color Report Card

How hot was it? Our summer this year provided an environment that most annuals, and you, didn’t enjoy. Just about every homeowner that planted flowers this past spring has been disappointed. I can tell by the record number of mums that have been purchased over the last 6 weeks to fill in the color voids created by flowers that usually last through September or later. Many of you planted wave petunias expecting large beautiful plants like the previous summers. Not this year. Known to be heat beaters like all petunias, waves reached their limit along with the majority of other varieties of petunias and annuals in general. I say the majority of flowers because listed below are the flowers that did very well in all that heat. Too many days of temps in the 90’s and hundreds caused this negative effect.

Tidal Wave Petunias

Offered in 3 different colors, these hedge petunias individually grow 4 ft. wide and 2 ½ ft. tall and were the petunia exception. They loved the heat and dry soil and did not succumb to over-watering like all others.

Angelonia Angustifolia ‘Angel Face’

Snapdragon-like flowers that bloom all growing season. They come in many colors and grow to a height of 12”-48”. They are obviously heat and drought tolerant and grow best in full to ½” day sun. This flower was the “top pick” at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens field trials in 2004. Unusually good life as cut flowers indoors lasting 15-20 days in a bright room.

Vinca (Periwinkle)

This is another very tough flower for heat and drought. Comes in many new colors. Glossy green leaves on a plant that will grow from full sun to full shade. Each plant grows to 12” high and 18” wide in soil that’s well drained.

Wax Leaf Begonias

Like the vinca these will grow and bloom from shade to full sun. Lot’s of pink, red, white and bi-color varieties to choose from. You can literally walk away from these once they start to grow.

Portulaca (Moss Rose)

Low growing annual that’s great for the border. Many colors on blooms that look like small 2” diameter roses. Plant in full to ½ day of sun. Very easy to grow with no maintenance necessary.

Lantana

Talk about a desert flower, lantana thrives in full to ½ day sun. Grows to 24” high and 36” wide. Grow some in pots that you can bring indoors for the winter. Available in several color combinations of yellow, orange, pink and white.

There are other summer flowers that did well for some of you but the ones I have listed should be successful for all of you as long as you don’t ‘over water’. These flowers mentioned do not require any dead-heading, (removing the spent flowers) as they are all self cleaning. Cut this list out of your paper and attach it to your 2008 calendar for May. Then plant and enjoy the ease and color of these flowers.