Plants of the week

11/0311
Newsletter Topics

#1 - Tips of the Week

#3 - Tips from Denny

#5 - Late Fall Planning

#2 - Plants of the Week

#4 - Bulbs & Tubers Info

#6 - Questions Asked

#7 - Winterizing Roses

Plants of the Week

Taken from the B.Y.G.L. (Buckeye Yard and Garden Online) Newsletter
Contributing Authors: Pam Bennett, Joe Boggs, Cindy Meyer, Jim Chatfield, Erik Draper, Dave Dyke,
Gary Gao, David Goerig, Tim Malinich, Becky McCann, Bridget Meiring, Amy Stone and Curtis Young

ANNUAL - ALTERNANTHERA, JOSEPH'S COAT (Alternanthera spp.).
This group of foliage plants is very similar to coleus in regards to use. Known for the foliage, Alternanthera tolerates full hot sun and won't fade in color like many coleus varieties in the sun. They also grow in partial shade. Alternanthera grows as tight and low to the ground in rounded mounds or can get to around 2-3' tall, depending upon the cultivar. The low-growing varieties tend to be used in public garden displays that are shaped into animals, special features, etc. as they are easily sheared to a variety of shapes. Taller varieties are used in beds or containers.

The foliage is yellowish green, green, bronze, reddish, and variegated, depending upon the cultivar.

'Brazilian Red Hots' is around 2 1/2' tall and about as wide. The foliage is a burgundy red with tints of green and pink on the new growth.

'Little Ruby' is compact and around 8" tall and is easily sheared. Foliage is dark maroon with a touch of lighter maroon on the underside of the leaf.

Two smaller-leaved varieties that are good for trimming are 'Burgundy Threadleaf' and 'Golden Threads'; these grow around 12" wide by about 4" tall.

Little Ruby

Brazilian Red Hots

PERENNIAL - Sedum 'Neon' (Sedum spectabile or Hylotelephium spectabile). Many cultivars of this species of sedum show off in the fall garden. 'Neon' is a variety that has incredible electric, deep-rose blooms.
The thick flower clusters have consistent color and really shine when the evening sunlight falls. Sedum is an old-fashioned plant that is very reliable in the fall garden. Butterflies and bees love them and have been flocking to the blooms this season. The plants grow around 2' tall and as wide. They prefer well-drained soils and full sun; do not overwater as they are succulents and won't tolerate wet soils. Once established, they are drought tolerant. Sedum is also known to be deer-resistant. Don't cut them back in the fall as this species of sedum has nice winter characteristics and looks good until early spring; cut it back when the landscape appeal is gone in the spring.

PERENNIAL - BLUE STAR (Amsonia hubrichtii).
This plant is making a rare double appearance as a "plant of the week" in this year's BYGL; first in the spring because of beautiful blooms, and now in the fall because of outstanding fall color! In the late spring, blue flowers covered the plant, providing the first show of color.

Now, the fall color is outstanding and really shines in the fall garden. The golden-yellow foliage stands out and lasts through several hard freezes. Therefore, wait until it loses its appeal before cutting it back for the winter.

Amsonia is very easy to grow and requires average, well-drained soil. It likes full sun to part shade; however, the best fall color occurs in the full sun. The plant is around 2-3' tall and rounded. Use it in borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens, or native plant gardens. Gardeners can plant several plants together in a mass for best impact.

WOODY - SOURWOOD (Oxydendrum arboreum).
Looking for a classic? Try growing sourwood. This slow growing (less than 1' per year), native small tree is found along well drained riparian corridors from the coast of Virginia, south to western Florida, and as far north as Ohio and Indiana. The captioned photo of this plant was taken at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Youngstown, Ohio.

This tree is an excellent specimen plant and an all season ornamental. Beginning in mid to late June it covers itself with long, fragrant, white, drooping racemose-like panicles. The fruit attached to those panicles persists into the winter. The foliage is a lustrous dark green all summer long that changes yellow, red, and purple shades as fall progresses.

It is best to plant sourwood in morning sunshine with a slightly acidic soil. Accomplish this by adding generous amounts of shredded peat moss into the root zone as you back fill when planting. Expect it to reach heights of 30-40', someday.

WOODY - COMMON WITCHHAZEL (Hamamelis virginiana).
Common witchhazel is now beginning to bloom in Ohio. This small tree or large shrub grows to 25' in height throughout its native habitat within the eastern hardwood forest of North America. The flowers have four dainty, strap-like, crumpled petals that are fragrant and yellow in color. Common witchhazel will remain in full bloom from early October into December, depending on weather conditions. This plant is hardy for most of Ohio. It produces a good yellow fall foliage color that complements itself as it continues to bloom. It prefers moist, shady areas and is somewhat tolerant of city conditions. Common witchhazel is also valued for its unique branching habits. Plant one this fall!

VEGETABLE - RADISH (Raphanus sativus).
Never give up on your garden! The radish is a cool-season crop that is easy to grow. Many varieties of radish only need 20-30 days to mature from seeding to harvest.

Spring radishes can be sown as early as the soil can be worked. If one's gardening space includes a protected cold frame, fresh radishes can be enjoyed all winter long. For a fall harvest outside, sow radish seed in late summer. Now that we are getting some rain across Ohio, what do you have to loose, plant some radish seed
today. They can survive a mild frost as they grow this fall. Harvest radishes when they are small and tender for optimal flavor.

WEED - SPURGES (Euphorbia spp.).
Two common spurges are PROSTRATE SPURGE (E. humistrata) and SPOTTED SPURGE (E. maculata), some taxonomists consider the two to be the same species. Both are summer annuals that develop mat-like growth habits. Both exude a milky sap when injured. Really the only difference between the two is spotted spurge has a maroon blotch on the middle of its leaf and prostrate spurge does not. These plants are prolific seed producing "machines." They are common summer weeds found in landscapes, waste areas, nursery containers, curb lawns, and can usually be seen thriving right now in any sidewalk crack. Controlling these weeds, as with most other annual weeds begins with a pre-emergence herbicide program.

WEED – GROUND IVY (Glechoma hederacea).
This hardy perennial weed has many names, some we can’t repeat. It is commonly known as creeping Charlie, gill-over-the –ground, and field balm. It is a member of the mint family so its square stem makes it easy to identify. Ground ivy spreads by seed or by stems that root at their nodes. Hand weeding needs to be thorough as the broken stem pieces easily take root.

Herbicides containing dicamba will provide fair to good control in a lawn situation. Caution is advised if control is needed in an annual or perennial bed. Herbicides containing dicamba will kill desirable plants.
Always read the label.