Nerine Obsession

by Susan | Nov 19, 2018 | Plants I Dig

I’m not sure how being curious about something turns into an interest which, in turn, becomes a collection. I’m also not sure how that collection suddenly, overnight, turns into an obsession. Enter the Nerine. This obsession snuck up on me.

My first experiment with a Nerine was with a couple of bulbs purchased online simply because I wanted to push the hardiness envelope. After meeting the sweet little bulbs, I proceeded to keep them in a pot, moving them in and out of the greenhouse, rather than put them in the ground and risk freezing. My second dabble at the edge of the rabbit hole of interest was a pot of bulbs from Dan Hinkley. I tucked them into a bed that didn’t get a lot of love, water or care, under a Pittisporum ‘Formosa fingers’ no less! I didn’t think about them again until fall. And suddenly, there they were, pushing through the foliage, intermingling with geranium, ceanothus, and pittisporum ‘county park’. They arrested my interest with their subtle scent and their bold (although pink) flowers opening as I walked by.

From there it was a free fall… A pot of bulbs from Ravenna Gardens, a few more from Dan Hinkley, and yes, more online purchases. This year I hit the mother lode. One of my suppliers had also fallen victim to the same obsession. On their availability list, there were several Nerines listed. At this point, most of mine were Nerine bowdenii, the straight species. The hard to find ones were, well, hard to find. Many available in the UK and their native South Africa, but not here.

At this point, my collection hit obsession status.

Nerines Mr. John, Anastasia, Elegance, Isabel, Early Red, Aphrodite, Patricia joined the family this year. I discovered Nerine Edelweiss, a stunning white Nerine, blooming in my garden, as was Nerine Isabel, a shorter structured pink/white Nerine. (Yes, I may have forgotten where I planted them) What I call my Nerine bowdenii dwarf is still in a pot. Its beautiful ruffled petals with white stripes and dark stamens are different than the other species I have. I even succumbed to two salmon-colored, and an orange-colored unnamed, not hardy, cultivars from Dan Hinkley’s greenhouse. They are still in a pot. They may be going in and out of the greenhouse for a while.

Also called Guernsey Lilies, Nerines bloom after their foliage has died down, giving them the common name of naked ladies. Unexpectedly, the bulbs last for years under cultivation. They prefer dry soil with lots of sun. With our arid year in the PNW, they are blooming spectacularly. Endemic to South Africa they are part of the amaryllis family.

Here is a link to Nerines from the Pacific Bulb Society. https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Nerine Very knowledgeable about growing Nerines, they can offer more information about starting a collection of your own.

Let me share the plant portraits of the ladies.

Nerine Anastasia

Nerine Bowdenii Dwarf

Nerine Elegance

Nerine Isabel

Nerine Mr John

Nerine Patricia

Nerine Edelweiss

Nerine Patricia

Clematis Collection | 2018

by Susan | Sep 1, 2018 | Plants I Dig

Clematis Collection:

As seen on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter in July, here is this year’s Clematis collection. Be sure to keep an eye out for these when planning for your garden next year. Did you miss these posts on social media? Join me by clicking the links.

Clematis tangutica

Clematis Red

President Clematis

White Clematis

Clematis Integrifolia

Clematis Lemon Bells

Purple Clematis

Christmas Cuttings 2 | Greens

by Susan | Jan 12, 2018 | Plants I Dig, Plantswoman Design

Today we are going to finish the rest of the essential cuttings for your Christmas display. Some of these can be used inside with fresh roses or other cut flowers. They can also be used as wreath greens for outdoors. We are lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest where many of these evergreens are growing all around us. You may have some already growing on your property and can use these by pruning the branches carefully so as not to ruin their shape. There is another method that we jokingly call ‘civic pruning’. Roadside edges and vacant land around here contain Pine, cedar, fir and even mahonia. These natives are constantly reseeding themselves around. The road department is constantly shearing the edges, mangling the trees that encroach on the road. I simply help them along by clipping what is overhanging ditches and vacant land. Rules (my own admittedly) are, park safely, don’t get into traffic, and don’t go on private property. For those less adventurous let’s grow some of our own.

Magnolia grandiflora – One of the loveliest of all Christmas greens. My first Magnolia grandiflora had been damaged by a windstorm elsewhere and I rescued it by moving it to my house. It was sadly flat and misshapen so I didn’t feel too bad about harvesting the branches to make a lovely wreath. These are very expensive in the florist shops and even silk ones are very dear. Both this big variety and the smaller ‘Little Gem’ have great leaves and buds. Sometimes there are even seed pods left from the fall that are red with a bumpy texture. If you have the bigger ones you can prune them gently at any time during the year. Hardy to zone 7, Likes moist fertile soil with full sun. You might even plant a young one and keep pruning it just for the greens.

Hardy to zone 7, Likes moist fertile soil with full sun.

Pine – Both Shore Pine (Pinus Contorta) and Western White Pine (pinus monticola) are cut for Christmas greens. These both grow as natives in our state. They are easy to grow and work well in a larger garden. If you use them for greens cutting they are necessarily smaller. Hardy to zone 5 will take moist and dry soil but prefers acid soil. Full Sun is best. Sap can be a problem so it’s important not to plant them too close to driveways, patios or other sitting areas. These are good for adding to arrangements, or making wreaths.

Hardy to zone 5, acid soil, full sun

Mahonia is a beautiful shrub with berries to cut and bring in. Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ has beautiful soft fingers of leaves. Sometimes the yellow flowers are present which adds more color to the mix. These are beautiful in arrangements, containers outside (plant then replant into the garden later), and garlands. Zone 7b, shade, looks best with protection from winds, can take some drought. Other mahonias are also good but this new one is a better twist on the native.

Zone 7b, shade, looks best with protection from winds, can take some drought.

Rosa Nutkana and rosa multiflora have great rose hips. Nutkana hips with their thorny branches are fantastic in wreaths. They can be woven into twiggy wreaths by themselves or added to wreaths, draped across the tops of wardrobes, cupboards, and cabinets. The hips harden and they have a lovely deep dark red color. These are very easy to grow and in some cases the rosa multiflora have been considered invasive. I think they are easy to control and make a good hedge for keeping animals out of a garden. Both easy to grow in average soil, better with moisture, full sun and hardy to zone 3. Roots are shallow and easy to pull out. Let them spread out for good arching stems with small roses in cluster.

Easy to grow in average soil, better with moisture, full sun and hardy to zone 3.

Red Twig or Orange Twig dogwood (cornus ‘midwinter fire’, elegantissima) are amazing in many ways in Christmas decorations. They can be planted in containers outside, cuttings can be added to wreaths, garlands, and even in the Christmas tree to have spurts of color coming out of the tree. Easy to grow in many conditions, hardy to zone 3, full sun or shade, and easy to cut and keep cutting.

Easy to grow in many conditions, hardy to zone 3, full sun or shade.

Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata, is our native cedar. This is probably the most used evergreen for decorating. Cedar garlands are for sale at grocery stores, home stores, and florist shops. Fragrant and tough (no needles falling) they are good for many areas in the home, wreaths, garlands, mantle pieces, banisters, and outside eaves and railings. Lights can be tucked in along the line to add interest at night. Easy to prune and take boughs from, can take a lot of foliage without noticing.

Zone 3, wet or average soil, sun or shade with no real pests.

When planning your Christmas cutting garden choose an area of your garden that is a little out of the beaten path. Sometimes the cutting will be noticeable until the leaves and branches grow back in. Situate the plants closer than you would normally plant them. They will be cut back possibly yearly so they can stand to be close. Good siting for sun and shade can be determined by the path of the sun and planting to provide shade with taller things acting as shade. Enjoy your own cutting garden of Christmas Greens!

Christmas Cuttings 1 | Holly

by Susan | Jan 11, 2018 | Plants I Dig

As sometimes happens (many times actually) some research on a blog post can turn you to another direction totally. This is one of those times. While researching where and how to grow my favorite Christmas greens I came across a lot of information about holly. I use holly in my Christmas decorations but usually outside where the birds can feast on the (poisonous to us) berries while I look on. Not a huge fan of getting poked I like to concentrate on hollies that are a little friendlier. There are some great holly plants that are not prickly and are a structural evergreen presence all year round. Still worthy of mention is the traditional English Holly (Ilex aquifolium), not one of the ‘friendly’ hollies. The leaves are spiny and sharp, making a great hedge with good foraging and home making places for birds. Predators can’t get to the nest and there is plenty of food. Beautiful and large in stature the Ilex aquifolium is worth a place in your large garden. Our family had one when I was a kid. I usually noticed it when I stepped barefooted on the leaves that littered the ground. This holly is the traditional holly for Christmas decorating but is easily replaced by a few friendlier varieties.

Heavy on berries, the unusual Ilex cassine var casine (Dahoon Holly), grows in moist ground. The leaves are spineless, evergreen and medium green. Hardy to zone 5 in full sun or part shade it is native to eastern United States, Mexico and the Caribbean

Moist ground is also a good place to grow Ilex verticillata or Winterberry Holly. Branches of this plant are abundant in the wholesale coolers at Christmas time. Deciduous, the berries are the part that makes this plant valuable for decorating. Vibrant in the landscape, bird fodder, and easy care make this plant well worth growing if you can find it. Hardy to zone 3 it is small in stature, worth it to put several plants growing together.

Next, Ilex cornuta, or Horned Holly is friendly too. It can easily be a small tree as well as a maintained shrub. It is good as a privacy hedge but without the spines to deter the random dog or human, a good choice for barefooting. Berries are there but does not bear heavily. This holly likes sun and dry-ish ground. It can be part of a drought tolerant landscape. One of the most amazing places I saw it growing was in Phoenix Arizona, it was pretty happy without much extra water from the tap. Zone 7 – 9 in Sun or part shade. I most often see Ilex cornuta ‘Burford’. No male plant is needed for berries on this tree.

Ilex altaclerensis Balgeica ‘marginata’ has no spines and beautiful white variegated foliage. Berries stay well and is easy and more robust than common English Holly. It likes moist, well drained soil and male plant close by to produce berries.

It is fun to mess with people and plant a holly like plant that is not a holly. It always makes for good arguments and has the added benefit of showing off your horticultural ‘name that plant’ knowledge. Osmanthus genus will do that for you! Osmanthus heterophyllus has holly like leaves both with silver/gray foliage (Tea Olive), dark green foliage (Gulftide), and variegated foliage (Goshki). Throw in a Osmanthus fragrans to really stir the brain cells. The leaves are very spiky looking but with a soft, not stiff texture. Zone 7 – 9, blooming in September with fragrance, they are well worth a spot in any garden. They are drought tolerant and can even grow in clay soil.

Most Hollies like:

slightly acid soil with good drainage.
full sun or partial shade
Protection from drying winds
birds, bees, and insects to live in their branches.

Hollies are not liked by:

Deer or foraging animals.
Humans with small children, or pets that may eat the berries.
Barefooted people (young or old)
People or animals trying to get into the garden or your house – Great hedging.

Stay tuned for updated Christmas Cuttings list – Fabulous plants you can plant now for cutting greens for years to come. A design for a bed using these will also be given at the end of the series. Christmas Cuttings List – Magnolia Grandiflora, Rosa Nutkana, Midwinterfire dogwood, western red cedar, shore pine, White Pine, Rosa Multiflora, Mahonia

Plants I Dig: Blooming Winter Plants

by Susan | Dec 22, 2017 | Plants I Dig, Plantswoman Design

So many people think that the garden goes dormant and nothing happens in the winter. That is so not true and if it is true in your garden it’s time to explore Winter Plants. Plants, like people, like different things. Some don’t start their bloom cycle until everything else stops, fragrance drifts on the breeze tempting you to follow the scent to discover what is going on. Right now, there is the crazy scent of grape soda along my garden walk.

Winter Plant Profiles:

The stunning Nerine Bowendii is happily blooming under the fremontodendron ’Ken Taylor’. It is in a dry bed that get lots of hot sun and has the reflected heat from the parking area and a walkway. The strappy leaves aren’t very exciting and you kinda wonder what it is. Then suddenly there is a blast of berry pink showing through the branches and a sweet berry fragrance in the air. Several times I’ve walked by wondering what it was before I investigated. I have Nerine undulata in a pot that I purchased online. This goes into the greenhouse when the weather cools and it becomes wet. The tops of the Nerine bulbs should stay slightly out of the soil so they have a good baking in the summer. Drainage is the most important thing for these bulbs. Read more about Nerines… Spring is Not The Only Fall Season: Fall Bulbs and Fall Garden Super Star

Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens ‘Freckles’ is an evergreen winter blooming clematis. I first saw this plant in Seattle, growing on a sheltered wall, about 10 years ago when my daughter lived there. It was so surprising and unknown to me. It blooms all winter on previous year’s growth. The creamy bells are densely freckled in their interiors with dark red-purple. Evergreen in our climate but needs protection from drying winter winds. I purchased one for my old house on miller bay. It grows up a post onto the deck, and along the railing. It is large now but the stalks are not very heavy so it is ok for it to hang on the railing. Blooming so beautifully right now but is hard to find for sale. This is one of the many garden worthy plants that go out of favor so growers stop growing them. There are several varieties including ‘lemon bells’, and ‘wisley cream’. Hardy in zone 7 they need only occasional hard pruning and some clean out and growth directional pruning after flowering.

Mahonia Charity

Mahonia Soft Caress

Walking through the woodland with everything dormant and leaves on the ground, Mahonia Charity practically shouts out to be seen. The bright yellow flowers provide relief from the gray, brown and dark green in the garden just now. Mahonia ‘soft caress’ has lost most of it’s flowers and the fine foliage maintains throughout the rest of the winter. Mahonia Charity is just starting and although a much more structural plant the flowers are the same electric yellow that softens as it blooms out. A very important food for overwintering hummingbirds it bridges the gaps between blooming seasons. It is often still blooming in a warm early spring when the mason bees come out.

Have a walk in your winter garden. Take note of what is blooming out there. If there is nothing then you should start working on next year. Nursery stock is still high and mail order plants are ready to ship. Plan, plant, enjoy.

Big Bold Begonias

by Susan | Nov 12, 2017 | plants, Plants I Dig

One of my favorite plants are begonias. I say plants because there are many different types of begonias. There are a couple I can’t be bothered with (like fiberous bedding begonias) but for the rest of them… Bring them on. Starting in early summer and stretching into the first frost you can’t beat the luscious texture and color of the flowers. Carefree except for a random slug they continue to be stunning for months. There are several ways to collect begonias and also several ways to keep them over the winter to bloom again next year. Here are a few of my favorites…

Begonia ‘Sparks will fly’ and Begonia b.’Bonfire’ (boliviensis)

These are cultivars of begonia boliviensis. This was originally found in the Andes mountains of Bolivia (hence the name boliviensis) and used to hybridize many of the tuberous begonias we have today. The bright flower and contrast of red leaf and heavy veining on ‘Sparks will Fly’ leaves makes for a powerful combination. Mine stayed in a black metal pot on the walkway all summer with very little additional water. I occasionally watered the pot but it mostly received moisture from a sprinkler that was watering the rest of the beds nearby. I also love Begonia b. ‘Glowing Embers’ with a darker foliage and apricot flowers. Begonia b. ‘Bonfire’ glows in the shade with solid green leaves and bright red orange flowers held well above the foliage.

Begonia ‘Sparks will fly’

Begonia ‘Bonfire’

Overwintering

This begonia should be kept in a container for the winter. I remove them from the outdoor pot after a light frost and divide them back into grower’s pots. At this point you can either keep them in the greenhouse (heated) for the winter and enjoy the flower and foliage as a houseplant or help them into dormancy for the winter. If you want to keep them dormant you should start withholding water and cut them back. They may die back after the first frost naturally. You will see a little bit of a tuber in the soil. This little tuber should stay firm in a dark place in the garage or cool dry space with only occasional water to keep it from shriveling. It is important for it not to let it freeze and to bring it back into light in the spring to begin to grow again. Water it more frequently but not soaking while it begins to grow. When there are a couple of leaves you can add a little weak fertilizer to the water and it should start really producing leaves. Harden off in a protected area and move into good warm place with good sun.

Begonia ‘Sensation Apricot, ‘Sensation Red’, and ‘Illumination Orange’

Begonia x tuberhybrida. These are hanging tuberous begonias. Hanging baskets are way too hard for me to keep up on watering so I put these guys into tall containers and let them spill over the edges. They used to be a yearly purchase until I found out how easy they were to grow and overwinter. They have a hairy potato like tuber.

Overwintering

These are super simple too. Again, after the first frost is the time to dig them up. Note not the first freeze, the first frost. If you wait for them to freeze they will die. These will not overwinter in the ground in my zone 7 garden. Cut the tops back to about 1 inch above the tuber. Brush excess dirt off with your fingers and place on newspaper or shredded paper on a plant tray to dry out. Place them in a cool DRY place while they continue to go dormant. Don’t stack them and don’t let them touch. Check them every week and when they are very dry take off the dried stalk and brush soil off more vigorously. Make sure there is no soil in the hollow of the tuber. Store in a cool dry place until spring. At this point you can place them in a box with shredded newspaper left open or with air holes punched in it. Do not let this freeze either. The garage is the best place if it doesn’t freeze.

Begonia – ‘Non Stop Red’ Begonia ‘Mocca Orange’ Begonia x tuberhybrida

These are amazing upright begonias. The ‘Mocca’ Series have amazing dark foliage that really offset the flowers. A true designer plant!

Overwintering:

The same as the hanging begonia sensation series above.

Begonia sutherlandii

A hardy denizen of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa, this exotic-looking tuberous Begonia sends up jagged-edged bright green foliage beneath a lovely cascade of clear orange flowers supported by pale red stems. After seeing this plant in Thomas Hobbs’ gardening book, Shocking Beauty, I had to have it. I found it several years ago and it has lived happily in a container for all this time. They are small tubers that stay in the soil and are hardy to zone 6b. They look like their fussy cousins but are anything but. Usually the pot looks empty when it dies back throughout the winter, but comes back as soon as it starts to warm up. I keep it outside the greenhouse. This year I put a big clump into the ground under the apple tree. This developed nicely into a larger clump and proved untouched by creeping marauders like slugs and snails. No overwintering necessary except to move container to shelter from freezing winds. You can find some of these wonderful begonias at Digging Dog Nursery and Far Reaches Farms.

Hydrangea Drama Continues

by Susan | Aug 25, 2017 | Plants I Dig

In my last post, I decided (while writing it) that maybe hydrangeas were not so ‘ho hum’. In fact, I came up with so many that it should really be split into two posts so, as promised, here is the ‘rest of the story’ starting with my collection from Windcliff Nursery.

Hydrangea serrata beni a sweet little hydrangea from Windcliff. Living close to Dan Hinkley gives me the chance to visit his nursery regularly and bring home some choice selections. This one went in the garden last year and is starting to put on some good growth. The flowers are an amazing scarlet velvet red. As they fade they move towards a darker brick red but still maintain a velvet texture. Beni translates “red” in Japanese, and red, specifically a darkly imbued red lacecap is what this small rounded shrub delivers. Originally collected from a wild clone, its graceful form has dainty flowers that first emerge blushed white and gradually deepen to velvet red shades. The rich, stop-in-your-tracks color persists on the sepals well into autumn. With cool green leaves and ardent inflorescences, ‘Beni’ is a dynamic choice for a tight space. Blooms mid-July–September. Size: 4′ 0″ high x 4′ 0″ wide; hardy to zone 6. Hydrangea serrata ‘Beni’ (S-0643)

Deinanthe caerulea ‘Blue Wonder’. Another plant gleaned from Windcliff is Deinanthe caerulea ‘Blue Wonder’, the Chinese false hydrangea hailing from 2,500-5,000′ elevation in western Hubei province. It forms an 18″ tall x 3′ wide clump of upright stems in the garden, the stems of Deinanthe caerulea have four heavily serrated terminal leaves without tip branching. It is topped in early July with small terminal clusters of intricate nodding blue flowers composed of a stigma and hundreds of anthers…so very cute. Deinanthe caerulea needs to be planted in cooler sections of the woodland garden with good moisture and good drainage.

I have grown Hydrangea Plum Passion for several years and I have it in two places in my garden. One in part sun and one in high canopy shade. It is fun to see the two different plants and how they handle the different conditions. The one in full shade has great dark leaves, the one in part sun has more faded leaves. The one in full shade is slower to bloom and had less blooms while the one in part sun has more blooms and is very prolific. Both are about the same size but the one in shade is more compact and has lots of leaves, the one in the sun is open with less leaves. It clearly likes to grow in partial shade with regular water but will deal with full shade. It tends show stress in the summer without water. It likes moist soil. Zone 7 – 10, 5 – 6 foot in height and spread.

This hydrangea is also an introduction from Dan Hinkley from China. A type of aspera it has dark, fuzzy, purple leaves with rosy purple undersides. The delicate flowers are a great contrast to the drama of the foliage. It is deciduous with great fall color. Give it room to grow and it will stop you in your tracks with its loveliness.

Hydrangea angustipetala ‘Golden Crane’, (Hydranges angustifpetala ‘MonLongShou’) also an introduction from Dan Hinkley for Monrovia, (I think he likes hydrangeas) is the second fragrant hygrangea I’ve ever grown. It blooms very early with white flowers surrounding golden yellow fertile florets in late March and April. The pictures here have the remainder of flowers still hanging on and will sporadically bloom during the remainder of the summer. I do have to say it takes a while for them to get established and live up to their hype, but they are beguiling and sweet. The fragrance is jasmine-like and floats through the garden in early spring. Likes full shade to part shade, regular water and moist soil. Zone 6 – 10. Will eventually reach 3 – 5 feet tall and wide.

One of the many cool things about doing landscape design is the ‘personal shopper’ aspect. Going to the nursery to pick out what is beautiful at the moment is a fun trip. While shopping for a client last week I did see some beautiful hydrangeas. These are ones that are available but I haven’t grown yet. Maybe you will agree that they deserve a spot in your garden. The Wedding Gown double did make it back to my house, now a wander around the garden to find just the perfect spot for it.

Hydrangeas, Ho Hum?

by Susan | Jul 30, 2017 | Plants I Dig

At best, I have a tenuous relationship with hydrangeas. Sometimes I love them and sometimes they seem like a boring old grandma shrub with little to bring to the garden. But just this week I was going through the upper shade garden and surprise, surprise there are many hydrangeas there. Did they sneak in while I wasn’t looking? Actually, I probably planted them as a test for my clients and there they are looking, I have to admit, fabulous.

When I’m thinking about using a new variety or type of plant in client gardens I test it out in my garden first so I know how it behaves. Hydrangeas are a long-time client favorite so it makes sense that there are some in my garden. I usually think of them as pretty blobs of color, good background, nice color but not really spectacular. However, I think anyone could agree to have these beauties in their garden.

When black stems became the rage several varieties of hydrangeas were introduced. Two of them are in my garden and while having the same stem they have different habits and color in the flower.

Hydrangea Zorro is a lace cap style that starts out fairly pinky blue and then changes shade to purple blue with lots of variations in color. Strong stems keep the flowers erect and impressive. This one is grown with very little direct sun but a bright open canopy.

Hydrangea Zebra is another black stemmed variety. It has stunning pure white blooms with that are a lace cap variety but the blooms are so closely packed they tend to look like the mop-head variety. It is grown with the same canopy and good shade. It likes moisture and good rich soil.

Walking on the dark side gives us the beautiful Hydrangea ‘Plum Passion’. The flowers are great but the real stunning part of this Hydrangea is the fuzzy leaf. The structure is big with a great background presence. I’ve grown it in a container by a front door and it maintains its leaves with a wandering long stemmed shape. This has been one of my favorite hydrangeas for years though most people would not recognize it as a hydrangea. Not a fan of direct sun, give this beauty shade and protection from strong winds.

Along with black stems, I do love lime colors in the garden. In a shaded area the bright lime really stands out.

Lemon daddy Hydrangea does that with very lime leaves. The mop-head blooms are white and stay true to color throughout the season. The leaf is electric lime with good variation in color within the leaf. Slugs occasionally eat the leaf so that can be a little discouraging as most hydrangeas don’t have a big slug problem. Lemon Daddy can take some morning sun but dislikes the hot afternoon sun. Good moisture is preferred but can take some drought too.

Two must haves are Lime light and Little lime, almost the same except for the size. Limelight can be 4 – 6 feet tall with blooms about 12” across while Little Lime stays more at the 2-3 foot height with blooms about 6” across. Both have tiny little blooms packed on the stems. It is a paniculata type with loose cone shaped blooms. These are grown in light shade with good moisture. They can take some drought but not hot afternoon sun.

I love the shape of paniculata style hydrangea. Fire and Ice is another paniculata style Hydrangea. This time instead of a green stem it has a good red stem. The contrast in the lime/white blooms and the red stems is very effective in a shade garden. The fall color tends towards red as the weather cools. Coming in at about 4 feet in the garden it makes a good background shrub for the back of a low border.

The oak leafed hydrangea ‘Jet Stream’ is a beautiful example of Hydrangea quercifolia with blooms held away from the main stem so they can be seen individually. The blooms have a tendency to be heavy so will sometimes droop when the bloom is especially large. As they get a little older they will have thicker stems so the blooms will stay up better. Jet Stream likes a little more sun and the thick oak shaped leaves will not burn so easy in the extra sun. They have a lovely pink tinge to the blooms as they fade in the fall.

Well as I write this I realize I really do like hydrangeas. In fact, I haven’t finished telling you all about the other ones in my garden. In my next post, I will share my favorite unusual varieties. Fragrance, deep velvet color and climbers are also here in my garden. Stay tuned!

Hydrangea styles:

Paniculata

Genus: Hydrangea

This plant produces gracefully arching branches and pyramidal clusters of white, then pink-tinged to dusky purple blossoms.

Noteworthy Characteristics: This is one of the most cold-hardy species. It may be grown as a single-stemmed specimen or as a multi-stemmed shrub.

Care: Grow in moist, but well-drained soil, in sun to partial shade. H. paniculata blooms on the current season’s wood; it may be cut back to a few buds to form a framework in spring to produce larger flowers, or allowed to grow with minimal pruning.

Not subject to frost damage because they bloom on new wood.

Overview

Height 15 ft. to 30 ft.
Spread 10 ft. to 15 ft.
Growth Habit Clumps
Growth Pace Fast Grower
Light Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture Medium Moisture
Maintenance Moderate
Characteristics Showy Flowers, Showy Seed Heads
Bloom Time Summer

Macrophylla ( Mop Head)

Genus: Hydrangea

This is one of the most widely recognized species of hydrangeas. It boasts a plentiful number of cultivars. The species is divided into two groups: the Hortensias (or “mopheads”) have globe-shaped flowers made up of large male flowers, and the Lacecaps have flattened flower heads, with central, female blossoms ringed in larger, male blossoms

Noteworthy Characteristics: Lacy, horizontal blossoms and large globes of flowers in rich colors. Many different colors have been developed but some can go through a color change with addition of soil additives. Lime soil will make some blooms pink while acid soil can push the blooms to blue.

Care: Grow in moist, but well-drained soil, in sun to partial shade. Provide shelter from drying winds. These hydrangeas flower on the previous season’s wood, and can be maintained by cutting back just to the first pair of buds beneath the old flower in spring.

Overview

Height 3 ft. to 6 ft.
Spread 6 ft. to 10 ft.
Growth Habit Clumps
Growth Pace Moderate Grower
Light Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture Medium Moisture
Maintenance Low
Characteristics Showy Flowers, Showy Seed Heads Drying
Bloom Time Fall, Summer

Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf)

Oakleaf hydrangeas originated along the sandy streams of the southeastern United States, and they are more drought tolerant than many other hydrangeas. Their matte green leaves are coarsely textured and deeply lobed, and in fall they turn red and purple. White flower heads form in spring, and as summer draws to a close they turn shades of pink, green, and ecru. -Nellie Neal, Regional Picks: Southeast, Fine Gardening issue #127

Care: Moist, well-drained soil.

Overview

Height 3 ft. to 6 ft.
Spread 6 ft. to 10 ft.
Growth Pace Moderate Grower
Light Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture Medium Moisture
Maintenance Low
Characteristics Showy Fall Foliage, Showy Flowers
Bloom Time Early Summer, Late Spring, Spring,Summer
Flower Color White, pink

Blueberries for All Seasons

by Susan | Jul 21, 2017 | garden food, Plants I Dig

As I continue to think about design in the vegetable garden I can’t help but think about the great design opportunities with the new varieties of Blueberries. The great thing about designing with blueberries is the year-round color and growth in the garden as well as the benefit of delicious berries in July. Many of these cultivars have a low chill factor so you can grow these in even warmer places and still have great fruit.

The cultivar ‘Sunshine Blue’ was introduced in 1979 but I didn’t know anything about it until about 10 years ago when it became more available in our area. I like using the cultivar ‘Top Hat’, which is a dwarf evergreen blueberry and difficult to find, whenever I could.

Vaccinium ‘Sunshine Blue’ has a slightly pointed leaf that is a medium blue green. With its fine, delicate foliage it can be used in a mixed bed, foundation planting or edging for a more formal bed. It can be sheared if you don’t care about the fruit and takes on a lovely blush purple color in the fall. In my zone 8 garden it is mostly evergreen with good production of fruit.

Plant Description

One of the best for mild-winter areas, a low-chill selection perfect for small gardens or large patio tubs. Blue-green foliage and showy pink to white flowers provide ornamental value, followed by an abundant crop of fruit. Self fruiting, but yields best when planted with another variety. Recommended winter chill: 150 hours. Semi-evergreen.

One of my new favorites is the ‘Bountiful Blue’ Blueberry. This one has a beautiful rounded leaf with good blue color. They tend to have a coarser texture than the ‘Sunshine Blue’ but boast prolific foliage and sturdy structure. These look wonderful in a natural landscapes with many types of ornamentals. Japanese, northwest and cottage styles all benefit from these great plants.

Plant Description

An award winning variety with the bluest foliage of all! Pink-blushed flowers produce a big crop of large, sweet, juicy berries on a compact, mounded shrub. Perfect for hedging or planting in large tubs. Self-fertile, though planting another variety may yield a more prolific harvest. Needs only 150-200 winter chill hours. Semi-evergreen in mild climates.

These are also candidates for container production. I have several clients with large pots in their gardens with blueberries. ‘Pink Lemonade’ and ‘Peach Sorbet’ work particularly well for containers.

For the best fruit production give the plants good full sun and good moisture. They are happiest under irrigation. You could put them in part shade but expect lower fruit production.

Here is a video from Nicolas Statton on how to prune the evergreen varieties for fruit production. These are available from the growers at Monrovia. Have a look at that while I go make blueberry muffins.