Blanket Flower

If you're looking for a perennial with a long season of bloom, blanket flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora) is a great choice. The daisy-like flowers are produced from early summer to early fall in shades of orange, red and yellow, adding sizzle to the garden and attracting nectar-seeking butterflies.

About This Plant

Produced above a clump of hairy, narrow, gray-green leaves, the blossoms of perennial blanket flower have petals that may be solid colored shades of yellow, wine red , orange or peach, or may be banded in combinations of red or orange with yellow.

The petals of some are frilled, while others have a unique, tubular shape. Sizes range from 10-12 inch high dwarfs to selections as tall as 24-30 inches. All are easy care plants with few insect or disease problems and most are hardy in zones 3-9. There is also an annual blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella) that is easy to grow from seed.

Start seeds early indoors 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost, transplanting to the garden when the weather has warmed. In warm-winter areas, sow seeds directly in late fall or very early spring. Varieties are available with single, double and semi-double flowers.

Special Features

Besides attracting butterflies, blanket flowers can be grown in containers and the taller cultivars make nice cut flowers. Here are some popular cutivars of the perennial Gaillardia x grandiflora:

• Gaillardia 'Ariziona Sun' This 8-10 inch high variety sports masses of bright orange-red blossoms tipped with yellow on a dwarf plant.
• Gaillardia 'Fanfare' Unusual, trumpet-shaped petals of deep red tipped with yellow on a 14 inch high plant surround a burnt orange center.
• Gaillardia 'Tokajer' With marmalade-orange flowers that shade subtly to peach at the tips, this 2 foot tall variety may need staking.
• Gaillardia 'Burgundy' As its name suggests, this variety bears large, 3 inch wide wine-red blossoms on a 24-30 inch tall plant.
• Gaillardia 'Oranges and Lemons' This variety offers softer colors than other blanket flowers, with peach-colored, yellow-tipped blossoms with gold central cones on a 2 foot tall plant. Hardy in zones 5-9.

Site Selection

Full sun and very well-drained soil are musts for blanket flowers to thrive. They prefer loose, sandy soil that isn't overly fertile with a pH near neutral or slightly alkaline. Established plants are quite drought tolerant.

Planting Instructions

Container grown plants can be set out throughout the growing season, but spring or fall planting is ideal. Space dwarf cultivars about a foot apart; taller varieties should be set about 18 inches apart. Prepare the garden bed by using a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost.

Dig a hole twice the diameter of the pot the plant is in. Carefully remove the plant from its container and place it in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Carefully fill in around the root ball and firm the soil gently. Water thoroughly.

Care

Deadhead plants regularly to encourage more flowering. Blanket flowers are often relatively short-lived. Cutting back clumps to 6 inches in late summer often increases their chances of winter survival. You can also keep your plants vigorous by dividing them every 2-3 years in spring or early fall. Water newly set out or divided plants regularly until they become established. Blanket flowers have few insect or disease problems.

Watch for aphids and leafhoppers that can spread a virus-like disease called aster yellows. Control insects with insecticidal soap, if needed, and destroy any plants that are stunted with flowers that remain green, as these are infected with aster yellows.

Source: http://www.garden.org

Bee Balm Flower

Bee balm flowers are brilliant additions to late-summer herb gardens and flower borders. Butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other nectar-seeking creatures covet the tubular flowers on the plant's rounded flower heads, and the leaves and flowers can also be made into tea. Other common names include horsemint, wild bergamot, and Oswego tea.

About This Plant

Bee balm flower colors include pink, red, and white; new double-flowered forms are also available. The plant blooms from early to late summer and grows 2 to 4 feet tall, depending on the variety. 

Some bee balm species tolerate wet soil and will thrive along a waterway or in a bog garden. Bee balm is susceptible to powdery mildew disease, so select resistant varieties. Under favorable growing conditions the plant can become invasive.

Special Features

• Easy care/low maintenance
• Multiplies readily
• Attracts hummingbirds
• Attracts butterflies
• Tolerates wet soil

Site Selection

Select a site with full sun to light shade and rich, well-drained soil. Some species tolerate wet soils, while others are adaptable to a wide range of soil moisture levels.

Planting Instructions

Plant in spring or fall, spacing plants 1 to 2 feet apart. Prepare garden bed by using a garden fork or tiller to loosen soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant's container. Carefully remove the plant from its pot and place it in the hole so the top of the rootball is level with the soil surface. Carefully fill in around the rootball and firm the soil gently. Water thoroughly.

Care

Apply a thin layer of compost each spring, followed by a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Water plants during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Remove spent flowers to keep plants looking tidy. After the first killing frost, cut stems back to an inch or two above soil line. Divide plants in spring every few years or when you notice the center of the plant dying out.

 

Source: http://www.garden.org

Peony Flower

Peonies are renowned for their large, colorful, bowl-shaped, flowers and dark green foliage. Once established, these beauties are some of the longest-lived and most reliable garden plants.

About This Plant

Peony varieties with huge, double flowers will be the focal point of the garden when they bloom in early summer. Single-flowered types are more subtle and combine well with other perennials. Flower colors include pink, red, white, and yellow, and the plants grow 18 inches to 3 feet tall, depending on the variety. Peonies make an attractive low hedge. However, they can take up to 3 years to mature, and don't perform well in hot summer climates.

Special Features

• Easy care/low maintenance
• Fragrant
• Good for cut flowers

Site Selection

Select a site with full sun and moist, well-drained soil.

Planting Instructions

Plant container-grown peonies in spring or fall, spacing plants 2 to 3 feet apart. Prepare the garden bed by using a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the pot the plant is in.

Carefully remove the plant from its container and place it in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Carefully fill in around the root ball and firm the soil gently. Water thoroughly. Plant bare-root peonies in late summer or fall, setting the roots so that the buds are no more than two inches below the soil surface. If you plant them deeper, they may fail to bloom.

Care

Apply a thin layer of compost each spring, followed by a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Water plants during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Stake tall varieties to keep them upright. After the first killing frost, cut stems back to an inch or two above soil line.

The first winter, apply a 4- to 6-inch layer of protective mulch after the ground freezes, to prevent roots from being heaved out of the ground by alternate freezing and thawing. Once your peonies are established, annual winter mulching is not necessary. Remove this protective mulch in the spring.

Source: http://www.garden.org

Dianthus Flower

There are numerous types of dianthus, so there's one for almost any garden situation. Many types have flowers with a fragrant, spicy scent and notched petals. Common dianthus include Sweet William, pinks, and carnations.

About This Plant

Most dianthus have pink, red, or white flowers with notched petals. Sweet Williams are biennial or short-lived perennials covered with bicolor flowers in late spring. Pinks are low-growing dianthus suitable for rock gardens. Carnations are taller and good for bouquets but tend to be less hardy than other dianthus.

Special Features

• Multiplies readily
• Fragrant
• Good for cut flowers
• Deer resistant

Site Selection

Select a site with full sun and well-drained soil, preferably with neutral to alkaline soil pH. Dianthus won't tolerate wet soils, especially in winter.

Planting Instructions

Plant in spring or fall, spacing plants 6 to 12 inches apart, depending on the type. Prepare the garden bed by using a garden fork or tiller to loosen soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant's container.

Carefully remove the plant from its pot and place it in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Carefully fill in around the root ball and firm the soil gently. Water thoroughly.

Care

Apply a thin layer of compost each spring, followed by a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Water plants during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Stake tall varieties to keep them upright.

Remove spent blooms on tall varieties, or shear back mounding plants after bloom to encourage rebloom. After the first killing frost, cut stems back to an inch or two above soil line. Divide plants every 3 to 4 years as new growth begins in the spring, lifting plants and dividing them into clumps.

Source: www.garden.org 

Lobelia Flower

Family : Lobeliaceae

A large cosmopolitan genus of many garden ornamentals of which the popular Lobelia erinus, one of sixty-nine species, is native to South Africa. Description  Species in this genus are blue, purple, white or pink flowering annuals, perennial herbs, and small shrubs. The leaves are alternate, simple, and without stipules, often containing a watery or milky sap. The flowers are irregular and bisexual, and are borne singly or in racemes, umbles or spikes. Petals, sepals and stamens are in fives. The petals are fused forming a two-lipped corolla, which consists of spreading lobes and a split tube. The upper lip consists of two often smaller and erect lobes and the lower lip of three spreading lobes. The petals are inserted on a two-chambered inferior ovary and the stamens are attached to the base of the corolla. Filaments are fused at least half of their length and anthers are fused into a tube around the style. Anthers are often tipped with a tuft of short hair. The style is simple with as many stigmatic lobes as carpels. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule. Distribution  Lobelia, comprising more than 360 species, has a cosmopolitan distribution, although especially rich in the tropical and subtropical regions. Only sixty-nine species occur in South Africa. The genus is found throughout the country and grows in a variety of habitats from sheltered to exposed rocky slopes, sand dunes, sandy flats, shady, damp, coastal mountain slopes and forest floors. Ecology  Lobelia flowers achieve cross-pollination by being protandrous (male reproductive organs mature first). The style pushes through the tube that is formed by the fused anthers and drives the pollen out at the top, where it is collected by insects. After the style has emerged completely, the stigmatic lobes separate and the female stage of the flower begins. The stigma is now receptive to pollen from another plant. Pollinators include a variety of bees and butterflies. Economic and cultural value  The long flowering period, ease of cultivation and stunning flowers have made many Lobelia species popular in the horticultural industry. A few species such as L. pinifolia, L. erinus, L. coronopifolia and L. flaccida have been reportedly used as medicinal plants. For example, the roots of L. pinifolia have been used in remedies for skin disease, chronic rheumatism and gout. The alkaloid lobeline is most likely responsible for the medicinal properties of Lobelia. In the Garden Lobelias make excellent edging plants in flowerbeds or can be grown in containers and hanging baskets. L. erinus is the most widely cultivated species in the genus.

It has been cultivated since the seventeenth century and commonly used in flowerbeds. The rare, L. valida also makes an excellent bedding plant and is often planted in beds at Kirstenbosch garden. L. pteropoda from the Transkei area makes an attractive hanging basket specimen. Most species can easily be grown from seed.

Source: www.plantzafrica.com

Helenium Flower

The common name for Helenium is sneezeweed, because Native Americans used its dried petals to prevent hay fever. Whatever you call it, this tall perennial is reliable, easy to grow and a standout in the fall garden.

Helenium produces dense clumps of sturdy stems, well clothed in lance-shaped, toothed leaves. The stems rise almost straight upward, topped by thick clusters of flowers over a long period. The flowers are daisylike with dark centers. The flower colors are all autumn shades—browns, oranges, reds, and yellows—so even the earlier-blooming species give the garden a look of fall.

Top Performers

Helenium autumnale (common sneezeweed): Before plant breeders got into the act, common sneezeweed was strictly a fall-bloomer, flowering from late summer until frost, giving almost 10 weeks of display. However, most modern hybrids have some genes of orange sneezeweed (H. hoopesii), so that many start blooming in midsummer and hang on until fall. Some start to bloom in early summer and finish before autumn even begins.

Among the hybrid cultivars, 'Bruno', with bronze-red flowers from late summer through fall, is my favorite. 'Butterpat' is an old favorite, with butter yellow flowers on 4 to 5 foot tall plants. 'Moerheim Beauty' has striking brownish red petals.

Growing Tips

Soil: Heleniums grow best in moist, even wet, poorly drained soil. They don't need rich soil and, in fact, in soil that is too rich, they produce impossibly tall plants with luscious green leaves and few flowers.

Heleniums also perform better in cool soil than in warm soil. What they really like is to have their roots in cool soil and their leaves in hot, blazing, late-summer sun. How do you give them these conditions? A thick layer of mulch—especially shredded leaves—will keep the roots cool.

Another way to help keep heleniums from stretching too tall is to pinch the stem tips in spring or early summer, when the stems are about 6 to 8 inches tall. This encourages bushiness and better flowering.

After a few seasons, the clumps of helenium become more dense and flowering decreases. To rejuvenate the plants (and get more to plant in new spots or to give to gardening friends), dig up the clumps and divide them every four years. Beware that where heleniums thrive, they spread rapidly and attempt to conquer the garden.

After heleniums finish blooming, cut them back hard to help prevent insects and diseases from getting established. If you do this each season and divide the clumps every four years, your heleniums are likely to remain problem-free.

Plant Profile: Helenium 

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9

Bloom colors: Copper, orange, red, white, or yellow

Bloom time: Late summer to frost

Length of bloom: 6 to 10 weeks

Height: 3 to 5 feet

Spread: 18 to 36 inches

Light preference: Full sun

Soil preference: Moist or even poorly drained; average fertility

Garden uses: Cutting flower; meadow garden; mass planting; back of border

Source: www.organicgardening.com

Tulip Flower

TULIP FLOWER GENERAL INFORMATION

Tulips are one of the most popular flowers in the world. They are easily recognized and loved by all people for their simplicity, beauty and elegance. They are colorful, lovely and classic. Tulip flowers are associated with the spring and incredibly popular during the spring months.

Tulip is in the genus Tulipa and belongs to Lily family with around 109 species available. The Tulip flower is a simple flower with bright colorful petals. The tree petals and the underlying three sepals are called tepals.

Tulip flowers come in a range of colours including white, red, yellow, peach, orange, pink, lilac, blue, violet, black and bi-colored. They have been developed in nearly every colour except true blue. There are many different types of Tulips. Almost 4,000 horticultural varieties of Tulips have been developed. Flower variations include lily-flowering types, double flowers, fringed, reflexed, elongated petals and parrot varieties.

Tulips may be associated with Europe, but they are actually native of the Middle East and Central Asia. They were brought to Europe in the 16th century from Turkey, and quickly became popular.

Growing tulip flowers is easy even for the novice gardener. In the fall before the first frost you plant a tulip bulb. In early to late spring, tulips grow and bloom. The blooms last for several weeks. There are three varieties of tulips that bloom at different times: early, mid and late spring. The ideal USDA growing zones are 3 to 8. Tulip flowers cannot be grown in the tropical and subtropical climates, as they need a period of cool dormacy to grow successfully.

Tulip flowers are excellent for flowers arrangements. They look gorgeous in bouquets and can be paired with other flowers. Especially tulips look great when paired with rose flowers. The Tulip flower has the vase life for 3-7 days. The Tulip flower is the only flower that continues to grow once it is cut and stood in water.

The Tulip flowers are a great choice for wedding flowers, their soft anf elegant blooms make bridal bouquets and wedding centerpieces stand out. They have become a wedding favorite also because their blooms representing “love” and “happy years”.

Tulip flowers are among the most popular and widely grown garden flowers. They are perfect for beds or borders. Their colorful simple blooms put on quite a show. They look absolutely amazing even before they have opened. They are widely grown in huge fields.

The Tulip flower, in general, is the symbol of the perfect lover, fame, love, passion and romance. The Tulip flower is the 11th wedding anniversary flower. The Tulip flower is also the national flower of Iran and Turkey.

TULIP FLOWERS USES

Tulips are the world’s most popular spring bulb flowers. Tulip flowers have many different uses. Tulips are great long-lasting cut flowers. They make lovely and beautiful flower arrangements. Tulip flowers are highly appreciated for their long stems, lovely shape and brilliant colors. They are always a great gift to give and surprise someone special.

Tulip flowers are a wonderful choice for wedding flowers. They can be used for bridal bouquets, table centerpieces and general wedding decor. They are also a great choice for a baby shower or as a gift for a new baby.

Tulip flowers are a lovely addition to any garden. They make beautiful flower gardens, beds and borders. Planted in the fall, the Tulip bulbs will blossom delightfully in the spring for years. They look the best when planted in groups. In masses the Tulip flowers develop into a magnificent carpet of color. Short and compact Tulip varieties are perfect for rock gardens.

Tulip flowers are also can be grown as potted plants. They look wonderful in containers. They will beautify your home and create spectacular displays.

Tulip bulbs are edible, and can be dried, powdered, and added to flour or cereal products. Tulip bulbs are a good replacement for onions in cooking. Tulip flowers are also edible. Fresh petals of Tulip flowers add color and texture to salad dressings and garnishes.

Tulip flowers are grown commercially in northeastern areas of the United States and in temperate climates in Europe. They are grown in huge fields.

Today Tulip flowers are so popular that several Tulip festivals are held around the world in their honor every year. Tulip festivals are a sure sign that spring time is on its way. In the US Tulip festivals are held in several North American cities such as Albany (New York), Holland (Michigan), Lehi (Utah), Orange City (Iowa), Mount Vernon (Washington), Skagit Valley (Washington) and Woodburn (Oregon).

Source: http://tulipflower.net/

Lilac Flower

The Lilac is commonly known amongst florists as Syringa (sir-IN-ga), which is its genus name. It is a deciduous shrub that is often used in landscaping in the garden because it can be used to create a natural fence.

Description

Depending on the variety, Lilacs will grow from 2m to 10m in height. Their most distinctive feature is the mass of delicately-scented blossoms that are produced in the spring. Although each individual flower is small, they grow in clusters to produce an abundant display of blooms. Colours include white, pink and, of course, lilac.

Habitat

The Lilac is originally from the woodlands and scrublands of South East Asia and Southern Europe, although they are now grown in most areas that have a temperate climate.

Availability

The lilac is available from October to May and flowers in the spring, but if it is grown from seed, it can take years for the first flowers to blossom.

Species

The genus for Lilacs is Syringa and it is a member of the Olive, or Oleaceae, family which also contains plants such as Jasmine and Privet. There are between 20 and 25 different species of the plant, although various other cultivars and hybrids have been developed over the years.

Care Tips

The Lilac is a very hardy shrub and once established it needs very little maintenance, making it a popular choice for gardeners. They grow best in chalky clay soil but they will tolerate most soil conditions and prefer to have full sun if possible. In order to produce the maximum number of flowers, it is usually best not to prune them too much. If the plant is getting too big, then only prune once it has finished flowering to ensure abundant blooms the following year.

Lilacs can be propagated by taking cuttings from an established plant. Many professional growers will graft Lilac flowers in order to propagate them. However, this is a difficult procedure which requires plenty of time and knowledge in order to be successful.

Did you know?

Lilac is believed to signify first love and Westminster Abbey was decked out with Lilacs and other types of flowering shrubs, such as azaleas, for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April 2011.

Source: http://www.flowers.org.uk