Coreopsis 'Mango Punch...Add some fresh,soft, low maintenace color.

Coreopsis

'Mango Punch'

The low, mounding perennial covers itself in summer with mango-orange flowers that have a red blush.

I love the fresh, fruity hue of this new variety. I have it in a couple different places...in front of some Russian Sage as well as mixed in with some white Obedient Plant.  Both plantings are gorgeous! Clip the faded blooms so the flowers will keep coming.

General Description

Low, nicely branched stems with rusty orange daisy flowers describes the Mango Punch tickseed's summer appearance. An herbaceous perennial selected by Terra Nova Nurseries of Canby, Oregon, 'Mango Punch' grows as a low mound with limited winter cold tolerance. The many rusty orange daisy flowers attract butterflies and bees. Promptly trimming off spent flowers ensures a constant flush of new flowers in summer, even into early autumn.

Plant 'Mango Punch' in a well-draining moist to slightly dry soil that is fertile and not highly alkaline in pH. Capable of enduring light drought, water it if both heat and dry soil occur in unison to prevent browning. This sun-loving perennial is well-suited to the front of perennial borders, rockeries, containers or as an edging. Its intolerance of prolonged subfreezing winter temperatures finds it best as a vivid seasonal container plant or bedding annual outside its hardiness range. It does, however, need a winter dormancy to return, even in frost-free gardens.

Characteristics                                       

• Plant Type
  Perennial
• Sun Exposure
  Full Sun, Partial Sun
• Height
  8"-11" / 20.3cm - 27.9cm
• Width
  12"-14" / 30.5cm - 35.6cm
• Native To
  Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH
  Neutral
• Soil Drainage
  Average
• Soil type
  Loam
• Growth Rate
  Fast
• Water Requirements
  Drought Tolerant, Average Water
• Habit
  Upright/Erect
• Seasonal Interest
  Summer, Fall

                                                                                                       

    Special Characteristics

• Usage
  Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Wildflower
• Sharp or Has Thorns
  No
• Invasive
  No
• Attracts
  Butterflies
• Self-Sowing
  Yes

Everything Goes With Black....BLACK VELVET PETUNIA

I think I am in love!  These are incredible!  The world's only black petunia. A 'goes-with-everything' petunia to pair up with other sun-lovers. What a dramatic statement alone or mixed with bright pinks, corals, and yellows!  Game on...I am on the hunt for these!   Stay tuned for planter pictures~

Add Texture & Color With Lamium...Showy Ground Cover

One of my favorite fast growing perennials to be used as a ground cover!  Lamium (Spotted Dead Nettle)  prefers a semi-shady dry area with well-drained soil but will tolerate a wide range of soils and moisture.  It is best to cut this plant back after the first bloom to promote compact growth. This plant is also deer resistant & can also be used in containers with ease for a trailing addition of soft color and texture. 

Lamium is one of the best choices for a tough yet showy perennial ground cover. This selection forms a spreading patch of small silver leaves with a narrow green edge. Clusters of soft salmon-pink flowers appear in spring, then continue off and on until fall. Fairly tolerant of dry shade, once established.  Stems will root into the ground where they touch, and any new plants that form can be easily moved in spring or fall. Also easily divided.

Is Flowering Quince Deer Resistant?

 

By Annelise Ford, eHow Contributor

updated: March 19, 2011

Deer resistance does not mean deer proof.

Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is an attractive shrub that blooms in early spring. Surprisingly, the flowers emerge from bare stems, before any leaves appear. This shrub has been nicknamed the Cinderella of spring as its bright blooms appear very early in the spring season. This shrub is commonly known to be deer resistant.

1. Deer Resistant

   • The term deer resistant does not mean that deer will never cause damage to the plant. No plant is completely deer proof. Deer resistant simply means that deer are much less likely to forage on your plants and shrubs. However, if they get desperate there are no guarantees that they will completely ignore any plant.

   Conditions That Force Deer To Forage

   • In the past several years new houses and community growth has crowded the deer population into the shrinking wooded areas, and the deer are forced to go into the nearby lawns for accessible meals. This has been an increasing trend causing landscaping headaches for many homeowners.

   Keeping Deer Out of Your Landscaping

   • Many homeowners opt to install fencing to keep the deer population at bay in the wooded areas. There are also many products on the market to deter the deer from foraging. It may become a costly venture to deter deer, but one thing to remember is that deer will return out of habit and if you can deter them enough they will hopefully develop the habit to avoid your garden.

   Other Pests

   • Deer may leave your Flowering Quince for last choice, but the bunnies will help themselves.

     Rabbits will forage on the leaves of the Flowering Quince leaving foliage damage. They are also

Ornamental Peppers...Colorful and Interesting Trend

Ornamental peppers are another trend growing interest for the garden and especially spicy for container gardening!  There are many varieties out there.  Some are edible and some are not...read your tags! 

Depending on the variety, the peppers appear in shades of white, purple, red, orange, and yellow -- often with multiple colors on the same plant. They like rich, well-drained soil that is evenly moist.

Railing Planters...TOO COOL!

New planting toys!!!  I love this planters!  Cool colors AND more places to put flowers!!!  Again the perfect thing for those of you with limited space in apartments, condos etc!  Also perfect for people like me who can never have enough flowers everywhere!  Game on...hurry warmer weather...these are going along the fence filled with Verbena!

Praying Hands Hosta...The MUST HAVE Hosta!!!

I am generally not a hosta freak BUT I do like this hosta a lot!  It has some great potential for giving height in containers!  This is definitely a MUST HAVE for those who collect hostas!  Amazing! Perhaps we should call this the un-hosta, as Hosta 'Praying Hands' is the most un-hosta looking hosta to ever hit the market. Each small, 18" wide clump is composed of strangely folded, dark green crinkled leaves, each with a narrow, creamy yellow border. Indeed, a clump resembles a multitude of hands folded in prayer. Due to First Amendment concerns, it cannot be planted near courthouses in Alabama or near any Federal government building. The upright clumps are topped with 18" spikes of light lavender flowers..a hummingbird treat in late summer. This sets a new standard for "unique" in the hosta world.   Gotta have it!  Ordering 2 trays of liners to get growing!

Creeping Jenny...Great For Beds and Even Better For Containers

Creeping Jenny is a perennial ground cover that I love to use in landscape beds and also in containers!  Its bright color and vibrant yellow flowers are awesome and its trailing habit is perfect for containers!

Creeping Jenny is a  low-growing, rampant, evergreen groundcover with rounded, brillant green foliage. In summer, it produces many cup-shaped, bright yellow flowers.Noteworthy characteristics: This cultivar can withstand damper soils than many other types of ground covers and can tolerate limited foot traffic.Care: Grow in a moist, but well-drained soil, rich in organic matter. Soil should not dry out in summer. Full sun or partial shade, but color is best in full sun.
I have used this in many of my own containers and it will come back in the new season...no replanting!  These can be easily split and moved around the garden as well.  You will see this a lot in many custom container plantings...but I think many people do not realize that this will come back!  This should be relatively easy to get at a good garden center and very easy to get from your local landscaper.