Featured Plants : cut flowers

White Gerber Daisies Are A Real Standout!

patti-nhn — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:00:00 GMT

The Jaguar White Gerber Daisy comes from the Jaguar series and has abundant 3 to 4 inch white flowers with yellow centers that really show off. The flower has short disc flowers surrounded by single or multiple rows of ray flowers. They can be grown in cutting gardens, borders or beds of flowers. It actually does its best in pots on a patio. When used as a cut flower, it has a long vase life to enjoy longer than many other cut flowers.

The Jaguar White Gerber does need to be pot bound to bloom. They require full sun to partial shade, grow upright and are widely adaptable to soil type. You need to water thoroughly and faithfully and also fertilize regularly for the best blooming. They do bloom as a houseplant for 4 to 6 weeks if they are carefully cared for. They will need a sunny window inside. These plants should be sprayed regularly for whitefly pests. It is best not to water by overhead watering but a slow soak for them to grow their best. They are annuals in zones 3 to 8 and in zones 9 to 11 they can be a perennial.

A Jaguar Is Also A Daisy!

patti-nhn — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:31:00 GMT

The Gerber Daisy - Jaguar Deep Rose has large 3-4" daisy flowers with deep pink blooms. Like other Gerbera Daisies, they have large waxy leaves that are textured and grow from the base of the plant. It also has short disc flowers that are surrounded by single or multiple rows of ray flowers. Gerber Daisies are wonderful plant additions to your garden. They make beautiful displays as cut flowers and outlast many other flowers in a vase. The plants will mature from 8 to 10 inches tall and 8 to 10 inches spread. Full sun to partial shade is the best for proper growing.

The Jaguar Gerber Daisy, in order to blom, is best used in a patio container as it does need to be pot-bound to bloom. You will want this to be outside. It can be planted in mass for a great show. The Jaguar Deep Rose Gerber Daisy plants need to be watered faithfully. Water when the soil surface is dry but don't overwater. Fertilizing will give the best blooming. You will want to keep these flowers sprayed for whitefly pests. This plant is an annual from zone 3 to 8 and a perennial in zone 9 to 11. Try some for added color to your patio or balcony as well as in your garden.

Pretty In Pink And Full Of Pizzaz

patti-nhn — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:47:00 GMT

This Dianthus 'Pizzazz Pink' is a real winner. In fact it is from Proven Winners. If you like to attract butterflies this is the one, you might even get a hummingbird. The nice thing about Dianthus is that they will bloom from mid summer into early fall. You will need to deadhead them for longer bloom time although not necessary. For a cut flower arrangement, this is one of the best. Not only is it beautiful but it has a great scent along with its medium pink coloring.

It will show off in your garden as well. It grows from 18 to 24 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide so it won't be overwhelming. The Pizzaz Pink Dianthus needs well drained soil and full sun to partial shade. It is hardy from zone 3 to zone 8. In zones 9 to 11 it can actually be a perennial but in zone 3 to 8 it will only grow as an annual. The dove like flowers will work in so many ways. You need to give them a try and you'll want some in your garden every year!

Paranoia Coneflowers Will Not Make You Paranoid!

patti-nhn — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Don't ask me how they got the name of Paranoia Coneflowers but it is certainly interesting. Coneflowers are a popular perennial as they are easy to grow and very hardy. This one is a compact dwarf style so will not overwhelm your garden. In the Eastern United States they tend to grow to only 12 inches tall.

The Paranoia Coneflower Echinacea hybrid (purpurea x paradoxa) 'Paranoia' has yellow flowers whose petals are narrow. Coneflowers are also used frequently as cut flowers in arrangements or even on their own. Their flower color is very attractive. Butterflies are often attracted to Coneflowers with their bright and deep colored petals. The Paranoia is hardy to zone 4 and it is said to possibly do well in zone 3. Planted with other Coneflowers in a garden these would make quite an attractive display.

Beijing Gold Peking Lilac A New Tree Lilac

patti-nhn — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:32:00 GMT

If you love the smell of Lilacs but would prefer a tree to a bush, this is the answer for you. The Beijing Gold Syringa pekinensis 'Zhang Zhiming' is a new tree lilac. It flowers with yellow fragrant blooms and has cinnamon colored bark making it a wonderful ornamental tree for your landscape.

It is a hardy tree and works in tough landscapes where other types of trees just don't fit the design. Lilacs tend to prefer full sun to partial shade. It will grow to approximately 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. This Lilac tree is hardy from zone 7 all the way down to zone 4. Lilacs are very pretty as cut flowers in the home and their fragrance will fill the room so you can enjoy them both inside and out.

Orange Meadowbrite Coneflower First Of Its Kind

patti-nhn — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:00:00 GMT

If you want to be one of the first to plant this tropical looking plant, this Orange Meadowbrite Coneflower Echinacea hybrid 'Art's Pride' is just for you! This is the first Coneflower to have Orange petals! It is a perennial and sports its blooms from June to September. There is also a spicy fragrance so they can not only tantalize you with their color but their scent as well.

The leaves are a glossy dark-green which really helps to show off the Orange flowers. It can grow to about 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. It can tolerate some drought and does need good drainage. The Orange Meadowbrite Coneflower is hardy from zones 4 to zone 9. The Orange flowers would really show off in your garden and especially against a green background. They also make wonderful cut flowers or grown in containers.

'Country and Western' From the New Music Series of Astilbes

patti-nhn — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:45:00 GMT

No, it's not a new country western song. Even better, the Astilbe 'Country and Western' is a new perennial plant and you can be one of the first to grow it. With it's shiny green leaves and it's pink fluffy plumes, it's a real show-off! It will swing and bow in the wind just as if it were dancing to a country western song. The big feathery blooms are what set apart this new Music series of Astilbes.

The Country and Western Astilbe, like other Astilbes, need lots of water, good rich soil and full shade to partial sun. The soil must stay moist, that is key to these plants. Too much sun can dry them out too quickly so you will need to keep an eye on the soil and make sure you plant in an area that does not get much sun.

With proper growing conditions, they can grow to 14-16 inches tall and 24-30 inches wide. They would make a great border plant and can also be used as cut flowers in arrangements with other flowers or they would stand out on their own. I don't know if these can be dried or not but if you like dried flowers for arrangements it seems that these would add a nice touch.