Featured Plants : purple

Try Lanai Lavender Star Verbena For Attractiveness As Well As Color!

patti-nhn — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:21:00 GMT

The Lanai Lavender Star Verbena is unusual with it's lavender petals with white strips along the edges and a yellow center. It is a great plant to attract butterflies. It grows in clumps and blooms from spring into fall. It is a trailing plant that can grow from 6 to 12 inches tall and 20-24 inches wide. Their growth rate is moderate and they do require full sun to partial shade. They are very hardy from zone 3 to zone 11. In zones 3 to 8 it would be an annual, in zones 9 to 11 it can be a perennial.

The Lavender Stars are low maintenance. They should be deadheaded to encourage new flowers. Once they are established, you can fertilize once a year and watered only when dry. One of the issues that can come up is giving too much food and too much water. These are wonderful, beautiful, unique plants that will give interest to your garden.

This Calibrachoa is Minifamous!

patti-nhn — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:34:00 GMT

This Double Blue Calibrachoa Minifamous with flowers that are more purple than blue would be a great addition to your flower garden. The color is an intense blue and have trumpet shaped blooms which are 1 inch in size. They will continue to open until the first hard frost. They do not need deadheading and they are low-growers.

This plant will mature from 7 to 10 inches in height to 15 to 20 inches wide. They are a trailing plant that require full sun to full shade. Moist soil is also needed. They are hardy from zone 3 to zone 11 and will be an annual in zones 3 to 8 and can be a perennial from zone 9 to 11. These look wonderful in garden beds, hanging planters and containers. They are easy to grow and take care of. Low maintenance is a plus for these beautiful plants.

Innocence Can Be Found In This Tri-colored Nemesia

patti-nhn — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:09:00 GMT

The Opal Innocence Nemesia is a wonderful addition to your flower garden. It's innocence is reflected in the tri-colored pastel blooms. They will bloom abundantly from spring into fall for you. They also will please you with their strong scent. They are great planted in a container to add height to other plants around it.

This Nemesia does not need any deadheading. It will mature from 12 to 16 inches and spread from 6 to 8 inches. It has a moderate growth rate and grows upright. It does require full sun to partial shade to grow properly. The Opal Innocence is hardy from zones 3 to 11 and in zones 3 to 8 is an annual only and zones 9 to 11 can be a perennial. You will wow your guests with these wonderful plants.

Beautiful Violet Blue Flowers Show Off This Geranium

patti-nhn — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:15:00 GMT

The Rozanne Geranium has flowers that are violet blue and they have white eyes. They will bloom from June until August for you. The foliage is a nice dark green which really makes a great backdrop for the flowers. This geranium is used well in borders, mass planting, in gardens, containers and even used as borders. They will attract butterflies and bees. This geranium is disease resistant and deer resistant.

The Rozanne is hearty in zones 5 to 8. Its mature height is 18 to 20 inches. It spreads out to 24 inches wide. It prefers soil that is normal, sandy or clay. It does prefer a moist soil. The form of the plant is mounding. Full shade to partial sun is needed. They will have a red/orange fall color. They will need to be cut back in the early summer for it to bloom again in the fall. It is drought tolerant which is an added plus. If you like blue flowers, this would be a great addition to your garden.

If You Like Purple Flowers, This Ageratum Is For You!

patti-nhn — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:41:00 GMT

The Artist Purple Ageratum is a wonderful plant with its purple flowers that re-flower for a long time. Their colorful interest is wonderful in your garden as a border, rock gardens and even in containers. They will begin flowering early in the season and flower from May through October. If you are looking for a low maintenance plant, this would be a good one.

The Artist Purple is an upright compact plant that will mature to 8 to 12 inches tall and spread to about 15 to 18 inches wide. They are widely adaptable to soil and moisture. They are a moderate grower and require full to partial sun. They grow from zones 3 to 11. In zones 9 to 11 this plant can be a perennial. This is a Proven Winner plant. It is also exceptionally heat tolerant. For a dash of color, this would be a great choice for you.

Looking For A Fast Growing Clump Grass?

patti-nhn — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:56:00 GMT

The Purple Fountain Grass adds color and interest to your landscaping, is fast growing and is easy to grow. The purple fox tails that sprout out are fun to see waving in the wind. The flowers, the fox tails, begin sprouting in mid-summer and will last into fall. It can be used well as a container grass or in a bed.

Purple Fountain Grass will begin flourishing in mid summer and can last up until the first frost. It can grow from zone 3 to 11 and it is very hardy however in colder climates it would be an annual. Full sun is required and you will want the ground to be well drained. Also, you will want to wait until the danger of frost has passed. It can grow from 12 to 36 inches in height and spread from 20 to 36 inches wide. The plumes arch and it has a moderate growth rate. Foliage is a burgundy color. This grass would be a great compliment to your flower bed or as a border plant and even planted in any areas you want a grow on its own.

Try Something New From the Cherokee Indian Tribe,Cherokee Purple Tomatoes

patti-nhn — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:34:00 GMT

Be the first on your block to grow purple tomatoes! The Cherokee Purple tomato, "Solanum Cherokee Purple (USDA Organic) Tomato), Solanum lycopersicum 'Cherokee Purple Tomato' is an Heirloom tomato from Tennessee. It gets its name from the Cherokee Indian Tribe! It was passed down from the Cherokee Indians. They grow very well in the South and are hardy from zone 3 to zone 9. The purple brown coloring stands out from other tomatoes and tastes sweet and rich.

The Cherokee Purple tomato is oblong to round in shape. It is disease resistant to common diseases and also shows tolerance to mild drought. Like most tomatoes, moderately moist, well drained soil and full sun is required for best production. This is a good producing tomato. It can be harvested in 75 to 80 days from planting. Growing your own tomatoes will give you the freshest produce and just steps away from your kitchen! This would also save you money and gas.

Royal Purple Smoketree Is Reliable

patti-nhn — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:31:00 GMT

The Royal Purple Smoketree (Smokebush) Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' is one of the best known of the smoketree/smokebush family. There are those that consider them trees and others consider them a bush. It gets its name from the smoky-purple-beige flowers that bloom in mid summer. Besides having a smoky color they grow in plumes that have a soft smoky appearance. The leaves on the tree will be a rich burgundy color throughout the growing season. They are quite attractive with their upright growth pattern. They are reliable in their hardiness and in their foliage.

The Royal Purple Smoketree (Smokebush) will mature to about 8 to 10 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. It does require full sun or the burgundy leaves will have more green to them than purple. It is a hardy tree/bush and will grow from zones 5 to 8. It does prefer moist soil but is widely adaptable to the type of soil. It doesn't take up a lot of space and is very attractive. It can be pruned to 6 to 8 inches tall in the winter and then it will produce long stems with striking oversized foliage in the next growing season. This makes a great accent or patio plant.

Aunt Dee Wisteria A Showy Vine

patti-nhn — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:46:00 GMT

The Aunt Dee Wisteria Wisteria macrostachya 'Aunt Dee' is a great plant for a mail box or fence post, trellises or arbors. I'm sure there are many other types of things you could use it for, it just needs to have something to support it. Otherwise, it can also be grown as a ground cover or even as a tree, but growing as a tree is against the plant's nature so it may not do well without a lot of care.

It blooms in mid to late spring with bunches of wonderful light purple flowers that are about 7 to 12 inches along its stem. It will also rebloom. This variety of Wisteria is quite hardy and it can be grown from zones 4 to 8. This is a fast growing vine and is good sized with a height of 25 feet and spreading out from 35 to 40 feet. This Aunt Dee is widely adaptable for soil type although it does prefer moist, well drained soil. You will want to plant it in full to partial sunlight. This is a beautiful plant and very desirable.

This Royal Raspberry Could Feed A Royal Family

patti-nhn — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:25:00 GMT

The Royalty Raspberry Rubus 'Royalty' is known for its large fruit size. The Royalty is a cross between a vigorous purple and a high quality red raspberry. Its berries have the light flavor of a red raspberry if picked while still in the red stage. They begin ripening in mid-July and are hardy and produce a high yield. Insect resistance is high. Royalty is great for jams and jellies, desserts and eaten fresh.

This plant will mature from 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. It grows upright and will need some protection from strong winter winds. Moist, well-drained soil and full sun is required for raspberries. The Royalty will flower in white and the fruits will ripen in mid-July. Raspberries are self-fruitful but will produce a larger harvest if one or more other raspberries are planted closeby. Birds like raspberries too so you will want to watch them and see if they need some protection or plant enough bushes to share!

Amethyst Falls American Wisteria Beautiful And Most Familiar

patti-nhn — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:00:00 GMT

The Amethyst Falls American Wisteria Wisteria frutescens 'Amethyst Falls'' is one of the best known Wisteria vines around. You will often find them delicately winding around mailboxes, lamp posts, fence posts, patio screens and the list goes on and on. There are so many uses for this awesome Wisteria. They can be trained as a ground cover as well.

Wisteria are hardy plants and long lived. Amethyst Falls American has purple/blue flowers on heads that are short and wide. They will bloom in the spring and often again in the summer. They are a very hardy species and tend to grow well in zones 6 to 9. Their light green foliage really shows off the flowers and is pretty on its own as well. For a pleasant plant to behold, this would be a great choice.

Purple Fountain Grass A Vigorous Grower!

patti-nhn — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

If you want people to take a second look at your garden, they will when they see Purple Fountain Grass Pennisetum rubrum growing in your yard. It is an ornamental grass that has awesome plumes that shoot up with purple foliage and purple flowers that look like fox tails. This fountain grass is a fast grower and shapes into a clump as it grows. The tails wave fancifully in the breeze and their purple coloring make them stand out in a crowd, especially in a mass planting. The plumes will appear mid summer and last until first frost. They also make great cut flowers for floral arrangements and could also be dried for decoration.

Purple Fountain Grass is hardy from zones 3 to 11. In the cooler climates it is considered an annual and in warmer climates it is a perennial. It will grow from 12 inches to 36 inches tall and spread 20 to 36 inches wide. It has an arching form and is adaptable to most soils. It will need full sun to thrive. This is a "fun" plant to have in your landscape.

Seedless Grapes - Try The Concord

patti-nhn — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

I'm sure you have probably heard of Concord grapes at some time in your life as they are one of the most favorite varieties of grape. If you don't like having to deal with the seeds, you will want to give this seedless variety a try. The Concord Seedless Grape, Vitis 'Concord Seedless', is one of the best varieties of seedless grapes. Typically, Concord grapes are used in wine-making, juices, jams and jellies. They are also great fresh. The Concord Seedless produces a bluish-purple grape that is a bit smaller than the seeded type.

These grapes grow on a deciduous vine which must be attached to a strong structure like a trellis, fence or even up a wall. They can be very decorative and ornamental as well as save you money purchasing grapes from the store. Actually, the stores often do not carry Concord grapes which is even more incentive to grow them yourself.

The Concord Seedless Grape will mature to 12 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. They need moist, well-drained soil and full sun. They do have a white flower that appears before the fruit which ripens in late September a bit sooner that the Concord with seeds. They are hardy to zones 5 to 8. Birds and other wildlife like the grapes as well so if you don't want to share with them, you may want to put a net over them as they are beginning to produce. For a delicious seedless grape, this is the one to try.

Variegated Winter Daphne Is Highly Fragrant

patti-nhn — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

The Variegated Winter Daphne 'Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata' also known as Daphne odora 'Marginata' is noted for its fragrance. Its fragrance carries long distances and can often be smelled before you even see the plant in early spring. The flower buds are purple and as they open will reveal an almost white center which is very beautiful.

It is an evergreen so will keep its leaves year-round. The leaves are decorative as well in dark green with white edges. It is very dense and has a rounded form that will grow from 2 to 4 feet tall and about 2 to 4 feet wide. This particular shrub is said to be one of the best of its kind. With its smaller size it would work well around patios or in a small yard. It is hardy to zones 6 to 9. If you like fragrance, this would fit the bill!

Sage-A Staple And Ornamental

patti-nhn — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:30:00 GMT

As I'm writing this, we are coming up on Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. When I think of Sage Salvia officinalis, I can't help but think about using Sage in the Turkey Stuffing. It seems to be a staple at this time of year. Generally, most people will use Sage that is sold at the stores in the Spice section or found in the Vegetable area of the store. There are those that will want to grow their own and have it fresh or personally preserved for future use. It has a peppery flavor and enhances fatty meats as a marinade, couple with onions, vegetable soups to sauces.

Not only is it used in cooking but it is also considered a medicinal herb. In fact, the scientific name for Sage, 'Salvia', means "to heal". While I can't vouch for it's effectiveness or usage, it is said to be good for "what ails you".

It can also be grown as an ornamental garden plant. It has flowers that are blue to purple in color and they are edible as well. The foliage is a gray to green color and accents the fragrant flowers well. The plants are evergreen and can grow up to 2 feet tall and spread about 18 inches. Sage requires a sunny location and an alkaline soil is preferred.