Perennials

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Aster Daisy Family

These could be from the family of Composites include many great garden plants and - yes - many weeds with a great talent for spreading their seeds around, as your plant might do in exactly the way that dandelions do (yup, same family). They can be notoriously hard to identify even when the flower is present. However, we believe your weed is in this plant family and while it resembles the Willow Aster, we found a similar weed, the Oldfield Aster, that it may more closely resemble. You can do a google or yahoo image search to see if you weed more closely resembles this aster. Regardless of it's official name, the removal strategy is the same. Hand pulling when the soil is moist, not letting the blossoms go to seed, and considering using a broadleaf herbicide. You may want to check with a local nursery for the best herbicide options and instructions. You have a lovely garden bed - best of luck to you in managing your weedy intruder!

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:23-07:00 February 21st, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Clerodendron

Native to China and Japan, this clerodendrum is a coarse, sometimes unkempt, deciduous shrub or small tree that grows 10-20’ tall. It is most often seen as a suckering shrub. It must be trained to grow as a tree and is rarely seen growing in that form. As an ornamental, this shrub is perhaps best noted for its late summer flowers, showy fruit and malodorous foliage. Tubular, fragrant, white flowers in long-peduncled cymes (to 6-9” across) bloom in the upper leaf axils from late summer into fall. Flowers are followed by small bright blue fruits, each subtended by a fleshy red calyx. Opposite, toothed to entire, ovate, dark green leaves (to 5-8” long) produce no fall color. When bruised, the leaves do produce a unique aroma reminiscent of peanut butter as memorialized by the sometimes used common name of peanut butter tree for this plant. Harlequin glorybower is a more frequently used common name. Clerodendrum comes from the Greek words klero (fate) and dendron (tree), hence the infrequently used common name of fate tree.

By | 2016-02-20T20:10:55-08:00 February 20th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Mountain Harebell

Harebell, often called “bluebell”, is a flower found around the world in the Northern Hemisphere but most often, associated with Scotland. Harebell has many common names including bellflower, lady's thimble, witch's thimble, heathbells, fairies’ thimbles, and dead men’s bells.

Harebell grows in a variety of habitats ranging from full sun to shade; dry to moderate moisture; woods, meadows, cliffs, and beaches; in sandy, gravely soil. It can be found at elevations up to 12,000 feet in the Western United States.

Harebell flowers in the summer and fall. Its stem leaves are narrow and grass like, but the basal leaves are rather round, hence the specific name rotundifolia. The narrow, wiry stem averages about a foot tall, while the thin, papery flowers are usually about an inch long. The plant has a milky sap when the stem or leaves are broken. The plants are much hardier than they look.It has large, tubular bell flowers.The nodding, bell-shaped, lavender flowers are borne in loose clusters at stem tips.

By | 2016-02-20T04:19:46-08:00 February 20th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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French Lavender

French Lavender (Lavandula dentata) is an evergreen shrub native to Spain. It is a tender perennial hardy in zones 8a-10b. In colder climates it should be grown as a container plant so it can be sheltered in the winter. French Lavender can be distinguished from other species by its jagged or dented leaf edges. Foliage has a fuzzy appearance and is silvery-green in color. French Lavender does not have the typical smell most associate with the genus. The smell is much more delicate than what most are use to smelling. Sometimes being described as something between the typical lavender smell and rosemary. Plants will reach sizes 1-3 feet tall and up to 4 feet wide. Plants have a purple flower color and bloom early summer through fall in the landscape. When grown in a greenhouse or areas that get no frost French lavender will flower year round. Generally this species is grown for it's ornamental value rather then for it herbal qualities.

By | 2016-02-19T12:22:34-08:00 February 19th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Zz Plant

This is likely a species of Zamioculcas, an easy care low light house plant or outdoor shade plant where weather is mild. Make sure you let it dry between watering as over-watering seems to be the #1 decline of this plant. Water only when the soil feels dry down to your first knuckle. Indoors it grows best in bright, indirect light, like that of an east facing window. Do not allow plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. Propagaion is by leaf cuttinga. Take off a single leaf and use a commercial seed-starting mix or moistened perlite. Allow the cut stem to callus over for a couple of days before planting in the mix. It may take a year for it to form its root/tuber, so be patient. The following is a how-to you tube video that you might find helpful Good luck!
Propagating ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia) - Leaf Cuttings ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLz0NXj9S4g
Jul 28, 2012 - 9 min - Uploaded by PlantzNThings

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:24-07:00 February 17th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Shasta Daisy

Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)-Leaf Spot {Leaf Blotch}
shasta daisy leaf spot

Cause Septoria leucanthemi, a fungus that overwinters on plant refuse and on living plants. Spores can be spread by splashing water from rain or irrigation. Once on the leaf, spores germinate and enter through stomata. More than 12 hours of wetting is required for spore germination and leaf infection. Optimum temperature for disease expression is 74°F to 79°F. This species has been reported in both Oregon and Washington.

Symptoms Dark brown circular or semicircular zonate spots with a central sunken pale or whitish area surrounded by somewhat elevated concentric markings. The central pale area may fall out leaving leaves with a shothole appearance. Abundant minute black fruiting bodies (pycnidia) may be seen around the rim of the shothole. Lower leaves tend to show symptoms first. If the disease is severe, leaves may shrivel and die; however, they generally stay on the stem.

By | 2016-02-17T14:24:14-08:00 February 17th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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One Of The Many Varieties Of Heuchera

This is also known as coral flower and is a genus of about 55 species but it has grown so popular it now has an unknown number of hybrids. It has also been bred with others plants called Tiarella so you have x Heucherella. They like moist, well drained soil and depending on the variety like sun, part sun or light shade. They come in so many colors now and they are a beautiful addition to the garden, but we cannot identify a specific cultivar for you. Suggest you consult the following resources to help you narrow down your search:
The Heuchera Society :: photogallery
theheucherasociety.org/Photo-Gallery.php
The Heuchera Society. Home · About us · News · Blog · Plant of the Month · Membership · Photo Gallery · Cultivation > · Heuchera History · Contact · Links ... Hardy Plant Society - Heucheras Booklet or
www.hardy-plant.org.uk/publications/heucheras.php
The Hardy Plant Society is a registered charity that promotes the cultivation and ... It also describes the various Heuchera species

By | 2016-02-16T23:54:24-08:00 February 16th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Hechtia

Hechtia (pronounced HECKtia) is a small genus of bromeliad related to the pineapple and Spanish Moss. While many other bromeliad genera have hundreds of species, Hechtia boasts only fifty. They can be found natively in areas that are primarily arid. They thrive in bright, sunny deserts. Hechtia are not succulents, but they can be treated as such. They do not hold water in their tissue the way true succulents do. Instead, they slow their growth when water is not available. Use gritty potting mix that is well draining. Adding some coarse sand, perlite, or small stones to regular potting mix should provide appropriate drainage for these plants. To keep them growing quickly and healthily, water them regularly during the spring and summer growing season. Allow the potting mix to dry a bit between waterings, as too much water can cause rot. In the winter, hold back on the water. It is better for the plant to be too dry than too wet. They prefer full sun to only very light shade if at all.

By | 2016-02-16T22:42:36-08:00 February 16th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Summer Phlox Woes

I don't think that earwigs are the cause in that they take actual bites out of foliage instead of turning the leaves yellow as seen in the photo. It looks like you dusted with diatomaceous earth, which doesn't hurt, but I don't think it will solve this problem. I suspect the damage you're seeing is due to spider mites. Look under the leaves that are yellowing and see if you see what looks like very fine webish dusty litter. It will be very, very fine. If that's what you see, spray the underside of the leaves as well as the tops with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Be sure to water these plants deeply once a week if it hasn't rained at least an inch. Plants that are under drought or heat stress are more prone to mite problems.

You could pick off the worst of the leaves and throw them in the garbage as well, which gets rid of some of the mites (less to spray too!) and will help you monitor if the situation is still going on.

By | 2016-02-16T19:19:52-08:00 February 16th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Knotweed

This vigorous, but noninvasive perennial flowers from early summer into autumn with bright red, purple, or white blossoms. The narrow blossoms are up to 4 inches long, and are held on long stalks above pointed, slightly puckered leaves. It grows to 4 feet high and wide.
Noteworthy Characteristics: Persicaria are rhizomatous or stoloniferous plants that are spreading and sometimes invasive. They have fleshy stems and conspicuously veined leaves, some of which exhibit autumn color. Many are suitable in a mixed container or border, others naturalized in a woodland or meadow. All plant parts may cause skin irritation on contact and stomach upset if ingested.
Care: Grow in moist soil in full sun to partial shade.
Propagation: Divide plants in spring or fall. Sow seed in spring in a cold frame.
Problems: Aphids, Japanese beetles, slugs, snails
Read more: http://www.finegardening.com/bistort-persicaria-amplexicaulis#ixzz3XrliltWw

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:24-07:00 February 16th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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