Perennials

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Chewing Insect

The problem is likely chewing insects rather than sucking insects. Perhaps some type of beetle or caterpillar?You can spray with an organic control effective against chewing insects such as Bt or Spinosad. Once the leaves and flowers are damaged, they will not recover but try to control future infestation. Bt is a contact insecticide and Spinosad has a 7-10 day residual. Spray Spinosad in the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray has dried on the plant it is safe for beneficials. There are also chemical formulations that are effective controls for roses, but suggest you show your photo or perhaps capture a few in a bottle for a local garden center to confirm their identity and suggest a remedy.

By | 2016-03-16T14:02:02-07:00 March 16th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Clivia

The strap-shaped foliage and the flowers resembles a Clivia miniata, a perennial from tuberous rhizomes. Native to South Africa, it bears primarily orange, red, or yellow clusters of funnel-shaped flowers on stalks that emerge above the clumps of foliage in late winter-spring. Following the spent flowers, seed head berries appear that typically ripen to red-orange or yellow. Does not tolerate much frost and, when grown outdoors, it needs partial to full shade, regular water, and a slow-release fertilizer formulated for blooming plants. It should be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry. Does not like to be transplanted so leave in place as long as possible. Indoors needs bright, indirect light and water when the soil feels dry to the touch down to the first knuckle.

By | 2016-03-16T09:16:39-07:00 March 16th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Lily Of The Nile

We cannot be positive without seeing your plants in flower but the foliage resembles the lily of the Nile. If it is, the large clusters of blue, purple, lavender, or white trumpet-shaped flowers on tall stems will arise from the lily of the Nile plant in spring. It is a common but beautiful landscape plant where conditions are naturally dry, and does well as long as the site is sunny and the soil well-drained. Leaves can get nipped by hard freezes and sunburned in heat waves. Plants prefer full sun to part shade, regular water and are pretty resilient to many growing conditions. Fertilize annually with a formula made for flowering perennial plants, but the plant will usually perform satisfactorily even without fertilizer.

By | 2016-03-15T17:36:45-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Helianthus Sunflower

Common sunflower is a widely branching, stout annual, 1 1/2-8 ft. tall, with coarsely hairy leaves and stems. The terminal flowers heads are large and showy, up to 5 in. across. A tall, coarse leafy plant with a hairy stem commonly branched in the upper half and bearing several or many flower heads, the central maroon disk surrounded by many bright yellow rays. Yellow ray flowers surround brown disk flowers.

Sunflowers are members of the Asteraceae (Compositae) - Aster Family , and most of them are dicots. The easiest way categorize dicots vs monocots is to consider grasses and grains as monocots, and most of the remaining "flowering" plants are dicots.

Here is a link to the families: http://www.floresflowers.com/taxa/Dicots.html

By | 2016-03-15T09:09:29-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Joe Pye Weed White

Bartered Bride Joe Pye Weed will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to be leggy, particularly in shade and should be underplanted with lower-growing perennials. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. This perennial does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, preferring to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This plant can be propagated by division.

Here's a link to more information on the plant - http://www.gatewaygardens.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=74

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:20-07:00 March 14th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Asiatic Lily

Asiatic Lily's have beautiful, striking flowers. However, like most perennials, the flowers only last one to two weeks at most, depending on the weather. The petals will begin to wilt and then fall off. The foliage remains green for some time but also begins to yellow and die back. Once the foliage has yellowed to the ground, you can prune it off to tidy up the garden bed. The good news is that your lily will return next year, usually with even more blossoms.

This inquiry came in for a pest or disease identification. Although the picture is a bit fuzzy, we don't see any pests or diseases other than the natural progression of bloom fade. If we've missed something on the leaves please send us another close up, sharp photo of the pest or problem and we'll do our best to identify it.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:20-07:00 March 14th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Cineraria

Your plant is likely known as a Cineraria, but is really Pericallis x hybrida (also Senecio x hybrida 'Senetti'), prized for its colorful flowers in shady areas or on a patio. Will grow 2 ft. tall and as wide with clusters of daisy-like flowers in a wide assortment of colors including your brilliant purple and white specimen. Typically bloom in late winter or early spring. Does best in well-draining soil and although technically a perennial, most treat it like an annual. Will bloom again in summer if after the spring blooms are spent, the plant is cut back by about 50%. Primarily a cool-weather plant, it will stop blooming during intense summer heat. Needs to be kept moist, but not soggy, and is not considered a drought tolerant plant.

By | 2016-03-13T20:50:07-07:00 March 13th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Prarie Smoke

This interesting looking wildflower is naturally found growing in prairies within the U.S. The plant’s low-growing, fern-like gray-green foliage is semi-evergreen, turning red, orange or purple in late fall and lasting throughout winter. This wildflower is among one of the earliest blooming prairie plants of spring and continues through summer with nodding rose-pink colored flowers. The descriptive name, Prairie Smoke, comes from its unusual feathery mauve seed heads that resemble plumes of smoke. Also called Three-flowered Avens, or Old Man's Whiskers.



Blooming is soon followed by the long plumed seedpods, which look a lot like puffs of smoke—giving the plant its name. These seedpods are also covered with hairs, which render it yet another common name of old man’s whiskers.

By | 2016-03-13T05:36:21-07:00 March 13th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Catmint

From the photo it appears that your plant is a Nepeta, or catmint with soft, gray-green foliage and spikes of lavender-blue or white flowers that emerge in late spring or early summer. If you run the leaves between your fingers, they give off a strong smell. It grows best in full sun and is drought tolerant once established. The crushed leaves applied to your skin is a natural bug deterrent. Catmint flops as the first flowers go by, and is even more prone to doing so when grown in part-shade or very rich soil. Grow it in full sun and keep it on a leaner diet if you want it more upright. Also, nepetas are one of the perennials that can get cut to the ground as the first flowering fades. The new foliage will return in a couple of weeks and it will be shorter and tidy.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:20-07:00 March 12th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Devils Fig Pea Eggplant

This could be Solanum torvum, Devil's fig also called pea eggplant and Turkey berry, a large tropical perennial weed used for rootstock in commercial eggplant production. The leaves, flowers and fruit are consistent with your photo, and your suggestion of a tropical origin of the plant help to point in that direction. If it is Solanum torvum it is from the American tropics but widely distributed throughout the tropical world. One thing to realize is that while we are fairly certain that this is a plant in the genus Solanum, a member of the nightshade family as are tomatoes, eggplants and other vegetables, many other Solanums have highly poisonous fruit. So DO NOT EAT THE FRUIT. We suggest that you take specimens of the flowers, fruits and leaves to local experts for additional assessment.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:20-07:00 March 12th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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