Perennials

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Hens And Chicks House Leeks

European in origin and are mostly hardy to Zone 4. Sempervivum is a succulent evergreen perennial rosette with an outstanding ability to survive cold and dryness. The plants have a noticeable progression of color changes throughout the year, and are monocarpic. This means each "mother" rosette will flower and die, but they normally produce several generations of "chicks" before that happens. There are approximately 40 known species and they all apparently are capable of easily crossbreeding (hybridizing) with each other. This ability and including natural mutations and variations within the species has resulted in well over 3,000 varieties! Well draining soil is a must as they will not tolerate roots sitting in water for any length of time. They need full to part sun, and in areas where extreme summer temperatures are experienced, some light shade is beneficial during the hottest part of the day. Water thoroughly when you do, and don't water again until the soil has become fairly dry.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:22-07:00 February 27th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Clerodendron

Native to China and Japan, this clerodendron 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 | 2016-02-27T13:53:13-08:00 February 27th, 2016|Perennials|1 Comment
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Variegation

Your Vinca plant is a variegated variety and has been bred to display the creamy-white markings on the foliage. Although variegation is technically a virus it is not harmful and is often a desirable feature bred in many plants. So nothing is wrong with your plant. Often the white portions that are heavily variegated can sunburn and if the new growth is all white and lacking green foliage (no chlorophyll present), as pictured with a couple of the stems on your plant, these stems will often not grow properly and eventually desiccate due to the lack of chlorophyll available for appropriate growth. Stems that are solid white and lacking chlorophyll can be removed (cut back) and easily corrected. Sometimes variegated plants revert and lose their variegation by essentially being given the ability to grow out of the virus. This can be avoided by trimming any stems with foliage that has reverted to solid green leaves. Variegation if usually very desirable and makes some plants more valuable.

By | 2016-02-27T06:58:55-08:00 February 27th, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera daisy flowers exhibit large (up to 4") blooms.. The rays are most commonly yellow, red, or orange. However, growers have also produced varieties in white, pink, and violet. All have contrasting disc flowers, usually yellow. Gerbera daisy flowers reach a little over one foot in height, with a width slightly less than that. Popular in cut flower arrangements. Provide indoor, potted Gerbera daisies with bright, all-day sunlight in spring, summer and fall. Typically supply the indoor daisies with at least three to five hours of direct, morning sunlight, and provide them with afternoon shade. They prefer morning sunlight when planted outside too. They have medium water requirements. Water the daisies when the top 1/2 inch of their soil begins to dry. Indoor plants typically require watering every three to five days. Empty the water that collects in their pot's drip tray after each watering session. Reduce the amount you water the plants during winter, but don't allow their soil to dry completely.

By | 2016-02-23T19:02:57-08:00 February 23rd, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Daylily Insect Problem

Daylily or Hemerocallis /ˌhɛmɨroʊˈkælɪs/.[1] Daylily cultivar flowers are highly diverse in colour and form, as a result of hybridization efforts of gardening enthusiasts and professional horticulturalists. Thousands of registered cultivars are appreciated and studied by local and international Hemerocallis societies. Daylilies are perennial plants. The name Hemerocallis comes from the Greek words ἡμέρα (hēmera) "day" and καλός (kalos) "beautiful". This name alludes to the flowers which typically last no more than 24 hours. The flowers of most species open in early morning and wither during the following night, possibly replaced by another one on the same scape (flower stalk) the next day. Some species are night-blooming. Daylilies are not commonly used as cut flowers for formal flower arranging, yet they make good cut flowers otherwise as new flowers continue to open on cut stems over several days.

By | 2016-02-23T10:04:25-08:00 February 23rd, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Peony Problems

Not sure what is going on with your peony. Water when soil is dry several inches down. Saturated soil will kill the roots, resulting in wilting. It could also be transplant shock. Hopefully you used a well-draining, commercial and sterile potting soil for the container because native soil compacts too much and the plant was planted at the same level as its original container. The other problem may be that this specific cultivar does better in cool climates and will not adapt to Southern California's mild weather conditions. Suggest you go to the nursery where you purchased it to find out. Other tips: Peonies like soil high in humus or organic material, mulch to mitigate soil temperatures and water levels and provide afternoon shade if the weather turns hot and dry. Peonies need to be planted fairly shallowly, or they will not bloom. Also check out online resources to grow peonies in southern California such as: ilovepeonies.com

By | 2016-02-23T06:24:31-08:00 February 23rd, 2016|Perennials|1 Comment
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Constances Spring Parsley

There are two species of this plant that are difficult to discern. The photo is not quite close enough for us to make a positive identification between bulbosus and constancei. But we are including a link to a site that may help you decide. Note the name was changed in 2012. Constance’s spring parsley is a low growing herbaceous perennial that is typically found in open areas of woodlands. This small plant produces a taproot that may be several inches long, the lower half of which is often enlarged. Each plant produces only a few stems that may bear one or two leaves but are usually leafless. Most of the leaves are basal (not attached to an upright stem) with the largest leaves growing only 4 - 6 inches long. The leaves are light gray-green in color, somewhat fleshy, and divided many times into leaflets that in turn are divided into sub leaflets giving the leaves a distinctive fern-like appearance. The leaf stalks (petioles) are also fleshy.

By | 2016-02-23T01:11:22-08:00 February 23rd, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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French Lavender

This may be 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 | 2016-02-22T23:45:29-08:00 February 22nd, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Constances Spring Parsley

There are two species of this plant that are difficult to discern. The photo is not quite close enough for us to make a positive identification between bulbosus and constancei. But we are including a link to a site that may help you decide. Note the name was changed in 2012. Constance’s spring parsley is a low growing herbaceous perennial that is typically found in open areas of woodlands Soon it will have low pale pink blossoms. This small plant produces a taproot that may be several inches long, the lower half of which is often enlarged. Each plant produces only a few stems that may bear one or two leaves but are usually leafless. Most of the leaves are basal (not attached to an upright stem) with the largest leaves growing only 4 - 6 inches long. The leaves are light gray-green in color, somewhat fleshy, and divided many times into leaflets that in turn are divided into sub leaflets giving the leaves a distinctive fern-like appearance. The leaf stalks (petioles) are also fleshy.

By | 2016-02-22T06:18:43-08:00 February 22nd, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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Spurge

This appears to be a euphorbia known as spurge. You can confirm this id by taking a cutting, if the plant bled white sap, then it is a euphorbia. The best way to propagate these is by divisions taken now (divide the rootball with a shovel and transplant part of it where you want to grow it). But you can also propagate it from cuttings taken now. After you make the cutting, put the stem in warm water for a few hours so that the white sap doesn't congeal and seal off the bottom of the stem. Then dip the cutting in a rooting hormone and plant in a pot full of potting mix. Make a plastic tent over it (easily made with a coat hanger and a clear plastic sleeve that comes back from the cleaners with your clothes) to hold in the humidity. Keep the soil moist, and keep the plant in a frost-free, warm place (like a north window) where it gets plenty of indirect light, and it should root in a couple of weeks.

By | 2016-02-22T04:00:39-08:00 February 22nd, 2016|Perennials|0 Comments
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