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Southern Gardening from 2008

This garden offers an almost endless supply of ideas for 2008 plant options. Beginning with the plants closest to the camera, enjoy the combinations of Diamond Frost euphorbia, Evergold sedge, Intensia Neon Pink phlox, Victoria Blue salvia and Red Abyssinian banana.
January 3, 2008 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

As we enter the New Year, most of us have planted everything we are going to plant until spring, making this a time for reflecting on how things went the past growing season and to plan for next year's flower border.

Last summer, we were filming our Southern Gardening TV news segment at a site with beautiful bedding plants. If I made a poster of the photo I took and put a title on the picture, it would be something like “Adjectives and Accolades.”

Big Red Judy, pictured here with Rose Stem Lace, is a large coleus with leaves that are a rich, vibrant red. The stems of Rose Stem Lace are this same color, making the two plants partner well in containers and landscapes.
January 10, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

As you contemplate what plants to try when winter has finally run its course, let me recommend using a lot of colorful foliage. There are amazing choices available today in both leaf color and texture.

In our Mississippi State University trials last year, two coleuses attracted quite a bit of attention. Both were planted in full sun, but they would do equally well in filtered light.

This combination planting of dill and Black Knight buddleia has it all: wonderful fragrance and incredible nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds. The dill also provides a larval food source for the swallowtail butterfly.
January 17, 2008 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

More and more homeowners are sticking herbs or vegetables in their flower borders so they can snip a few leaves or flowers for culinary purposes. With that in mind, I've got another plant for everyone to consider.

The sun gleams through the foxtail-like blooms of the purple fountain grass, whose leaf color works in monochromatic harmony with the Mexican petunia. The planting also includes Marguerite sweet potato vines with bright chartreuse foliage, making a great complementary marriage with the petunias' iridescent blue flowers.
January 24, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

The Mexican petunia, or ruellia, is getting more popular with each growing season, and I give a hearty “amen.” One thing that surprised me is how it has crossed from home to commercial landscapes. Most of the time, commercial landscape plants create a frenzy with homeowners.

As you pace the aisles of your garden center this spring, wondering what to plant for color and what to choose as a partner, think about the iridescent blue from the Mexican petunia.

These two phlox, Astoria Hot Pink and Astoria Pink, complement each other in the landscape. (Photos by Norman Winter)
January 29, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

When spring arrives and gardeners start trying to jazz up the landscape with color, many will look for long-lasting color so they won't have to change out plant material a couple of times before fall. If that is your goal, too, I would like to heartily recommend the Astoria and Intensia series of phlox.

This combination planting looks somewhat tropical and a little patriotic with the red pentas and the taller vitex sporting blue and white. The white appearance on the vitex comes from the unopened flower buds. This idyllic partnership is not only an incredible sight from the standpoint of aesthetics, but it also features plants known to be major food sources for butterflies and hummingbirds.
January 31, 2008 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

The lilac chaste tree, or vitex, was chosen as a Mississippi Medallion award winner in 2002, spurring a revival of this great, old-fashioned plant, which some consider a small tree and others describe as a large shrub.

Known botanically as Vitex agnus-castus, the lilac chaste tree is a marvel with its small structure and large, marijuana-looking leaves. Its fragrant, blue blooms are rare among trees.

The leopard plant is a hardy, shade-loving plant that typically forms large clumps with rounded, glossy, leather-like leaves. It blooms in October and November, producing 18-inch-tall spikes with clusters of yellow, daisy-like blossoms. (Photo by Norman Winter)
February 5, 2008 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

If you are looking to add some character to your shade garden, then you must add the leopard plant to your mix. This terrific plant is still mostly unknown to gardeners, but new varieties are popping up that are simply irresistible.

This 2007 garden was spectacular with Sweet Kate tradescantia separating King Tut papyrus, the tallest plant in the back of the border, and Homestead Purple verbena in front, which has flowers that complement Sweet Kate's golden lime-colored leaves.
February 7, 2008 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Few people recognize the plant name tradescantia, but most people are familiar with spiderwort, Purple Heart, Wandering Jew, Moses-in-the-cradle, Three-men-in-the-boat and Moses-in-the-bulrushes, which are all tradescantia. Now add Sweet Kate to the list of must-have tradescantias.

Window-box plantings can attract eyes above traditional landscape beds. Just like ground level planting, take time to prepare the soil. Select a good, lightweight potting mix.
February 14, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Container gardening has exploded in popularity with about 47 percent of American households admitting to using some form of it.

There are a lot of great reasons to garden in containers, in addition to the fun. Compared to fighting tight, heavy clay in the landscape, it's also easier to provide a good environment when it comes to soil or planting mixes for your plants.

Senetti Blue pericallis are obviously in the daisy family, and they partner well with many colors. In this display, the electrifying cobalt color of Senetti Blue pericallis is stunning placed beside the reds of the Bloodleaf iresine.
February 21, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

One of the hottest plants at last year's garden and patio shows in Mississippi was the Senetti Blue pericallis. The blue is truly electrifying.

The Senetti Blue has a wonderful fragrance, but it is the rare shade of blue that has everyone mesmerized.

Cora vinca, or periwinkle, is putting the joy back into growing these flowers that have lost battles to deadly diseases in recent years. The flowers themselves are quite large and very showy.
February 28, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

A new series called Cora is about to put the joy back into growing periwinkles.

For the past few years, I have had the opportunity to see research on new flower varieties by Goldsmith Seed Co. in California. One of the most exciting things was watching the evolution of the Cora vinca, or periwinkle.

This garden with a triadic color scheme has Prairies Sun rudbeckia, Evolution salvia and Tidal Wave Cherry petunia.
March 6, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Understanding colors can really help in creating awesome gardens.

There was something magical about how we got color at the newspaper my family owned when I was growing up. As the pressman made his adjustments -- a little more color here, a little less there -- he achieved what was known as process color.

Every conceivable color came from three primary colors.

Climbing plants add a vertical dimension to the landscape. A New Dawn climbing rose was trained to grow up this cottage-style garden shed.
March 13, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Climbing plants really add a vertical dimension to the landscape. Adding this new element to a garden causes a transformation that almost no other type of plant can accomplish.

Blue Daze, a selection of Evolvulus glomeratus, can provide blue color throughout the hottest summer until the first frost. They work well planted toward the front of the border in this garden and used with other tough-as-nails flowers like the Profusion Fire zinnia. (Photo by Norman Winter)
March 20, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

At a recent garden and patio show, several gardeners were asking what blue flowers I recommend for the long summer ahead. It seems we just can't get enough blue in the garden.

I always favor the various blue salvias and, of course, the Wave petunias. But one little plant that I still treasure for its rare clear blue is the Blue Daze evolvulus. It's hard to believe it has been a dozen years since it was selected as the first Mississippi Medallion award winner.

Leaf texture can combine to produce interesting colors and shadows, especially when combined with various plants. The fine texture and silver shadows in this garden are produced by Beacon Silver lamium and Silver Mound Artemisia, both of which intensify the color of the Wildfire Violet verbena.
March 27, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Most of the regular readers of these columns know I am a tropical nut. I can identify with Jimmy Buffet's lyrics: “I have a Caribbean soul I can barely control.”

With that thought in mind, I probably should tell you about all of the citrus and papaya sold at our three garden and patio shows in the last 30 days. I'll save that for another day. Instead, I will challenge you on one of the finer things in the garden: texture.

Diamond Frost euphorbia partners well with the showy Intensia Neon Pink phlox. Make a creative bed like this one with various textures by adding the spiky Victoria Blue salvia and the grassy Evergold Carex. (Photos by Norman Winter)
April 3, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Move over, New Gold lantana, and make room for Diamond Frost euphorbia.

In 1996, the Mississippi Plant Selections Committee chose New Gold lantana as a Mississippi Medallion Award winner. It became the standard for all others and one plant that many gardeners thought would never be matched in toughness. Now, we have a plant to give New Gold lantana a run for its money.

The All Around Purple gomphrena is a real trooper, reaching 24 inches tall and wide and blooming all summer in the South's intense heat and humidity. It is also quite attractive with orange flowers like the Profusion Fire zinnia. (Photo by Norman Winter)
April 10, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Durability and “everlasting” beauty are two of the reasons All Around Purple gomphrena has been selected as a 2008 Mississippi Medallion Award winner.

Known botanically as Gomphrena globosa, this Joseph's Coat relative is native to Panama and Guatemala. All Around Purple is the first plant selected as a winner that may be called an “everlasting” because of its ability to be cut, hung upside down to dry and then used in a vase.

The Sun Parasol has the most deeply saturated red on the market, and everyone has fallen head over heels for velvety flowers. (Photos by Norman Winter)
April 17, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Many gardeners want plants that will bloom right up until frost. Some past options have been New Gold lantana or the award-winning Diamond Frost euphorbia, and now gardeners can add Sun Parasols mandevilla to that list of summer-long bloomers.

Rush varieties like this dark green Quartz Creek, or Juncus effuses, stand out beside the brown Toffee Twist carex. Rush varieties are among the 2008 Mississippi Medallion award-winning plants and are capturing market attention this spring. (Photo by Norman Winter)
April 24, 2008 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Rush varieties are rounding out this year's Mississippi Medallion winners that are all tough-as-nails and offer impressive design features in flower borders and mixed containers.

This mixed planting includes the Graffiti Salmon Rose geranium, the Callie Mango calibrachoa and Calypso Jumbo White bacopa. This geranium serves as the thriller plant, and it definitely thrills with flowers that almost seem to glow. The calibrachoa spilled over the edge of the container while bacopa played the filler plant.
May 1, 2008 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Everyone is pulling cool-season annuals from mixed containers and looking for plants to make a dramatic, warm-season impact. I am seeing a revival of geranium use in containers and in much more creative combinations than I had ever considered.

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