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Ginger Lily (Hedychium
coccineum 'Tara') |
With the exception of a few hot spells, August has been tolerable. However, beginning tomorrow, we are in for a 5-day heat wave. Disgusting!
August is the month for plants that really love the heat. I have to begin with the Ginger Lily 'Tara' which is blooming for the first time. I posted a few weeks ago about how excited I was to see the bloom stalk. They have slowly opened with a few flowers every day. It has been well worth the wait.
Other favorites -
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| Continuing the orange theme is Lantana 'Miss Huff' which is growing in a pot (that is the heather 'Firefly' in the foreground). This lantana can survive in the ground if situated in a protected area and it isn't too wet. Previously, one grew in the back garden along the south foundation and got huge (about 3' x 5'). I finally took it out after a particularly tough winter and it was slow to bounce back. |
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| Allium 'Millenium' is a small charmer, loaded with blooms that the bees adore. I've not had any trouble with it spreading. |
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| I have terrible luck with coneflowers with the exception of 'White Swan'. It has been most reliable and a tough plant. |
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| 'Moonrise' Japanese maple in a pot. Most of the maples in pots look terrible this time of year but this one, which sits in a corner on the deck, looks great. It is in all shade. |
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Fuchsias have an uphill battle against August heat, but most have been really good this year. Last month, my favorite was 'La Campanella' which is still gorgeous. This month, I'm choosing 'Voodoo" which has the largest blooms. I thought about including 'Lady Boothby' which also really thrives in late summer. |
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| Spanish Flag (Ipomoea lobata) is one of my favorite annual vines. I've learned that it has to be started early by seeds to successfully bloom here in the PNW. I don't always remember. This year I am trying two different spots. This one faces east, toward my neighbor's yard, so I only see it when I'm watering. The second one is in a more prime spot, on the front arbor, but it isn't blooming yet. |
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| Nerium Oleander (Hardy White') is a new purchase this year. I noticed oleanders growing successfully just a few blocks from us and am excited to try one. It is already a fantastic bloomer and growing fast. |
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| Nicotiana 'Fragrant Cloud' is an annual plant that I try to grow every year. It is a bit messy looking, but such a strong bloomer. For the life of me, I cannot detect a scent and I've even walked outside after dark to take a sniff - still nothing. |
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| Canna 'Panache' is blooming more than ever this year. I did have it in two different spots in the ground and was never satisfied with it and finally decided to put it in a pot a few years ago. This plant will always remind me of Pam Harper, who wrote about it in her book "Time Tested Plants". |
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
I'm surprised and impressed that you can grow Lantana without having to bring it in for the winter. Very cool. I may give it a try next spring; I love those bloom and the pungent scent of the mulled leafs.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of Allium 'Millenium' and I'm so delight by them that I picked up a third recently. Supposedly clumping through rhizomes and sterile seeds, which is what I'm banking on.
The Spanish Flag vine is fantastic, such a fun bloom. Good luck with the Oleander; always loved them: though toxic, they have lovely faint scent.
Chavli
Chavli, there are only a few varieties of lantana that are that winter hardy. "Miss Huff" is one but it also needs some protection. The worst thing is the wet ground in winter. They must have excellent drainage.
DeleteAll great selections! I was surprised that Lantana isn't a tougher plant in your climate but then I live in a part of the country that doesn't have a real winter. That 'Moonrise' Japanese maple is a beauty.
ReplyDeleteKris, I think the wet winter is what they don't like.
DeleteAfter seeing buds on your 'Tara' I've been checking mine -- nothing yet! Congrats on some August beauties. I've been wondering about Spanish Flag too, maybe needs starting early in a heated greenhouse?
ReplyDeleteHi Denise, yes I think a greenhouse would be great. I wish I had one! By the way, are you "A Growing Obsession". If so, I enjoy your blog and I've tried in vain to leave comments and they don't go through. I think it is something to do with Word Press. I have that problem and another Word Press blog. So sorry!
DeleteOleander: lovely! Oleander used to be a standard tough shrub in So Cal, planted along freeways for example. They've been disappearing due to a pathogen spread by the glassy winged sharpshooter, a pathogen also killing grapes and olive trees. Too cold in your region for the glassy winged sharpshooter--hopefully.
ReplyDeleteI want to try that Nicotiana--it's a beauty, too. Seeds to look for over the winter.
I don't have much luck with Echinaceas either. So lovely, and they feed butterflies!
Gorgeous August blooms! I love Spanish Flag, and I've never grown it - I'll def take your advice and get some seed. 'Miss Huff' is one of the prettiest Lantana's I've seen, love that color. The leaves on your Japanese maple are really cute little green bursts!
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