Common name Monkshood. A fall blooming monkshood. Grows to four feet tall. Looks beautiful in mass. Deer resistant. Moist soil. Usually recommended for semi-shade, the above plant is growing in full sun and is very content.
Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’
October 15, 2009 at 6:38 pm (Perennials)
Tags: perennial, Deer Resistant Plant, Blue Flowers, Fall Blooming Plant
Callicarpa dichotoma
October 15, 2009 at 6:23 pm (Hardy Shrub)
Tags: Plants for Birds, Purple Berries
Common name Beautyberry. Small weeping shrub to four feet. Purple berries stand bold and upright on top of the shrub in the fall. Although not the favourite food of birds, when every other fruit is gone they will eat these berries. More fruit in full sun. Tough, easy shrub to grow.
Euphorbia myrsinites and Sedum spurium ‘Voodoo’
October 15, 2009 at 5:01 pm (Perennials)
Tags: Chartreuse flowers, Deer Resistant Plant, Evergreen, Silver Foilage
A lovely year round combination. Both are evergreen perennials. The silver Euphorbia myrsinites has chartreuse flowers in early spring and the Sedum spurium ‘Voodoo’ red flowers in mid summer. This euphorbia reseeds a lot, so it is best deadheaded. Good care should be taken handling this plant as its white milky sap can cause bad skin burns. Gloves and protective eye wear. Both deer resistant. For dry sunny spots in the garden.
Crape Myrtle
October 15, 2009 at 4:39 pm (Shrubs)
Common name Southern Lilac. It is only in recent years that we are seeing Crape Myrtle growing in Westchester. Many different cultivars, some more hardy that others. The above Crape Myrtle is an unknown dwarf cultivar, growing in situ for seven years. Late to leaf out in the spring. Blooming in mid summer. Pruning only when new growth is visible in spring.
Chrysanthemum ‘Sheffield’
October 15, 2009 at 2:18 pm (Perennials)
Tags: Apricot Flower, Fall Blooming Plant
My favorite perennial chrysanthemum. This plant is a real show stopper. The flower starts off as apricot, changing to pink then fading to white. A vigorous, spreading, long lasting perennial. A must have in the garden. Best in full sun. October blooming.
Phygelius rectus Sunshine
October 15, 2009 at 2:08 pm (Perennials)
Tags: perennial, Hummingbird Plant, Golden foilage
Common name Cape fuchsia. Cape fuchsia bloom all summer long. The tubular flowers are full of nectar so they are loved by hummingbirds. I grow Phygelius rectus Sunshine not for its red flowers but for its golden foliage. In the fall the foliage takes on a luminous quality and shines in the garden, definitely living up to its name ‘sunshine’. Phygelius is not very hardy here in Westchester, some cultivars more hardy that others. Phygelius ‘Red Devil’ has been surviving outside yearlong in a planter box in my garden for the past three years.
Ruellia caroliniensis
October 15, 2009 at 1:48 pm (Native)
Tags: perennial, Native Plant
Common name Carolina Petunia. A native perennial that is virtually unknown here in Westchester. Grows to around ten inches tall. Pale pink one inch blooms, it flowers all summer into the fall. I guess, delicate would be a good description of the plant.
Vitex agnus castus
October 15, 2009 at 1:33 pm (Trees)
Tags: Deer Resistant Plant
Common name Chaste Tree, so named because monks in medieval times used the ground berries to reduce their libido. A multi trunk tree/shrub, grows to about eight feet here in zone 6. In a bad winter it can be cut to the ground but will return and bloom the same year. Prefers full sun. Pale purple flowers in July followed by pepper scented berries.
Tithonia ‘Fiesta del sol’
August 21, 2009 at 6:04 pm (Annual)
Tags: Annual Plants, Orange Flowers
Common name Mexican Sunflower. A prolific summer blooming annual, intense orange flowers to three inches. Grows to about two and a half feet.
Hibiscus Blue River II
August 21, 2009 at 5:51 pm (Perennials)
Tags: perennial, White Flowers, White Garden, Tropical looking Plants
Hibiscus ‘Blue River II’ is a hardy woody perennial growing to fout feet. Hugh ten inch flowers in August. Although they prefer full sun and moist soil, I’ve grown then in semi shade with no additional water. Good air circulation around the plant is important. Watch out for Japanese Beetles on the leaf.
