Coronilla varia-Crown Vetch

Propagating Crown Vetch is simple because it grows by underground rhizomes and should be transplanted in the spring, however be forewarned, Crown Vetch is an invasive species so do not plant near a garden. Crown Vetch is the one plant that can be utilized to stabilize slopes to control erosion because it will take full sun and poor soil and its roots grow deep into the subsoil and normally planting is done by seeding an area without soil preparation. It is a hard plant to destroy. It blooms all summer to fall either white, pink or purple and grows to a height of 3'-5'. It is a legume so the plant affixes nitrogen from the air. Crown Vetch is deciduous and deer enjoy munching it.

Malva-Musk Mallow

Propagating Musk Mallow should be done in the spring however it doesn’t take transplanting easily, but alas it is an abundant self seeder so give it plenty of room. Deer will munch but rabbits will not and it will not stand up well to humidity. It is one of the few perennials that will flourish in sandy alkaline soil in full to mostly full sun. It blooms from June through September and colors range from white, pink and lavender and can grow to a height of 4', but 1-2' is the norm. It is deciduous. Deadhead the blooms about 2/3 down to obtain re-bloom, but no seeds. Musk Mallow attracts butterflies.

Mazus reptans-Cupflower

Propagating Cupflower is a cinch either in the spring or fall. Remove a plug from the established groundcover and insert in a new area. Simple. It only grows to a height of 3" and if you are seeking something to fill in between flagstones this is a plant that can take foot traffic in sun to half shade. It’s purple flowers will bloom from spring through summer in a well drained moist soil and in warmer zones it is evergreen and in Zone 5 it is best to mulch for winter, the coldest zone it will thrive in. It is also deer tolerant.

Dianthus-Carnation

Propagating Carnations can be done once they become established in the fall by separating the roots, however in drought conditions they need to be watered twice a week and fertilize with a general fertilizer once a month, but they don’t like humidity. Carnations can bloom from spring throughout the summer in white, pink, purple, or red and it is the national flower of Spain. Carnations prefer a slightly alkaline well drained soil and grow as tall as 18" and need full sun. They are deciduous and deer tend to ignore them.

Gaultheria-Wintergreen, Partridge Berry

Propagating Wintergreen is similar to Perwinkle, which is propagated when the branches send out runners that root at the plant node, so collecting 5-6 stems and then planting in a rooting medium of sandy loam and manure for at least 6 months before setting them in the garden bed. Wintergreen prefers a cool moist sandy soil, much like the forests it is native to with partial shade exposure. It’s height is only 6" and its flowers are white in June and July followed by red berries and the whole plant is used in producing wintergreen flavoring in the autumn. Deer generally dislike Wintergreen.

Helleborous-Lenton Rose

Propagating Lenton Rose is done by dividing the plant in the fall. It is evergreen in milder zones and flowers from late winter to spring, sometimes up to five months. Lenton Rose reaches a height of 24" in an array of colors: yellow, white, green, red, pink, maroon, primrose, and rose as well as mottled varieties. It is one plant that thrives in a moist well drained soil, think astible, fertilize in spring, that prefers shade but will take some sun and is wild animal resistant because the plant is poisonous.

Platycodon-Balloon Flower, Chinese Bellflower

Propagating Balloon Flower is done by division in either the spring or the fall however because it has fleshy tap roots one must be careful digging up the plant and separating the roots and when resetting the plant the crown should be placed one inch below the soil surface. Because balloon flowers and certain cultivars can get tall, 6-12" on average, they should be staked in windy and shady locations before flowering because the flowers will break off. Plants should be planted in a well drained soil in a pH range of 6.0-7.5 in either sun or shade with even moisture for its blue, white, pink flowers to bloom from July-August. Like Coreopsis balloon flowers are one of the last perennials to push through in the spring. The flowers attract honeybees and butterflies and is deciduous.

Saxafraga-Strawberry Geranium, Cobweb Saxifrage, Rockfoil

Propagating Saxafraga depends upon the variety either by division in the spring by lifting them out of the ground and separating the roots or by cutting the stolon which has rooted, and in milder climates Saxafraga are evergreen and are not hardy in Zone 4 or below, but generally are a cool climate perennial that prefers a loose sandy acidic well draining , but moist soil, not facing south, preferably in the shade and after flowering it is suggested to top dress with leaf mold and sand and they do not mind being stuffed into stone walls or rock crevices. Colors vary from purple, pink, white, yellow and reach a height varying from 4-30".

Delosperma-Hardy Ice Plant

Propagating the Hardy Ice Plant is best done in the spring by transplanting the rhizomes and it is one perennial that will do well in a sandy and well drained soil in full sun in any range of pH, but water well after transplanting. Depending on the zone, it can be evergreen, semi or deciduous and may die if the temperature goes below zero, and deer have a tendency to munch on the plant since it is a succulent. It grows to a height of 2" and does not want to be walked on. It blooms from late spring until frost and colors vary depending on the variety which can be yellow, purple, pink or white.

Centranthus ruber- Valarian, Jupiter’s Beard

Propagating of Jupiter’s Beard is done by root division in the spring however be aware their stems can become woody with age, but it is an aggressive self seeder, much like dandelion in poor alkaline but well draining soils in full sun so it can become invasive and will thrive in stone walls or in gravely soils. Jupiter’s Beard reaches a height of 2-3' and blooms June through frost with fragrant colors of white, pink, blue or red so honeybees and butterflies will enjoy their nectar. Jupiter’s Beard is not attractive to wildlife and is deciduous.

Gaillardia-Blanket Flower

Propagating Gaillardia can be done by root division in early spring after the plant starts growing from its winter dormant stage, deciduous, and grows to 2-3' in height and likes a well drained soil but will tolerate drought once the plants are established in full sun. The blooms of Gaillardia are multicolored of yellow, red and orange and appear in the early summer and will bloom up until frost if deadheaded. Butterflies are attracted to its blooms. Deer and rabbit generally ignore the plant.

Cerastium tomentosum-Snow-In-Summer

Propagating Snow-in-summer is accomplished by digging up the rhizomes that shoot off from the parent plant in either the spring or fall and in some circles are considered invasive because they grow in a well drained poor soil in full sun and are drought resistant so planting on rocky slopes is possible. Their silvery leaves are colorful once the white flowers fade, blooming from May to June and should be trimmed to be kept neat looking although it only reaches a height of 6" and is deer resistant as well as being evergreen.

Heuchera-Coral Bells, Alumroot

Propagating Coral Bells is done in the fall by digging up the plant and dividing the roots into how many plants are possible. Coral Bells prefers semi to full sun because shade will reduce the blooms and they come in white, pink or red colors and various variegated leaf varieties. They prefer an alkaline soil with good drainage, clay is a problem, and are often tolerant of drought. They are evergreen and although deer generally shy away from them they are a calling card for hummingbirds and butterflies but have a tendency to frost heave in northern climates, because they are shallow rooted and flower from late spring but deadheading will prolong their blooms through the summer and range from 1-3' in height.

Centaurea montana-Mountain Bluet, Perennial Bachelor Button, Cornflower

Centaurea montana is best propagated in the spring but the fall is also acceptable by cutting lose the rooted stolons and transplanting into another area of the garden bed. Centaurea montana can become invasive if planted in good rich soil so opt for poor alkaline but well drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions, but will not tolerate humidity nor wet feet in winter. It reaches a height of 2-3' and blooms most of the growing season in wide ranging colors: blue, mauve, pink, crimson, white and yellow and may need to be staked in windy locations and can be cut back after blooming to refreshen the foliage to re-bloom and is evergreen, drought tolerant and deer resistant.

Lobelia-Cardinal Flower

There are annual and perennial varieties of Lobelia available so make certain you don’t buy a 4 or 6 pak at the local big box and assume it is a perennial. Lobelia can be propagated in the spring by separating the rosettes that form around the parent plant and transplant. Lobelia’s like a moist well drained clay soil, think Astible and subject to frost heaving, or Siberian Iris so if planting near the house plant near the downspout especially if it’s in a sunny location in northern climates, but they will also take full shade in southern climates. Lobelia’s bloom from summer until fall and reach a height of at least 2' and their colors are blue and red. Hummingbirds and butterflies enjoy their nectar and they are deciduous.

Hollyhock

Hollyhocks are easily propagated by self-seeding, much like Columbine which is also a biennial and the best time to move the seedlings is in the spring, that is of course if you have a good soil medium in your garden bed for seeds to germinate on their own. However Hollyhocks will re-bloom if you deadhead the original however forget seedlings the following spring. Hollyhocks are deciduous and grow as tall as 5-8' and rarely need staking unless grown in a windy location. It is one of the few plants that is tolerant of Black Walnut toxins and the hummingbirds and butterflies feed off of their nectar. Hollyhocks bloom throughout the summer and up until frost and the colors range from yellow, red, purple, pink, and white and prefer a rich well drained sandy soil in full sun but will take some shade but do not like wet feet, because rust can be a problem in high humidity areas.

Plumbago-Leadwort

Plumbago isn’t a perennial in CA or FL, it’s more of a woody plant and can be propagated by layering or by semi-ripe tip cuttings in summer. It can be trained as a goundcover or a vine and is evergreen and blooms except in winter and prefers a slightly acidic soil and the colors vary from white, blue, purple, red or pink. In colder climates it makes an excellent patio plant, if you have a spot to store it over the winter. When I saw the plants in CA I fell in love with them. Even if it gets frost bit it still might recover. It takes at least 4 hours of sun a day and is drought tolerant and produces flowers on the currant season’s growth so pruning will not stop the blooms and may need a shot of manganese sulfate if the leaves turn yellow and is a favorite of butterflies.

Doronicum-Leopard’s Bane

Leopard’s Bane is best propagated in the spring after it flowers, by root division, because it goes dormant in the summer and is best planted in the shade in the south because they are shallow rooted, like astible, and need a well drained soil and are used mainly for naturalizing and varieties can range in height from 1-2'. Blooms are yellow and the plant is deciduous and is deer resistant.

Laurentia fluviatilis-Blue Star Creeper

Blue Star Creeper is easily propagated in the spring or fall by transplanting the rhizomes that spread out beyond the parent plant. Depending on the zone it could be either evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous and since it only reaches 2" in height it is a plant that can be walked on lightly and would be a great filler between stepping stones. It prefers a morning sun in a fertile moist soil, not too wet, and its blue blooms will add color to the garden from late spring to early fall in a neutral pH.

Celebrate July 4th, the USA’s Independence Day

Let’s give thanks to those serving the USA in foreign lands that help keep us free from the tyranny that strikes people in less fortunate countries where democracy is only a dream, even though some in the USA complain about gas, food, or whatever irks their fancy. Just imagine if the whiners lived in a Third World country where complaints might bring prison or death, i.e. China. We live in a land where some tell us that our lives are no better today compared to 20 years ago, but imagine if we did not have the Armed Forces that we have, what life could have been like without our freedoms. It is up to the individual to improve their life not a government’s grand scheme to hand out taxpayer “gifts” to the whiners and /or law breakers, or why do we have men and women who at a moments notice are ready to protect our freedoms by giving up their lives. That’s what makes the USA so great. What other country would do it? Trying to help others into achieving the dream of independence, something that seems elusive, which does not happen overnight and it costs some more then they could imagine when they brought their child onto earth. Hooray for the USA!

Monarda-Bee Balm, Horsemint

Bee balm can be propagated by division, by lifting the plant out of the ground and discarding the older woody stems in the spring, which should be done every 3-4 years or by layering. Bee balm prefers full sun and a damp soil, but not chalky, however it will grow in partial shade but it will not bloom as profusely, however it will spread faster. The blooms range in color from red, pink, lavender, white, and purple and flower from mid summer until frost and although butterflies, hummingbirds, and honeybees like the pollen, deer generally dislike the plant and depending on the variety, bee balm can reach upwards of 4 feet in height and the leaves are used in potpourri and to make tea. Bee balm is deciduous.

Myosotis-Forget-me-not

Forget-me-nots are also propagated by self-seeding or by root division in the fall. They prefer a shaded moist rich well draining soil and bloom from spring until fall. Colors are blue, white and pick. They grow in height up to 12" and need mulch protection in colder zones. Another plant that will grow under shade trees where grass will not grow however they must remain moist. Generally deer resistant. Depending on the zone it could be evergreen or deciduous.

Viola tricolor-Johnny Jump Up, Banewort, Wild Pansy

Johnny Jump Ups are easily propagated because it is a self seeding, self fertile, creeping annual or perennial in warmer zones, when planted in a rich composted well drained soil. There is no work involved to keep this plant coming back, year after year once planted. They drop their seeds in the fall in a shaded environment and they will bloom all season especially when deadheaded. They have colorful blooms which vary from white, yellow, blue, maroon, orange, bronze and purple and grow to a height of 9", but in the south they become dormant in the heat but perk back when it becomes cooler. Use under shade trees where grass will not grow. Generally deer do not nibble.