Getting Noticed

There are a lot of different ways to get noticed. And having a colorful, beautiful, landscape is definitely a good way. And that's what Toni wants.

So she and I got together and walked all over her landscape and talked about plants and what she could do to spice things up. Here are some of the plants she might use to catch the eye of those who drive by.

-Orange Marmalade Crossandra blooms from spring through fall.

-Zinnia linearis blooms from the time it puts on roots to the time it dies.

-Cyclamen is for the cool season and there's hardly a prettier plant you can find at that time of year.

-Angelonia blooms al the time too and you have choices when it comes to which color you want the flowers to be.

-Red Hot Sally Salvia will turn the head of anyone driving past.

-Dwarf Pentas never quit blooming...and the butterflies love them too.

-Dianthus is a good cold weather plant

-Begonia bloom all summer

-Johnny Jump Ups do their things all winter too.

-If you want a shrub that blooms in the summer try Lynn's Everblooming Sage. It's a selection of Cenizo from west Texas.

-Burgundy Blast Loropetalum has colorful leaves and deer don't eat it.

-Desperado Sage is another selection of Cenizo.

-Bicolor Iris does great in hot weather but it needs full sun to bloom.

-When it comes to Cannas you have lots of choices. And they all bloom a lot in the summer.

-Esperanza has lots of new varieties. This one is Sparklette.

-Mexican Bush Sage will bloom in the summer

-Dwarf Snapdragons bloom in the winter

-Bells of Fire Esperanza has orange blooms and does it in the summer.

-Variegated Flax Lily will get about 2' tall and does great in the shade.

-Sweet Potato Vine comes in a lot of colors.

-Variegated Ginger has big leaves and does best in the shade.

-Viburnum suspensum is a great shrub for shade and deer don't eat it.

-Woodlander's Bottlebrush is hardier than most.

-Rose Creek Abelia is a great compact shrub

-Dianthus is another cool season perennnial. You can find varieties that bloom many different colors.

-Purple Heart Wandering Jew is a root hardy annual that has very small blooms spring through fall. It will freeze back and return in the spring. It may be a little old fashioned but it adds color to a drab landscape and it's carefree.

-Bells of Fire Esperanza is an Orange blooming Eseranza. It will get about 4' tall during the growing season.

Here are two annuals that used to be only for the shade but new introductions can now take full sun.

-SunPatiens or New Guinean Impatiens is a selection of impatiens that can take grow in sun. Many different bloom colors

-Sun Coleus- many different leave colors

These can take the sun, but late in the summer when the sun is high and hot, the plants dry out pretty quick and they need to be watered much more often. So, keep your eye on them.

-Another great annual for shade is Alternanthera Purple Knight or Joseph's Coat. It will get about 15" tall. Great purple foliage.

That's it for today. If you have any questions please let me know.