Archive for the perennial tag

Butterfly weed and other milkweeds

July 7, 2021 • Leave a Comment

by George Papadelis

It turns out that one of Michigan’s most common roadside “weeds” is actually an outstanding perennial for our Michigan gardens. The brilliant orange flowers of butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) can be seen blooming profusely in June and July in some of the most unfriendly sites one can imagine. Open meadows, steep slopes, and grassy fields can provide its only two cultural requirements: full sun and dry, well-drained soil.

Butterfly weed was given its common name for appropriate reasons. When in bloom, its flowers seem to attract butterflies from miles away. Monarchs are perhaps the best-known visitors to members of the milkweed family (to which butterfly weed belongs), but many other species dine on their nectar as well. Painted ladies, swallowtails, and others find it irresistible. All milkweeds are suitable lures for butterflies, so select the variety that best suits your tastes.

Butterfly weed, with its flat clusters of small orange flowers, is actually one of the few perennials available in orange. Its perennial companions in this narrow color range include poppies, red hot poker, daylilies, lilies, and crocosmia. Butterfly weed is also available in some different hues. The variety ‘Gay Butterflies’ offers a mixture that includes orange, yellow, and red. An all-yellow variety exists (‘Hello Yellow’), but is often difficult to find.

*A. tuberosa* ‘Gay Butterflies’ (Photo: Park Seed Company)

More milkweeds

Butterfly weed has another North American relative with the less flattering common name of swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). The common name comes from the milky sap produced from broken stems or leaves. Swamp milkweed varieties offer flowers similar to butterfly weed, but in two different colors. One called ‘Cinderella’ produces larger, rosy-pink blossoms on more compact flower heads. ‘Ice Ballet’ yields all white flowers that create the perfect backdrop for brightly-colored butterfly visitors. Both will grow about 3 to 4 feet tall.

Tropical milkweeed (Asclepias curassavica) is another popular species of asclepias. This annual form can begin blooming as early as May when cultivated in greenhouse conditions. It produces extra vibrant orange and red bicolor blooms from spring until fall. Besides a sure death every fall, it offers everything available from the perennial forms, but boasts a longer bloom time. Like its longer-lived counterpart, this annual can also have a place in the perennial border.

*A. incarnata* ‘Ice Ballet’ (Park Seed Company)

*A. incarnata* ‘Cinderella’ (Park Seed Company)

How to grow butterfly weed

Butterfly weed is difficult to propagate. Seeds are tough to germinate and it also has a taproot that makes it almost impossible to divide. Even transplanting can be problematic. Garden centers are the most reliable source to obtain young starter plants. Once established in well-drained soil, butterfly weed can flourish for several years. Competition from grass and weeds is rarely a factor, but tree roots may pose a problem. Heavy, moist soil (which often occurs in southeastern Michigan’s clay) must be amended with coarse sand, compost, and/or pine bark to improve drainage. Otherwise, good garden soil is all that’s required for this two foot tall, native perennial to produce its flowers. In more harsh environments, evergreen boughs placed directly on the plants for winter protection would certainly be worthwhile. Be patient in the spring, since the leaves of butterfly weed, like several other perennials, are very late to emerge. Gardeners often mistake plants as dead and then discard them before new growth is able to develop.

Besides attracting butterflies and adding some color to your borders, all varieties make excellent cut flowers. Blooms allowed to remain on the plant give way to narrow seedpods, which provide an additional dimension to the plant. These can be harvested before they split open and dried as ornamental seedpods, adding a unique element to any flower arrangement.

Butterfly weed is a Michigan native that is both versatile and rewarding for the true Michigan gardener. Whether butterfly weed is in your yard, in a vase, or on the menu for a passing butterfly, it is one weed you’ll never want to pull out.

*A. curassavica* ‘Red Butterfly’ (Photo: Johnnyʼs Selected Seeds)

Butterfly weed

Botanical name: Asclepias tuberosa (as-KLEE-pee-as)
Plant type: Perennial
Plant size: 2-3 feet tall; 2 feet wide
Hardiness: Zone 4
Flower color: Orange, orange/yellow/red, pink, white
Flower size: 1/4 inch wide, on clusters
Bloom period: Midsummer
Leaf color: Green
Leaf size: 4-6 inches long, lance-shaped
Light: Full sun
Soil: Dry, well-drained for butterfly weed (A. tuberosa). As its common name indicates, swamp milkweed (A. incarnata) prefers more moisture.
Uses: Perennial garden, meadow, roadside, cut and dried flower arrangements.
Remarks: Native to Michigan. Attracts butterflies. Very slow to emerge in spring, so be careful to allow new growth to appear. Has a taproot, which makes division difficult.

George Papadelis is the owner of Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy and Shelby Township, MI.

Plant Focus: Pasque Flower

March 31, 2020 • 2 Comments

The spring days are growing longer, the birds are quickly emptying the feeders, and the flowers have begun to emerge. Bulbs like crocus and daffodils are in bloom, but in time, only the old, tattered foliage will remain. Some of the woodland wildflowers, like trillium and bluebells, are also in color, but they too will quickly disappear. Unlike so many early bloomers, pasque flower, will perform well in the spring and continue to be showy well into the summer.

Botanically referred to as Pulsatilla vulgaris, pasque flower sends up purple, reddish, pink or white 2-1/2 inch flowers in April and May. These flowers have 6 large petals (actually sepals) and a bright yellow center. After flowering begins, the spring leaves emerge and are equally showy. These leaves glisten with silky hairs that are exceptionally ornamental.

The performance has just begun, for when the spring flowers finish blooming, the seed pods form. These beautiful, silky, puff balls last well into the summer when all of the flowers have passed. The beautiful spring blossoms and clusters of seed pods make this an outstanding perennial for the front of the border or rock garden. Pasque flower grows 10 inches tall and 10 inches wide, and in our climate, it thrives in both full or partial sun. The plant will last for several years in most gardens, but performs best in a well-drained soil. Rarely does it suffer from insect or disease problems.

Pasque flower is somewhat difficult to find, but is well worth the effort. Young plants offered at garden centers quickly mature to showy clumps of vibrant flowers and striking foliage. ‘Rubra’ is the red form and the species is the purple form (just Pulsatilla vulgaris). These varieties are the easiest to locate, but I especially like the pink form, which, unfortunately, is rarely available. However, a more common German variety called ‘Papageno’ is a wonderful mixture which contains all colors, including the elusive pink.

Take advantage of the many features of this very underused perennial. Few spring-blooming perennials rival the extended display that pasque flower can provide. A tidy habit, wonderful flowers, and beautiful foliage are just some of the traits that make pasque flower a worthwhile addition to your garden.

Pasque flower

Botanical name: Pulsatilla vulgaris
Plant type: Perennial
Plant size: 10 inches wide and tall
Flower colors: Purple (most common), red, pink, or white
Flower size: 2-1/2 inches
Bloom period: April and May
Leaf colors: Silky green
Leaf size: Up to 6 inches long
Light: Full to partial sun
Soil: Prefers well-drained soil
Uses: Front of the perennial border or in the rock garden
Remarks: Leaves appear after the flowers. Silky hairs on the leaves make them glisten. Puffy seed heads form after the flower blooms are finished and are as attractive as the flowers.

George Papadelis is the owner of Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy and Shelby Township, MI.

Read more: Growing pasque flower from seed

Plant Focus: Obedient Plant

September 4, 2019 • Leave a Comment

Physostegia virginiana ‘Pink Bouquet’ (Photo: Jonathon Hofley / Michigan Gardner) — *Physostegia virginiana* ‘Pink Bouquet’ (Photo: Jonathon Hofley / Michigan Gardener)

By George Papadelis

Obedient Plant is a truly versatile plant, with many desirable features that make this North American native an asset in a sunny perennial garden. The flowers somewhat resemble a dragon’s head and thus the common name of “false dragonhead” evolved. These one-inch flowers come in white or shades of pink and are formed in straight rows along a narrow, pointed, spike-like flower head. Although it is a bit deceiving, the common name “obedient plant” developed for another good reason. If pushed to one side, the individual flowers stay in that position for quite a while and are therefore “obedient.” In his book, The Harrowsmith Perennial Garden, Patrick Lima describes it this way: “If you have nothing else to do, you can reposition the individual flowers, which are attached to their stems by the botanical equivalent of a ball-and-socket joint.”

The term “obedient” cannot be confused with the plant’s growth habit, which is, in fact, quite the opposite. If left to do as it wants, this plant produces underground stolons that will make a large clump from a single plant in just one season. This is especially true in well-cultivated, rich soil. Therefore, I recommend planting in poorer soil or be prepared to divide this spreader every year or two in the spring.

Physostegia virginiana ‘Variegata’ (Photo: Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardner) — *Physostegia virginiana* ‘Variegata’ (Photo: Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener)

Left: Physostegia virginiana (Photo: Stephen Still) Right: Physostegia virginiana ‘Variegata’ (Photo: White Flower Farm/Michael Dodge)

Obedient plant likes full sun and may require staking if planted in part sun or in rich soil. It will begin blooming in August and will continue through the end of September. It has strong, straight stems and long-lasting flowers that make this a popular and beautiful cut flower.

Several different varieties are available. ‘Summer Snow’ is a nice 28-inch tall, white selection, but the most popular color is pink. ‘Pink Bouquet’ is widely used, but grows 3 to 4 feet tall. For a deeper pink on a less floppy, 20-inch tall plant, try ‘Vivid.’ For a wonderful combination of flowers and foliage, use ‘Variegata,’ which has the typical pink blooms but also glowing, white-edged leaves. These stand out in any flower bed and give this variety a much longer season of interest.

If you are willing to curb this plant’s appetite for space, Physostegia may work well for you. As a cut flower or a late-blooming perennial, this plant grows easily. If all else fails, you can always show a fellow gardener why this is called the obedient plant!

Obedient Plant

Botanical name: Physostegia virginiana (figh-so-STEE-jee-a vir-jin-ee-AH-na)
Common name: Obedient plant, false dragonhead
Plant type: Perennial
Plant size: 20 to 42 inches tall
Flower colors: White, rich pink
Flower size: 1 inch long, on spikes above the foliage
Bloom period: August and September
Leaves: Green, narrow, 3 to 5 inches long; also green with white edges
Light: Sun to partial shade
Soil: Grows in most soils; poorer soils will slow rapid spreading
Uses: Cut flowers, wildflower garden, larger naturalized areas
Remarks: Will spread aggressively. If used in the perennial border, plan on lifting and dividing every year or two. May require staking when grown in partial shade or highly fertile soil.

George Papadelis is the owner of Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy and Shelby Township, MI.

Plant Focus: Plumbago

January 6, 2018 • Leave a Comment

By George Papadelis

In the fall, most gardeners are amazed to find a multitude of blooming perennials that are available to brighten up their autumn garden. Besides mums, gardeners may choose from many underused late-blooming plants such as toad lily, butterfly bush, caryopteris, perennial lobelia, yellow wax bells, asters, hibiscus, and many more. Unfortunately, many gardeners shop for flowers in the spring and summer when the fall bloomers are difficult to appreciate and are often overlooked.

One of the most versatile and underused fall boomers is plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides). This perennial may be used as a groundcover in masses or as a clump-forming accent plant. It forms vibrant blue flowers that last from late summer well into the fall months. In the fall, the olive green foliage turns a bronze-red that provides a tasteful contrast to the bright blue blossoms.

Plumbago grows 8 to 12 inches tall and will grow in both sun or almost full shade. It prefers well-drained organic soil especially when winters are wet. To ensure overwintering, plant by late September so plants will become well established before winter sets in. Also provide a protective layer of mulch in late November or early December to eliminate soil temperature fluctuations. During the winter, plumbago dies completely to the ground and then emerges late in the spring. Gardeners need to be patient for this new growth to appear.

Plumbago’s small blue flowers are a great source of fall color in rock gardens and short border plantings. Also use it as a unique underplanting for trees and shrubs because of its beautiful color and texture. Whatever its use, plumbago’s brilliant flowers, excellent fall color, and short growth habit make this a versatile plant in any garden needing plants with late season interest.

George Papadelis is the owner of Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy and Shelby Township, MI.

Plant Focus: Columbine

May 16, 2017 • 1 Comment

columbine-pink-0517 — Columbines flower from late spring to early summer for about 3 to 4 weeks. Photo: Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

By George Papadelis

A garden without columbine is simply incomplete. Columbine (Aquilegia) comes in a wide range of colors. It produces masses of brilliant 1-to 2-inch flowers that are exquisite when appreciated up close as well as from a distance. They grow in light to moderate shade and flower from late spring to early summer for about 3 to 4 weeks. During this period, few plants can produce a show of color that rivals this one. As an effective source of color, no shade garden should be without this plant.

Most columbine varieties are readily available since this plant grows from seed that is easy to find. Young plants that have not been subjected to a sufficient cold period usually do not flower during the first season. By the second season, columbine will reach its peak and flower profusely. By the third year, plants usually decline in performance and will rarely overwinter for the fourth season. This is one of columbine’s shortcomings and should be realized before a gardener’s expectations are not met. However, many columbines drop seeds after flowering that may germinate and produce offspring in a similar color range.

A popular variety is a mixture called ‘McKana’s Giants.’ These have huge flowers on 36-inch plants in a wonderful mixture that includes reds, yellows, blues, pinks, and whites. Another popular type is the Songbird series. These individual varieties have names like ‘Blue Jay,’ ‘Dove’ and ‘Robin’ that sport colors like blue, white, and pink respectively. Another new one is the Barlow series. These have interesting double flowers and come in colors like ‘Black Barlow,’ ‘Blue Barlow,’ and ‘Rose Barlow.’

Dwarf varieties, called fan columbine, also exist. These only grow about 6 inches tall and come in blue or white.

The native varieties like Aquilegia canadensis and Aquilegia crysantha have bicolored red and yellow blossoms and all yellow blossoms, respectively. These flowers are a little smaller but these two are best for reseeding to naturalize a shady area.

For the enthusiast, collector or obsessed gardener, several unusual varieties can be found. Look for ‘Ruby Port’ which has interesting fully double maroon-red flowers—spectacular when viewed up close! Also look for the sweetly scented, chocolate-brown flowers of Aquilegia viridiflora—very rare! Some varieties like ‘Lime Frost’ even have variegated foliage. Hybridizers have produced hundreds of variations in interesting colors and forms to keep any gardener in awe.

Columbine has come a long way since its humble beginnings and deserves a place in the shade garden or even the rock garden. Try some short ones or try some tall ones, try some white ones or try some black ones. What ever your taste may be, columbine surely has a plant that’s right for you.

At a glance: Columbine

Botanical name
Aquilegia (ah-kwi-LEE-gee-a)

Plant type
Perennial

Plant size
6-36 inches tall

Flower colors
Wide variety – yellow, red, blue, purple, pink, white, pastels

Flower size
1-2 inches wide

Bloom period
Late spring to early summer

Leaves
Blue-gray-green color; attractive foliage from mid-spring to mid-summer

Light
Light shade to shade

Soil
Well-drained, moist

Hardiness
Zone 3

Uses
Shade garden, rock garden, naturalized areas

Remarks
Plant is short-lived: 1st year: young plants may not flower; 2nd year: peak blooms; 3rd year: weaker blooms; 4th year: not likely to overwinter. However, many plants will drop seeds that germinate for the following season. Ideally, grow columbine where other plants will camouflage the plant’s fading foliage in midsummer.

George Papadelis is the owner of Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy, Shelby Township, and Pontiac, MI.

How to transplant butterfly bush

November 10, 2010 •

What are the critical points to consider when transplanting a large perennial like a butterfly bush? These bushes have been in the ground for one year; how late in the year can I transplant them?

Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is grown in Michigan as an herbaceous perennial, since many years we can expect our cold winters to kill back upper parts of the plant’s stem system. The good news is we can usually trust that new leaf buds will emerge low on the stems or from the root system, producing new main stems and flowering buds that will bloom in late summer.

Knowing that the butterfly bush is a marginally hardy plant in Michigan, it is wise to wait to cut back or transplant until spring. In fall after the leaves have fallen, the plant completes its annual cycle by relocating starches (energy that is produced by the leaves and moved down to the root system for storage), which will be used as energy to begin spring growth.

It is helpful to prepare your bushes for winter this fall by keeping them well-watered and supplying them with a slow-release, organic nitrogen fertilizer that will be available in the soil during spring when the roots need it the most.

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Archive for the perennial tag

More milkweeds

How to grow butterfly weed

Butterfly weed

Pasque flower

Obedient Plant

At a glance: Columbine