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Showing posts from March, 2016

Viola x wittrockiana (pansy)

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Viola x wittrockiana (Pansy) Pronunciation: VYE-oh-luh x wit-rok-ee-AH-na   Family: Violaceae Plant type: Biennial Zone: 7 Origin: Garden Origin  …….. Mature size   Height: 20-40 cm   Spread: 30-60 cm Form: mounded Texture: medium Habit: stiffly upright Exposure - full sun Preferred soil - acidic, well drained Landscape uses - bedding plant, cut flower, winter interest …….. Leaves Arrangement: simple alternate, basal Shape: elliptic, lanceolate, ovate Size: 4-6 cm Margin: Crenate Characteristics: Soft flexible, glabrous, lustrous, rounded, obtuse Colour: green ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: solitary Colour: showy, white, violet, blue, yellow, orange Size: 3.5- 5 cm Time: Jan-June ……… Fruit type: capsule Colour: brown Time: June-August ……… Propagation seed Comments medium maintenance, moderate water use, moderate growth rate Pests, aphids

Portulaca grandiflora (portulaca)

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Portulaca grandiflora  (Portulaca) Pronunciation: por-tew-LAK-uh gran-dih-FLORE-uh Family: Portulacaceae Plant type: Annual, succulent, cacti Zone: 10 Origin: South America …….. Mature size   Height: 10-20 cm   Spread: 10-30 cm Form: creeping, mat like, weeping Texture: fine Habit: open, spreading Exposure - full sun Preferred soil - rocky gravelly or dry, well drained Landscape uses - bedding plant, container plant, group planting …….. Leaves Arrangement: simple alternate Shape: lanceolate Size: >2 cm Margin: ciliate Characteristics: succulent, pubescent, acute, oblique (uneven) Colour: green ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: floriferous, solitary Colour: showy, white, yellow, orange, pink, red, magenta Size: >5.5 cm Time: May, June, July, August, September ……… Fruit type: capsule Colour: brown Time: September, October ……… Propagation seed Comments low maintenance Pests  rus...

Begonia x tuberhybrida (tuberous begonia)

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Begoia x tuberhybrida (Tuberous Begonia) Pronunciation: beh-GOHN-yuh x too-bur-HI-brid-ah Family: Begoniaceae Plant type: Annual, succulent or cacti Zone: 10 Origin: South America …….. Mature size   Height: .2-.4 m   Spread: .1-.3 m Form: Mounded Texture: Coarse Habit: Pendulous, Upright …….. Leaves Arrangement: Simple Alternate Shape: ovate Size: 9-15 cm Margin: incised Characteristics: soft flexible, lustrous, acute, oblique uneven base Colour: green, dark green, bronze/red accents ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: cyme Colour: showy, yellow, orange, pink, red Size: 4.6-5.2 cm Time: June- September ……… Exposure - deep shade Preferred soil -  well drained Landscape uses - bedding plant, hanging basket Propagation - seed, Division - below ground Comments - modified tubers Pests - blight or needle cast, mildew, mites

Primula vulgaris hybrids (primula)

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Primula vulgaris hybrids (Primula) Pronunciation: PRIM-you-luh vul-GAIR-iss Family: Primulaceae Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial, Flowering Pot plant Zone: 4 Origin: Garden Origin …….. Mature size   Height: 20-40 cm   Spread: 30-60 cm Form: Round Texture: Medium Habit: Dense …….. Leaves Arrangement: Simple, Basal Shape: Oblanceolate, Obovate Size: 5-7 cm Margin: crenate Characteristics: soft flexible, glabrous, pubescent, brown in fall Colour: green  ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: solitary Colour: showy, white, violet, blue, yellow, orange, pink, red, often bi color or tricolor Size: 4-6 cm Time: February - May ……… Fruit type: capsule Colour: insignificant Time: May, June ……… Exposure - full sun with moist soil, part sun/shade Preferred soil - well drained Landscape uses - bedding plant, container plant, group/mass planting, rock garden, winter interest, indoor plant, woodland margin Propagation -...

Helichrysum petiolare cvs. (licorice plant)

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Helichrysum petiolare cvs. (Licorice Plant) Pronunciation: hell-ih-KRYE-zum pet-ee-oh-LIAR-ee   Family: Asteraceae Plant type: Annual Zone: 10 Origin: Africa, Australia, NZ …….. Mature size   Height: .7-1.3 m   Spread: 1-1.5m Form: Climbing, mounded, weeping Texture: medium Habit: Pendulous, spreading …….. Leaves Arrangement: simple alternate Shape: ovate Size: 1.3 cm wide x 1-2.5 cm long Margin: ciliate, undulate, wavy Characteristics: pubescent , soft flexible Colour: grey green  ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: small head in corymb Colour: showy, white Size: 2mm heads in bunches Time: August ……… Fruit type: Achene Colour: Not showy Time: September ……… Exposure - full sun, part sun/shade Preferred soil - Rocky, gravelly or dry, well drained Landscape uses - container planting, hanging baskets, perennial border Propagation - cuttings Comments - Low maintenance  Pests - pest...

Tagetes tenuifolia (tagetes)

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Tagetes tenuifolia (Tagetes) http://www.roceco.co.uk/ Pronunciation: tuh-JEE-teez ten-yoo-iff-FOLE-lee-uh Family: Compositae/ Asteraceae Plant type: Annual Zone: 8-11 Origin: North America  …….. Mature size   Height: 1-2 feet   Spread: 1-2 feet Form: dense, roundedd upright Texture: fine Habit: round …….. Leaves Arrangement: opposite, subopposite, odd-pinnately compound Shape:  oblong Size: >2 inches Margin: serrate Characteristics: dull look Colour: green  ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: single flower Colour: orange yellow, golden, bi colored , showy Size: 2-5 cm Time: June-August ……… Stem Colour: green Description: thin ……… Exposure - full sun Preferred soil - tolerates clay, send, acidic, and loam,  Landscape uses - container, above ground planter, edging, border, attracts butterflies, accent plant Propagation - seed Comments - Some flowers can be used as a pleasant cit...

Tagetes erecta (African marigold)

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Tagetes erecta (African marigold) Pronunciation: tuh-JEE-teez ih-RECK-tuh Family: Asteraceae Plant type: Annual Zone: 9 Origin: Africa  …….. Mature size   Height: 20-40cm   Spread: 30-60 cm Form: oval, vertical Texture: medium, fine Habit: stiffly upright …….. Leaves Arrangement: compound, alternate Shape: lanceolate Size: >7cm Margin: serrate Characteristics: soft flexible, glabrous, odd pinnate, cuspidate, attenuate Colour: green ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: head, capitulum Colour: yellow, orange, showy Size: >15 cm Time: May, June, July, August, September, October ……… Stem Colour: green Description: herbaceous ……… Fruit type: achene Colour: insignificant Time: August, September  ……… Exposure - full sun Preferred soil - well drained  Landscape uses - attract beneficial inseccts, bedding plant, summer interest, mass plant Propagation - seed Comments high m...

Tagetes patula (French marigold)

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Tagetes patula (French marigold) Pronunciation: tuh-JEE-teez PAT-you-luh Family: Asteraceae Plant type: Annual Zone: 9 Origin: South Africa  …….. Mature size   Height: 10-20 cm   Spread: 10-30 cm Form: oval, vertical Texture: medium, fine Habit: stiffly upright …….. Leaves Arrangement: compound, alternate, basal Shape: linear/ovate Size: 3 cm individual leaf, 10 cm long compound Margin: serrate Characteristics: narrow and toothed leaflets Colour: green ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: capitulum, head Colour: showy, yellow, orange Size: >5 cm Time: May, June, July, August, September, October ……… Stem Colour: green Description: herbaceous ……… Fruit type: cypselia (achene + calyx) Colour: brown, black, insignificant Time: October, November ……… Exposure - full sun Preferred soil - well drained Landscape uses - attract beneficial insects, bedding plants, fragrance, mass planting Propaga...

Lobularia maritima (sweet alyssum)

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Lobularia maritima  (Sweet Alyssum) Pronunciation: lob-you-LAIR-ee-uh muh-RIT-ih-muh   Family: Brassicaceae Plant type: Annual Zone: 7 Origin: Mediterranean, Canary Islands …….. Mature size   Height: 10-20 cm   Spread: 10-30 cm Form: mounded Texture: fine Habit: dense …….. Leaves Arrangement: alternate, simple Shape: elliptic, lanceolate, oblanceolate Size: 1-4cm long x 3-5 mm wide Margin: entire Characteristics: pinnate venation, soft flexible, pubescent, acute, rounded Colour: green, silver, grayish, grey green, yellow ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: corym like, raceme Colour: showy, white, violet, pink Size: >7.2 mm Time: May, June, July, August, Sept, October ……… Stem Colour: green Description: herbaceous ……… Fruit type: silicle Colour: brown Time: June, July, August, September, October ……… Exposure -  full sun, part sun/shade Preferred soil -  well drained Landscape use...

Lobelia erinus (lobelia)

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Lobelia erinus (Lobelia) Pronunciation: loe-BEEL-yuh ur-EYE-nus   Family: Campanulaceae Plant type: annual Zone: 10 Origin: Garden …….. Mature size   Height: 10-20 cm   Spread: 10-30 cm Form: mounded Texture: medium - fine Habit: Dense, Spreading …….. Leaves Arrangement: simple alternate Shape: linear, obovate Size: 5-6 cm Margin: serrate Characteristics: attenuate, soft flexible, glabrous, acuminate, rounded Colour: green, bronze ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: raceme Colour: showy, white, violet, blue, pink Size: 1-2 cm Time: June, July, August, September ……… Stem Colour: green, bronze  Description: herbaceouse ……… Fruit type: insignificant Colour: brown Time: October ……… Exposure - full sun, part sun/shade Preferred soil - well drained Landscape uses - bedding plant, container planting, summer interest Propagation - seed Comments - need daily watering in hot months Pest...

Pelargonium x domesticum (regal geraniums)

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Pelargonium x domesticum (Regal Geraniums) Pronunciation: pell-are-GOE-nee-um ex doe-MESS-tih-kum Family: Geraniaceae Plant type: Annual, Flowering pot plant Zone: 10 Origin: Africa …….. Mature size   Height: 40-70 cm   Spread: 60-100 cm Form: Oval, vertical Texture: medium Habit: upright …….. Leaves Arrangement: lobed, simple, alternate Shape: ovate Size: 7cm wide x 13 cm long Margin: incised Characteristics: soft flexible, distinctive smell, acute Colour: green ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: flowers solitary Colour: showy, white, violet, pink, red, dark red, magenta Size: >7.5 cm Time: May, June, July, August, September ……… Stem Colour: green Description: smooth, herbaceous ……… Fruit type: insignificant Colour: brown Time: October ……… Exposure - Full sun Preferred soil - well drained Landscape uses - Bedding plant, container planting, indoor plant Propagation - stem tip cutting...

Pelargonium x hortorum (geranium)

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Pelargonium x hortorum (Geranium)  Pronunciation: pell-are-GOE-nee-um x hor-TOR-um Family: Geraniaceae Plant type: Annual Zone: 10 Origin: Africa, Garden origin  …….. Mature size   Height: .7-1.3 m   Spread: .6-1 m Form: round Texture: medium Habit: dense …….. Leaves Arrangement: simple, alternate Shape: orbicular Size: >15 cm Margin: crenate, pinnately lobed Characteristics: Colour: green, dark green ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: floriferous, umbel Colour: showy, white, violet, orange, pink, red Size: 3.5-4 cm Time: June, July, August ……… Stem Colour: green brown Description: herbaceous, smooth ……… Fruit type: insignificant Colour: brown Time: September, October ……… Exposure - full sun, part sun/shade Preferred soil - well drained Landscape uses - bedding plant, container planting, hanging basket Propagation - seed, softwood cuttings Comments - great for hanging bas...

Calibrachoa x hybrid (mini petunia)

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Calibrachoa x hybrid (mini petunia) Pronunciation: kal-ih-bruh-KOE-uh x HIB-rih-duh   Family: Soanaceae Plant type: Annual Zone: 9 Origin: Garden origin, South America …….. Mature size   Height: 10-20 cm   Spread: 30-60 cm Form: Creeping, mat-like Texture: medium fine Habit: spreading …….. Leaves Arrangement: simple, opposite Shape: ovate Size:  Margin: Entire Characteristics: Soft flexible, pubescent, acute, attenuate Colour: Green, yellow ……… Flowers Inflorescence type: floriferous, solitary Colour: showy, white, violet, yellow, orange, pink, purple, red Size: 1.8-2.3 cm Time: May - October ……… Stem Colour: green Description: herbaciouse ……… Fruit type: aborted, hybrid, or absent Colour: not showy Time: insignificant, November ……… Exposure - full sun Preferred soil - well drained Landscape uses - Container planting, hanging basket, summer interest Propagation - seed C...