Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
12/20/99
Contacts:
Richard Jauron, Horticulture Extension, (515) 294-1871,
rjauron@iastate.edu
Elaine Edwards, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-5168, eedwards@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden Column for the Week Beginning Dec. 24
Award Winning Flowers for 2000
By Richard Jauron
Extension horticulturist
Iowa State University Extension
Many gardeners enjoy leafing through garden catalogs during the winter months looking for new, exciting additions to the landscape. With the wide variety of plant materials available, choosing a few new additions can be difficult. Before making any selections, be sure to check out perennials and annuals given special recognition for the year 2000.
Perennial Plant of the Year
The Perennial Plant Association has chosen Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue' as the "Perennial Plant of the Year" for 2000. The Perennial Plant Association is a national organization of growers, landscape designers, educators and researchers. The goals of the organization are to promote high nursery production standards and the planting of perennials.
Butterfly Blue was selected for its compact growth habit, long bloom season and ease of culture. Butterfly Blue has finely divided, gray-green foliage. Plants produce lavender-blue, two-inch-diameter flowers from late spring to early fall.
Plants in the genus Scabiosa are commonly referred to as pincushion flowers. The common name is derived from the stamens that stick above the flower petals like pins stuck in a pincushion. The scientific name scabiosa is derived from scabies and refers to the plant's purported ability to cure skin irritations.
Pincushion flowers are easy to grow. They perform best in moist, well-drained soils. Avoid wet sites. Plants do not overwinter well in wet soils. Scabiosas bloom best in partial to full sun. They have few insect or disease problems.
Because of its compact size, Butterfly Blue is an excellent border perennial. The lavender-blue flowers attract butterflies and also can be used as cut flowers.
All-America Selections
Since 1933, All-America Selection judges evaluate new flower and vegetable varieties in trials all across North America. Based on their outstanding performance, five flower varieties have been chosen as All-America Selections for 2000.
Cosmos sulphureus 'Cosmic Orange' was selected as an All-America Selection for 2000 because of its compact growth habit and free-blooming, semi-double, orange flowers. Since Cosmic Orange grows about 12 to 20 inches tall, no staking is needed. Plants begin to bloom earlier than most varieties and produce 2-inch flowers. Cosmic Orange performs best in a well-drained soil and full sun. Plants do tolerate dry conditions.
A second AAS winner is Vinca 'Stardust Orchid.' Stardust Orchid produces 2-inch flowers that are pinkish purple with white centers. Plants grow about 1 foot tall and produce glossy, dark green foliage. Like other vincas, Stardust Orchid is heat and drought tolerant. Plants perform best in well-drained soils and full sun. They perform poorly in wet soils and cool weather.
While tithonia or Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) produces attractive, daisy-like flowers, it has never been widely planted because it is tall (the species grows 4 to 6 feet tall) and often breaks over in mid-summer. The third AAS winner, 'Fiesta del Sol,' is a dwarf, 2- to 3-foot variety. The shorter plant height discourages breakage and makes it easier to use the plants in the garden. Fiesta del Sol produces single, bright orange, 3-inch flowers beginning in mid-summer. The large leaves have a velvety texture.
Mexican sunflowers are heat and drought tolerant. They perform best in well-drained soils and full sun. Avoid wet, poorly drained sites. Fiesta del Sol begins to bloom about 12 to 15 weeks after the seeds have been sown. To promote early bloom, buy transplants at a garden center or sow seeds indoors about 6 weeks before the intended outdoor planting date. Since the tithonia prefers warm temperatures, do not transplant outdoors until mid to late May in Iowa.
Sunflowers have become extremely popular in the last few years. 'Soraya' produces 4- to 6-inch-diameter flowers that have orange petals with a dark center. They are excellent cut flowers. Soraya is self-branching, producing up to 20 to 25 stems per plant. Plants ultimately mature to a height of 5 to 6 feet.
Sunflowers are easy to grow. They tolerate hot, dry conditions and grow in almost any soil. Their only requirement is full sun. Since sunflowers are difficult to transplant, sow the seeds directly outdoors in early to mid-May.
The final AAS winner is Dianthus 'Melody Pink.' This heat tolerant variety produces one-inch, single, light pink flowers on 20- to 24-inch-tall plants. An excellent cut flower, Melody Pink produces clusters or sprays of flowers on stems up to 1 foot in length. This annual dianthus performs best in well-drained, slightly alkaline soils.
As you browse through the seed catalogs during the upcoming winter months, be sure to check out these award-winning selections.
ml: isugarden
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