Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
1/28/02
Contacts:
James Romer, Horticulture, (515) 294-2336, jromer@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden Column for the Week Beginning January 28, 2002
More Dr. Grow-It-All
By James Romer
Extension Program Specialist
Iowa State University
Dear Dr. Grow-It-All,
This past growing season it seemed as if all my neighbors planted red
geraniums and yellow marigolds. Don't get me wrong, red geraniums and
yellow marigolds are attractive plants. In fact, my favorite college team
has the same colors. However, these overused annuals fail to excite me
as they have in the past. Is the magic gone? Have I lost my passion for
plants?
Desperate in Deep River
Dear Desperate,
Don't give up hope. Eight new flower cultivars were chosen as 2002 All-America
Selection (AAS) Award Winners. To receive this award, each selection must
possess unique or improved characteristics compared to existing cultivars.
The large number of award winners makes this year a great time to try
some new flower cultivars. Below are brief descriptions of this year's
winners. Hopefully they will help put the magic back into your garden
beds.
Geranium 'Black Magic Rose'
The distinctive feature of 'Black Magic Rose' is its unique foliage. Each
leaf has a chocolate brown center with a green edge -- the brown color
is most pronounced in the cool weather of spring and late summer. The
dark foliage serves as a backdrop to rose-colored flowers. Plants grow
approximately 10 to 14 inches tall and 14 to 18 inches wide. It performs
best in partial to full sun and moist, well-drained soils. It can be grown
in beds, borders, and containers.
Vinca 'Jaio Scarlet Eye'
This vinca, or rose periwinkle, has vibrant rose-scarlet flowers with
small white eyes. The 2-inch flowers cover the plants from late spring
to frost. Plants commonly grow 12 inches tall with a spread of 6 to 8
inches. Vincas perform best in full sun. They possess excellent heat and
drought tolerance and dislike wet, poorly drained sites. Plant in beds,
borders, and containers.
Cleome 'Sparkler Blush'
If you're looking for a smaller cleome that provides a good show of color
all season long, this cultivar is for you. 'Sparkler Blush' is the first
hybrid dwarf cleome with a height and width of approximately 3 feet. Plants
produce clusters of pink and white flowers. Gardeners with limited garden
space will find it easier to incorporate into beds and borders. 'Sparkler
Blush' is heat and drought tolerant performing best in sunny, fertile
locations.
Ornamental Pepper 'Chilly Chili'
'Chilly Chili' is an ornamental pepper with a "family friendly"
fruit. As the cultivar name suggests, the fruit of 'Chilly Chili' are
not hot, making this ornamental pepper perfect for households with inquisitive
young children. The 2-inch peppers mature from yellow to orange to red.
Plants grow about 12 inches tall with a spread of 6-12 inches.
Pansy 'Ultima Morpho'
Named after the Morpho butterfly with the same colors, 'Ultima Morpho'
possesses blue and yellow bicolored flowers. Plants grow 5 to 8 inches
tall and can spread 5 to 10 inches wide. Most pansies perform best in
cool weather so they should be planted in early spring or late summer.
The best planting sites contain moist, well-drained soils in partial sun.
'Ultima Morpho' can be used in beds, borders, and containers.
Petunia 'Lavender Wave'
'Lavender Wave' is the latest in the Wave Series. Like other members in
the series, it has a trailing, ground cover habit with a profusion of
blooms similar to 1992 AAS selection 'Purple Wave.' When planted in full
sun, 'Lavender Wave' spreads 3 or more feet and reaches a height of only
4 to 6 inches. Wave petunias don't require pinching or deadheading. They're
also heat and drought tolerant. Its spreading habit makes 'Lavender Wave'
an excellent annual groundcover. It can also be planted in containers.
Petunia 'Tidal Wave Silver'
In trials across North America, 'Tidal Wave Silver' received rave reviews.
The silvery white blooms have a dark purple center and provide season
long color. If spaced 6 inches apart, plants may grow 18 to 24 inches
tall. Widely spaced plants (18 to 24 inches apart) develop into a spreading
ground cover that may grow 8 to 12 inches tall with a spread of three
feet or more. 'Tidal Wave Silver' blooms continuously through the summer
without the need to pinch or deadhead. Petunias perform best in partial
to full sun in well-drained soils. It grws best as a groundcover or planted
in hanging baskets or other containers.
Rudbeckia 'Cherokee Sunset'
This AAS award winner produces semi-double to double flowers in shades
of yellow, orange, bronze and mahogany. Some flowers may be single. The
3 to 4 inch flowers are produced on 24 to 30 inch tall plants. Consistent
flowering has been noted on these full sun-loving plants. Plants may over
winter in northern gardens.
-30-
ml: isugarden
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