Blanket Flower

Gaillardia common name blanket flower is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae, native to North and South America.  Blank Flower “Gaillardias x grandiflora” is look like large daisies, with bold, bright markings like those of an American Indian blanket, in patterns of red, yellows and gold’s. Mostly grow about 2 ½ feet tall, but there are also dwarf varieties. They bloom in summer over a long period and are a good choice if your climate is hot and dry. Varieties include the mixed colored “Monarch Strain” and solids such as dark red “Burgundy” and Yellow Queen. Multicolored Goblin grows a foot tall.

 

It is resemblance of the inflorescence to the brightly patterned blankets made by Native Americans, or to the ability of wild taxa to blanket the ground with colonies. If you want to grow a permanent long season of bloom, blanket flower is a great choice. The daisy-like flowers are formed from early summer to early fall in a different shades of orange, red and yellow, adding up sizzle to the garden and enticing nectar-seeking butterflies.

The stem is usually branching and erect to a maximum height around 80 centimeters. The leaves are alternately arranged. Some taxa have only basal leaves. They vary in shape. Blank Flower needs to grow in moist humid areas the plants may develop fungus diseases in summer or succumb to rot from winter moisture. Moreover, you need to avoid mulching them and given them light, well drained soil, preferably on the sandy side. Gaillardias can be grown fairly quickly from seed, and will flower the first year. In spring, you watch from new shoots that may appear quite a distance from the original clump. If the center of the clump dies, discard it and replant the side shoots.

Many cultivars have been bred for ornamental use. Thus care of blanket flowers includes planting in a full sun location to keep this fast growing specimen happy. As a native plant to the central United States and Mexico, blanket flower is a heat loving flower are drought tolerant and do not like wet feet from soggy soil. Growing blanket flowers can naturalize in a meadow or field adding hues of color. Easy care of blanket flowers makes them an ideal specimen for many landscape uses.

Viburnum, A Trouble Free Fragrant Flowering Plant

Viburnums are a joy to grow because they are so trouble free and they offer so much. Most bear while flowers in mid or late spring, some of them are very fragrant; these are followed by berries many of which are showy and either red, black or yellow. In addition may have colored foliage I fall, some of it quite striking. Moreover size are varies, so select the right one for the site.

Among the best fragrant viburnums are Burkwood viburnum “Viburnum burkwoodii” whose flowers are cluserts 3 inch pinkish white balls. Fragrant snowball (v. carlcephalum) is same and normally grows to 9 feet. Korean spice viburnum “V. carlesii” is the most fragrant of all, is only 5 feet tall, and its variety Compacta even smaller. All are hardy to zone 5. Southeerners favor sweet viburnum “V. odoratissimum” which normally grows to 10 feet and is hardy to zone 8.

Well, other attractive viburmums include double file viburnum (V. plicatum tomentosum) a tall and broadly spreading shrub with wide flowers clusters atop the branches (in the variety “Mariesi” They are very speciall showy. Linden viburnum “V. dilatatum” has very showy red berries as well as rust red fall foliage and grows to 9 feet. Bothe are hardy to zone 5. Moreover American cranberry bush “V. Irilobum” has flat flower clusters and red berries that are edible. It is hardy to zone 3.

Though not particular viburnums appreciate a good, light, moist loam. They are shallow rooted and appreciate a mulch to keep roots moist and protected in winter. All will tolerate some shade, though full sun produces the best flowers and fruits. Viburnums can be propagated by layering. They rarely need pruning, though old plants can be thinned at the base. Spring blooming species bloom on old wood, so prune the tops only after flowering if needed. Source: CP