Green Lake Nursery

Green Lake Nursery has a nice assortment of cheddar/spice pink type dianthus, each very similar, yet each a little different.

The basic growing requirements are the same. They like loose well-drained slightly alkaline soil. Full sun with afternoon shade is preferred in north Texas.  More lush foliage occur in the cooler months. Regular watering is needed during prolonged dry spells. Place mulch around the roots in the summer to keep roots cool and soil from drying.

General appearances are very similar. Evergreen mounds of narrow, glaucous leaves form tufts that grow anywhere from 3-6” tall with vertical bloom stalks adding another 4-5”.  Mounds can spread 6-8”.

Heaviest blooms occur late in winter and in early spring. Sporadic blooms occur throughout the year. The blooms are mostly 1-1.5” across, and make good cut flowers. Depending on the variety, flowers can be double, semi-double, or single, singles bearing five delicate petals. Most have fringed edges and a delectable spicy clove scent.

The term “pink” comes from the verb “to pink” as in the fringed pattern made when using pinking shears. The word dianthus is of Greek origin. Dios means god and anthos means flower…flowers of the gods.  A fitting description for such well loved flowers.

Bath’s Pink is single with delicate pale pink fringed petals. Named after Jane Bath of Stone Mt, Georgia.

Cranberry Ice is single, fringed with cranberry pink petals topped by  pale pink patches, some patches resemble hearts.

Eastern Star is single, slightly fringed raspberry red with a raisin red center halo.

Fire Star is single slightly fringed, red with crimson red center.

Firewitch has single fringed hot pink petals. 2006 Perennial of the Year.

Passion is double flowered, deep velvet red.

Neon Star is single fringed magenta-pink.

Roshish One is semi-double, dark rose with delicate white edges.

Starlette is double petaled, fringed magenta with deep burgundy center.

Tickled Pink is a double with lavender pink slightly fringed petals.

Wicked Witch is single fringed cherry red. A mutation of Firewitch, just a deeper more intense color

Erysimum Citrona Orange  and Citrona Yellow

Okay, we all know that pansies rule for cool season color in north Texas, but how about the other cool season plants that go along with the pansies??  You know the usual line-up, snapdragons, dianthus, alyssum….

Well, it is time to welcome a new member to the cool season ensemble. Let me introduce you to a member of the cabbage family,  Erysimum ‘Citrona Orange’ and  E. ‘Citrona Yellow’, or otherwise known by friends and acquaintances as Wallflower.

E. “Citrona” is evergreen and produces bright orange or bright yellow flowers that are super fragrant. They will grow to around 15”- 18” tall and wide. Full sun is best, but  part sun is tolerated.  Erysimum is not picky about soil, just as long as it is well drained.

Plant in the fall or early spring. Trim back if damaged by the cold. The foliage will quickly regenerate and blooms will soon recur, giving you fantastic color through March and April.

Come on, North Texas gardeners, Don’t be shy, introduce Erysimum Citrona Orange and/or E. Citrona Yellow to your next cool season line-up.

Copper Canyon Daisy

Tough, and tenacious, qualities that define this native Texan.

T. lemmonii was discovered by husband – wife team, Sara and John Lemmon, pioneer botanists and avid plant collectors.

Late October till hard frost, sometimes, even into December, depending on the winter, T. lemmonii produces bright, one inch, golden daisies that will illuminate the heart and soul of autumnal landscapes. Shortened day lengths initiate flower development.

It has lacey leaves which are packed full of aromatic oils.  When brushed, the pungent fragrance will explode and fill  the air.

Tagetes lemmonii becomes quite large.  It will fill a space, up to 5’ across and tall, creating a sprawling mound that defies sun, heat and drought. Areas of high reflective heat are no problem for this plant.

Butterflies are attracted to the flowers.  Deer and rabbits stay away and will not browse the strongly scented foliage.

Copper Canyon daisy needs well drained soil and a sunny location.  Other than that, this is a carefree, easy plant to grow that stands up to any north Texas weather.

Mexican Mint Marigold

Lazy gardeners, here is a plant for you….Tagetes lucida, or Mexican Mint Marigold. It is hardy, low maintenance, aesthetically pleasing and also useful in other ways besides landscaping.

As for hardiness, it will grow in most soils, even poor soils, as long as they are well drained. Once established, it is heat and drought tolerant. Insects are no problem, they stay away from the aromatic leaves.

Virtually maintenance free, T. lucida requires full sun  and  little water once established. To maintain an attractive appearance, shear back in late spring for a tighter and more compact form. It goes dormant in winter, but comes back every spring.

Pretty dime sized orange daisies top the very vertical, upright branches in October. The bright green, foliage is linear with serrated edges. The plant will grow to about 2-3’tall and wide.

Tagetes lucida is useful in cooking.  The leaves can be used as a substitute for tarragon. Keep in mind, the leaves have a more intense anise flavor, so use judiciously.

Finally, but not recommended, Mexican mint marigold is used in some cultures for its psychoactive properties when smoked. Mild euphoria and closed-eye-images are experienced by the user.

Lazy gardeners, impress your friends, add some spice and color to your garden. You can grow Tagetes lucida with ease.

Kick back and relax……

zzz

Gulf Muhly Grass

Gulf Muhly is a lovely and durable native Texas grass.

Its fine textured gray green foliage has a stiff upright habit. It grows about two to three feet tall and wide.

Beautiful billowy plumes that look like pink smoke hang softly above the foliage. Bloom time is usually from the end of September through October in north Texas.

Gulf Muhly grows in full sun and will adapt to drought as well as moist conditions.

The genus name is derived from German botanist G.H.E.

Muhlenberg who found it growing in sandy coastal  areas as well as in upland areas.

Highly ornamental and very durable, Muhlenbergia capillaris has become a north Texas favorite.

Flame Acanthus or Hummingbird Bush

 Hummingbird lovers take heed, Anisacanthus quadrifidus ‘Wrightii’ is a must for your landscape. Flames of red orange tubular flowers, about 1” long, bloom from August through October.  Hummers and butterflies are guaranteed to come and partake of the late summer nectar.

Being a tough Texas native, hummingbird bush does well in the heat and sun, and it even grows well in poor soils (as long as they are well drained).

Once established it is very drought tolerant and can live on rainfall.

Small shiny lanceolate leaves line woody upward shooting stems. Cutting stems back to the ground in spring will create a more compact and dense shrub.  Anisacanthus q. is deciduous and grows to about 3’ wide and 3’ tall.

The hummingbirds love it and the deer avoid it.

Help keep the hummingbird population growing and plant their namesake bush.

Cheilanthes sinuata or Astrolepis sinuata

Wavy Cloak fern does not fit the norm when it comes to what one perceives a fern to be.  The fact that it makes its home in the Big Bend regions of west Texas and at the same time can be cultivated in the lovely gardens of north Texas is reason enough for local gardeners to question the quirky qualities of this unique fern.

Wavy Cloak grows in the dry rocky alkaline soils of the Big Bend. The roots are shaded by rocks while the fronds stand out in the sun. Plenty of good air circulation and dry feet in the winter are necessary for successful growth.

Unique to Wavy Cloak are the starburst-like scales on the upper surface of the fronds (seen with magnification) and the light tan colored hairy scales on the underside.

It can grow to about 12”- 18” tall and to about 12” wide. Deer and rodents avoid dining upon the coarse and scaly fronds.

Wavy Cloak will grow well in north Texas landscapes, even with regular irrigation, keeping in mind the soil must be well drained, especially in the winter months. Part to full sun is also needed.

This unique native Texan is well worth a try in the north Texas landscape.

Coneflower

Coneflowers appear to be rosy pink sombreros on parade in the perennial garden.  The sturdy long lasting sweetly scented blooms are perched upon 2’ tall stems that emerge in summer from 6” tall clumps of foliage.

The spiny orange, cone-like centers can be dried and used in flower arrangements and wreaths.

Butterflies and hummingbirds can be seen darting about, attracted to the yummy nectar of the cone creating a kaleidoscope of garden colors and movement.

This mainstay of the north Texas garden can tolerate poor soils and drought conditions. Coneflowers do well in full or part-sun.

Green Lake grows the traditional rosy pink ‘Magnus” and the lovely creamy white variety called ‘ White Swan’

Include This In Your Parade of Perennials

 

 

Skeletonleaf Goldeneye

V. stenoloba is native to the dry rocky Chihuahuan desert of Texas and New Mexico.  In north Texas landscapes it can be used individually or in mass plantings as a tall groundcover.

Skeletonleaf Goldeneye is a densely branched rounded sub-shrub with single golden daisy-like flowers on naked stems. Blooms usually appear from June to October. The leaves are finely cut and coarse.

Butterflies and bees are attracted to the nectar, while deer tend to avoid this plant.

V. stenoloba is very drought tolerant once established, however in the landscape, occasional watering enhances its beauty.  Cut the spent flowers to promote more blooms, also, periodically cut entire plant back for a tighter more attractive appearance.

Requirements are well drained soil and a sunny to partly sunny location.  Allow a planting space of 2’-3’ across and 2’-4’ high.

A True Native Texan

Born and Raised in the

Lone Star State

 

Feather Top Grass

Native to Africa, naturalized in Texas and southwestern U. S.,   Feather Top grass is noted for its spectacular feather-like flower plumes.  Soft, creamy-white flowers can reach up to five inches long. The lovely plumes make great cut flowers, either fresh or dried.

Leaves of light green form densely tufted clumps up to eighteen inches tall, twenty four inches tall with plumes. Hardy to about ten degrees, Pennisetum villosum goes dormant in north Texas.  It readily self sows if seed heads are left to ripen and are not trimmed back.

Feather Top grass is relatively carefree, all it requires is full sun, well drained soil and a cutback as new growth emerges in spring.

Fluff up your landscape with some Feathertop