Cait's Garden

I bragged on Centranthus ruber ‘Pretty Betsy’  a couple years back, but this plant reminds me every year how fabulous it is. I really can’t understand why it is so difficult to find this in the store. It should be sold everywhere along with coneflowers and tall phlox.  I got mine years ago through mail order, although I have seen it once or twice since in the stores. The particulars: Hardy to Zone 4, 3 feet tall and wide, lovely branching form with bluish-green oblong leaves, cherry red flowers from May through August (which are more plentiful if you deadhead regularly), good for cut flowers. It is supposed to spread by seed, but I haven’t been that lucky yet. As you can see, it is blooming now. About the only thing it doesn’t have is scent. And the bees don’t like it for some reason. (Perhaps it makes them sleepy?) But overall, wow, one of the most reliable, knockout gorgeous plants I own.

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I have had quite a few experiences over the years with mail-order plants. Some of them started out rough. Shipping can take its toll on tiny seedlings. A few plants have arrived looking sad and broken and died shortly after arrival. On the plus side, all the companies I’ve ordered from have sent me replacement plants if needed (sometimes those died, too, but I appreciate the effort). I try not to order often through mail-order because so many varieties of plants can now be found in local stores. However, I do usually indulge in one small box per year when I see unusual plants. My favorite vendor is Bluestone Perennials because they get better at packing every year. They’ve gone from biodegradable peanuts in the box to this truly innovative system of using cardboard restraints to keep the plants in place while letting them breathe. As you can see from the photo, these pots aren’t going anywhere. Plus this year, the plants ship in biodegradable pots made from coconut husk fibers (coir) . This not only allows the little seedling to “breathe” better, but you plant the whole pot! This reduces stress to the roots of the plant and gives it some compost, too. Excellent plan. I’m excited to see how it works.

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At a time when traditional lilacs have finished blooming, the Dwarf Korean Lilacs are just beginning to bloom, making them a great way for lilac lovers to extend their season of happiness. As you can see from the photo, the fullness and compact size of the shrubs (the ones shown are at full height and are actually three shrubs grown in close proximity) make them a perfect addition to landscaping near the house. To keep them tidy, just be sure to shear back up to a foot each year (depending on the height you want to maintain) after they bloom. Another great thing about this shrub is that the flowers are everywhere, from top to bottom. And they are reliably that way year after year. Simply awesome blossom coverage. And their smell is particularly sweet, their petals particularly dainty. If you want a low maintenance, reliably flowering shrub, you really can’t go wrong with this one.

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