Shannon's Garden

Hardy to: 9a

Plant Height: 6-8'

Spacing: 2-3'

Sun Preference: Part Shade to Full Sun

Flower Color: Burnt Red, Rose, Pink, Salmon

This was another flower I was attracted to in my search for climbers. The package had pink flowers... how could I resist. Unfortunately the species names were not given so I will attempt to identify after they bloom.

Unique mix of shades for Black-eyed susan vine, including burnt red, rose, pink and salmon. Begins blooming just 6 weeks after sowing and continues for 6 months. (from package)

Perennial climber, grown as an annual, with opposite, oval to rounded leaves and trumpet-shaped yellow, orange or white flowers with almost black centers. Great used in containers, trained on trellises, or in hanging baskets. source

a possible identification on Dave's Garden

Sunflowers

Helianthus annus

Variety:

mixed

Plant Height: 4.5-11'

Spacing: 18-24"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Yellow, Red, Mixed

Self-Sowing

Salvia

Varieties:

St. John's Fire (Salvia splendens)

Blue Bedder (Salvia farinacea)

Blue Bedder

Hardy to: 7b(DG) 8(BG)

Plant Height: 30"

Spacing: 8-12"

Sun Preference: Part to Full Sun

Flower Color: Blue Purple

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

St. John's Fire

Hardy to: 5(BG) n/a(DG)

Plant Height: 12"

Spacing: 8-12"

Sun Preference: Part to Full Sun

Flower Color: Red

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

This is an upright, bushy perennial that is usually treated as an annual. Grows up to 12" tall and wide. Leaves are oval, serrulate, pubescent, light to deep green, up to 3" long. Widely grown for its dense, terminal spiked, brilliant red flowers that are tubular in form and encased in bracts of the same color. 'St. John's Fire' blooms early in the summer and continues until frost. Outstanding for mass plantings, borders, or containers. Thrives in full sun. Heat and drought tolerant. source

Blue Bedder:

Fast growing perennial, up to 30" tall. Leaves are whitish gray to medium green, lance shaped and 3" long. Valued for its dense, long lasting, blue-lipped flower spikes that grow to 12" tall. Outstanding in mass plantings, borders or containers. Thrives in full sun in well drained soil. A welcomed blue addition that blends or complements just about any color in the border. source

Dave's Garden info

Blue Bedder

St. John's Fire

Nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus

Varieties:

Alaska

Tall Trailing Mix

Jewel Mix

pictures

Alaska

Hardy to: 10b(DG) 11(BG)

Plant Height: 6-12"

Spacing: 6-9"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Red, Yellow, Orange

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

Jewel

Hardy to: 9a(BG) 11(BG)

Plant Height: 12"

Spacing: 12"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Red, Yellow, Orange

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

Heavenly Blue
Pearly Gates
Flying Saucers

Tall Trailing

Plant Height: 12-15"

Spacing: 6-8"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Red, Yellow, Orange

Jewel Series are dwarf, busy annuals producing semi-double and double yellow, pink-orange, scarlet or crimson flowers. Flowers are sometimes covered by leaves. Derived from Majus, which is a strong-growing, annual climber with rounded to kidney-shaped, wavey-margined, light green leaves. Produces long-spurred, red, orange or yellow flowers. This is an excellent plant for an herb garden border or trained to climb up trellises or fences. sources

Alaska Series are dwarf, bushy annuals with light green leaves, speckled and marked creamy white. Produces single flowers in shades of yellow, orange, mahogany or cream. In general, derived from Majus. Majus is a strong-growing, annual climber with rounded to kidney-shaped, wavy-margined, light green leaves. Produces long-spurred, red, orange or yellow flowers. This is an excellent plant for an herb garden border or trained to climb up trellises or fences. source

Notes: To aid germination rub seed with a nail file.

Dave's Garden info

Jewel mix

Alaska mix

Morning Glories

Ipomoea tricolor
Varieties:

Flying Saucers

Hardy to: 3a (DG) 10 (BG)

Plant Height: 15-20'(DG) 10-12'(BG) 8-10'(package)

Spacing: 3-6"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: White/Purple-Blue

Vine/Climber

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

Heavenly Blue

Hardy to: 3a (DG) 10 (BG)

Plant Height: 8-12'

Spacing: 3-6"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Blue/White

Vine/Climber

Self-Sowing

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

Pearly Gates

Hardy to: 3a (DG) 10 (BG)

Plant Height: 8-12'

Spacing: 6-9"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Light Cream

Vine/Climber

Self-Sowing

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

I think I will use the combination of the three as a natural wall in my yard to give our backyard area a little more privacy.

Ipomoea is a group of perennial or annual vines as well as evergreen
shrubs and perennials. The vines require support, full sun and humus
rich soil. They are frost tender at 45-50F. Red spider mite and
whitefly can occasionally cause problems. Can be propagated by spring
seed or summer cuttings. They are not related to Convolvus arvensis
the hard to eradicate vine also known as Morning Glory or Bindweed.

I.tricolor, syn.I.rubocaerulea an annual or short lived perennial
flowers in bright sky-blue to purple blooms and white centers in a
funnel shape on egg-to heart-shaped leaves. Mainly in the summer, the
blooms are produced in cymes of 2 to 5 and are 3/4 inches across.
'Flying Saucer' blooms in marbled white, purple-blue flowers. source
'Heavenly Blue' blooms in rich blue flowers with white centers. source

Dave's Garden info

Heavenly blue

Flying Saucers

Pearly Gates

Marigolds

Tagetes patula
Variety:

Queen Sophia

Plant Height: 8-10"

Spacing: 3-6"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Russet Red

Marigolds are just a must. My little experience with gardening even let me know marigolds are a natural ant repellent.

Queen Sophia is a French marigold producing double, russet-red
flowerheads with a gold-edged rim on the petals. In general, marigolds
are robust, trouble free plants which branch vigorously. Leaves are
finely divided and dark green, to 4 inches. More compact than African
types. Yellow to rich maroon blooms from early summer until frost.
Single or double blooms, may be bi-colored. Smaller blooms than
African types. Great for edging and containers. Especially useful as a
natural insect repellant in the vegetable or herb garden. Remove spent
flowers to encourage extended bloom period and to keep plants compact. source

Malva

Malva sylvestris zebrina
Variety:

Zebrina

plant

Hardy to: 5a

Plant Height: 36-48"

Spacing: 18-24"

Sun Preference: Part Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: White/Purple

Another plant that I was attracted to the color of the flowers--I love purple. It is only hardy to zone 5 so I am not sure it will be a perennial or an annual in my yard, but I think I will enjoy it this year anyway.

A herbaceous perennial with an erect and bushy growth habit. Depending
on climate, can be biennial. Easy to grow from seed, usually flowering
in the first year, but tends to be short lived. Prefers good drainage,
average soil. Thelavender pink flowers will bloom all summer, often
until first frost. Use in a perrenial or mixed border. source

Cosmos

Cosmos bipinnatus
Variety:

Sensation mixed colors

Plant Height: 3-5'

Spacing: 12-15"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: White, Pink, Red

Self-Sowing

Common cosmos is a tall, bushy annual that originates from Mexico.
Plants have very fine medium to bright green foliage. Throughout the
growing season they bear a profusion of delicate single daisies that
may be white, pink, violet, or crimson. Regular deadheading will
extend the life of these everblooming annuals.
Heat-loving and colorful, common cosmos requires average, well-drained
soil and full sun. All cosmos attract butterflies and are best used in
cutting gardens, mixed borders and wildflower gardens. Members of the
dwarf Sonata series may be grown in containers. source

Cardinal Climber

Ipomoea x multifida

plant

flower

Plant Height: 3-10'

Spacing: 6-9"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Red

Vine/Climber

This will be my first time growing cardinal climber and after rereading the info below, I am not sure if I knicked the seeds, so I may have to start some new seeds...

Deep green, finely-cut feathery foliage and dark stems have a small
but brilliant deep scarlet trumpets for blooms starting in mid-summer.
(from package)

Cardinal climber is a hybrid morning glory with bright red tubular
flowers and large, deeply lobed leaves. It is the result of a cross
between the red star morning glory (Ipoemea coccinea) with cypressvine
(I. quamoclit). The red flowers attract hummingbirds.
Sow the seeds of cardinal climber in a full sun location after the
knicked seeds have soaked in water for 24 hours. Provide average water
and a structure upon which to climb, and the plant will take off.
Flowering continues from late spring until frost. New plants arise
from the previous season's dropped seeds in the same area. source

Imprtant info: They are frost tender at 45-50F. Red spider mite and whitefly can occasionally cause problems. source

Calendula

Calendula officinalis
Varieties:

Pacific Beauty

Plant Height: 12-24"

Spacing: 6-18"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Oranges

Self-Sowing

I have had Calendula growing along the back of my vegetable garden for a few years. It easily self seeds and adds great color. The stems and leaves are sticky.

Cheery yellow or orange, single or double daisy-like blooms 2 inches
to 4 inches across, flower non-stop from late fall through spring in
areas with milder winters. A carefree choice for spring and early
summer color in colder climates. Bright yellow, double, somewhat
branching, leaves are narrow and long, with rounded ends. Long asting
cut flowers. Easily sown directly into soil in late summer or early
fall (milder climates). Will do fine in moist soil, but requires good
drainage. source

Baby's Breath

Gypsophila elegans

Variety:

Covent Garden
pic

Hardy to: 3 (BG) n/a (DG)

Plant Height: 12-18"

Spacing: 12"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: White

BG: Backyard Gardener
DG: Dave's Garden
Zone info

I have yet to decide if I want to plant Baby's Breath this year. The idea of it being short lived really doesn't inspire me...

In general, this short lived annual (only 5-6 weeks) has lance-shaped,
fleshy leaves and single, white, summer to fall blooming flowers. Some
pink selections are available. For continuous color, continue to seed
at 3 to 4 week intervals or as needed for cutting supply. source

Dave's Garden info

Alyssum

Lobularia maritima

Varieties:

Royal Carpet

Carpet of Snow

Maritimum Tall Sweet

Rosie O'Day

Plant Height: 3-5"

Spacing: 3-6"

Sun Preference: Part Shade to Full Sun

Flower Color: White, Pink, Purple

Great as an edging, ground cover, or in containers.

Leaves are lance shaped, 1 inch long. It grows 2-4 inches in height. With its lovely honey fragrance, this delicate, reseeding annual is an excellent choice for borders and containers. Very nice in rock gardens and between flagstones. A perfect companion with pansies, sweet william and parsley in a container. Soil should be well-drained as soggy soil is a sure way to rot. Can be rejuvenated by shearing back: often plants brought home from the nursery have gotten too leggy in their cramped space, or time has taken its toll. Within 4 weeks, plant should be bushy and blooming again. source

Carpet of Snow: Loosely branched and ground hugging clumps of foliage covered with numerous white fragrant flowers from spring through early fall. source

Rosie O'Day: Wide-spreading clumps of foliage covered with numerous rose-pink fragrant flowers from spring through early fall. source

Royal Carpet: Very compact clumps of foliage covered with numerous rich violet fragrant flowers from spring through early fall. source

Dave's Garden info

African Daisy

Osteospermum

Varieties:
Orange Symphony
Melon Symphony
Mixed

Hardy to: 9b

Plant Height: 12"

Spacing: 10"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Yellow, Orange, Apricot

This tender perennial produces a generous crop of showy, daisy-like
flowers which bloom over a long period from late summer through
mid-autumn. Emerging from basal rosettes of green, fleshy, somewhat
spoon-shaped leaves, the blooms feature an outer ring of white to
lavender rays which surround dark, violet-purple central disks.
Hailing from South Africa, this spectacular bloomer prefers full sun,
well-drained soil, and cool to moderate summer temperatures. Avoid
overly-fertile soils, which may cause stems to flop. Regular removal
of spent blossoms encourages heavier flowering. Osteospermum are ideal
border, bedding, and container plants, and look lovely in rock gardens
or cascading over stone retaining walls. Although usually treated as
annuals outside their hardiness zone, they may be wintered indoors in
a cool, bright greenhouse or sunny window. source

African daisy resembles the common daisy and needs only a shallow holder. source