Alyssum

Aurinia saxatilis 'Summit'

Basket of Gold

Plant Height: 6-12"

Spacing: 6-12"

Sun Preference: Full Sun

Flower Color: Gold, Bright Yellow

Hardy to 3a (DG) 2b (BG)

The cultivar 'Compactum' has hairy gray-green leaves to 3 inches long which grow in low, mounded clusters. Flowers grow on stalks above foliage. Produces dense clusters of tiny golden yellow flowers in spring and early summer. Useful as a foreground planting in borders, in rock gardens or along walls. Self-sows readily. Hardy to zone 2b, this perennial should be kept moist until completely established. Average water is needed during the growing season. Fertilize in spring just before new growth begins. Shear back after flowering to shape. Grows to about 6 to 12 inches tall and wide. source

Backyard Gardener info

Daves Garden info

Portulaca

Portulaca grandiflora

picture

I bought this a few years ago and had it in a container.  Last year I noticed it was growing in my vegetable garden.  So I am not sure if it just dropped seeds or if it is actually a perennial.  I will just have to wait and see.

Dave's Garden info

Snow in the Summer

Cerastium Tomentosum

picture

picture

Hardy to: 1(HP) 2a(DG)

Plant Height: 3-8"

Spacing: 6-9"

Sun Preference: Full Sun

Flower Color: White

BG: Backyard Gardener

HP: Heritage Perennials

Zone info

C. tomentosum is a ground coverthatgains its common name from profusion of small, star-shaped, white summer flowers. Leaves are fuzzy, silver and lance-shaped. A quick spreader: if unchecked, can become invasive, so keep away from delicate plants. This is a good plant for filling in large areas where other plants are not wanted. Does well in any light except full shade. source

A very useful groundcover perennial, often grown in dry, sunny areas with poor soil. Plants form a low, fast-spreading mat of silvery-grey leaves, studded with tiny white star flowers in late spring and early summer. An indestructible choice for difficult sites, but be sure to plant this where its spreading habit will not become a problem. Beautiful spilling over rock walls or on steep sunny slopes, used as a lawn substitute. Also grows well in tubs or mixed containers. Easily divided in spring or fall. Plants should be clipped hard or mowed (to 2 inches) after blooming to maintain a tidy habit. source

Dave's Garden info

Viola

Viola cornuta

Hardy to:             4a(DG) 7(BG)

Plant Height:      4-6"

Spacing:               3-6"

Sun Preference:  Part Shade to Part Sun

BG:  Backyard Gardener

DG:  Dave's Garden

Zone info

I always loved finding the 'Johnny Jump-Ups' in yards and I loved their many colored faces.  I bought a package a few years ago wanting these childhood favorite in my newly made flower beds.  The package said they were annuals but I was suprised to see them come back the next year and spreading.  They have spread through my southeast bed and into my northeast bed.  I even saw a few in my vegetable garden (on the otherside of the house).  If I remember correctly they bloomed last year, which is contrary to what I read somewhere (that they may come back but they will not bloom) so I will see if they bloom this year as well.

V.cornuta, an evergreen perennial with stems that are ascending with

egg-shaped leaves to 2 inches long. Slightly scented, violet to

lilac-blue flowers bloom from spring to summer, with white markings on

the lower petals and spurs to 1/2 inch long.  source

Dave's Garden info

Wooly Thyme

Thymus pseudolanuginosus

Hardy to:             2(HP) 4b(DG)

Plant Height:      1-2"

Spacing:               6-9"

Sun Preference:  Part Shade to Full Sun

Flower Color:     Light Pink

HP:  Heritage Perennials

DG:  Dave's Garden

Zone info

I bought this ground cover last year and totally forgot about it, I never even planted it in the ground but just had it sitting by my other containers in the garden.  I was shocked to find it this spring and see that it was actually growing.  Dave's Garden says it is hardy to -25F (zone 4b) whereas Fine Gardening says it is only hardy to zone 5.  But it survived -30F over the winter here, but maybe the snow that engulfed it helped to insulate. 

One of the best Creeping Thymes for general groundcover purposes. This

is a low, creeping species with fuzzy grey-green foliage, occasionally

producing soft-pink flowers. A strong grower, ideal as a

drought-tolerant lawn substitute or for planting between flagstones,

tolerating moderate foot traffic. Woolly Thyme is easily divided in

spring or early fall, and even small pieces will take root and grow.

Evergreen.  source

Noteworthy characteristics: Woolly thyme thrives in any dry,

well-drained spot. Patios, walks, rock gardens, stone walls, and pond

borders all benefit from the creeping, cascading habit of woolly

thyme. It also spills gracefully over stone walls and can be grown

between pavers.  picture

Care: Provide well-drained, average, neutral to alkaline soil in full

sun. It will rot in moist soils. Cut back when needed to maintain

appearance.

Propagation: Divide in spring or fall, or sow seed in spring. Thymes

are slow to germinate and hybridize regularly.

Problems: Gray mold, root rot.

source

Dave's Garden info

Tulips

Tulipa Darwin Hybrids

Varieties:

Design Impressions

unknown

Hardy to:             4a

Plant Height:      18-24"

Spacing:               6-9"

Sun Preference:  Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color:     Pink

Zone info

This is one of my favorite flowers from my childhood.  I have a few on the south side of my house, but they don't tend to do very well.  They have been in the ground for a long time but they do produce flowers each year, but they just wither up.  I am not sure as to why, whether they are old and worn out or whether they get baked by the sun and side of the house.  I am going to try to water them well this spring to see if they will actually bloom and then I will dig them up and see if there are any small bulbs I can plant elsewhere.  

The tulips I bought a few years ago and have near the front door are beautiful however and are growing well.

The tulip has been the favored spring bulb for centuries. Thriving where summers are dry and winters are cold, this bulb is treated as an annual where summers are hot and long. A genus with around 100 species, tulips are divided into 15 distinguishing divisions. Best planted in large drifts, tulips can be used in rock gardens, containers, overplantings above perennials, forced indoors, and as a cut flower. Make your selections according to what zone you live in. Largest selections are available for USDA zones 4 through 6, fewer for USDA zones 7 through 8.  Plant between 8 and 4 inches deep in early fall in USDA zones 4 through 8 or late winter in USDA zones 9 and 10. If you live in an area where your tulips will be perennial (zones 4 through 6 and sometimes 7), work bonemeal or bulb booster into or around planting hole per label directions. While growing, water periodically and fertilize with a liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks. Once flowering is complete, remove spent flowers and allow foliage to yellow and wither for 6 weeks prior to cutting back foliage. Greigii and Kaufmanniana Group tulips may remain in the ground for several years, where other groups may be removed annually and stored in a warm, dry place. Replant the largest bulbs the following year, allowing smaller bulbs to grow out in nurse beds.  source

The Plant Expert

Dave's Garden info

Design Impressions on 4/22/09

One of my unknowns on 4/22/09

A group of unknowns (the same as the right group on the top picture)

Shasta Daisy

Leucanthemum superbum

Variety:

Alaska

seeds

Hardy to: 4a(DG) 5(BG)

Plant Height: 24-36"

Spacing: 12-24"

Sun Preference: Dappled to Full Sun

Flower Color: White

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

Zone info

'Alaska' bears single, white, 2 inch diameter flowers. Often sold as Chrysanthemum maxiumum. Clump-forming perennial with fleshy, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves. Single, snow white flower petals ( 2 to 4 inches across) and gold centers begin blooming in May, with largest show around early June, then continue sporadically until frost. Flower stalks are 2 to 4 feet tall making these splendid in borders. Shasta Daisies make excellent cut flowers, as they are long lasting ( most Chrysanthemums are). Tolerant of many soils, but do require water in hot, sunny climates. Divide clumps every 2 years or establish plants from seed. Grow Shasta daisies if you love to share plants with your friends. You'll all have plenty within 3 years! Remove and discard spent flowers to prolong bloom period. source

Dave's Garden info

Lily of the Valley

Convallaria majalis

Lily of the Valley

Hardy to:             2

Plant Height:      6-9"

Spacing:               6-12"

Sun Preference:  Shade to Sun

Flower Color:     White

Zone info

Photo on 4/22/09

This is a new one I got and planted this week. I have one bed in the front of my house that is primarily in the shade, although it gets a bit of morning sun. Here is some good info I found:

A slow but aggressive spreader, Lily of the Valley will tolerate dry conditions but after blooming the foliage will die back. Constant moisture will keep the plants green throughout the growing season. They prefer shade and will grow in most soil types. Fragrant bell shaped flowers are followed by glossy red berries.

Transplanting is easy - dig the roots up at any time and cover with a couple inches of soil - keep moist until established then spend the rest of your time trying to beat it back. Once established it is hard to get rid of. The smallest piece of root will start the cycle all over.

Requirements:

Soil Type - Sandy loam to clay soils
Soil ph - neutral to slightly acidic
Water - moist to dry
Light - Full Shade to full sun

Characteristics: Height - 6 in.
Time of bloom - May
Flower colors - White
Propagation - division
Transplants - easily  source

Gardening-Tips-Perennials info

Backyard Gardener info

Poppies

Papaver orientale

pictures

Hardy to:             2a (DG) 4 (BG)

Plant Height:      18-36"

Spacing:               18-24"

Sun Preference:  Part Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color:     Red

BG:  Backyard Gardener

DG:  Dave's Garden

Zone info

I had a few Poppies that have been growing near the front door for a few years that must have blown in from around town.  I have always loved them so I bought a package and sprinkled more seed near the others as well as along the south side of the house.  And once again the package didn't have the scientific name, so I will have to wait for them to bloom to determine what they are.

A huge crinkled silk-like red flower with a blue-black petal base (from the pakage)

A hardy perennial in cooler areas, this plant is usually short-lived or even treated as an annual in climates where winters are warm. Early spring flowers sit atop stiff, hairy stems and coarse divided leaves. By mid-summer, plant has dwindled and gone dormant, only to reappear with new foliage in the fall. Flowers are bold and bright in shades of pink, red, white and orange.  source

Daffodil

Narcissus

Variety:

Salome

Hardy to:             3a

Plant Height:      12-18"

Spacing:               3-9"

Sun Preference:  Part Shade to Sun

Flower Color:     Cream/Apricot

Naturalizes Well

Zone info

The Plant Expert has fabulous information on daffodils, tulips, and more.  It takes you through the different divisions of them with great explanations so it is easy to identify flowers with many pictures too.  I was able to positively identify both the tulip variety I had as well as the daffodils since the packaging was confusing.

The Plant Expert Salome Daffodils

A yellow daffodil with a long trumpet. The solitary blooms appear on leafless stems. Basal leaves are green and usually strap-shaped. Daffodils are excellent for naturalizing along wood's edge, or as an underplanting in the perennial border or ground cover bed. Planting depth is roughly 3 times the width of the bulb. If planted in well drained soil, daffodils are virtually disease and trouble free. Once finished flowering, allow foliage to flop over and dry out. Divide if flower production or size has dwindled.  source

Salome (ivory with apricot cup, rimmed with gold), 

Dave's Garden info

Lupine

Lupinus polyphyllus

Variety:
Russell Hybrids Mix

Hardy to:             4a

Plant Height:      36"

Spacing:               15-24"

Sun Preference:  Part Shade to Full Sun

Flower Color:     Yellow, Pink, Mauve, Purple

Zone info

So I am attempting to grow this again.  Before I don't think I had nicked the seeds or soaked overnight before sowing directly into my yard.  This time I did nick, but I did not soak overnight, so we will see if they germinate.  I also tried to separate the seeds by color to see if the different colors would bring up different colors of flowers.  I will just have to wait and see.

Important Info : This plant grows best where summers are cool.

Erect perennial with medium green leaves, large and palmate, with
lance-shaped leaflets to 5 inches long. Grown for their brilliant
blue, purple, or reddish sweet pea shaped, 6 to 24 inch long flowers
spikes in spring and early summer. Wonderful cottage garden additions,
eye-catching when planted in large masses. Other than requiring good
drainage, not fussy about soil. Can start from seed in winter or early
spring. Native to the Pacific Northwest and an important ancestor to
many garden hybrid lupines.  source

Russel Hybrids:
Dwarf shrubby perennials. Leaves are medium green, large and palmate,
with lance-shaped leaflets. Grown for their brilliant display of
colorful blue, red, pink, yellow and white sweet pea shaped flowers on
tall spikes in spring and early summer. Wonderful cottage garden
additions, eye-catching when planted in large masses. Other than
requiring good drainage, not fussy about soil. Can start from seed in
winter or early spring.  source

Dave's Garden info

Lilies

Lilium
Varieties:

Hot Chocolate Mix
Star Gazer

Hardy to:             3(AM) 4b(DG)

Plant Height:      3-6'

Spacing:               9-12"

Sun Preference:  Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color:     Pink, White, Red, Mixed

DG:  Dave's Garden

AM:  American Meadows

Zone info

Photos of some of the Hot Chocolates on 4/22/09

And once again the 'Hot chocolate mix' lilies I bought did not come with the common names or scientific names.  So until they come up this summer and I can actually identify them I will assume they are the same as American Meadows Hot chocolate mix...

Asiatic hybrids (Division I). These are plants with medium sized,
upright or outward facing flowers, mostly unscented. They are derived
from central and East Asian species.  source

'Star gazer' is a vigorous Oriental lily, bearing racemes of large,
unscented, star-shaped red flowers with spreading tepals, marked with
darker spots. Good for container planting and for forcing. This is a
showy plant for planting in the shrubbery or herbaceous border.
Deadhead spent flowers, but wait until stems and leaves turn yellow to
cut back to within a few inches of the ground. Spring and fall are the
best time to transplant, even though they can be transplanted any
time. Provide ample moisture while flowering, but can take periods of
drought otherwise.  source

Asiatic hybrids were derived from a species that originated in Asia.
They bloom in early summer, usually flowering for over a month. Their
4- to 6-inch blossoms, which may face up, out, or down, come in shades
of red, orange, yellow, pink, lavender, and white. The plants produce
compact growth and range from 2 to 5 feet high. They are great for
growing in containers and for cutting and are quite disease resistant.   source

Dave's Garden info

Hot Chocolate mix

Star Gazer

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia
Variety:

English Lavender or True Lavender

Hardy to:             5a

Plant Height:      12-18"

Spacing:               18-30"

Sun Preference:  Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color:     Purple

Zone info

I bought a lavendar plant last year and planted in a pot, but never brought it in during the winter, so I don't know if it will come back this year since it is only hardy to zone 5.  But I also have seeds and I started some a few days ago.  So we'll just have to wait and see what happens...

Evergreen shrub with gray green or grayish fragrant foliage and
lavender or purple flowers on long spikes. May be used as edging or
hedge in herb gardens or in borders with similar plants. Needs full
sun and fast-draining, loose soil. Most widely planted lavender used
for perfume and sachets. For sachets, strip flowers from stems or cut
clusters just when it begins to show color and dry in shady, cool
area. The scent of lavender is said to have a calming effect.

Important Info : Prune immediately after bloom to keep shape of plant.
Do not overwater.   source

Dave's Garden info

Ivy

Hedera helix
Variety:

Gold Child Ivy

I bought this ivy last year and planted it in a pot, but I never brought it inside during the winter so it may not come back.

Vigorous, evergreen, self-clinging or trailing vine with 3- to
5-lobed, glossy leaves. This cultivar is usually treated as a
houseplant, for hanging baskets, or for climbing a low wall. Solid
green ivies are highly tolerant of shade, while variegated ivies
prefer part sun. Major pruning should be done in early spring.

Important Info : The American Ivy Society has divided ivies into
several categories depending on leaf shape and type. The shapes
include ivy (palmately 5-lobed), heart-shaped, fan (multi-lobed,
fan-shaped), bird's foot, and curly (ruffled or curly edged). The
types are: Miniature - plants with less than 1 inch long leaves;
Oddities - having unusual characteristics such as being non-vining or
an erect habit, or odd shaped leaves; and Variegated - multi-colored
or solitary, non-green leaves.  source

Dave's Garden info

Hostas

Hosta
Varieties:

Minuteman
Blue Angel

Blue Angel

Hardy to:             3a   

Plant Height:      10-18"

Spacing:               24-36"

Sun Preference:  Deep Shade to Part Shade

Flower Color:     Pale Lavender

Zone info

Minuteman

Hardy to:             3a (DG) 4(BG)

Plant Height:      18-36"

Spacing:               36-48"

Sun Preference:  Deep Shade to Part Shade

Flower Color:     Medium Lavender

BG:  Backyard Gardener

DG:  Dave's Garden

Zone info

I just bought these 2 varieties for my shade bed.

Hostas are another plant that are a challenge to kill.

Hardy, deciduous perennials for shaded gardens with large, bold leaves
often marked with contrasting colors. Leaves range in shape from round
to lance-shaped, and colors can be yellow to green to blue, often with
white, yellow or green marginal markings. Lavender or white flowers
grow on 2 foot stalks in early summer. Wonderful contrast when planted
with small-leaved plants, adding texture to the landscape. This
cultivar is slow-growing, with ovate to heart-shaped, wavy, glaucous,
bluish gray leaves, 16 inches long. Bears white flowers on 36 inches
stalks in midsummer. 36 inches tall, 4 feet wide.  

Important Info : Warning: snails and slugs love hosta. Bait 3 to 4
times a year.

source

Dave's Garden info

Blue Angel

Minuteman

Hollyhock

Alcea rosea nigra
Variety:

Nigra
pic 2

Hardy to: 3 (BG) 5b (DG)

Plant Height: 4-8'

Spacing: 24-36"

Sun Preference: Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color: Black/Purple

BG: Backyard Gardener

DG: Dave's Garden

Zone info

I have been in search for taller plants to go along the wall of my South bed and so I chose this as one. I hope they turn out well.

An old-fashioned favorite that demands attention. Excellent tall
background plant. The deep chocolate-maroon flowers have yellow
throats. Leaves are light green, slightly hairy, and rounded with 3 to
7 shallow lobes. Reaches up to 6 feet in height. Perfect used along
fence or blank, sunny wall. Rust, slugs and snails may be a problem.
Attractive to butterflies and bees. source

Dave's Garden info

Dave's Garden says this hollyhock is only hardy to 5b, but Backyard Gardener says it is hardy to zone 3. So hopefully along my south wall it will be a perennial. I guess I will find out next year...

Freesia

Freesia

Varieties:

Elan? Uchida? Alba?Single Blue?
picture

Hardy to:             10   

Plant Height:      12-18"

Spacing:               3-12"

Sun Preference:  Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color:     Blue, Purple

Zone info

I just bought this plant for the first time as well and I think I will also be planting it in a container.  The package I bought did not come with scientific names, one of my many pet peeves of gardening, so I have no idea what varieties I have.   All I know is I have 10 bulbs, 5 blue and 5 purple.  The above are my best guesses based on the picture on the box.

These fragrant flowers make a great addition to cut flower
arrangements. Strap-shaped 2 inch to 4 inch leaves grow in basal fans.
They are prized for their richfragrance. The flowers will dry up after
bloom, self-sow, then start growing again in the fall, if the spent
blooms are not removed. In mild areas, Freesia may be planted (tip up)
in the fall, about 2 inches deep. Can be grown indoors in containers
in colder areas. Both require plenty of sun and moist, well-drained
soil. For indoor plants, fertilize just after buds appear. Once
flowering has completed, reduce watering, allowing plant to dry out.
When dry, store corms for replanting in containers in late summer.
 'Elan' has beautiful, large, 2 inch semi-double, lilac-purple, white
throated, spring flowers which grow along the upper side of stiff
racemes. source

'Uchida' is a semi-double flower with lilac-blue color.  source

Alba, an older variety, has fragrant white or creamy white blooms. The
newer Colors are anywhere from white to yellow to orange and red, and
also purples and violets.  source

Growing Freesia Flowers
The corms should be planted close - six will do nicely in a 5 inch pot.
Basic Potting Soil does well and should be drained well.
Place the top of the corm, 1 inch below the soil.
During winter, bring freesia bulbs in and keep them in a sunny window.
Plant Care
Freesias are propagated by offsets of bulbs and seeds.
Freesia plants need full sun and cool night temperatures, preferably
between 45 and 40 degrees.
Keep the plants well watered while the leaves and flowers are developing.
When the leaves begin to brown after the flowers have faded, the
plants may be gradually dried off and the corms saved for the
following year. source

In the garden:
Plant outside in full sunshine so the tops of the bulbs are one and a
half inches deep. Plant two to three inches apart. Plant in a good
soil.
Plant in late May in a zone 4 or when the ground is warm enough to
plant corn (warm enough to put the back of your hand on it without
flinching) Flowers should form in mid-to late summer depending on the
season. Be prepared to stake the flowers if the season turns hot and
the bulbs produce floppy growth.
Dig up in the fall before frost destroys them, store cool (40F) and
dry until the next planting season. source

Onlinetips

Dave's Garden info

Crocosmia

Crocosmia
Variety:

Emberglow

Hardy to:             5a

Plant Height:      24-36"

Spacing:               6-9"

Sun Preference:  Full Sun

Flower Color:     Red

Zone info

This will be the first year I grow Crocosmia.  I think I will have it in a container and I will definitly have to remember to dig it up in the fall since it is only hardy to Zone 5.

Crocosmia are a popular and attractive flowering bulb. Native to South
Africa, Crocosmia are members of the Iris family. They are easy to
grow.
The plants grow two to four feet tall in a season. Tube shaped flower
colors include red, yellow, orange-yellow, and orange with splotches.
Flowers bloom from July-October.
Crocosmia grow well in the flower garden and in containers on patios or decks.
Crocosmia plants are easy to grow. They grow best in full sun. Plant
in in rich, loose garden soil. If the soil is heavy or doesn't drain
well, mix in a generous amount of sand. Plant corms four to five
inches deep, and four inches apart. Water during planting, only if the
soil is dry. Keep soil moist, not wet. Add fertilizer only if the soil
is poor.
Plants will grow two to four feet tall, and begin to produce flowers
in the summer.
If growing Crocosmia in containers, select a large pot with drainage
holes. Keep well watered. Add fertilizer regularly for best growth.
After the plants have died back in the fall, they can be cut and
removed to the ground. In cold areas, add a generous amount of mulch
to protect the corms from freezing. Or, dig them up and store them for
replanting in the spring.  source

Easy to Grow Bulbs

Dave's Garden info

Columbine

Aquilegia
Varieties:

Mrs. Scott Elliot Mix
McKana's Giants Mix

Hardy to:              3a

Plant Height:       24-36"

Spacing:                6-9"

Sun Preference:   Shade to Full Sun

Flower Color:      mixed

Zone info

McKana Hybrids are vigorous but not long lasting. Leaves are 3-ternate
and grow from 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches long. They also have terminal
flowers and spurs to 4 inches long. Columbine is a clumping perennial
found in meadows, woodlands and mountainous regions of the Northern
Hemisphere. Leaves are finely divided, ternate, bluish-green, divided
into leaflets 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. This is a graceful upright
perennial. Grows well in fertile, well-drained soil with partial shade
to full sun. For alpine species a gritty, sharply-drained, humus-rich
soil is required. Excellent in a light woodland setting or herbaceous
border.  source

Dave's Garden Info

McKana's

Mrs. Elliot Scott

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum x morifolium

Varieties:

Blushing Emily (window boxes)
Warm Megan (northwest bed)

Hardy to:                4

Plant Height:         6-18"

Spacing:                  18-24"

Sun Preference:     Sun to Full Sun

Flower Color:        Coral/Apricot, Orange/Bronze

Zone info

I bought these last year and loved their fall color.  I can't wait for them to come back this year.

 Chrysanthemum is made up of both annuals and perennials and are best
known for their showy flowers. There are twelve different flowerhead
forms which distinguish the different chrysanthemums. Colors range
from yellow to red to pink to brown and bloom time ranges from
midsummer through fall. There are seven main groups of chrysanthemums:
1. Exhibition, which are perennials grown for show, garden use, and
cutting. 2. Spray, which produce multiple flowers per stem and are
grown for garden decoration and cutting. 3. Charm, which are dwarf,
bushy, and rounded in habit and are grown primarily for indoor
decoration, exhibition and bonsai. 4. Cascade, which are similar to
charm, but trained as fans, pillars, pyramids, or cascades, are grown
primarily for indoor decoration. 5. Pompon, are dwarf and bushy,
providing multiple (up to 50), dense flowers per plant. 6. Rubellum,
is a group of bushy perennials with woody base. Leaves are pinnatisect
and have a silvery cast and flowers have yellow, daisy-like centers.
They are perfect for the border and for cutting. 7. Garden
chrysanthemums have a bushy, branching habit and bear clusterd
flowerheads. Flowering over a long period, they are perfect for the
border. Chrysanthemums do best in full sun in soil that is slightly
moist, fertile, neutral to slightly acid, and well-drained. Make sure
that plants are fertilized every two weeks from midsummer until buds
begin to show color. To ensure a full flush of flowers, discontinue
pinching by July 15 in cooler climates, and July 25 in warmer
climates. At the onset of winter in really cold areas, crowns may be
lifted and stored once tops have been cut back to 6 inches. In milder
climates, cut back and mulch well. Because the centers of
chrysanthemums die out, you will want to divided the plant and replant
either in the late fall or early spring every couple of years.

'Warm Megan' is a decorative garden mum with an upright nature and an
abundance of coppery toned flowers

source




Dave's Garden info
Blushing Emily

Warm Megan

more good info

The Garden Helper