Funky Garden Plants 2 Article
What's a perennial garden plant that blooms in the
winter?
A hellebore! It is an outdoor plant that is shocking
to see blooming sometimes in the snow. There are many
varieties. They are perennial which means they come
back year after year.
These are best planted in shady areas, but where they
will get sun in the winter, for instance under leafed
trees or something of that nature.
What is so unusual about hellebores is that they bloom
somewhere between Dec. and March. There are very few
plants that do that! One variety is called a
Christmas
Rose. These plants usually must be puchased at a
nursery. Check out your local nursery for this
wonderful family of plants.
Another plant you'll surely want to try is called
Sweet
Annie. This is actually an annual herb, in the worm
wood family. The seed is very fine and you sow it in
direct sunlight in the spring after all danger of
frost is gone. Sweet Annie can get up to 6 feet tall.
It's fragrance is wonderful!!!
My favorite use for Sweet Annie is in the fall to cut
it to the ground and dry it. It can be used as
wonderful, fragrant filler for dried flower
arrangements, and it can also be bound with fine wire
to form a wreath base of its own. Simply tuck in
other dried flowers here and there around it and
you've got a beautiful dried floral wreath with a
fragrance to die for!
Another unusual one is called Kiss Me Over the Garden
Gate.
Yes, this really is the name of a plant! It's
official name is Polygonum orientale. It's an
old-fashioned annual knotweed used for bold effect.
It has large heart shaped leaves and pendulous
clusters of small pink flowers.
In rich, moist soil and full sun it can go to six feet
tall. Best to sow the seed in fall or early spring
where it is to grow.
Lastly another unusual plant to try is the Balloon
Flower. These are perennial, meaning they will return
year after year. The latin name for these are:
platycodon grandiflorus. They are very hardy,
durable plants and very beautiful. Balloon flowers are
about the size of a ping pong ball and look like
little "balloons". Once they fully open up they split
and you can see the center portion and the bloom then
resembles a star. They usually come in shades of
purple, pink and white. Very cute, the plants only get
about 2 feet tall. Try one!
By Valerie Garner-Get ideas and links to get traffic
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