How a Texan garden survives summer without real rose blooms.
And a really bad diddy to celebrate a spot of heat-relief!
If you had not said otherwise, Maggie, I would have said the standard in the pic was a rose. I can't say that I've seen any double Hibiscus syriacus on sale over here, but even the single Blue Bird does not do too well in this colder region. The cross you achieved is very similar in flower to Lavatera Barnsley. BTW, Rose of Sharon is Hypericum calycinum around here, shows again how confusing it can get, you couldn't have more differing plants.
Thank you for another interesting and informative article.
Maggie, lovely pixes of your rose of sharons. I, too, am a huge fan of them. From Ray this year, I bought the double purple that he had growing out front. Of course, she still sits patiently waiting to be planted. Haven't quite decided where she's going.
Enjoyed your article on the altheas. I have always had them several places in my landscaping. It is recommended in the landscaping books to mix them with evergreen shrubs because of their pitiful look in winter. I want to edge my front yard with them for looks as well as a wind-break. What would be some good shrubs to mix for winter-appeal?
Hollies and junipers are tough enuff for that terrain Caro and would grow to meet the vast scale of your place. They could be fronted by a few 'Silverberry' (Elaeagnus ebengii) for a lighter contrast to the green background and provide great fall fragrance. With altheas among and between them, their silvery foliage would set off the pastel blooms nicely. For even more contrast, some species nandina would add another texture and winter color which would become green when the altheas bloom.
In a more protected site, you might consider the 'Pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana) for an interesting evergreen. We are on the cusp of its hardiness line but mine has been here for 12 years. It grows more slowly than the above, has wonderful spring flowers and autumn fruit.
Gail,,, got a silverberry ;-) for that purple ? They would look great together, wouldn't they!
I'm not surprized they don't do well for you wayyy up there T-E-R-R-Y , cause they are so slow in the season to start blooming here. They seem to crave the heat - thank goodness some things do! I tried some Lavatera years ago and it let me know it didn't like it hot!
My seedling's bloom was not a particularly good shape that day. Earlier ones were more symmetrical, but that was all that was open and I didn't want to wait another day. It is about 4 ft tall, but still sparse of branches - therefore blooms. That was exciting to be the instigator of a new face!
Maggie, I don't have a silverberry but I've now added it to my wish list! Thanks for the great suggestion! I didn't realize the pineapple guava was evergreen! Hmmmmm...
Carolyn, I love the Nellie R. Stevens Holly. Ray has them really cheap! Great berries for the birds. Thick and a bit of a protective barrier with its prickly leaves.
Gail, could you call Ray and see if he still has any (Nellie R. Stevens Holly)? The day we were there, he was sold out of them. I'll take pretty much as many as he has. And would somebody e me his phone #?
Does anyone know how fast/slow junipers grow? We have tons we could dig up in the woods this fall. Everyone refers to them as "cedar", but I understand they are really junipers.
Sounds like we need to make another field trip to Ray's!
There are so many more beautiful junipers than the native one around here Caro. I'd go with something more dense and defined. All the junipers I've used have looked good in 3 to 5 years.
One US native, the Leyland Cypress, has been used in English gardens lately. Trouble is, it grows so tall and fast that neighbors are sueing each other because it blocks too much sun in small garden spaces. Farmers here, often used them as windbreaks. You can still see rows of them on deserted property where each one has grown as big as a barn.
Hmmm. Several good ideas there, Maggie.