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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 10:52 AM, concerning plant: Leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)

Love the true-blue flowers. Seems to spread slowly, so it's controllable. Doesn't get that tall, but is not what I would classify as xeric. More stunted if not watered regularly. Rather unassuming until fall, when it blooms, and then spectacular.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 10:47 AM, concerning plant: Bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis Summer Sorbet®)

A very tidy plant, which doesn't seem to want to get any bigger than 2'x2'. Does not send out suckers or runners, nor does it seem to self-seed. Tolerates high temperatures & poor soil nicely. Xeric. Does just fine in zone 5 winters w/no protection.

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By Bonehead on Apr 14, 2014 10:25 AM, concerning plant: Red Huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium)

Native in the Pacific Northwest, from Alaska to California, mostly on the west side of the Cascade Range. Found at forest edges or in canopy openings, often growing out of a decaying stump. It takes a long while to pick enough berries for anything other than fresh eating, but they make a delightful pie or jelly if one has the patience. They can also be used for fish bait. The bark or leaves may be helpful for a cold remedy, and the branches can be used as brooms.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 9:52 AM, concerning plant: Bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Longwood Blue')

A MASSIVE weed. This thing grows and grows and grows and grows. Can get to be over 4' tall and 6' around. Self-seeds, sends out runners. A borderline nuisance plant! However, VERY bee friendly, so if you want to attract bees to your yard, get these. Just don't plant them around a walkway. Tolerant of poor soil, tolerant of extreme sun, tolerant of flooding situations (3 weeks of rain last year). Very long taproot, but not deep. Sends the root off to the side rather than down. Flowers last for weeks, but not vase-friendly.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 9:49 AM, concerning plant: Bluebeard (Caryopteris incana Sunshine Blue®)

Much more manageable than the Blue Knight and Longwood varieties. Stays much smaller (no more than 2'x2'). VERY xeric. Tolerant of poor soil. Does not seed everywhere like other varieties. The blue flowers are not as intense, but still look wonderful against the yellow leaves. Does not tolerate shade.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 9:33 AM, concerning plant: Bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Dark Knight')

This is one of the absolutely best plants out there. Grows like a massive weed, produces absolutely gorgeous blue blooms for weeks on end, doesn't require a lot (full sun), profuse in reproduction, exceedingly easy to transplant, tolerates high temperatures AND cold temperatures. Very xeric, too, but tolerates flooding if it happens (3 weeks of rain non-stop last year).

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 9:19 AM, concerning plant: Scottish Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)

Grows nicely, keeps a nice compact size. Flowers are adorable and a very clear sky blue. Doesn't require much, good for a xeric setting. Survives my zone 5 easily.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 9:18 AM, concerning plant: Carpathian Bellflower (Campanula carpatica)

Survives zone 5 winters with ease, doesn't require much. Mine gets full sun and very little winter protection.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 9:17 AM, concerning plant: Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii 'Evil Ways')

Very pretty light green contrasts the deep purple of the flowers. Seems to grow OK in zone 5. Did not get very big, only 1-2 feet first year in.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 8:53 AM, concerning plant: Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxatilis)

Does NOT like to be trimmed. Will die if you trim it. Had two, trimmed them a little to make them a bit more tidy, and they died within a week. Has a long sprawling "neck" like an old African violet.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 8:51 AM, concerning plant: Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

This is a massive weed in my area. Although the seed pods look really cool, they make a big mess when they "explode." Have never seen butterflies visit it.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 8:50 AM, concerning plant: Silvermound Artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound')

These plants are so very soft and have gorgeous coloring. They get HUGE. Mine are at least 2' tall and 3' around. They will take over the area where they're planted. I don't do anything special for mine. They just get massive, and they also make a huge mess in the fall when they lose their leaves.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 8:35 AM, concerning plant: Blue Star (Amsonia hubrichtii)

Mine has never turned this brilliant yellow/orange in the fall. It's in full sun. Not sure why.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 8:33 AM, concerning plant: Hummingbird Mint (Agastache cana)

Grows like a weed. Tag stated that it only grows to 18" by 18". I have one that grows faithfully every year to almost 5 ft tall & around! Hummingbirds are definitely attracted to this plant. Even when dead in the winter, the dead stalks still retain their wonderful scent!

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 8:31 AM, concerning plant: Red Maple (Acer rubrum 'Brandywine')

Seems to have survived my zone 5 winter. Is partially shaded. Leaves are a beautiful deep wine color in the fall rather than the brilliant scarlet of most red maples.

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By Skiekitty on Apr 14, 2014 8:25 AM, concerning plant: Amur Maple (Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala)

Grows like a weed, requiring almost no care whatsoever. Beautiful fall foliage and bright green leaves in the spring. Pretty quick grower, too.

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By Joy on Apr 14, 2014 5:42 AM, concerning plant: Hosta 'One Man's Treasure'

This is the first of my Hostas to leaf out in the spring. It's seldom bothered by snails or slugs.

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By zuzu on Apr 13, 2014 1:07 PM, concerning plant: Rose (Rosa 'Blue Skies')

The beautiful blooms of this Buck rose start out as almost blue buds, which open into mauve blossoms with a hint of blue, gradually fading to lavender and, finally, to a lovely shell pink with hints of gray. The rose is highly fragrant and is more resistant to black spot than most of the other Buck roses in my zone 9 garden.

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By farmerdill on Apr 13, 2014 12:35 PM, concerning plant: Bok Choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis 'Red Choi')

A very visually attractive pak choi. Growth pattern seems about the same as Mei Quing Choi at this time. Very vigorous from direct seeding.

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By farmerdill on Apr 13, 2014 12:30 PM, concerning plant: Red Romaine Lettuce (Lactuca sativa 'Cimarron')

A very vigorous red Romaine type. Doing exceptionally well this spring. Not as dark as Red Rosie but quite pretty in its own right.

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