Start Date: March 12th 2012
End Date: April 12th 2012
Shipping Date: March 12th thru April 25th 2012
Email: [email protected]
Co-op Information: Co-ops...by Kim
Minimum Purchase for Co-op Pricing: 3 plants of mixed cultivars
Cost of Plants: $18.75 for 3
Size of Plant: The size plants offered through this Co-op are varied in sizing partly due to the various species and partly due to the age of several of the species. These plants are propagated from cuttings and seeds and are approximately one year to eighteen months old.
Shipping
As much soil as possible is removed and top-growth retained whenever possible for efficient shipping. Roots are wrapped in dampened materials and encased in plastic. The plants are individually wrapped and labeled with common and botanical names.
Plants are shipped directly from the grower using USPS Priority service and Delivery Confirmation. The Delivery Confirmation number will be shared with the buyer to assist in tracking the plant's arrival. We have worked very hard to provide a larger number of multiple cultivars with some exciting variety options for you to choose from...but many of the varieties are new and in limited quantities... so first come, first served!
Limited Specimens: Some of these plants are very difficult to propagate and occasionally revert to lighter coloration after division which reduces the number of available plants. Additionally, several of these plants are rare so numbers of intensely dark-leaved plants are sometimes limited. To ensure you receive the plants you have been seeking, you will have to order early!
Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate!...whether it is the smell, the taste or the appearance, these plants are all Chocolate!
There are many plants that hold these characteristics associated with Chocolate, but we have attempted to select those that are more difficult to locate, especially at grower prices(!)...chose new species for your own Chocolate Garden...and enjoy.
PLANTS:
CHOCOLATE BALL SEDUM (Sedum hakonese 'Chocolate Ball')
Chocolate Ball is one of the newer, dark, dark-colored succulents and very well adapted for the Chocolate Garden because of the dark foliage. The coloration of red and black stems against dark brown globular leaves makes this a stellar contrast plant in the rock or alpine garden. The plant is a low groundcover growing no more than 6" in height. Chocolate Ball is evergreen from USDA zone 5b and is field-tested hardy to fifteen degrees. Site it in full sun in the northern zones and partial or high shade from zone 8 and beyond. Miniature yellow blooms begin to appear in mid to late summer but never cover the dark, evergreen foliage.
Ajuga 'CHOCOLATE CHIP' (Ajuga reptans 'Chocolate Chip') aka 'Valfredda'
Chocolate Chip never fails to impress with the dark, chocolate-y foliage. New foliage is milk chocolate in color with tinges of burgundy and bronze. The darkness of the foliage is enhanced by sun so plant this ajuga in high shade or where it can receive morning sun. The leaves are tiny, often 1" or less in size and the plant seldom gets more than 3" tall, making this an exceptional choice for Miniature, Fairy or Dwarf Gardens as well. The plant is ideal for crevice planting or at the edge of a border. Blooms are a light, soft blue that complement the darker foliage. The bloom cycle is longer than that of other ajuga beginning in early spring and continuing well into the summer. Chocolate Chip is viable in USDA zones 4 through 9. Water regularly to establish but the plant requires good drainage and is drought-tolerant when mature. It makes an excellent lawn substitute in shady or high shade areas and remains ever-chocolate in the garden!
CHOCOLATE COSMOS (Cosmos atrosanguineus), Cosmos 'Hot Chocolate', 'Black Cosmos'
Warm Chocolate Color and Chocolate Scent! What a combo! Chocolate Cosmos is not the traditional annual cosmos but actually a perennial viable in USDA zones 7b through 10A. The bloom color is chocolate-y brown red and appear from May and continue through October. Blooms are daisy-like in shape and rise above the foliage to 20 to 30" tall. The bloom scent is strongest at the close of a hot, summer day so site Chocolate Cosmos in full to partial sun. The blooms make excellent cut flowers so you can carry the scent into the house to extend the scent experience. Keep the plant consistently moist for larger blooms over a longer period!
CHOCOLATE DAISY (Berlandiera lyrata), Green-eyes, Chocolate Flower -
OUT
The scent is intoxicating!! Does it have the aroma of Chocolate? Maybe. But one thing is certain. The intense aroma from this plant can be enjoyed as far as 100 foot away! The scent is stronger in direct, hot sun. Good drainage and minimal moisture encourage the almost constant blooming which begins early in the spring and continues throughout the summer. Bloom color is a soft yellow with dark, chocolate-y centers. The individual blooms are small, often 1" in size, but form the perfect perch for butterflies. During the summer, this wildflower can host as many as 6 species simultaneously!
Chocolate Daisy is a perennial wildflower found growing on the roadsides in many Southern states but is highly viable in USDA Zones 4 to 11. The plant demands well-drained soil in full sun to light shade and is drought-tolerant once it is established. Give it lots of room because the plant can sprawl across 3' but seldom gets taller than 18 to 24". Lucky for us, Chocolate Daisy will re-seed!
CHOCOLATE MINT SCENTED GERANIUM (Pelargonium tomentosum 'Chocolate Mint')
Chocolate Mint -- what a yummy combination! Scent, coloration and it's edible! Each leaf has a distinctively colored Chocolate vein that travels down the rib of the leaf and fans out into the leaf. The variegation is so dark, it is almost black. As the plant matures and progresses into summer, the foliage will grow into a rich, deep green until the darker coloration returns in the fall. The leaves are soft, fuzzy and highly scented with a strong mint scent. This is a great looking sun plant that is viable as a perennial where winter temperatures do not go below 20 degrees. It is listed as viable in the landscape in USDA zones 8 through 11. In the higher zones, Chocolate Mint can often remain evergreen during mild winters. North of zone 8, Chocolate Mint makes an exceptional container plant where it gets 20-24" tall at maturity and produces abundant white flowers. Because it maintains its shape nicely in the landscape, Chocolate Mint makes a wonderful plant for a hanging basket.
CHOCOLATE SUNFLOWER (Helianthus x microcephalus)
Chocolate Sunflower is a perennial wildflower with bright yellow petals and dark chocolate-y centers. The plant spreads by roots across a moderately-sized but sunny area. This sunflower is viable across much of America (USDA 4a-9b) and was once considered a component of our native prairielands. The plant begins blooming in late spring and continues to the first frost with flower stalks rising above the green basal leaves to approximately 3-4' tall. A light chocolate-y scent makes this a good sunflower for the Cutting Garden!
CHOCOLATE VINE (Akebia quinata)
Intoxicating scent! Unusual Bloom! and Delightful Taste! are some of the most comments on the Chocolate Vine. The vine gains its name from the Chocolate-y-Purple blooms that begin in early April and continue throughout the summer in USDA zones 4 through 9. The pods are odd-looking and an attractive deep purple color. This is a perennial, evergreen plant in the landscape and can serve as a great selection for an arbor where you can take full advantage of the blooms aroma. This vine can grow 25 to 30' in a season, but can be shaped easily. Chocolate Vine is a versatile landscape choice because it can bloom in full sun or partial shade or can serve as a groundcover or climbing vine. Once established, Chocolate Vine is drought-tolerant but does like a little moisture during hot, summer days to enhance the blooming....and the scent!
'WHITE CHOCOLATE' Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indicta 'White Chocolate')
This crape myrtle sports dark burgundy foliage that contrasts beautifully with stark white blooms that bloom continuously throughout most of each summer. In the fall, the 'chocolaty' foliage turns to a brilliant display of darker burgundy, red, and orange. Even during the starkest portion of the winter, this tree delights with softly peeling dark brown bark. The 'White Chocolate' takes the heat and full sun and thrives as long as the site is well-drained. The plant averages 8-10' in mature height and branches spans to a width approximately the same size. This crape myrtle, like many members of the same family, are highly attractive to bee, butterflies and hummingbirds. This crape myrtle is consider a Fire-Wise Plant and is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9.
