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Information about the plants used in this special

From "Special Presentation"
episode DGRS-S

(Continued from page 5)

Flame Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Purpurescens'

Gardener's Note: Miscanthus sinensis is a nonnative invasive grass from Asia. It has escaped cultivation and invaded natural areas throughout the Midwest and South.

Upright ornamental grass with reddish-green foliage that turns bright red in the fall
Plant in full sun to light shade
Can be invasive
Tolerant of a wide range of soil
Prune back to ground in late winter to early spring; fertilize in spring
Divide every few years in early spring
Height: 4-6 feet Width: 3-4 feet
Hardy in zones 4-9:
- Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first frost to prevent winter heaving; remove mulch in spring; avoid exposure to salt; plant may flop over in heavy snow or ice.
- Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first frost to prevent winter heaving; remove mulch in spring; avoid exposure to salt; plant may flop over in heavy snow or ice.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch in fall; remove mulch in spring; plant may flop over in heavy snow or ice.
- Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; remove mulch in spring; plant may flop over in heavy snow or ice.
- Zone 8: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; remove mulch in spring.
- Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall; remove mulch in spring.

Girard's Rainbow Leucothoe
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Girard's Rainbow'

Gardener's Note: Gardeners in warmer zones can try Leucothoe axillaris, which grows in zones 6-9.

Arching, variegated evergreen shrub with cream and pink coloration to the leaves
Small, almost inconspicuous bell-shaped clusters of white flowers in May
Plant in partial to medium shade; prune lightly as needed in summer.
Plant in rich, organic, acidic, but well-drained soil
Height: 3-6 feet; Width: 3-6 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 5-8:
- Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; water regularly in dry spells during growing season; apply mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring or very early fall; apply mulch after first hard frost; water regularly in dry spells during growing season.
- Zone 7: Plant in early fall; apply mulch in fall; water regularly in dry spells during growing season.
- Zone 8: Plant in early fall; water regularly in dry spells during growing season.

Spreading Densiformis Yew
Taxus x media 'Densiformis'

Dwarf, spreading evergreen shrub that grows in a mound
One of most popular forms of yew - grows nearly twice as wide as tall - 3 to 4 feet tall with a 5 to 7 feet spread
Needled evergreen foliage
Produces red fruit in the fall
Hardy in USDA zones 4-7: Plant in full sun to partial shade. Water moderately. Prune in spring before new growth appears. The yew is tolerant of considerable pruning.

Care Tips

Dogwoods

Low maintenance
May need pruning to show more of the trunk; prune when tree is dormant.

Rhododendrons

Feed an acid fertilizer after they bloom
Add an extra layer of mulch to keep the roots cool.

Hydrangeas

Water regularly; if the leaves are drooping, get out the hose.

Impatiens

Water regularly; do not tolerate drought well.

New Guinea Impatiens

Feed with a balanced fertilizer once a month; more often can stunt blooms.

Impatiens walleriana

Fertilize twice a month with water-soluble fertilizer.

Web Extras

These plants were not featured in this DIY Spring Special but would make sensible selections in a year-round garden:

Japanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Monry' - Sunsation™

A new golden barberry with a compact, dwarf form.
Displays attractive golden foliage with an orange cast most of the season.
Provides an excellent color contrast with green-leaved plants.
A slow grower to 3 to 4 feet tall, spreading to 4 feet wide.
Thunbergii, native to Japan, is named for Carl Peter Thunberg, a Swedish botanist, zoologist and medical doctor (1743-1828) who had to masquerade as a Dutch doctor to be allowed into Japan to hunt plants. He introduced many Japanese plants to the western world.
The ancient Egyptians used barberry to prevent the plague, and for centuries it was touted as a treatment for just about everything from cholera to diseases of the liver.
Hardy in USDA zones 4-9: plant in full sun; water regularly after planting to establish a healthy root system.

Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonechloa macra

Deciduous, shade-tolerant, clump-forming perennial grass
Variegated foliage with bright yellow/cream and green stripes tinged with bronze
Plant in rich, organic soil
Plant in partial to full shade
Height: to 10 inches; Width: to 18 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 5-8 (South); 5-10 (West):
- Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in partial to full shade; protect with mulch in fall.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in partial to full shade; protect with mulch in fall.
- Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in partial to full shade; protect with mulch in fall.
- Zone 8: Plant in spring; plant in partial to full shade; protect with mulch in fall.
- Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in partial to full shade; protect with mulch in fall; plant may languish in this zone in the Southern United States.
- Zone 10: Plant in spring; plant in partial to full shade; protect with mulch in fall; plant may languish in this zone in the Southern United States.

Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberose

Native, upright perennial with showy clusters of tiny shocking orange flowers in late spring through summer; host plant for Monarch Butterflies.
Prune back after first frost; spreads easily from seed
Plant in any well-drained soil; drought tolerant once established
Plant in full sun
Height: 12-24 inches Width: 12-18 inches
Hardy in USDA zones 4-10:
- Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost to prevent winter heaving; protect from salt; pull mulch back in spring.
- Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost to prevent winter heaving; protect from salt; pull mulch back in spring.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch in fall; pull mulch back in spring.
- Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch in fall; pull mulch back in spring.
- Zone 8: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch in fall; pull mulch back in spring.
- Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full; mulch in fall; pull mulch back in spring.
- Zone 10: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun; mulch in fall; pull mulch back in spring.

Blue Rye Grass
Elymus glaucus

Perennial, cool season grass with blue foliage, tends to be short-lived
Plant in organic soil, well-drained soil
Plant in full sun; prune while dormant in winter
Height: 3-4 feet; Width: 3-4 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-9:
- Zone 4: Plant in spring to avoid winter heaving; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer.
- Zone 5: Plant in spring to avoid winter heaving; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer.
- Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch after first hard frost; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer.
- Zone 8: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch in fall; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer.
- Zone 9: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch in fall; fertilize in spring with balanced fertilizer.

Skyrocket Juniper
Juniperus virginiana 'Skyrocket'

Columnar, evergreen conifer with gray-green foliage that turns purple in winter
Very narrow and upright
Plant in full sun to light shade
Fertilize in early spring; prune if needed in late winter
Plant in average, moist but well-drained soil
Height: 8-12 feet Width: 2-3 feet
Hardy in USDA zones (3) 4-9:
- Zone 3: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost to prevent winter heaving; protect from salt; pull mulch back in spring; plant may be marginally hardy in this zone.
- Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost to prevent winter heaving; protect from salt; pull mulch back in spring.
- Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; mulch heavily after first hard frost to prevent winter heaving; protect from salt.
- Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall.
- Zone 7: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall.
- Zone 8: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall.
- Zone 9: Plant in early fall; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall.

New Guinea Impatiens - Celebration™ 'Electric Rose'

New Guinea Impatiens are more elegant than the regular garden-variety impatiens - they tolerate a bit more sun.
The 'Super Sonic'® variety produce large blooms - up to three inches across - and grow from 12 to 20 inches in height.
Celebration Electric Rose is a dark pink and another series; it's a smaller version of the Super Sonic and grows 8 to 10 inches high.
Hardy in USDA zones 2-11:
- Zones 2-9: Plant outside or in containers after danger of frost has passed; plant in light to partial shade; water freely during growing season; pinch to increase bushiness; fertilize monthly while outdoors; discard plants after frost; will sometimes reseed.
- Zones 9-11: Plant in spring; plant in light to partial shade; water freely during growing season; pinch to increase bushiness; fertilize monthly while outdoors; will sometimes reseed.

Gardening by Zip Code
If you're looking to start a gardening projectbut don't know your gardening zone—visit the National Gardening Associations's USDA Hardiness Zone Finder. Enter your Zip Code to identify the proper zone.

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