Ornamental Plant of the Week
for May 13, 2013
Sun Coleus
(from Allen Owings)

Most of the new coleus on the market are "sun types." These include a nice collection from Ball FloraPlant (Henna, Mint Mocha, Indian Summer, Redhead, Trusty Rusty, Wasabi and Honey Crisp). The newer coleus are less prone to early-season flowering and have even more enhanced foliage colors. Plant midspring for a nice foliage show until first killing frost. Pinch once or twice early in the year to encourage lateral branching. Minimum fertilization and irrigation are needed.

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for May 6, 2013
‘Aphrodite’ Althea
(from Allen Owings)

Althea goes by the scientific name of Hibiscus syriacus. When most gardeners view the plants, they are remind of the hibiscus family, to which this popular, Southern heritage plant belongs. These plants are also referred to as rose of Sharon. Aphrodite is a spring 2013 Louisiana Super Plant Selection.

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for April 22, 2013
Coreopsis
(from Allen Owings)

Many coreopsis are available for our landscapes in Louisiana. Coreopsis, sometimes called tickseed, are herbaceous perennial flowers. Sometimes we treat these as annuals in Louisiana, and sometimes we treat them as perennials. The larger-flowered varieties are usually most popular with home gardeners.

Coreopsis have long been favorites with gardeners across the South. Use them combined with annual warm-season flowers or in a perennial planting with buddleia, rudbeckias, salvia, coneflowers, lantanas, Shasta daisies, verbenas or other hardy favorites.

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for April 29, 2013
SunPatiens
(from Allen Owings)

If you like the flowering habit of shade-loving impatiens, you’ll be excited to know that a new type of impatiens is on the market that will thrive in our Louisiana summer heat and humidity – SunPatiens.
You get the best of both shade-loving impatiens and the larger-flowered and variegated foliage of New Guinea impatiens with SunPatiens, a hybrid bred by Sakata Seed that thrives in our summer landscapes in full sun.

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for April 15, 2013
Begonias
(from Allen Owings)

Dragon Wing and BabyWing begonias, along with many other series and varieties of begonias, can and should be considered for the warm-season, shady landscape. These two begonias have some of the best genetics available.
Begonias are available in many shapes, sizes and flower colors. Foliage colors include green, bronze and red. Typically, the greener-foliaged begonias do best in or require shade while the reddish and bronze begonias tolerate some sunny areas. Rum, Brandy, Whiskey, Vodka and Gin are the varieties in the Cocktail series of begonias – a longtime favorite in the South.

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for April 1, 2013
‘Little Ruby’ Joseph’s Coat
(from Allen Owings)

Little Ruby Alternanthera (Joseph’s coat) has been named the LSU AgCenter’s first Louisiana Super Plant for spring 2013. It is one of the newer varieties and is best suited to a full-sun setting. It is a great low-maintenance landscape plant and has richly colored, dark burgundy foliage with ruby undersides. Plants stay short all season long, reaching heights of 16-18 inches by fall. Plants are mounding – spreading out to about 20-24 inches. Pruning to shape is typically not needed. The excellent compact growth habit of this plant is another super feature because Little Ruby requires no deadheading
Plants are usually not highly dependent on irrigation once well-established but like some moisture in the soil. Space about 18 inches apart for best “fill-in” without being overgrown by fall. The Little Ruby variety works best in the landscape when planted in front of flowering annuals or perennials or along the outside edge of a color bed.

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for April 8, 2013
Bandana Lantanas
(from Allen Owings)

Our second Louisiana Super Plant for spring (also the ornamental plant of the week for April 8) is Bandana lantanas. The relatively new Bandana series of lantanas are the most truly mounding of all the mounding type lantanas. Bandanas reach 18-24 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide – a perfect size for many landscape settings and for container gardening. Space individual plants 16-18 inches apart.
Other strong points of the Bandana lantanas include the wide color range in flower colors available in the series. Varieties include white, lemon zest, cherry, cherry sunrise, light yellow, peach, rose, pink and red. Mixes of varieties available include the 2012 debut of lemon squeeze. Also, Bandanas are excellent fall-blooming lantanas. Some lantanas do not bloom well into fall, but Bandanas maintain flower color until first frost most years. Lantanas prefer full sun, limited irrigation and well-drained landscape beds.

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for March 18, 2013
Sun Parasol Mandevillas
(from Allen Owings)

The Sun Parasol mandevillas are a relatively new series of hybrids that are part of The Suntory Collection. The group includes the first true crimson that maintains flower color. These are easy to grow, stay constantly in bloom and have great disease resistance. The original group includes Stars and Stripes, Lush Crimson, burgundy, white, crimson, dark red, pink and cream pink. The giant group includes Carmine King, Giant Pink, Giant White and Giant Crimson. The pretty group includes Pretty Crimson and Pretty Pink. There is also the Garden Crimson – this is the first true bedding plant type mandevilla (introduced last year). New for 2014 will be red emperor and two additions to the Pretty group – deep red and deep pink. (Photo to left is an 8-9 month old planting with three plugs in a 3-gallon pot)

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for March 25, 2013
African Marigolds
(from Allen Owings)

Marigolds come in a wide range of varieties. African marigolds are the taller, larger, cut-flower-type varieties. Primary colors are orange, primrose, gold and yellow. Examples include the Inca II, Perfection and Antigua series. New series are the Taishan, Moonsong and Moonstruck varieties. Marigolds can be planted several times during the year. Plant in late March through April statewide and you can also add marigolds to landscapes in early August to early September. Marigolds are more spring-through-summer and summer-through-fall performers than spring-through-fall performers. Removing old flowers is important to reduce petal blight fungus buildup in the faced blooms. Avoid overhead irrigation on this bedding plant. Plants perform best in full sun. Marigolds desire a slightly higher soil pH than other bedding plants.

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for March 11, 2013
TradeWinds and Cajun Series Tropical Hibiscus
(from Allen Owings)

Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) are great for landscape and container plantings. Expect good performance from spring through fall. Direct sun for 6-8 hours daily is recommended. The TradeWinds series from Aris Horticulture (pictured top right) come in many, many colors and are being sold at retail garden centers in Louisiana. Also, we are home to the Cajun series of tropical hibiscus (such as Black Dragon pictured left) developed by Bobby Dupont. These have very large blooms and uniqueness in flower colors and forms.

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for March 4, 2013
Supertunias
(from Allen Owings)

With an ever-increasing number of colors combinations now spread over 33 available cultivars, the Supertunia petunias from Proven Winners continue to impress in container and landscape trials across the Southeast. Some of the favorites at the LSU AgCenter have been Silverberry, Bubblegum and Fuchsia. Pretty Much Picasso also belongs to the Supertunia group. There is also a mini group of Supertunias.

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for February 25, 2013
AARS Winner ‘Francis Meilland’ Rose
(from Allen Owings)

The only rose selected as a 2013 All-America Rose Selection (AARS) winner is Francis Meilland. This rose is named to commemorate the centenary of Francis Meilland’s birth and to honor the Conard-Pyle Company’s historic relationship with Meilland International, the breeder behind the historic Peace rose and, most recently, the Drift series of groundcover roses. It is the first hybrid tea rose to win under no-spray conditions. AARS members recently voted to stop all fungicidal spraying of test roses, ensuring that the winners can perform without any added chemicals.
Francis Meilland is a tall hybrid tea rose with a very large bloom, good exhibition form and strong fragrance. It is also a multiple-award-winner in Europe.

Ornamental Plant of the Week
for February 18, 2013
Native Azaleas
(from Allen Owings)

One of the favorite native plants for many of us are the great species of native azaleas. Bloom will be commencing shortly, and what a spectacular show in the landscape can be provided. Popular species include the pink and rose with white blooming Rhododendron canescens (the honeysuckle azalea) and the yellow, orange, red blooming R. austrinum (Florida flame azalea). Do not disturb the root system when planting. Native azaleas need well-drained, acid soil. Plant in a location with filtered sunlight but slightly more shade than sun.

Article from Gary Bachman, horticulture professor, Mississippi State University:
http://msucares.com/news/print/sgnews/sg13/sg20130212.html