Camellias - A Hardy Hint of Romance

Cold hardy camellias (zone 6) easily withstand winters in Tulsa gardens, and given proper growing conditions, produce lots of radiant flowers during November and December.

The seven new cold hardy camellias in the garden are just starting to bloom and judging from the large flower buds should be blooming well into December. Since this is a time of year when most shrubs are brown and dormant they are a welcome addition to any garden.

The camellias thrive in dapple light beneath large trees or perform well in locations that receive direct morning light and afternoon shade such as the east side of a home.

They prefer an acidic, well-drained soil which is spaded with several inches of peat or well-rotted compost and then covered with several inches of mulch.

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

 

Oakleaf hydrangea is one of the few hydrangeas native to the US. It is a dramatic, white-blooming shrub with four seasons of interest. It blooms best in areas where summers are somewhat hot, but it is winter hardy farther north than the macrophylla (mophead).

A tremendous advantage of the Oakleaf is that it can thrive in much dryer locations than its cousins.

The Oakleaf gets its name from the shape of its beautiful large leaves. These leaves often turn colors of brilliant red, orange, yellow and burgundy in the fall if planted in a sunny location with a little afternoon shade.

Oakleaf hydrangea can tolerate and even thrive in much sunnier areas than the mophead and lacecaps (macrophyllas). But it is important to provide excellent drainage when planting this hydrangeas as it can get root rot in a heart-beat if it stands in soggy soil even for short periods.

You can find this beauty in our entrance garden right before you enter the gate on the right hand side.

Burning Bush Compactus

This shrub is one of the great beauties of the autumn season.

It is distinguished by vibrant scarlet foliage and small red-orange fruit in the fall as well as unusual corky "wings" which flare out along its branches. It is effective used in mass plantings, in a shrub border, as an accent plant or as a neat attractive hedge. It is not fussy about soil requirements and there are no significant pest problems. It also transplants very easily. Burning bush is truly a maintenance free shrub.

You can find this wonderful fall showstopper in our Boulder Garden against the fence. Also, see how wonderful Burning Bush looks in a container, such as this one in our Entry Way.

Rose Creek Abelia

Here is a wonderful perennial with lustrous leaves that emerge with a pinkish cast on crimson stems. It matures to dark green, then turns purple-green in winter. Small fragrant white trumpet flowers bloom spring through summer and continue to have an interest into fall with pink modified leaves at the base of each flower that remain once the bloom fades. It is an excellent foundation plant for continuous seasonal change beneath windows, or to use with a mixed shrub border, or try as a low hedge. Plant in full to partial sun.

This plant can be found across from the greenhouse in our Linneaus Garden.

Bearded Iris Clarence

Clarence has earned a number of awards from the American Iris Society and continues to demonstrate why it's not just another pretty face - great vigor, reliable rebloom to zone 4 and a wonderful sweet fragrance. It blooms in late spring and again in the summer/fall.

Check it out in our Fountain Garden./

Raydon's Favorite Aster

Aster oblongifolia, aromatic aster, is a dependable herbaceous perennial that displays a wonderful fall flower show. If you depend on pots of mums and pansies to color your perennial garden in the fall, you're missing out on a great show of color that this aster will provide. It is just reaching peak bloom in our Linnaeus Boulder Garden and it is simply magnificent. One can hardly see any foliage for the massive coverage of rich blue flowers and the leaves have a pleasant minty fragrance when crushed.

If you want to mimic this look for your landscape, most medium to large growing asters should have their succulent spring growth pinched or sheared back several times before July 4th. Pinching off lush early growth will cause asters to branch and produce thick, stout branching and maximum fall blooms.

Japanese Blood Grass

Japanese Blood Grass is an ornamental grass with tufts of intensely red leaf blades that will add a striking touch to any landscape. It has an upright and open growth habit. It can be used for a wide variety of perennial design conditions including borders, rock gardens, and container gardening. Japanese Blood Grass does best in full sun and is drought resistant.

You can find this grass in our Boulder Garden near the bridge.