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.

Burning Bush - Bright Fall Color

Not only does this deciduous plant offer unique foliage that turns a glowing -red in the fall, but it has interesting winged, corky twigs that adds as much winter appeal as the foliage contributes to fall.

On mature plants, you find capsule-like red berries in the fall. This plant can be used as a hedge or as a single specimen.

Two-story homes can use this plant as a foundation plant and in the fall with its flaming-red fall color it is a complement to evergreen companion plants.

Burning bush tolerates just about any soil type as long as it is not waterlogged. Mulching is very beneficial when growing this plant and supplemental water is needed during severe drought; the plants are fairly drought tolerant once established.

Aronia Brilliant Red Chokeberry

A medium-size, upright, deciduous shrub six to eight feet in height with an open growth habit and a round top.

This shrub has a May through November interest in the garden.

In May small white fragrant flowers are followed by waxy bright green leaves which turn brilliant scarlet in the fall and produce glossy bright red berries in September through November.

The red leaves of this shrub have brought questions from our visitors in the garden this month.

A Shade Lover - Oak Leaf Hydrangea

This plant offers season-long interest for the shade garden or east-exposure landscapes.

The new leaf growth starts with a grayish-purple tint at emergence, changing to a deep green during the summer and to a brilliant display of orange-red in fall.

Sometime around May, the white flower spikes emerge. The perfect flowers later change to a pinkish-purple tint before turning a coppery brown. Both foliage and flower spikes remain on the plant well into the middle of winter.

During drought conditions, supplemental watering and mulching are of utmost importance.

Oakleaf hydrangeas prefer a somewhat acid soil, but do not expect to change the flower colors using aluminum sulfate to get blue or lime to encourage pink flowers as with the French types.