The Tropicana Canna
In the last few years this relatively new Canna lily has cropped up in nurseries everywhere. It is one of the most colorful foliage plants you will find anywhere, yet it grows in many areas where your more delicate, showy plants wouldn’t have a chance. The Tropicana Canna is drought tolerant yet handles so much moisture that it can be grown as a bog plant in a pond. Although it supposed to take only full sun, it will accept some shade, too. The large leaves unfurl in bronze, ruby red, pale yellow and slightly green-etched stripes. The “Tropicana” Canna is not as delicate as its name implies. It is hardy to 20′F (sometimes lower), dying down to its tubers (long swollen roots somewhat like narrow sweet potatoes) in the wintertime only to reappear in the early spring. Leaves will be burnt back at the first frosts. Tough colorful leaves tolerate heavy winds so long as they have a wall reasonably nearby. They grow from 2 ½ ‘(dwarf varieties) to 6’ tall. Use this flamboyant plant wherever you want a splash of bold color to accent the ordinary green of most gardens, especially when out of flower. The leaves give a tropical feel to any design and the size and stature make a sculptural statement wherever placed. As if the showy leaves weren’t enough, “Tropicana” Canna crowns itself with a bouquet of brilliant orange flowers that should be removed when they wilt to make room for new flowers and more leaves. This plant is worth every penny you spend on it. And it will cost a few cents more than most other cannas since the variety is still under patent.
How to grow the Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant
The Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow is the common name for an ornamental shrub with the Latin name of Brusfelsia pauciflora. It will thrive in a warm sunny climate where it will survive only light frost.
It is a handsome bush with glossy leaves that grows to about three feet tall. New growth can be long and slender and can look almost vine-like. It likes a rich soil, but is tolerant of a wide range soils. The Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow plant blooms best in part shade to full sun with regular water and good drainage. In hot sun areas it will appreciate a little shade.
The plant gets its name from its changing flower colors that were deep purple ‘yesterday’, lavender ‘today’ and finish white ‘tomorrow’. One to two inch, open-faced flowers can smother this evergreen shrub during its long blooming period with three different colored blooms all at once.
The Yesterday Today and Tomorrow bush is not difficult to grow in a mild climate and blends in well with other plants. Use it in a cool-colored garden with blues, purples, pinks and whites, or design it into the landscape to contrast with bright colors. It also blends comfortably with pastel shades. Because the Brusfelsia will naturally grow with a slightly rangy habit, it looks best trimmed lightly. For a more formal appearance, it will accept harsher, formal shearing, but you are likely to remove the best attributes of the plant – those multiple colored flowers – if you insist on cutting it back too heavily. There are plainer shrubs that would probably be a better choice for severe shaping. Instead, use the Brunsfelsia pauciflora where it can show off its unique beauty in a natural-looking border, as a backdrop for other flowers, or as a stand-alone focal point. The Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow plant is also a fine choice to grow as a specimen shrub in a pot.
Design with lilacs in the garden
Because of their showy, scented flowers, lilacs are popular shrubs to grow in the landscape. In cold climates these shrubs can grow to the size of a small tree. They usually grow with multiple stems in a form that looks like a large shrub. Some lilacs can grow on a single thick stem that makes them look more like a tree. Lilacs (Syringa) have been a favorite for decades and are ideal for a romantic, woodland, English or old-fashioned style garden or can be integrated into many other beautiful garden themes. Many varieties offer good cut flowers that will provide a decorative indoor bouquet that will fill your home with a delightful perfume.
The most frequently grown lilac is the Syringa vulgaris. This lilac comes in purples, blues and whites. There is a group of plants developed especially for warmer climates known as the Descanso hybrids. These come in an assortment of colors including pink. Most tend to grow to only about six feet tall. These are more likely to bloom well in the south and the west of the country despite the lack of cold winter temperatures.
Grow lilacs for beauty where they can soften angles by filling corners with soft foliage. Use a lilac for a focal point or to drape over fences and arbors. The lilac will also make a fresh green backdrop in the back of a large flower border. Plan on the lilac losing leaves in the winter showing the branch framework until it leafs out in the early spring. The flowering period is relatively short but leaves form a good fill with handsome foliage. Plant them neat seating areas or by windows and entryways where the fragrance of flowering lilacs can be appreciated.
Give lilacs a rich soil and good drainage. They need full sun and room to grow. Lilacs don’t suffer from a lot of diseases and pests and are best trimmed to control size and shape. Easy to cultivate, grow lilacs for their beauty and scent, they are a welcome addition for most any garden.
New introductions: ‘Kong’ Coleus plants
Check out the new introduction of Kong coleus plants displayed this year at the California Spring Trials. Bred by Ball Growers, this new coleus plant sports huge leaves painted in bright colored designs. The display for the Spring Trials featured many different varieties of coleus plants. Some of the smaller plants are sun-tolerant even where temperatures get hot in the summer. The larger leafed varieties like the newly introduced coleus ‘Kong’ needs shade. Although most coleus plants grow as annuals, some odd plants can over-winter and live for more than one season where conditions are mild. The flowers of the coleus are attractive spires of purple, but the leaves are usually so showy that they overwhelm the flowers.
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