Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Foxglove Plant Profile

 

Foxglove Plant Profile

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a biennial or short-lived herbaceous perennial. The flowers resemble long, tubular bells running along a tall stem and they are commonly found in shades of pink and purple. The foliage is a clump of coarse leaves covered in fine hairs.

It is native to Western Europe and is hardy to zones 4 to 9.

Foxglove prefers full sun to light shade and soils with lots of organic matter and good drainage, although they can grow in most soil conditions.

During the first year of growth the leaves form and then in the second year the tall flower stalks emerge in late spring or early summer.

The flowers are visited by many pollinators including hummingbirds.

The flower spikes make good cut flowers.

Exercise caution though as all parts of the plant are toxic if eaten and the leaves can irritate sensitive skin. This also makes them deer- and rabbit-resistant.

To get a jumpstart on the two-year cycle, sow Foxglove seeds in late summer and they should then bloom for you the following spring.

You can deadhead it after flowering or discard the whole plant. If you want to collect seeds or let it reseed itself in your garden, then allow a few spent flower stalks to remain until the seeds disperse.

Foxglove: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Aicha Bangoura

 

 If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

 FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

 

If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Astilbe Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/06/astilbe-plant-profile.html

~ Hosta Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/06/hosta-plant-profile.html

~ Bletilla Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/05/bletilla-plant-profile.html


Saturday, August 23, 2025

GardenDC Podcast Episode 253: The Farm-to-Vase Movement

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Alex Mudry-Till of Quince Blossom Ridge, all about cut-flower farming. The plant profile is on Patrinia and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on Travels with Iris by Christy Page of GreenPrints.

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 54: Flower Farming with Lisa Mason Ziegler

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-54-flower.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 104: Dahlias

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-104-dahlias.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 19: Floral Design with Holly Heider Chapple

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-19-floral.html

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter/subscriber at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

Visit https://shop.kathyjentz.com/ to browse our new online store!

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0UmKbt3r9piKWEepxGAdyZ?si=yJRyOe29TsqqXZucvhjdFQ

Show Notes will be posted after 8-26-2025.

We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz
Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Globe Amaranth Plant Profile


Globe Amaranth Plant Profile

Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) is a drought tolerant annual flower. It blooms in tight balls in an array of colors including pink, purple, white, red, and orange.

It's native to Central and South America and is hardy to USDA zones 9 to 11. It thrives in hot, full-sun locations with well- draining soils.

It's a prolific bloomer and it's a great choice for cutting gardens. It does well in both fresh and dried bouquets.

It's easy to propagate from seed and it can self-seed if you let it.

This is a low-maintenance plant. You can dead head it or pinch it back to encourage a bushier shape if you like. It does not need fertilizer, though a top dressing of compost in the root zone can be beneficial.

Gomphrena attracts pollinators, including hummingbirds, to the garden. It's generally considered to be deer resistant.

Gomphrena: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, Video, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Colin Davan

 

 If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

 FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC


If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Celosia Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/11/celosia-plant-profile.html

~ Monkey Balls Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/11/plant-profile-monkey-balls-gomphocarpus.html

~ Blazing Star Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/07/blazing-star-plant-profile.html


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Wednesday, July 02, 2025

Gardenia Plant Profile

Gardenia Plant Profile

Gardenia (Gardenia species) is an evergreen flowering shrub. Its beautiful blooms are usually white or yellow and have a wonderful fragrance. Its leaves are shiny and thick.

Gardenias for the garden are normally around 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, though there are some Gardenia species that can grow to 50 feet high. It is hardy to USDA zones 7 to 11. Gardenia is in the coffee family and is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Madagascar, Pacific Islands, and Australia. Gardenias prefer to grow in part sun to part shade. Ideally, situate them in morning sun and afternoon shade. They need well-draining soils that is fertile and on the acidic side. Do not let Gardenia completely dry out between waterings. Mulch them well around the root zone and prune out dead branches as needed, You can deadhead the spent blooms to encourage reflowering. Gardenia flowers throughout the summer into fall and makes a good cut flower. Use an acidic, slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants for your Gardenias. Apply the fertilizer around the root zone in spring after the last frost and again six weeks later. Plant a Gardenia where you can enjoy the scent wafting through your garden. Gardenia: You Can Grow That! The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine. Audio, Videos, and Text by Kathy Jentz Editing and Additional Video Footage by Miguel Zarate ➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!) ➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out ➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE ~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com ~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener ~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/ ~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine ~ Podcast: GardenDC If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles: ~ Mock Orange Plant Profile https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/03/mock-orange-plant-profile.html ~ Carolina Allspice Plant Profile https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/carolina-allspice-plant-profile.html

Wednesday, April 09, 2025

Trout Lily Plant Profile


Trout Lily Plant Profile

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is a perennial spring ephemeral plant that is native to eastern North America. It has pretty yellow or white flowers that dangle at the top of 6- to 8-inch high stems.

The foliage is mottled and resembles the brown coloring of a brown trout.  It is also known as fawn lily, Woodland Glory , yellow adder's-tongue, or yellow dogtooth violet.

It prefers to grow in moist, acidic soils under deciduous shade trees. It will form a colony where it is happy.

It is hardy to USDA zones 3-9.

They provide pollen and nectar to early season native bees like Mason Bees and Queen Bumblebees.

Trout Lily are generally deer- and rabbit-resistant.

It can be most easily propagated by digging a clump and dividing it, but it can also be grown from seed or bulb offset.

 The plant is a healing herb that was used in wound care by Native Americans.

Trout Lily: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio and text by Kathy Jentz

Video and editing by Madison Korman

If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

If you liked this video, you may enjoy these other plant profiles:

 Virginia Bluebells Plant Profile

 https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2018/04/plant-profile-virginia-bluebells.html

 Baptisia Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/07/baptisia-plant-profile.html

 Spring Beauty Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/04/plant-profile-spring-beauty-claytonia.html

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Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Native Azaleas Plant Profile

 

Native Azaleas Plant Profile

Native Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) are flowering shrubs that are found in the woodlands on the East Coast of the USA. They do best in light, dappled sunlight.

One of the most striking characteristics of native azaleas is their strong, sweet fragrance, which is often compared to that of honeysuckles. The flowers also resemble clusters of honeysuckle blossoms. Hence, the common name for native azaleas of Wild Honeysuckle.

Native azaleas are deciduous—dropping their leaves in the fall. While the Japanese and Korean azaleas are mainly evergreen as are most of their hybrids. Native azaleas prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soil that is high in organic matter.

The Piedmont azalea (Rhododendron canescens) or the Southern pinxter azalea is native from the Carolinas south to Florida and west to east Texas. The flowers are shades of white, pink, and red. It can grow to 10 feet wide and high and has an airy, open growing habit. It is hardy to USDA zones 5-9.

The Pinxterbloom azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides) is similar to the Piedmont azalea, but thrives in a more northern native range from Massachusetts to north Georgia and over to Tennessee. It is hardy to USDA zones 4-8 and grows to 5 feet tall and wide.

The Florida flame azalea (Rhododendron austrinum) is native to northern Florida and other far southern states. It grows to 8 to 10 feet tall and has yellow, orange, red, or pink blooms. It's hardy to USDA Zones 6 to 9.

The Alabama azalea (Rhododendron alabamense) is native to Alabama and Georgia. It grows 5 to 6 feet tall. It has blossoms that are white with yellow blotches. It is hardy to USDA Zones 7 to 9.

The Sweet azalea (Rhododendron arborescens)  can grow to 10-20 feet tall. It is native to the Appalachians from Pennsylvania to Alabama, It has white blossoms with red stamens. It is hardy to USDA Zones 4 to 7.

Native birds (especially hummingbirds), bees, butterflies, and other wildlife are attracted to these shrubs and their amazing flowers.

Native Azaleas: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Cassie Peo

 If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

 FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Azaleas: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2018/05/plant-profile-azaleas.html

~ Aronia: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/05/aronia-chokeberry-plant-profile.html

~ Carolina Allspice: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/carolina-allspice-plant-profile.html

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Tuesday, May 21, 2024

My favorite flower colors are…

My favorite flower colors are shades of purple and green. I especially love it when those two colors are combined in one bloom. Here are a few examples from my garden:

Clematis ‘Taiga’

Hardy Hibiscus ‘French Cabaret Purple’

Rose 'The Bishop'

Bearded Iris - variety unknown

Campanula - variety unknown

Datura Hybrid  'Double Purple'

What are your favorite flower colors?

This post is part of the #GardenBloggersChallenge sponsored by Gardencomm for the month of May. You are invited to join in and can see more details at https://info.gardencomm.org/

Wednesday, May 08, 2024

Kerria Plant Profile

Kerria Plant Profile

Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica) is a deciduous, spring-blooming shrub with clusters of yellow blossoms in early- to mid-spring. It is a member of the Rose family and is also known as the Japanese Rose, Easter Rose, and Bachelor’s Buttons.  It is native to China, Korea, and Japan.

This shrub thrives in part-shade and prefers well-draining soil. If you plant it in full sun, the flowers will quickly fade.

Kerria can grow to 7 feet tall and 9 feet wide. It is hardy to USDA Zones 4 to 9.  It doesn’t need any fertilizers or other amendments.

It produces multiple stems. The cane-like growth can be tamed by pruning it shortly after the flowers end for the season. You can cut any stray suckers out  to control weedy and leggy growth. This plant benefits from an occasional hard pruning back to the ground every few years.

Kerria attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to its abundant flowers. It is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.

Cultivars include  'Pleniflora', which has a double-flower form, 'Albiflora', which has a single, cream-white flowers, and ‘Golden Guinea’, which grows to only three to five feet high and wide.

Kerria: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Cassie Peo

 If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

 FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

 

If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Loropetalum: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/05/loropetalum-plant-profile.html

Japanese Andromedahttps://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/04/pieris-japonica-plant-profile.html

Dwarf Flowering Almondhttps://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/04/flowering-almond-plant-profile.html

Flowering Quince https://youtu.be/pl8rAgzJ40E?si=3lF83le8N9XpcjjX

Spirea https://youtu.be/Dp1vbWuiuG8?si=c3t-nmgTG0H5XDOX

~ Weigela https://youtu.be/tUsZZj3iTHU?si=FfB5ld0g-LhlaYwL

~ Daphne https://youtu.be/rOXRQ_xWywE?si=EhvSQE7J1MDYpQij

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Wednesday, May 01, 2024

Loropetalum Plant Profile

Loropetalum Plant Profile

Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense) is also known as the Chinese Fringe Flower. It is a member of the Witchhazel family and is native to China, Japan, and the Himalayas. It is a common ornamental plant throughout the southeastern United States and is starting to be seen more frequently in the Mid-Atlantic region. They are hardy to USDA zones 7-10.

It blooms in early spring with masses of white or purple-pink frilly flowers with a smattering of reblooms throughout the rest of the growing season.

Loropetalum is an evergreen shrub that can grow from 10 to 15 feet high and wide. There are also dwarf cultivars available. It can be pruned to control the size, but is better to plant it in a spot where it can attain its natural shape and form. They are often used as hedges, topiaries, or limbed up to form small trees.

Plant them in full- to part sun locations with moist, well-drained, acidic soil and add plenty of organic matter. Mulch around them well. You can add a slow-release fertilizer in spring, if you wish.

Loropetalum: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio, photos, and text by Kathy Jentz

Video and editing by Cassie Peo

If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Japanese Andromeda: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/04/pieris-japonica-plant-profile.html

~ Dwarf Flowering Almond: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/04/flowering-almond-plant-profile.html

~ Flowering Quince https://youtu.be/pl8rAgzJ40E?si=3lF83le8N9XpcjjX

~ Spirea https://youtu.be/Dp1vbWuiuG8?si=c3t-nmgTG0H5XDOX

~ Weigela https://youtu.be/tUsZZj3iTHU?si=FfB5ld0g-LhlaYwL

~ Daphne https://youtu.be/rOXRQ_xWywE?si=EhvSQE7J1MDYpQij

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