Taking a tour at Mt. Cuba, I saw Indian pinks, Spigelia marilandica, for the first time. It was June and they were in full bloom. Dainty red and yellow flowers peeked out from under bushes and trees. I was enthralled.

A hummingbird favorite, the perennial forms clumps. It grows 1 to 2 ft. high and spreads from .5 to 1.5 ft wide. Native to the Southeastern United States, it grows in zones 5 to 9.

Continue reading Indian Pinks / Love at First Sight →

Tickseed or Coreopsis, as it is more formally known, brings charm and cheer to any garden.

They bloom in full sun from May to Aug., depending on the species. Typically yellow, the flowers are daisy-like.

Tickseed belongs in the Sunflower family. There are 75 to 80 species native to North and South America. The four species commonly grown here are large-flowered tickseed; C. grandiflora; lance-leafed tickseed, C. lanceolata; thread-leaf coreopsis, C. verticillate; and pink coreopsis, C. rosea. Pink coreopsis grows best in sandy soils.

A low-maintenance flower, it likes dry to medium, well drained soil.

Here is a quick profile of one coreopsis, large-flowered tickseed. It grows between 1.5 and 2.5 ft tall and spreads from 1 to 1.5 ft. This species blooms from June to Aug. Blossoms are yellow rays with darker yellow centers. An open-pollinated plant, it grows from seed, division and rhizomes. It will self-seed, but is well behaved. Deadheading will encourage new blooms.

Tickseed has been labeled a keystone perennial, one of a few plants that supports numerous insects. Seven caterpillar species use it as a host plant and 22 pollen specialist bee species rely on it. It attracts butterflies as well. Rabbit and deer resistant, it supports pollinating by being such a long-blooming plant

Coreopsis can be used as a border, in naturalized areas, meadows, prairies, or cottage gardens. For more information, see the Missouri Botanical Society.

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Don’t Forget the Parasol

Spring blooming plants should be planted in late summer or early fall. Plants that bloom in the fall should be added to your garden in the spring, for the most part. Check planting dates for specific perennials, shrubs and trees; some plants love to break the rules. You should also give them time to get established before they bloom or the onset of cold weather, notes the University of Maryland Extension.

Transplant perennials on cloudy days to reduce sun and/or heat stress.

Transplant plants, if possible, when they are dormant or just beginning to grow. They can be transplanted when in bloom, if handled with care.

Here are tips from the UME:

• Dig a hole, amend the soil with organic matter if necessary. *
• Fill it with water and let it drain.
• Dig the perennial up carefully, save as large a root ball as possible.
• Place the transplant in the hole and fill with soil.
• Water the transplant, mulch it, and protect it, if necessary, with a cardboard screen.

*Many native plants prefer the soil they naturally grow in such as clay. If the soil is enriched, they will grow too vigorously.

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