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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 01 17 Other Handout from Mary Brook during Agenda Item 303 UF FLORIDA IFAS Extension ENH-68 Flowering Perennials for Florida 1 Sydney Park Brown, Loretta Hodyss, and David Marshall2 Flowering perennials, when selected and used correctly, can provide color in your landscape during every season of the year. Once established, these plants require less maintenance than annual flowers, and they have the advantage of being a permanent part of your landscape. Perennials are plants that grow indefinitely. The shrubs and trees that comprise our landscapes are perennials, but these are referred to as woody perennials. The plants discussed here are herbaceous perennials, plants that have soft, succulent plant tissue with little or no secondary, woody tissue. Some herbaceous perennials are evergreen. Others die back to the ground during winter, but the roots survive and the foliage eventually reappears. Plants which grow from bulbs, corms, tubers, or other types of underground storage systems are also herbaceous perennials. The selection and care of these plants is discussed in Circular 552, "Bulbs For Florida. " Selction and Use The flowering perennials listed in Table I are proven performers in Florida gardens. Many other perennials exist, but they may not be suited to Florida's climate and soils. Perennials are used to best advantage when they are planted in masses. The bold displays of color they provide are much more pleasing lhan individual plants placed here and there. Evergreen shrubbery provides a beautiful backdrop for large drifts or clumps of herbaceous perennials. Note the mature size, flowering season and flower color of each perennial you select. Does the foliage die back when freezes occur? How much sunlight does it require? When designing a bed, think primarily of plant form and texture. Pleasing foliage combinations (clumping with upright forms; delicate with bold textures) give the garden interest long after the flowers are gone. Flower color is another important design consideration. "Hot" colors such as orange, red and yellow should be grouped together and segregated from the "cool" hues and pastels. White, blue, silver and green go with everything and can be used as transition colors in the garden. I. This document is Fact Sheet ENH-68, a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published: May 1991. Revised: June 1996. 2. Sydney Park Brown, extension agent, Environmental Horticulture, Hillsborough County; Loretta Hodyss, extension director, StJohns County;David Marshall, extension agent, Environmental Horticulture, Leon County, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational Information and other services only to Individuals and Institutions that function with nOn-dlacrlmination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean Flowering Perennials for Florida Table 1. Useful Information for growing flowering perennials in Florida Flowering Perennials for Florida Table 1. Useful Information for Growing Flowering Perennials in Florida Page 2 Flowering Perennials for Florida Table 1. Useful Information for Growing Flowering Perennials in Florida Page 3 Flowering Perennials for Florida Table 1. Useful Information for Growing Flowering Perennials in Florida Page 4 Chilli Thrips -- A New Plant Invader Roses just got harder to grow because of a new out-of-control pest. Even the tough, durable and previously problem-free Knock Out rose is no challenge for this critter -- neither are many common ornamentals. Meet the chilli thrips that seem to be everywhere. It's just what we need n one more pest in the landscape that seems to like weeds plus roses, azaleas, camellias, Iigustrum, Indian hawthorns, pittosporum, fruits, vegetables and much more. Gardeners have to stay ahead of this pest and look for the damage that affects new growths. Plant foliage usually becomes distorted and often bronze to brown in color ,as noted in the most central portions of this rose (left). The discolorations may also appear as streaks and blotches. Unlike many other thrips, which are often brown to black in color, this species is pale yellow to greenish-white and very small. In most cases, you will miss seeing the insects without a hand lens or a microscope. Chilli thrips appear to be here to stay, having arrived in force about a year ago. It's probably best to check all your plants frequently during the warmer months for signs of this pest. Now the good news: Chilli thrips are controllable. At least one naturally derived insecticide marketed as Conserve is giving good control. It's available at local independent garden centers as Fertilome Borer, Bagworm and Leafminer Spray or Southern Ag Conserve. Some synthetic insecticides are doing a good job, too, including the synthetic pyrethroids marketed by most companies and Merit, which is found in several systemic insecticides. Check the label of the products to make sure the plants you want to treat are listed before making a selection. Then when applying the pesticide, follow the label instructions to be safe and prevent major damage to your plants while controlling the Chilli thrips.