The Garden Club July 27, 2006

July 27, 2006

- Caryopteris 'First Choice' and 'Sunshine Blue'

- Rose Sale!
- Garden Club Questions and Answers

Caryopteris 'First Choice' and 'Sunshine Blue'

Add Late Summer Color to Your Garden
Caryopteris, commonly known as 'Blue Spirea,' is a family of small shrubs that add huge ornamental value to the garden. They bloom from late summer to early autumn - a time when most gardens are in need of color. Caryopteris is Greek in origin and means "winged nut" - referring to the small winged fruit that appears after the flowers die off. The common name 'Blue Spirea' comes from its resemblance to true Spirea. Caryopteris is also commonly called 'Blue Mist' shrub and 'Blue Beard.' This week we are featuring two of the densest and most beautiful Caryopteris - 'First Choice,' a long blooming introduction from England, and golden leaved 'Sunshine Blue' also developed in England.

Caryopteris 'First Choice'
'First Choice' is a compact, mounded shrub with vertical spires that are densely covered in beautiful inky-blue buds that open to reveal an even more beautiful violet-blue flower. These blue flowers are very fragrant and are paired with beautiful silvery-gray deciduous foliage. 'First Choice' starts blooming earlier and blooms longer than other Caryopteris. The strong fragrance and bright color attracts butterflies as well as many other beneficial insects.

Caryopteris 'Sunshine Blue'
'Sunshine Blue' is a small, dense shrub similar to 'First Choice,' but with golden foliage. Like 'First Choice,' the blossoms make excellent cut flowers. 'Sunshine Blue' has a strong growing habit and blooms well into the fall with clusters of deep blue, fragrant flowers. The combination of blue flowers with gold foliage gives a contrast unlike anything else in your garden.

Planting and Care
'First Choice' and 'Sunshine Blue' are known for their low maintenance and disease resistance. Planting them in areas with well-drained or even dry soil and full sun will provide you with the most spectacular bloom. Caryopteris is extremely drought tolerant. They will perform well in very light shade, but will not tolerate wet soil especially in winter. Lightly prune after the initial bloom to encourage re-bloom. Both 'First Choice' and 'Sunshine Blue' are small shrubs that grow to 36" tall and wide. They are ideal in a flower bed, as a hedge, as a specimen planting or incorporated into a foundation planting. Masses of three to five plants are particularly attractive.

Plant in well-drained soil in full sun.
Mulch to a depth of three inches the first winter.
Fertilizer with Flower-Tone in early spring.
Cut back by half in early spring.
Hardy in Zones 6-9
From 2-gallon pots.

$38.85 each or for a limited time save 20% off when you buy one of each!

Caryopteris 'First Choice' and 'Sunshine Blue'

Garden Club Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Would you kindly offer advice on a fungus problem? Beginning about two months ago a fungus began appearing on my shredded hardwood mulch in many areas. Initially it is bright yellow like mustard, turns tan and puffy, then brown and powdery. It typically covers an area about one to two feet in diameter. It was ugly, but seemed harmless. Today I found it on the trunk of and around an Azalea, which turned an olive-brown color and appears to be dying. Is this fungus harmful and do you have any suggestions about what to do to combat it? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: These fungi are not harmful. The spores come in most frequently with a poor quality mulch. The fungi are more prevalent in a wet season. There is no preventative spray that I know to be effective. The best you can do is to break up the fungi with a rake as soon as you see them and let them dry up in the sun.

Question: Are dwarf crape myrtles supposed to be cut back and if so when would be the best time? They are blooming right now.

Answer: Dwarf crape myrtles need not be cut back unless they are getting too large or are unevenly shaped. If you decide to cut them back, spring is the best time just as the new leaves emerge. At that time, you can determine if there are any dead stems that did not survive the winter and need to be removed. Never prune crape myrtle in the late summer or early autumn.

Question: I have been having trouble with clematis wilt. I have decided to replace the Jackmanii with a Betty Corning. I was wondering if there was any preparation work I needed to do before planting and if August is a good time to plant this clematis. Thank you.

Answer: I suggest you remove a couple of bushels of soil. Drench the surrounding soil with Daconil or Alliette fungicide. Then replace the soil with a half and half mixture of Chesapeake Blue Crab Compost and Fafard professional potting soil. Planting in August will be fine. Be sure to keep the mulch away from the clematis stems.

Question: I am being slammed by Japanese beetles. I have them on my roses, creeping phlox, Wisteria and coneflowers. PLEASE HELP!!!!! I am loosing everything to these PESTS! I've tried insectical soap, but to no avail!

Answer: The best insecticide for Japanese Beetles is Sevin. Use the liquid, rather than the dust, and spray in the evening.

We have had several phone inquires on Dodder thus we are repeating a Question from last October's newsletter.

Question: A bright yellow thread-like something has attacked several plants in my garden and appears to have killed them by covering and twining around the stems.

Answer: You have Dodder, a leafless, parasitic, morning glory relative. Dodder is an annual; new plants germinate from seed each spring. If they germinate near a host plant, they will attach themselves to it and extract the carbohydrates from the host. Dodder will bloom with little white blooms and drop seeds for next year's crop. It will sometimes kill the host plant totally.

Every thread of Dodder should be pulled off of the host plant and removed as soon as discovered, preferably before it sets seeds. Once fallen, ripe seed can remain viable in the soil for many years, so it is important to check broadly for several years in areas where Dodder has attacked plants previously. Two inches of shredded hardwood mulch spread upon fallen Dodder seeds will prevent them from germinating.

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