Behr
07.08.2024 - 16:19 / finegardening.com
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Dart’s Gold’
Zones: 3–7
Size: 4 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil
Native range: Eastern North America
This is a wonderful, brightly colored ninebark. Everyone and their brother has a dark-leafed form of some kind, but gold-foliaged (really chartreuse) cultivars of ninebark are much less common. Such bright foliage adds a wonderful splash of color and breathes life into the landscape. ‘Dart’s Gold’ has an upright form with arching stems cascading outward. This selection of our native species produces ever-brightening heads of small white flowers in early summer. The fall foliage is nothing to write home about, but the exfoliating habit of the bark can provide winter interest. This plant can take heavy rejuvenating pruning, which can help maintain a smaller stature if desired. Ninebarks can have health problems (rot, powdery mildew) if garden conditions are too wet, so err on the dry side.
Phlox maculata
Zones: 4–8
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; rich, moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Eastern North America
About a dozen species of Phlox are native to eastern North America, but garden phlox (P. paniculata, Zones 4–8) and its cultivars still dominate nursery benches. Spotted phlox shares a similar native distribution but differs in some significant ways. This species is distinctly shorter, with more pubescent leaves. Flowers can range from white to purple, like garden phlox, but in my experience it has a stronger fragrance. Additionally, spotted phlox is notably more resistant to powdery mildew. It spreads by creeping rhizomes, so some effort will be needed to keep it from invading unwanted real
Hey GPODers!
Native plants, as the name indicates, grow naturally in an area or region. There is a growing shift among many people away from a manicured garden with non-local species in support of more natural areas, and especially, for embracing native plants.
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