Coleus for Color

Looking for an annual to add a little color to your shady beds?
Try Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides).  There are over 600 varieties of Coleus to choose from. 

The plant tag for this one didn’t list the variety.  Determined to figure out which one I have (so I can get it again next year) I’ve done some research and have decided that it’s most probably “Fireball”.

For more information on Coleus visit the Missouri Botanical Garden website.

Hydrangea Winter Dieback

Winter seemed to go on forever this year.  When spring finally arrived, we still had plenty of cold days mixed in with the warm days. The result of the crazy weather has been Hydrangea dieback.

This Bigleaf Hydrangea (H. macrophylla) has new growth at the base, but the stems are bare – a classic example of dieback.

If you’re seeing bare stems in mid-May, it’s ok to cut them all the way back to the base because they will not produce any flowers this year. The new stems should grow to the same height as the old stems. Hydrangeas that flower on new wood (H. paniculata) will still bloom this season.  Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood (H. macrophylla) may not bloom at all, or may have a few blooms but not until late summer.

For more information about Hydrangeas, visit the United States National Arboretum website.