Do you have suggestions to get my Tuff Stuff Hydrangea bloom blue. I have tried all kinds of additives with no success. I was able to maintain a blue bloom on Endless Summer with little effort.

Do you have dwarf Conifers in your borders? There so many choice varieties.

Carolyn

Chris

I did a little reading on bronze leaf hibiscus as to locating. To bloom well and keep the dark leaves they need full sun. If you place it in full sun you have to choose the right location to watch the moisture levels and do not allow to dry out. They also recommend protecting from winds. If I do get a couple they will not get all that here… maybe mostly sun exposure… halfway decent soil.

I have couple of Deutzia, Fraiche and Chardonnay Pearls. Have seen Abelia Rose Creek and have been tempted. I gave up on Ilex and Buxus.. all variegated foliage boxwood have died on me.

And so it goes.

Gene

 

From: o*@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of Chris Petersen
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2018 4:28 PM
To: g*@hort.net
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Shrubs

 

Gene,

 

I’ve seen those bronze hibiscus for sale this fall. I wonder how much sun they need and will they need spraying to prevent insect damage? 

 

I bought Abelia ‘Rose Creek’ a few years ago. It has a nice compact form and the flowers are long lasting. Deutzia ‘Creme Fraiche’ is variegated with white flowers. It gets to about 2’ tall and likes part shade. 

 

I’m also trying Buxus ‘Eseles’ or Wedding Ring (the trade name). It has golden foliage and is a compact grower. I had a beautiful Ilex crenata ‘Golden Helleri’ in the same spot, but it died after this past winter. Now I can’t find it anywhere locally. 

 

My gardens have been getting fine tuned. You can see some pictures on my website. I haven’t made any new pages lately, as I’ve been busy with my daylily club’s website. 

 

Chris Petersen, NY

chrispnpt.weebly.com

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 9, 2018, at 2:07 PM, Gene- NetSurfUsa <e*@rewrite.hort.net> wrote:

Chris,

 

Have been redesigning sections of the garden with more shrubs. Developed an interest in the smaller sizes that were new to me.

Couple of Abelia in standard size and a smaller one. Some really great new color foliage in dwarf Barberrys.. I am into the yellows and browns. Dwarf Butterfly bushes…. Two feet tall… cool. Getting interested I dark foliage Diervillas 3 to 4 feet. Have a new dwarf hydrangea Tiny Tough Stuff. I did break down and purchased standard size Black Lace Sambucus. Refound Spirea and tiny Viburnums. Finally a Midnight Wine Weigelia. Now looking at the shorter dark foliage hardy Hibiscus.

 

Gene

www.shadegardenexpert.com

 

Ordered 3 of the patio clematis for containers.

What shrubs did you buy Gene?

 

Chris Petersen, NY

chrispnpt.weebly.com