We are excited to announce a new shrub rose (in 3 colors!) we are carrying called
Photos taken from Monrovia tags
disease resistant
long blooming (all summer!)
lightly fragrant
low maintenance (read: no dead heading or covering over the winter!)
very hardy!
They grow 3-4’ high and wide and stay compact.
Twenty five years ago our best selling shrub was the potentilla. When they came on the market, there were no other plants for this area that bloomed all summer. Over the years, potentillas were overtaken by an explosion of newer varieties of other popular plants that have now become the hot sellers. These plants include spireas, barberries, and endless varieties of perennials.
They are a staple for any yard. Their dainty yellow blooms bring a touch of delight to any landscape. They start blooming in June, and with just 1 trimming mid-summer will bloom until frost. They also bloom in the “off-season” of early July after the spring bloomers have waned and before the fall bloomers begin.
One common complaint about potentillas is that they start getting “leggy” or look ragged. This is simply a fertilizer and/or trimming problem. If potentillas are fertilized once or twice a season, and are trimmed twice a year – once mid-summer and again after frost in the fall- they will perform beautifully season after season.
Potentillas now come in multiple varieties ranging in colors of yellow, white, pink, and tangerine. Sizes vary from 18” to 3’.
If you haven’t included a potentilla in your yard, give them a try.
These early summer bloomers have beautiful pink or red tubular blooms. Many new varieties have recently come on the market. These new varieties come in multiple sizes and have various leaf colors including green, burgundy, and yellow. Weigelas grow best in full or part sun.
Here are a few varieties that we carry here at Natural Plus:
Dark Horse- grows 3’, pink blooms, burgundy/bronze leaves
Golden Jackpot – grows 4-6’, pink blooms, yellow leaves
Minuet- grows 2-3’, pink blooms , green leaves with purple casts
Pink Sonic Bloom – grows 4-5’, green leaves, bright pink blooms
Rainbow Sensation- grows 4’, pink blooms, variegated leaves
Red Prince – grow 5-6’, bright red blooms, deep green leaves
Rumba – grow 3’, dark red flowers with a yellow throat, bronze-purple tinged leaves
Spilled Wine – 1-2’ tall, 2-3’ wide, magenta blooms, red wavy leaves
Wine and Roses - grow 4-5’, burgundy/bronze leaves, rosy pink blooms
If you notice a bush blooming now with bright lavender-purple blooms it is most likely a rhododendron. Even though blooms only last 1-2 weeks, these early spring bloomers add a touch of spring delight as we wait for the other spring bloomers to emerge.
Two varieties of rhododendron do well here in North Iowa. They are PJM and Ramapo. PJM’s grow 3-5 feet tall, Ramapo’s grow 2-3’.
Another characteristic of rhododendrons is that they have “broad” leaves that do not drop in the fall. Leaves hold on and turn a mahogany brown/green during winter.
The ideal location for rhododendrons is on an east or north side of a building where it is more shaded from bright afternoon winter sun that can winter burn the broad leaves. However, this year we have noticed rhododendrons thriving on the south and west sides, and even in the middle of yards where there is no protection.
Care for rhododendrons is relatively easy. Water twice a week the first season. After the first season, water once a week if rain is inadequate. Fertilize with “Miracid” fertilizer 2 or 3 times in early and mid-summer. Trim or shape bushes early summer after blooming. (Blooms set on plants in the late summer and fall – so late trimming will simply trim off next spring’s blooms.)