By Matt S., Pitt County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent When we think of bulbs in the garden, our minds likely turn first to those we typically plant in fall with the promise of early spring blossoms, such as crocus, daffodil, tulip and hyacinth. While each of these is an undeniable garden stalwart and a harbinger of spring, there are a quite a number of garden bulbs that are less familiar, including many that are best planted in spring and bloom in the summer. Among these is the diminutive rain lily, Zephyranthes candida, a member of the amaryllis family that grows to a height of less than 1 foot tall. This particular species of rain lily is native to South America, though other species of Zephyranthes have native ranges which stretch further north through Mexico and the southern United States. Rain lilies, as their name suggests, tend to bloom shortly after periods of summer rain, particularly when growing in the wild. Individual flowers of Z. candida are white, with 6 petals radiating out like rays from the bloom’s center. Other species of rain lily have similar flower shapes, but come in additional colors including pink and yellow. Foliage is evergreen, long and slender. In many ways, rain lilies resemble crocus, from height, to flower shape, to foliage, though the petals of rain lily tend to be flatter and more pointed at the tip, compared to crocus blooms, which are a bit more saucer shaped. Because of their general similarities, they can be used in many of the same types of garden settings, including rock gardens, slopes, walkways, containers, patios, and even as a houseplant. In colder climates the bulbs will not over-winter outdoors and must be dug up and brought indoors for the winter. While that is not necessary here, the plants do perform well indoors as houseplants, though likely with less frequent bloom. Forms in a mass. Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 2.0 Rain lilies are generally pest-free, news that always makes gardeners rejoice. They will occasionally be grazed on by generalist feeders such as slugs or spider mites, but these rarely cause any significant damage. Rain liIies are also tolerant of many adverse soil conditions, including very dry soils, as well as overly wet ones. Like many bulbs, the rain lily does not like to be wet in the winter time. Be sure to provide adequate drainage, particularly if grown in outdoor containers that can often get soggy during winter months.
Rain lily will be one of many plants offered at the annual Master Gardener Plant Sale at the Pitt County Arboretum next Saturday, May 18 from 10 am-12 noon. We hope to see you there! Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.
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Gardeners deal with a lot of challenges, from weather to pests to soil issues, in order to get their plants to thrive. It seems like many of our favorite plants are finicky to at least a moderate degree, so it's always nice to find plants that are relatively easy to grow. Given that, imagine if I told you there is a perennial plant with a fairly extended bloom time throughout late summer and early spring, that is tolerant of drought and able to stand periods of excessive moisture. In addition, the plant is resistant to damage from deer and rabbits, and also free from any significant disease or insect pests. You’d probably want that plant for your garden, right? I thought so. That plant, or one of perhaps several that fit that bill, is Stokesia laevis or Stoke’s aster. Stoke’s aster is a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family. Unlike other asters it does not wait until fall to bloom, but it does have a classic daisy-like flower with a disc like center from which petals radiate. Stoke’s aster is typically blue in bloom, though flower color can also include white, pink, or purple, depending on the variety. Flowers are lightly fragrant and typically appear in early May and last through June. Deadheading is not essential, but will often extend the bloom period even longer. Stoke’s aster is a low-growing perennial, typically with a height of about 1-2 feet with a similar spread. As such, it’s a good idea to place along borders or edges of garden spaces or mixed amongst other perennial plants of roughly similar height. It can tolerate a bit of shade, so having a few taller plants nearby that cast a brief shadow is fine, but it prefers mostly sun and will flower best when provided with full sun. It is native to the southeastern United States, and a great nectar source for a number of bee and butterfly species.
to the color of the bloom, but to the female botanist from Mississippi who discovered it, Peachie Saxton. Rosea’ is a pink-blooming variety, ‘Alba’ and ‘Silver Moon’ have white flowers, and ‘Mary Gregory’ blooms yellow. Any of these make great additions to perennial gardens, native plant or wildflower collections, and cottage gardens. Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.
Figs are unique among fruits grown in North Carolina. Unlike most fruit, in which the edible portion is matured ovary tissue derived directly from flowers, fig fruits are inverted flowers surrounded entirely by stem tissue. Mature figs contain only the remnants of flowers and unfertilized ovaries. Beyond this biological curiosity, there are some other things to know that making growing figs different than other fruit producing plants.
There are some other reasons why figs might underperform, however, other than just poor varieties, figs generally don’t need a lot of fertilizer. A good rule of thumb is to use a pound of 10-10-10 per year of age or foot of height (no more than 15 pounds) in the spring. However, if your figs are putting out more than a foot of new growth each year, this much growth will prevent the figs from fruiting heavily and will make them more likely to be damaged in the winter.
damaged, or old branches. Pruning at the wrong time can negatively affect fruit production. Site selection is important. Figs are not particular as to soil type, but they do require good drainage. It is important to plant a fig in a protected site for winter protection. Planting them out in the open makes it more likely they’ll be damaged by cold.
may fall prematurely, however, if the figs have been over fertilized, are in heavy shade, were damaged during winter, are under drought stress, or soil drainage is poor.
Cold winters can be difficult for figs. Although it doesn’t happen every year, if we have a day or two in winter that dip into the single digits, some figs may die back to the ground. While figs have a hardy root system and produce new shoots from the ground, the above ground growth is susceptible to damage below 10 degrees. Should this happen to your fig, it will survive, but more aggressive pruning will be necessary to help it recuperate. Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705. |
Matt Stevens
Pitt County Extension Director & Horticulture Agent Archives
May 2024
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