Turk's Cap

It's quite easy to see why this plant is called Turk's Cap when you take a close look at the blooms.  They closely resemble old-fashioned turbans.  The most common color is this deep red one and it's the one I like most because of its attraction to hummingbirds. 

The plant has a pleasing shrub shape with large sycamore-like leaves.  The blooms are not overpowering on the plant, but there are plenty enough of them.  This plant is a close kin to the hibiscus clan and resembles them.  One difference from the hibiscuses is that Turk's Cap thrives in more shade.  This one is growing in the shade of a large Arizona Ash tree on the edge of my yard.  It is very healthy and happy.  These plants do not enjoy dry conditions and mine has an emitter from my irrigation system that supplies it with plenty of water.  They can survive in dryer conditions if forced to. 

Turk's Caps die to the ground after a freeze, but mine readily came back after last winter which was harsher than normal.  The Latin name for these is malvaviscus drummondii, in case anyone wants to look up more information on them.  The plants get to around 5' tall and nearly as wide.  They are wonderful for providing color to shady areas.  The blooms usually start in early June and will continue through the summer, into fall, and up to freeze time.  They are one of the absolute favorite plants of ruby-throated hummingbirds and are a must have for those wanting to attract these hummers.  Highly recommended for anyone in zones 7b and higher.  This is definitely an under-utilized plant in my area, which is a shame. 

Fruit Loop Fragrance

The tropicalesque leaves in the above picture come from a peculiar plant from Southeast Asia - clerodendrun bungei.  This plant is also known as Kashmir Bouquet, Mexican hydrangea, and rose glory bower.  The stems and veins are an interesting purple contrast to the deep green leaves on this plant.

The flower buds form a cluster of purple atop the plant that reminds me of berries.  They usually start these buds sometime in mid-May.

The buds open up to form this large bloom head of lavender flowers that resembles hydrangeas and smells (I am told) like the old Kashmir Bouquet soap.  I personally think they smell just like Fruit Loops cereal - a very pleasant fragrance to me.  Most readers of this blog know that I love fragrant plants, so I have a soft spot for this much-maligned plant.

Maligned, you ask?  That's because of the invasive nature of this innocent-looking exotic.  Once planted, it will send out underground runners in all directions causing more of the plants to come up everywhere, sometimes more than 10 feet away from the original plant.  I knew this from the beginning and planted my original in a far corner of my yard where I actually want it to take over.  If you are unprepared for this habit, then plant this one in a container or not at all.  It enjoys filtered shade around bigger trees and is quite tolerant of drought - this year in Louisiana is proof of that!  The plants can get up to 6' tall, though mine have yet to get taller than about 4'.

A Bouquet of Leaves

I'm growing increasingly fond of caladiums.  They don't need to flower to look good, they come in many shades of color, and they grow wonderfully in deep shade where little else does.  This year I bought several bags of the bulbs just to try out again and see which ones I like.

This huge leaf of White Queen is a standout in the bed.  This variety will definitely stay on my list of favorites.

Caladiums love moist, rich soil such as can be found in the understory of jungles.  They need the ground warm to grow.  That means don't plant them before April in Louisiana!  Stores in our area start selling the bulbs much earlier than that and the temptation is to put them in the ground too early. Usually, this just makes them rot before they get a chance to grow.  You must plant them in pots if the soil is still cool.

I've read in some places that you will get more leaves and a bushier stand if you break off the first leaves that come out.  I did not do that this year, but will try it in the future.

Caladiums are great companions to hydrangeas because they both like the same conditions.  They also do well around azaleas.  These tender plants cannot take a freeze.  They will die to the ground with the first frost. If you dig the bulbs up, you can store them through the winter and replant them the next year.  Sometimes they survive the winter in my part of the country, but not dependably.  They make fine shade annuals or container plants anywhere in the country once hot weather comes in.

Sometimes All You Need Is Foliage

I have a number of plants that are solely placed because of their beautiful and interesting foliage.  Caladiums are among the brightest and best plants for shade precisely because of their delectable foliage.  The caladium above is called White Queen.  It makes a very bold statement in a shady area.

Here's another picture with more caladiums.  Be sure to put these in a shady, moist area.  They should be put out once the weather turns hot.  In the very deep South, they often return after over-wintering in the ground, but elsewhere you must dig them up in the fall.

Another bold statement in a tropicalesque bed is this lush Bengal Tiger canna.   In contrast to caladiums, these do best in bright sun.  They will still do fine in part shade though.  The leaves are grean with yellow stripes and each leaf has a red highlight all around the edge.  These are bold and beautiful and will spread rapidly to make many more.  Keep them well fertilized and watered.  In my zone 8 area, these never need to be dug up and will come back every year.

Yet another plant that makes for striking foliage is the ornamental sweet potato.  This particular one is a chartreuse-green variety called Sweet Caroline.  You can also get these with burgundy foliage and it looks just as good.  These will easily fill out an area under a tree in a dry, sunny, poor-soiled place.  They have almost no pests and require no care once established.  They will completely die once a frost hits and must be treated as an annual.

These plants are just some of the great ones for filling out an area between flowering perennials and shrubs.  They give a garden that "full" look that is so desirable.  Don't neglect the fillers!

Turkish Delight

The cute Turk's Cap is a member of the hibiscus family.  It does equally well in full sun or part shade.  The bright red, partially open blooms resemble a turban, hence the name.  It is a favorite nectar source for hummingbirds and so should be planted in any yard that wants to attract them. 

My bush is fairly new and small.  It's planted in filtered sun and gets plenty of water, which it likes.  This is a plant that does not take drought well.  It can get to almost small tree size in tropical climates, but dies back to the ground every winter in my zone 8b area.  It's hardy through zone 8, but should be protected in colder areas where the ground freezes.  At the end of summer when many of my plants are looking ragged, this lovely shrub is thriving and looking its best.

Do the Hummingbirds a Favor

Do you like hummingbirds?  I do and it gives me great pleasure attracting them to my yard with flowers that they love.  You could not do better than to plant some cardinal flowers (lobelia cardinalis.)  This is one of the favorite foods of the ruby-throated hummingbird.  Not only that, but it is also one of the few flowers that blooms well in shade. 

Cardinal flowers are perennials that like a shady, moist spot.  They really grow well next to a shady pond.  In the late spring they send up tall spikes of the deepest red flowers you can imagine.  They slowly spread as they come back every year.  I haven't seen any pests on mine.  They are quite hardy and grow even as far north as Canada.  Let's all plant some and keep the hummers happy.

Pink Hydrangeas

I've already had other entries telling about hydrangeas.  However, this pink one I have is just coming into its own.  My daughter, Rhonda, sent these pictures to me at work.  This plant is absolutely gorgeous and I'm greatly anticipating seeing it when I get home.  Above is a whole bush shot that really shows off the rounded profile of the plant's growth and the large size of the blooms.  The plants with strap-like leaves growing on the left of the hydrangea are hedychiums (or "butterfly gingers.)"  Both plants enjoy the same conditions - part shade and plenty of water - so I think they are natural companions.

Here is a close-up of the blooms.  Such healthy little blooms that make up the flower-head.  I don't know how blue these blooms will get with more soil acidity.  This plant was simply labeled "pink" at the nursery, so I assumed that it would stay pink no matter the acidity.  However, the lavender tinge that some of the blooms have makes me think otherwise.

Japanese Painted Fern

I used to have a thing against ferns.  They somehow seemed boring to me and I refused to plant any of them.  Over time, my ideas changed and I started wanting some more filler for shady areas.  Not to mention that ferns are so easy to grow and come in so many shapes.  This is one I have growing between my azaleas in nearly full shade.  It merrily marches along and takes whatever comes its way.  It has a nice burgundy color to its leaves with a silvery sheen.  Put one in a pot for a shady porch or in the ground in a shady bed  and the Japanese Painted Fern will provide color and texture for many years.

Professor Charles Sargent Camellia

My Professor Charles Sargent camellia japonica finally started opening its buds today.  They are beautiful.  Not only that, but this is one camellia that actually has some fragrance to it.  Another very common camellia in the South, and justifiably so.  Have you ever seen a more perfect red? 

This is one of the buds just starting to come out. 

This is a picture where you can see more of the plant.  Notice the shiny, dark green leaves and how they contrast so well with the bright red of the flower.  I need this plant to brighten up this gloomy winter day.

Kramer's Supreme Camellia

The camellias are starting to bloom well around here and I'm loving it.  This is a Kramer's Supreme camellia japonica.  It's a very common variety that really thrives in the South and is a welcome delight at this time of year.  The plant is evergreen with shiny leaves that resemble those of a magnolia.  It's not a fast grower, so be patient.  However, it is a very long-lived shrub that will give you a lifetime of joy.  Most camellias don't have a fragrance and this one is no exception, but that doesn't detract from its beauty.  If you want camellias that bloom in late fall/early winter, then you need to plant camellia sasanquas instead of camellia japonicas. Give any of them acidic, moist soil in a partial shade location and they will thrive.     

What NOT To Do - Over-water

See how great this hanging basket of impatiens looks? This was before I got obsessed with making sure they did not run out of water. I was so careful to make sure they got enough water, that I wound up over-watering them. This caused them to get diseased and nasty, developing black leaves and root rot. They eventually recovered after I slacked off on the watering. Dan Gill with the LSU Ag Center says that people actually do this more during droughts than normal times. You actually wind up drowning plants during a drought! People with irrigation systems are also prone to over-watering. Not only is this bad for the plants, but it's irresponsible stewardship of water supplies and money. Find out what is ideal for your plants and water accordingly. A little less water is better than a little more because it forces the plant to form a better root system. Live and learn!

Caladium Collage

While we were gone on vacation, several inches of much needed rain indundated out area. The caladiums were very thankful for this and subsequently are putting on a show. This is a little corner that is filled with these colorfully leaved beauties.

Caladiums are much better in the Deep South than hostas. They take heat very well and love our humidity. They cannot take a freeze and die as soon as one comes. They will come back if the ground does not freeze. Do not make the mistake of planting them before it is very warm or they may rot in the ground and not come up. They come in many shades of white, pink, and red. Add them to any shade garden for a great filler or even as a specimen. They can be grown as an annual up North.

How About a Pink Hydrangea?

This is another hydrangea that I purchased last fall. I don't know what variety it is since the small nursery had it labeled only as "stays pink." I'm guessing that it is Glowing Embers. I'm growing it next to the Nikko Blues on the east side of my house where they get only morning sun. This one, though small, seems to like its location.

I'm Getting Very Impatien

Impatiens are probably the most planted of all shade annuals. They are so easy that it's no wonder. I couldn't resist getting some myself, and since I didn't have another hanging pot to put them in, they got stuck in odd little corners in my yard.

This first is an orange New Guinea impatien. I've heard they don't do as well as the normal impatiens, but have to see for myself. This one seems to like our Louisiana weather. I've got it tucked in between my giant callas on the shady, North side of my house. It gets plenty of moisture and mulch. Quite a cute little plant. Click on the picture so you can see just how beautiful the leaves of this cutie are.

This next little plant is a Double impatien. Yet another type that I haven't tried, so I got just one plant and tucked it also in my North side foundation bed with some more callas in between my azalea bushes.

Impatiens may be the brightest flowering annual for the shade. You just can't go wrong with them. Just be sure that you don't plant them in DRY shade, unless you water them often. They really like lots of mulch and lush soil. You cannot find a better plant to put in pots in shady areas. One mistake I've made is putting just one measly little plant in a pot. Put 3 or 4 of them in and the pot will look far more full and a lot quicker. Be sure not to over water them either, which can kill them.

I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues

We're back from our vacation excursion to Arkansas. While we were gone, all my plants decided to go on a growth spurt. These mophead hydrangeas are really looking good today. My baby girl, Ali, really does like my flowers. Hydrangeas are such wonderful plants. They should be one of the main shrubs grown in shady areas. They come in a ton of shapes, colors, sizes, and varieties. You can get one to match almost any color or scheme. They prefer to be well watered and get an occasional dose of aluminum sulphate to acidify the soil. Prune them to desired shape after they finish blooming. They are a necessity for shady portions of a cottage garden. I'd like to plant more varieties of hydrangea someday, but these old-fashioned ones here will always have a place in my yard.

Some Shady Characters

Here are some plants that grow well in shade. First up, is a pot with callas and caladium in it. I think caladiums do much better in the Deep South than hostas do because they take the heat better. I love their bright colors. I don't dig mine up and they tend to come back every year for me.
Next up is my first try with New Guinea impatiens. The bright orange colors really captured my wife's interest. I put them in my shade bed in between some Giant Callas. So far they seem to like the moist, shaded area. I've heard they aren't nearly as easy as the regular impatiens.


What shaded area would be complete without the colorful hydrangea? These are the old fashioned favorite to grow in areas that roses won't thrive. They need to have plenty of moisture and some shelter from the afternoon sun. To me, this is the flowering shrub of choice for the shade.