#1 – Cat Mint

One of the best blue perennials I have found is Cat Mint.  This perennial has it all.  Great foliage color and texture, relatively low growing and spreading.  Beautiful little blue perennial flowers that the butterflies love and a great scent when the leaves are crushed.  This little gem will do well on borders or in areas where you need something to take up some space but not get too crazy. 

Buy Catmint Here

Its hardiness is outstanding as well.  I pulled some of mine out at the end of last year because I needed to do a little clean up and this year it is right back at reclaiming its rightful place in the middle of my perennial experiment. 

#2 – Angel’s Trumpet

Angel Trumpet, Red

The next plant I would like to introduce is a great performer.  The Angel’s Trumpet is just an outstanding shrub perennial to have in your garden.  This tropical plant is a large shrub or small tree in the Columbian and Ecuadorian Andes where it grows and around 10,000 feet.  It is part of the same family as the tomato and potato but unlike them all parts are poisonous.  The blooms are breathtaking as they form a trumpet like flower that hangs down from the plant.

Angel Trumpet, Red

The Angel’s Trumpets were once botanically combined with the Daturas, which includes our native Jimson weed. Botanists seem to have finally agreed that they belong in separate genera. Datura has erect flowers that usually last only one day and a seed pod covered in stout thorns. Brugmansia has a smooth seed pod when one forms.

These plants are incredible and full of mystery and lore. There is some history of usage in shaman and witchcraft rituals and recipes. Here is a great book that details the plants and their history

It takes some time for it to come to life in the South but once it starts to grow you can practically see it getting larger by the day.  As it starts to mature and gain some height it soon starts to add its flare to your garden and becomes one of the centerpieces of the season.   

#3 – Bee Balm

Red is a must have in the garden but in the perennial world it is sometimes an elusive color.  Bee Balm is one of the best red southern perennials available.  It will do well in sun or shade has a great sturdy flower stem that launches its dazzling red high into the summer flower sphere and will grow from fast creeping runners.  The spread will reach 2 – 4 feet and a 2 – 3 foot height so division every 2 – 3 years is possible. These tight heads of tubular, red flowers are also surrounded by a whorl of colored leafy bracts.  The leaves in fact are what give Earl Gray tea its aroma and flavor.  This one is another “must have” in the Southern Gardeners garden. 

Buy Purple Datura Here — You can purchase Purple Datura here in plant form. Many places will sell you the seed but not the plant form. Look at the Angel Trumpet category to find the Purple Datura.

Devil’s Trumpet, Horn of Plenty, Downy Thorn Apple

Datura metel ‘Double Purple’

This is one of my favorite annual plants. The purple datura blooms consistently throughout the growing season. A great specimen plant for the flower garden that is sure to catch the eye and create some curiosity.

Growing Environment: Grows best in filtered sun, but will also grow in full sun. Water fairly regularly. Grow in well-drained soil. Plants are very suitable to container culture.

Propagation: By seeds. Harvest spiky seed pods in fall or when pods have turned brown and slightly crack open. I also suggest that you use gloves to harvest these pods as they will prick you! Sow seeds indoors or out in ½ deep. Seeds usually take several weeks to germinate. Direct sow after last frost.

Seed Collecting: Allow seed-heads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds

Uses: Grown as an ornamental for its amazing flowers.

Native Range: The Double Purple is a horticultural variety. Wild Datura metel is native to India and southeast Asia.

Danger: All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested

Bloom Time:

Late Spring/Early Summer

Mid Summer

Late Summer/Early Fall

Blooms repeatedly

Buy Purple Datura Here — You can purchase Purple Datura here in plant form. It is difficult to find them in plant form, they are usually grown from seed. Look at the Angel Trumpet category to find the Purple Datura.

Choosing Trees

• If you need shade, buy two of the best shade trees you can afford and place them to the south and west of the house. Leave at least 25 feet between the tree and the house to give shade trees room to spread.
• Select trees for interest in every season of the year. This should include some evergreens and flowering trees. Trees with berries will bring birds to your garden.
• Trees for Screening and Windbreak
• Choosing Small Trees for Small Lots, Patios, and Near Utility Lines

The Basics of Planting Trees

When you plant, always leave a circle clear of plants or grass around the tree. Make the circle at least the diameter of the root ball. This circle will insure that the mower and string trimmer maintain a safe distance from the trunk; they can scrape the bark from trees. Over time, such injuries will weaken or kill a tree.

Mulch Around Trees:

Mulch the circle around the tree with about 2 inches of your favorite organic mulch such as bark. Spread the material carefully to avoid piling it against the trunk. Mulch conserves moisture and helps keep the area weed free. You may need to pull out encroaching grass once or twice a year.

Watering Trees:

Water young trees regularly. Water every week during dry weather. The first one to two years are especially important for roots to become well established.

Fertilizer:

Fertilize at the beginning of the growing season with a product that contains a timed-release fertilizer that lasts many weeks. Repeat according to package directions.

Note About Tree Roots:

Tree roots spread to the tips of the branches, often farther. Compacting the soil, cutting the roots, or changing the level of the soil that covers the roots can slowly kill existing trees. Before doing landscape or home construction or underground utility work, consult an urban forester on how to best work around existing trees and avoid tree problems.

Choosing Shrubs

In any landscape, shrubs are among the most versatile of plants. They offer a variety of sizes, colors, textures and fragrances and can serve as hedges, screens or the backbone of a foundation planting. Before selecting your shrubs, determine the function you want them to serve and ask your local gardener which varieties work best in your climate.

The Basics of Planting Shrubs

Because most shrubs grow quickly, you can count on them for almost an immediate effect on your landscape plan. Plant and care for them properly and most shrubs will reach a mature size in three to five years.

In a new landscape, choose large shrubs for an immediate effect in key areas such as the entrance to your home. Use smaller, more economical plants in areas such as distant beds where size is not as important from the start.

When to Plant Shrubs:

Early spring is the best time to plant your shrubs. Plant as soon as the soil is thawed or dry enough to be worked with. If you live in an area where the ground does not freeze during the winter, it is best to plant your shrubs in the fall. The mixture of warm soil and cool air slows top growth early on, allowing your shrub roots to become better established and grow deep.

Healthy Soils:

Add organic soil amendments (i.e. compost, peat moss, planting mix) throughout the entire bed at planting. Work a two to three inch layer of amendments into the top eight inches of your soil.

Plant Depth:

Dig a hole the same depth as the root ball, but two times its width. This added width allows the roots to spread laterally and offers a softer soil base for early growth. Set plants so that the top of the root ball is level with the surface of the soil.

Watering Shrubs:

Always water the shrub the day before you plant to be sure the root ball is moist and healthy. After planting, water your shrubs regularly during the first year to ensure the roots are well established and grow to their potential. Shrubs with thin, fibrous roots such as azaleas will dry out quickly and suffer dying branches if stressed by drought.

Fertilizer:

Fertilize at the beginning of the growing season, especially while the plant matures during the first three to five years. For best results, use a timed-release product that feeds gradually for three, six or nine months.

Mulch:

To reduce weeds, conserve moisture and insulate the soil around shrubs, use one to two inches of bark or pine needles as organic mulch for your shrubs. Renew mulch in fall if needed and be sure to avoid piling mulch next to the base of your plants.