Your Favorite Plants Improved for the Southern Plains

In Paul Westervelt ’s clause on perennial upgrades , he explains the benefit of stepping out of your comfort zona and trying new variant of seek - and - true plants :

“ After whiffing a few time , consumer and pros alike may be tempt simply to stick to time - tested varieties . But some of those varieties are n’t what they once were . In other suit , they ’ve been upgraded in meaningful way that ameliorate the horticulture experience — better substance abuse , longer blossom meter , enhanced disease underground . Before you blaspheme off novel plants always , moot these classical upgrades . ”

To help you find oneself plant life that wo n’t make you say , “ Ugh , I should have just stuck with the original , ” we asked regional experts to clean four improved versions of devotee - favorite industrial plant . All of these plant life have at least one of the characteristics that Paul lists above — better habit , longer salad days prison term , raise disease impedance — and sometimes all three . Find improved plants for the Southern Plains below , and for even more improved classic , check out Paul ’s article8 Better Perennial Plants to arise Over the Classic Varieties .

1. Hot Pink Wonder®ice plant

Name:Delosperma cooperi‘Wowdry1’

Zones:5–9

Size:4 to 6 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches panoptic

Conditions : Full sunshine ; dry , well - drained soil

aboriginal range : South Africa

Ice industrial plant has a identification number of uses in the landscape , include but not restrict to sway gardens , xeriscapes , foreground planting , and container garden . The gaudy succulent leaf ( I ’ve seen it likened to green jelly beans ) always is a bunch pleaser even when the plant is not flowering . However , like others of the Wheels of Wonder serial , Hot Pink Wonder has made a name for itself by have larger flowers and corking heat tolerance . Known for blooming profusely throughout the develop time of year , the pink blossom with yellow inwardness provide stunning eye candy for us and are every bit irresistible to pollinator . wintertime stake is accomplish via its evergreen plant foliage .

2. ‘Summer Carnival’ hibiscus

Name:Hibiscus‘Summer Carnival’

Zones:4–9

Size:3½ foot tall and 5 feet wide

stipulation : Full sun ; evenly moist to soaked soil

aboriginal cooking stove : loanblend

‘ Summer Carnival ’ hibiscus should be sought out for its variegated foliage alone . The deeply cut ( incise ) trilobed leaves have white and pink streaking that breaks up the monotony of typical hibiscus with average green ( occasionally purple ) foliation . This tricolor impression is a show - stopper and distinguish this cultivar from any other hibiscus on the food market today . Yet there ’s more ! In late summer through midfall , maroon - color flowers 7 inch in diameter adorn this already beautiful plant . bee , hummingbirds , and other wildlife frequently natter the blossom . Most U.S. nurseryman can grow this plant thanks to its panoptic range of zonal boldness .

3. ‘Blue Butterflies’ bluebeard

Name:Caryopteris divaricata‘Blue Butterflies’

Zones:6–9

Size:5 to 6 foot improbable and 5 feet wide

shape : Full sun to fond shade ; moist , well - drained soil

Native range of mountains : Eastern Asia

Bluebeard in worldwide are underutilized in American landscapes . However , ‘ Blue Butterflies ’ bluebeard is especially salient for its significant splash of truthful blue color tardily in the season ( August through October ) . If masses are young to this plant , internet description sometimes can head them to consider that the flowers , while pretty , are quite small . This is somewhat true , but the real “ flower power ” is achieved from the sheer number of nearly 1 - inch - long blooms feel up and down its stems . Although this plant is deciduous , do n’t trim back the dead blossom ; the ejaculate capsule will persist into winter for some pocket-sized cosmetic entreaty .

4. Jazz Hands Variegated®Chinese fringe flower

Name:Loropetalum chinense‘Irodori’

Zones:7–9

Size:4 foot tall and 4 to 6 feet wide

Conditions : Full to partial shade ; acidic , moist , well - drained soil

aboriginal range : Japan , China , the Himalaya Mountains

Even the most average fringe blossom grabs the attention of most nurseryman give its tidy growth drug abuse , free - flower repute , and relatively pesterer - free nature . This shrub asks very short of us , yet it provide almost year - round beauty in regaining . Just when you think it could n’t get any good , along hail Jazz Hands Variegated to blow the competition away . New foliage for this outer boundary bloom unfurls with splash of pinkish and white , with leafage in the end maturing to an attractive over-embellished chromaticity . cave in its consistently outstanding variegation , this fringe flower stands out from others because it can be free on its leaf alone even before bloom commences . Lightly fragrant pinkish flowers are hold up and down stem from April through June and , as is the case with allLoropetalum , it can bloom intermittently until the first freeze .

Mike Schnelle is an extension specialist at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater , Oklahoma .

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Chinese Fringe Flower

Photo: Bill Johnson

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Hot Pink Wonder Ice Plant

Photo: Bill Johnson

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