Apr 1

Written by:
4/1/2012 1:03 PM 

LSU AgCenter’s
Trial Garden Report
April 1, 2012

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Welcome to the April 1, 2012, trial garden report from the LSU AgCenter. This report is published semimonthly and highlights new ornamental landscape plants being evaluated at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

Turk’s Cap – Underutilized in Louisiana

Turk’s cap is a native perennial shrub of Texas and Mexico. Known by the scientific name of Malvaviscus arboreus var. Drummondii, it acts as a perennial in some areas and as an annual in colder locations.Several varieties are in the nursery trade. Flowers are red for the most part, but some of the new varieties have white and pink flowers. Flowers appear mid spring through first killing frost. There is also now variegated foliage forms. Turk’s caps attract butterflies, moths and hummingbirds.Plant Turk’s cap in full to partial sun. Most will even do okay in partial shade. Plants reach 2-4 feet up to 8 feet tall. The plants are very drought tolerant and require little to no care. Prune occasionally, as desired, for size control.  Fresh seed germinate readily and stem cuttings are very easy to root. 

 

We have the following varieties in landscape trials at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station:

• Variegated (pictured)
• Big Momma
• Common Red
• Common Pink
• White Lightning
• Red Spreading
• Pam Puryear (pictured)

Turk’s caps have been selected as a Texas Superstar plant.

‘Penny Mac’ Hydrangea – Louisiana Super Plant May 2012

Louisiana Super Plant announcements for the spring continue through mid May. This spring, ‘Penny Mac’ hydrangea if being featured in addition to BabyWing begonias and ‘Senorita Rosalita’ cleome. 
‘Penny Mac’ hydrangea will be promoted to home gardeners in Louisiana starting in early May. Mother’s Day is typically a high sales time in the garden centers for hydrangeas.
‘Penny Mac’ hydrangea is a wonderful flowering shrub that was introduced by Penny McHenry, founder of the American Hydrangea Society.‘Penny Mac’ produces abundant mophead flowers (large, rounded clusters) of deep-blue or pink. Its major bloom is in May, but expect blooms through fall on this repeat bloomer. This plant blooms consistently, even if the first buds are killed by a late frost. Blooms make beautiful dried flowers.This plant is a fast grower and has good disease resistance. Use this Louisiana Super Plant as a specimen plant or in borders and mass plantings for an outstanding show in your landscape.

Growing information on ‘Penny Mac‘ hydrangea: 

• Flowering deciduous shrub
• Part shade
• Grows 4-6’ tall x 3-4’ wide
• Space 4’ apart

‘Penny Mac’ is the sixth most grown hydrangea in the United States.

Heirloom Tea Roses Being Evaluated at Hammond

• Antoine Rivoire
• Baronne Ed. De Rothschild
• Better Times
• Blithe Spirit
• Careless Love
• Charlotte Armstrong
• Columbia
• Dame de Coeur ARE
• Diamond Jubilee
• Dr. Brownell
• General MacArthur
• Helen Hayes
• La Tosca
• Lady Ursula
• Mme. Butterfly
• Mme. Caroline Testout
• Mme. Jules Bouche
• Mrs. Charles Bell
• Ophelia
• Pearl Harbor
• President Herbert Hoover
• Queen o’ the Lakes
• Radiance CRN
• Red Radiance
• Richard E. West
• Mrs. Pierre S. du Pont
• Sunny South
• Texas Centenial
• Emily
• Tom Brenneman
  

Industry Association Open House - Saturday, May 12

Hosted by the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station and the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association, members of the Baton Rouge Landscape Association, Louisiana Irrigation Association and Southeast Louisiana Nursery Association are invited to attend an open house and garden tour for all nursery, landscape, irrigation and garden center professionals on Saturday, May 12. You can tour the grounds of the station on you own, and guided tours will be offered 9 a.m. until 12 noon. A jambalaya lunch will be served in the Margie Jenkins Azalea Garden’s gazebo. Complimentary. RSVP not required. 3 CEUs are available for Louisiana licensed landscape architects.