1. You probably think of kale as a leafy vegetable that you grow on an annual basis like lettuce and cabbage. Kale, in fact, is an ancestor of cabbage. Cabbage was considered to be an improvement over kale since it grew in compact heads consisting of many leaves that could be harvested simultaneously, as opposed to leafy cabbage predecessors, such as kale and collard greens, whose leaves were plucked one by one and would have varying qualities, depending on the age of each leaf. Yet there are also perennial tree kales, and perennial tree collard greens as well, for that matter, that can live for up to 20 years and may eventually reach 20 feet in height! Tree kale is sometimes called “walking stick cabbage” due to the fact that its trunk, over time, becomes sufficiently hardened so that, after the plant dies, the trunk is strong enough so that it may be cut down and used as a large stick for hiking. You can find seeds and rooted cuttings of tree kale and tree collard greens by searching for them on Etsy.com and eBay.com.
2. If you are seeking drought-tolerant candidates for spilling over block walls that will flower from now until fall, I have two suggestions. If you are partial to passionate blazing color, firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis) would be your obvious choice. This beauty offers a flaming blanket of deep red-orange in addition to delicate sea-green foliage that will remind you of horsetail (Equisetum spp.). A pink variety is also occasionally seen. If you prefer a trailing summer blaze of orange and red, you will want to select Mexican cardinal flower (Lobelia laxiflora). This species belongs to that select group of what we like to call bulletproof, or virtually unkillable, plants. Mexican cardinal flower will trail over a wall but it is also an aggressive ground cover that will cover a vast expanse with a minimum of water although the more water it gets the faster it spreads.
3. If you are planting a bed with annual flowers and wish to see them bloom explosively for six months, incorporate eight cubic feet of amendments per 100 square feet of planting area. You can use any well-aged compost, whether it is homemade or purchased by the bag. I recommend Kellogg’s Amend for this purpose. It contains rice hulls which guarantee excellent soil drainage. The amendment should be worked into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil with a spading fork. After forking in the compost, mix slow-release fertilizer into the amended soil— following package instructions for the quantity needed — so that your flowers will be fed for many months without having to make any additional fertilizer applications. Once bed preparation is complete, there is a finishing touch that can make a big difference in getting your flowers off to a fast and healthy start. Soon after planting, drench your plants with seaweed extract or any other liquid micronutrient product. If you follow this regimen, your annuals may well bloom for six months or longer. The bottom line with growing fantastic annuals is getting them off to a fast start. Once they have found their groove, nothing will stop them from flowering gloriously for up to six months or longer. The above recommendations are based on the annual flower-growing regimen of master gardener Ted Howard.
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4. Although not generally considered when discussing options for vines, the Lady Banks rose (Rosa banksiae) does merit acknowledgment during such a conversation. I recently saw a massive Lady Banks rose that had completely covered the south-facing facade of a two-story building, where thousands of roses were blooming at once. Plant either the double-yellow Lutea or double-white Alba variety. The growth habit of Lady Banks is an arching one so cutting back is essential, following bloom, to keep its form on an arbor or gazebo from one year to the next. Be aware that spring is the only season Lady Banks blooms but, on the plus side, this species is not bothered by fungus or insect pests.
5. In the month of April, primrose jasmine (Jasmine mesnyi) is noticeable as a drought-tolerant vine or billowy shrub. Its blanket of lightly fragrant yellow flowers, completely obscuring its foliage, eventually fade to white. Since its flowers emerge in puffy clusters, some gardeners have bestowed the appellation “popcorn jasmine” upon it. It is recommended as a background subject but can also cover an unsightly fence. Grow primrose jasmine as an alternative to bougainvillea. It will climb up a wall, arbor, or trellis with the encouragement of plant ties or continual shearing of any shoots that protrude outward from the vertical.
Please send questions or comments to joshua@perfectplants.com