Perennial Planting Strategies to maximize your Garden's Beauty

Black Eyed Susan

The vibrant Black Eyed Susan offers a long Summer and Fall blooming cycle, making it a favorite of all sun perennials. Its striking yellow petals resemble daisies, making it a garden favorite. It also attracts pollinators like butterflies, bees, and birds, making it an essential favorite in the garden. The black "eye" in the center of the deep yellow blooms is striking, making it a more exotic plant than most.   Black Eyed Susans Resilience and Growth At maturity, it grows to be 1-3 feet in height, and the spread is 1-2' wide. If you love growing plants that offer more than just beauty, always opt for native plants and wildflowers like the Black Eyed Susan. The Latin name is Rudbeckia Hirta, and for those without a green thumb or those wanting a resilient plant that blooms and can not be harmed easily, this is the plant for you! They Thrive In Sun These perennials thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and are low-maintenance native plants that live for decades. That's why TN Nursery loves natives; not only are they disease- and pest-resistant, but they are also low-maintenance and hardy. Wildflower gardens and beds are usually where homeowners like to plant rudbeckia plants. It is a vibrant and cheerful flowering plant native to North America, belonging to the genus Rudbeckia. Here's a description: Appearance: They are known for their striking appearance, featuring golden-yellow petals surrounding a dark brown center, giving them their "black-eyed" look. The petals are often daisy-like in shape, with a slightly drooping or upright habit depending on the variety. Size: These plants can vary depending on the species and cultivar, but they typically range from 1 to 3 feet in height and have a spread of about 1 to 2 feet. Blooming period: They typically bloom from midsummer to early fall, adding color to gardens and landscapes. Growing conditions: They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, although they can tolerate various soil types, including clay and sandy soils. They are relatively low-maintenance plants and are drought-tolerant once established. Landscaping uses: They are famous for borders, mass plantings, wildflower gardens, and cottage gardens. They also attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, making them valuable additions to wildlife-friendly landscapes. They Have Stunning Blooms Overall, Black Eyed Susans are cherished for their beauty, resilience, and ability to brighten up any garden with their vibrant blooms. They have a flower pattern similar to daisies. However, their bright yellow petals and cone-shaped centers are a dead giveaway. This exceptionally cheery flower can survive less-than-perfect conditions, making it an excellent choice for dryer climates. Whatever your landscaping plans, read on to discover why they should be a part of them. The Aesthetic Appeal of the Black Eyed Susan  They are mostly known for their bright yellow petals, which are of a similar hue to common sunflowers. The petals reach the sky before splaying parallel and then downward to expose the unique cone-shaped center. This gives the blooms an expressive appearance that spreads color and life throughout any landscape they adorn. Another attractive feature is the stem length.  The plants can grow between one and three feet tall, with two feet being the average. The long stem supports a single flower, which allows the bloom to be the focal point of the entire plant. The plant leaves are mostly basal, so they stay low to the ground. So, the stem holds the flower high off the ground with no nearby leaves cluttering the visual appeal.  The green plant has blade-shaped alternate leaves that grow about 3 and 7 inches long. The leaves and the stem of the plant are covered in fine hairs. The flowers' diameter can vary between 1 ½" to 3" wide.  One of their most striking visual features is the intricate cone structure. The cone juts out from the bases of the petals and is flanked by tiny, sophisticated leaflets that reveal a bulging cluster of disc florets. As the flower's petals splay out, the tiny leaflets surrounding the cone similarly prostrate themselves - giving the bloom a concentric, ordered appeal.  In a garden, the gilded petals contrast to green ground cover plants and can handsomely complement flowers of various colors. Since they produce nectar that attracts pollinating insects and birds, they're an excellent option for drawing colorful wildlife and cultivating a bustling ecosystem in outdoor spaces.  Benefits of Them  They have become one of the most popular flowers in America for various reasons. Here are just a few of them: They Make Excellent Bouquet Flowers - Once cut, they can last for ten days or more. This makes them ideal for adding to your bouquet and other floral arrangements. Their bright yellow petals liven up outdoor and indoor areas and work well with purple, white, and red blooms.  They Produce Seeds - Pollinators like bees and butterflies seek out the flower's nectar. Once pollinated, the flower produces seeds that attract a variety of birds. So this is an excellent option if you want to attract more wildlife to your garden. They are also a staple among cultivators of butterfly gardens.  Easy Coverage: If given enough space, the plant can spread and provide excellent coverage of outdoor areas. Even as the stems support just one flower each, the plant can quickly colonize empty outdoor spaces.  Larval Hosts: Certain butterflies lay their eggs in them because the nectar sustains their larvae. Some of the species of butterfly that use them as larval hosts include the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly, the bordered patch butterfly, and the Gorgone Checkerspot butterfly.  Visual Appeal: Of course, many home gardeners enjoy the visual appeal of the flowers. The yellow petals and the dark centers (from which they derive their name) produce an attractive color scheme reminiscent of summer weather. Their golden-blazing palette also helps to illuminate dreary earth tones and liven up otherwise dull areas of gardens.  Mosquito Control: Lastly, they can help regulate the mosquito population in outdoor areas. The nectar and seeds of these flowers attract birds and dragonflies that feed on mosquitoes. Limiting mosquito exposure can also safeguard yourself and your loved ones from insect-borne illnesses.  If you are still on the fence as to whether the plant would be suitable for your gardening needs, take a look at the following list of common questions and their answers:  Do They Come Back Every Year?  The short answer is that they can. Depending on the growing conditions, they can be perennial, biennial, or annual; feed the plant with fertilizer or compost to encourage perennial growth. Deadheading will also keep the flowers healthy and proliferate new blooms.  When Should You Plant Them?  It would help if you planted yours in the spring or at the outset of autumn. Be sure to plant them where they will be exposed to full sun. Provide partial shade as the root system establishes to encourage longer blooming periods.  How Tall Do They Grow?  In general, the plant's long, skinny stems will lift the dazzling yellow flowers about 1-2 feet in the air. As always, the growing conditions will greatly affect how tall these plants grow and how wide they spread.  Sun or Shade? They thrive in full sun. You can also extend their bloom by giving them partial shade.  When Do They Bloom?  The plant tends to bloom from the early summer until just after the first frost of autumn.  Add Sunny Black-Eyed Susans to Your Garden At TN Nursery, we pride ourselves on making gardening fun and accessible for all. Our Black Eyed susans are easy to plant. Place your order today and breathe new life into your outdoor spaces.

Hosta

Hostas are shade-loving perennials known for their large, heart-shaped, and often variegated leaves and spikes of bell-shaped flowers, making them popular choices for garden borders and landscaping in low-light areas. They are renowned for their lush foliage and graceful appearance, which offer many benefits when incorporated into landscaping designs. These versatile perennials have gained popularity for their ability to enhance outdoor spaces with their aesthetic appeal, adaptability, and ease of maintenance. Hosta is an attractive herbaceous plant that can grow up to 4 feet in height, although a height of 18 inches is more common. There are several species of them, each with slight differences in leaf color. Each species has a different bloom, making exceptional focal points in any garden. Hosta Has Stunning Leaves The type seen most commonly in the United States is the "Keepsake." The charming green leaves ringed with yellow accents are popular because of their hardiness in different climates and the beautiful vistas they create in a garden. Sometimes, the lighter color rings are shades of white rather than yellow, but they don't lose any eye-catching effects. They have leaves of a single color, usually dark green. All their leaves are sturdy and ribbed, even if they're longer and tapered rather than cheerfully oval. Most versions have pretty purple or white flowers that bloom in the early summer through the beginning of fall. The flower buds form in the middle of spring and are generally the same color as the flowers. Even when they're just budding, they are beautiful plants that complement everything else in the garden. Once the buds bloom, the flowers form trumpet, bell, or elongated pendulous shapes. Only one version of these flowers has a strong scent, called the "August Lily." It's a shy flower, blooming in the evening and closing up again by morning, so it'll brighten up any garden when the sun goes down. Hosta Does Great With Other Plants When they are surrounded by flowers of similar colors, such as California bluebells for the species with violet flowers or tuberose for the white-flowered species, it creates a breathtaking effect. Alternating the various species in concentric rings would increase their appeal and let them truly shine. This Hosta Is Good for Pollinators Hosta blooms are essential for pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The flowers provide nectar, and the leaves collect dew in the mornings, allowing these little creatures to drink while visiting the garden.

Fiddlehead Fern

Fiddlehead ferns are tightly coiled shoots resembling the scroll of a violin and are often used as a culinary delicacy. Their young, coiled fronds, such as the Ostrich type (Matteuccia struthiopteris), offer several benefits when landscaping projects. These unique and visually appealing plants have been admired for their charming appearance and practical uses in outdoor spaces. Fiddlehead Fern is native to North America, northern Asia, and Europe. In North America, they are most commonly found in Eastern Canada, southern Alaska, and from Maine to Illinois. Matteuccia Struthiopteris gets its name from the crowns it develops in the spring. These crowns or fonds tend to resemble the heads of violins or feathers. The Looks Of Fiddlehead Fern It is famous for its vase shape and tall curled fonds. On average, gardeners can expect them to grow between three and four feet tall and one foot wide. However, once well established, they can grow up to six feet tall and have a width of up to eight feet. They are found naturally in wooded areas that have rivers or streams. It is considered a deciduous perennial that grows upright. They don't develop flowers. Instead, the leaves are bright to medium green. The plant grows its fiddleheads in the spring, and they can reach heights of one and a half feet tall. Where to Plant Fiddlehead Fern in Your Garden They grow well in areas that lack full sun. Gardeners can enjoy planting them in shade gardens, along walls, and around trees and tall shrubs. When they develop their spore-bearing fronds in the summer, gardeners can dry them and use them in flower bouquets or arrangements in vases. It covers frogs and birds, especially robins, wrens, and wood thrushes, which tend to forage in them. These may also attract turtles, butterflies, and bees. Fiddlehead Ferns Companion Plants It grows well next to green ash, Virginia bluebells, wild ginger, swamp buttercup, common elderberry, golden Alexander, and wild blue phlox. It can also be planted under or near the American elm and silver maple tree. It makes beautiful additions to shade gardens and helps fill empty spaces under trees and around shrubs. It also has around water features in any area resembling its natural habitats.

Daffodil Plant

The Daffodil Plant is a Spring-blooming, trumpet-shaped flower characterized by its vibrant yellow or white petals and central trumpet-like corona. It adds a burst of color to gardens and landscapes. The plant's vibrant colors, from sunny yellows to pastel lemon, create striking visual displays that brighten any outdoor area. Daffodils are famous for being yellow, but there are all kinds of other colors, as well, including white, orange, and even pink. They also feature varieties with more than one of these colors. Therefore, they can form a splendid and colorful swash throughout any garden. They have adorned gardens for thousands of years. Indeed, the Greek name is Narcissus. Currently, it's the national flower of Wales. They've been harbingers of the coming of spring throughout their existence, and because they're perennials, each plant does the same for many years throughout its life cycle. They'll anchor your garden through spring and summer as long-lasting blooms, drawing people's gaze to their grace and beauty. The Blooming Trumpet The Daffodil Plant Before they bloom, the trumpet of the mature bloom is covered in a waxy shell called a spathe. The spathe is delicate and reflects the entire light spectrum when covered in morning dew. Not every daffodil forms a trumpet, however. They form two kinds of cups: charming double blooms and what's known as the jonquil, which is a beautiful two-toned bloom. Generally, there are two kinds of jonquils: one with primarily white petals and yellow accents and one that's the opposite. Such flowers that sport two exquisite colors can act as a transition between sections of the garden. The Daffodil Plant Can Reach 3 Feet Tall They can grow almost to 3 feet tall and a foot wide. Their mature leaves are tall and straight and only sag toward the end of the growing season at the beginning of August. They last more than a month through the heart of the summer, lending their multicolored cheek to any garden. Because they thrive in containers as much as in the open, they're a terrific accent for window sills, porches, patios, and decks, bringing their polychromatic cheeriness to every part of the garden and the whole property. Partners for Daffodil Plant The bright yellow of the plant pairs very well with other garden residents, including the Northern Blue Star with its deep blue and indigo blooms and the vibrant red of roses or dahlias. The color palette is nearly endless when considering them fresh, with fabulous flexibility.