Posted by Savneet Singh on May.03, 2010

English Ivy

Recently, I explored plant selections for your yard that can be widely-adapted to soil and climate conditions. Here are five more selections. Check with a nurseryperson for other recommendations specifically adapted for your area.

English Ivy (Hedera Helix)

General: This evergreen vine has three lobed leaves which can be used as ground cover or as a climbing vine. It can be used to cover the walls but at times it gets into the bricks, so keep looking wherever you plant it. Keep pruning so as to make it look tidy. It can adapt to a wide range of soil conditions.

Size: If climate supports it can be 45 feet or may be taller.

USDA Plant hardiness Zones: 5 to 11

AHS Zones: 12 to 1

Site: It needs well drained, humusy, evenly moistened, sheltered, full shady and good air circulation conditions.

Pest and disease prevention: there may be bacterial leaf spots. Provide good air circulation and regular leaf clean-up. You may find spider mites or deer attacks as well.

Kousa Dogwood (Cornus Kousa)

General: This plant is particularly better than the dogwood because of its beauty, superiority and resistance to disease and pests. It gets white flowers in late spring which holds well. The leaves turn reddish as fall approaches. The berry like fruit turns from hard green to pink in autumn.

Size: It goes up to 20 feet.

USDA Plant hardiness Zones: 5 to 8

AHS Zones: 8 to 3

Site: It requires good drainage, even moisture, humusy soil and partial to full sun.

Pest and disease prevention: Not really attacked by pests and diseases.

Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)

General: These are most common and popular annuals grown in USA. These compact plants form neat mounds with rounded, pointed leaves. They bloom continuously from late spring through frost in every flower color other than blue. They can make beds, borders, edging, nectar source for butterflies, hanging baskets etc. They need moist soil and can tolerate the full sun. You should use white or violet shades to light up the shade or dusk.

Size: they go up to 6 to 18 inches.

Site: It needs partial to full shades with a rich and well drained soil.

Pest and disease prevention: They need low maintenance. They may be appealing to deer also attacked by sludge, so take appropriate measures to control them.

White Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus)

General: This tree bears white flowers which have fragrance and bloom in mid spring and leaves turn yellow in fall. It can be pruned in a way to give it a shrub like appearance or like a tree by pruning lower branches. It adapts itself to various soil pH levels.

Size: It goes up to 30 feet and almost as wide.

USDA Plant hardiness Zones: 5 to 8

AHS Zones: 9 to 1

Site: this plant needs well drained humusy soil with full sun.

Pest and disease prevention: It is generally resistant to pest and diseases.

Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

General: These plants are native to Appalacian mountains, are also called as spotted cranesbill. It forms loose mounds of deeply segmented leaves. It has got purple-pink flowers which bloom in late spring for about 2 weeks. The foliage turns red to orange in fall and then dries. It can be used to have shady border. In order have good growth cut back in fall or spring, add shredded leaves or compost in spring and fall. Don’t overdo, because it may promote weak and floppy growth. It can grow in wide varieties of soil -from sandy to clay.

Size: 1 to 2 feet tall

USDA Plant hardiness Zones: 4 to 8

AHS Zones: 8 to 1

Site: It needs well drained and moist soil and high shades.

Pest and disease prevention: There is no serious threat to disease or pests.

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Posted under Organic Garden.