September Blooms: Hardy Hibiscus

Create a lush fall garden with brilliant September blooms:



Hardy Hibiscus zones 4-9

Huge blooms grace the garden from late summer until the first frost. Although they look tropical, they are very cold hardy and they thrive in moist soil.

Very late to leaf out in the spring. Don't give up on them, just because they look like bare sticks in May! Once they get going in warmer weather, you can't believe how fast they grow! In June watch out for Japanese beetles, because we've see hibiscus leaves turned to lace by those rotten defoliators. Use a preventative oil based spray, or if you actually see beetles on your hibiscus use Captain Jack's Dead Bug Spray (approved for organic gardening).

If you're out in deer country, spray the foliage and huge flowers with deer repellent. Locally made Deer Defeat is our favorite.

During your fall clean-up when the hibiscus has dropped its leaves, trim the stems down to about 6" from the ground.

Bulbs Arrive September 15th!

Spring blooming bulbs arrive September 15th.

Many Deer Resistant Spring and Early Summer Flowering Bulbs! Here are a few:



GRAPE HYACINTH (Muscari)

Sweet fragrance and a brilliant blue color have made Grape Hyacinth long standing favorites. This is the perfect little bulb for massing under trees that haven't yet leafed out. And it doesn't take many bulbs to rapidly spread into a mass planting. For more information read this article from Fine Gardening.

* Height: 4 - 7"
* Bloom Time: Mid-Spring
* Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
* Zones: 3 - 9



SCILLA, SQUILL or STAR OF HOLLAND (Scilla siberica)

These little charmers work best when allowed to naturalize in the lawn. They surprise you every year with a carpet of dazzling blue. If you find yourself looking out the window, searching for signs of spring, scilla won't disappoint.

* Height: 4 - 6"
* Bloom Time: Early Spring
* Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade
* Zones 1 - 9



SNOWDROPS (Galanthus nivalis)

They look like snowdrops and they bloom while the snow is still dropping. If Galanthus has a drawback, it's that it can't take any heat. But just like crocus, Galanthus lets us know that ground is warming. Plant them near a door or walkway for the best view.

* Height: 4 - 6"
* Bloom Time: Very Early Spring
* Exposure: Sun
* Zones: 3 - 9



WINTER ACONITE (Eranthis cilicica)

With its upturned petals and down turned foliage, Eranthis can form a thick clump fast. The yellow flowers generally bloom at the same time as Scilla and dwarf iris and make a nice complement.

* Height: 2 - 4"
* Bloom Time: Early Spring
* Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
* Zones: 4 - 7

ALLIUM

Ornamental onions are among the most deer resistant flowering bulbs. The most commonly know alliums have pom pom like blossoms on top of single, straight stalks. There is, however, a fair amount of variation in the species. Allium schubertii looks like a fireworks sparkler. Others, like Allium unifolium and Allium bulgaricum are bell shaped. You can find alliums in almost every color and height and their bloom times vary throughout the season. Allium are also rodent resistant.

* Height: Varies (4" - 4')
* Bloom Time: Late Spring - Early Summer
* Exposure: Full Sun
* Zones: 4 - 9

CROCUS

The bright colors of crocus are a welcome sign that the soil is starting to warm. Crocus will even bloom in the snow. This versatile little spreader can be used as a ground cover or as an accent. Plant a few by your mail box to make the walk down to collect your mail worth it.

* Height: 4"
* Bloom Time: Early Spring
* Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
* Zones 3 - 9

DWARF IRIS ( Iris reticulata )

You get the familiar iris flower on a low growing, spreading plant that blooms early in the season. What's not to like. You can find Iris reticulata in blues, purples and white. They all blend extremely well with other spring bloomers.

* Height: 4 - 6"
* Bloom Time: Early Spring
* Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
* Zones: 5 - 9

Fritillaria

Fritillaria add a touch of drama to your spring garden. From the dramatic, loud colors of 'Crown Imperial', to the speckles of 'Guinea Hens' (Fritillaria meleagris ), the deep purple of Fritillaria persica, the bi-colors and the creamy white 'Ivory Bells", Fritillaria will be noticed. They look exotic, but they are fuss-free, easy growers. Fritillaria are also rodent resistant.

* Height: Varies (10 - 24")
* Bloom Time: Mid-Spring
* Exposure: Full Sun to Shade
* Zones: 4 - 9

September blooms: Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)

Cheerful and reliable September blooms:





Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) zones: 3-9

One of the easiest perennials to grow, and there is something universally cheerful about a huge stand of these daisy-like yellow flowers. Plant in full sun.

Despite anything you may have heard, Black-eyed Susans are NOT deer resistant. But they do naturalize if given the chance, so two or three plants can become a large stand over time. Once they reach a certain critical mass, any deer damage tends to remain on the edges, not diminishing the effect of the whole clump.

Until your Rudbeckia reaches such a critical mass, protect them with deer repellent, such as Deer Defeat.

September blooms: Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)

September blooms couldn't be easier:



Buddleia (Butterfly Bush) zones 5-9

Most of you are familiar with this butterfly beacon. It comes in many colors, grows 5 to 10 feet tall, and reseeds itself when happily situated. If you deadhead the past blooms, the buddleia will continue to provide color for your garden and nectar to your butterflies through the fall!

Buddleia is a deer resistant, full sun staple. Because so many people have them, we get lots of questions regarding when and how and how much to cut the shrubs back.

You basically have three options: You can leave it be in the fall and cut it back in the spring as leaves emerge. At that point, trim back the parts that don't leaf-out.

Or you can cut the shrub in half during your fall clean-up, but most likely you will still need to trim it up a bit again in the spring as it leafs-out.

Or you can completely neglect your butterfly bush, leaving the buddleia alone for years at a time until at some point it looks like it needs attention. (They are pretty and pretty easy, which is why they are so popular!)

September Blooms: Geranium ‘Rozanne’

Our feature on plants that actually flower in September continues:



Geranium ‘Rozanne’ zones 3-9

A perennial geranium that belongs in everyone’s garden. Why? Because it produces a profusion of purple flowers from May until October! Super low maintenance. Absolutely the most bloom for your buck!

September Blooms: Veronica ‘Purpleicious’ (Speedwell)

Extend your bloom through the fall:



Veronica ‘Purpleicious’ (Speedwell) zones 4-8

Purple flower spikes 16’ to 20” inches tall perform into the fall if deadheaded.

Veronica ‘Purpleicious’ first blooms in June. Deadhead after the first wave of flowers fade, add a little low-nitrogen fertilizer to encourage more blooms, and sure enough, another wave will emerge in late August and early September. A little extra work for a lot of extra color!

(We use an organic, low nitrogen fertilizer called "Bloom" that we carry at Victoria Gardens. We find it works wonders on perennials, fruit, tomatoes, roses, and annuals.)

Veronica is not deer resistant. For similar form, color, and reblooming properties use the deer resistant perennial Salvia.

September blooms: Chelone (Turtlehead)

September can be lush with flowers, if you choose the right plants:



Chelone (Turtlehead) zones 5-9

A unique name and an easy plant to grow. The pink flowers are shaped like a turtle's head supposedly.

This plant grows 24" to 36" tall and wide in a lush stand, covered in the unusual pink blooms. Can tolerate wet soil and will grow pond side or stream side, but will also thrive in your well drained perennial border. Victoria has this one in her own yard, and the flowers really brighten up the fall garden.