Adrienne - ONCE UPON A CONEFLOWER

Rose of Sharon to Brighten Late Summer

Morning Star in September 2021, after being in bloom for a full month!

Who’s not familiar with rose of Sharon? A staple in older gardens and rural farmsteads, does it still have a place in today’s modern spaces? Yes! Fortunately, thanks to a number of improvements, there’s more to choose from than ever, including dwarf varieties and better flowers.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus or Althaea syriacus) has been gracing American yards and farmsteads for generations. Its very staying power over the years says it all for ease of cultivation, excellent longevity and valued late season color.

Black-Eyed Susans Ignite Summer Days

Who doesn’t adore black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia spp.) for their non-stop flowering and strong constitutions? Most cultivars sport bright shades of yellow and gold but tender varieties come in coral, rust, bicolors and even red. If you’re looking for long-lasting summer color to cheer you up, rudbeckia will do the trick.

Black-eyed (and brown-eyed, and green-eyed) susans are also commonly called coneflowers, a name that can refer to echinacea as well. To avoid confusion I’ll just call it rudbeckia here.

Phytophthora Root Rot: What You Need to Know

This tongue-twister of a plant disease, phytophthora (FY-toe-THOR-uh) root rot, is a menace every gardener dreads. The prevalence of phytophthora is on the rise in many places including Pennsylvania. If you haven’t heard of it, now’s the time to learn more. This disease can kill a lot of plants quickly if not halted.

I’m dealing with it right now, and it’s a bear! Ugh. So I called in the cavalry — the professionals. Here’s what I’m learning about it.