Perennial Plant of the Year 2003
It is really difficult to visualize a garden bed full of spectacular
colored flowers when the temperature is hovering near freezing. The
growing season is close. Temperatures will be warming, days will continue
to
lengthen and spring bulbs will pop forth from their winter hibernation.
During the occasional cold, dreary day, plan to add some low maintenance
plants to your home landscape. One great source of plants is the Perennial
Plant Association. Each year the Association’s members select
a perennial that is suitable for a wide climate types, low maintenance
and exhibits multi-seasonal interest.
The Perennial Plant of the Year 2003 is Leucanthemum ‘Becky’,
the Becky Shasta daisy. ‘Becky’ was selected on the basis
of its bright white flowers, sturdy stems that resist lodging and long
season of bloom. Leucanthemum ‘Becky’ has proven to be
a lovely and dependable perennial for herbaceous borders across the
country.
To gardeners, daisies have always exuded charm and friendliness.
As a child many people remember running through a field of wild daisies
or
picking some for their mothers or teachers. Gardeners have long valued
daisies of all types as excellent pass-along plants. Leucanthemum ‘Becky’ is
the quintessential daisy.
‘
Becky’ has sturdy, upright stems that grow 40 inches tall, with
a similar spread. Three-inch wide, single white flowers with contrasting
yellow centers appear at the end of June or early July when other Shastas
are finishing. Flowering continues throughout August and often into
September. Becky Shasta daisy grows well in hardiness zones 4 to 9.
An excellent cultivar of an old-fashioned favorite, Becky Shasta
daisy grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Plants are not
tolerant
of excessive moisture or wet soils in winter. Deadheading encourages
rebloom and extends the flowering season into autumn. Stems can be
cut back to the lower foliage after flowering to tidy the plant. The
flower
stems are strong enough to keep this daisy upright after a heavy rain
and to make it an excellent cut flower. Many Shasta daisies do not
grow well in the hot, humid temperatures of the South and are not hardy
in
cold northern winters. ‘Becky’ is superior to other Shasta
daisies due to its robust habit and its good performance in both southern
and northern climates.
Leucanthemum ‘Becky’ is a wonderful choice to be grown as
a specimen or en masse in the perennial border, in naturalistic landscapes,
to attract butterflies, for garden bouquets and even in large containers.
It can be one of the main stalwarts of the summer border. Plant with
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian sage) for a long season of bloom. Place
Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’ (pincushion flower)
in front and add Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ for a lovely combination
of white, blue and blue-lavender. For extra zing, add Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ a
brilliant scarlet red, summer flowering bulb.
For Perennial Plant of the Year selections from previous years, check
out the Perennial Plant Association web site at www.perennialplant.org.
Source: Perennial Plant Association
Spring 2003
Hort
Shorts | Hort Tips | Crabgrass:
A Weed’s Weed! | Health & Household
Tips | Perennial Plant of the Year 2003 | Mulch
Reminder | Using Organic Fungicides | Bug
Bites: A Bug Bite is Not Always a Bug Bite | Lawn
Care Calendar | Cybergarden Sites | Pondering
Early Planting? Think Lettuce | Eggology | Soup
for Supper | Protein-Rich Diets and Weight
Loss
Index
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