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| From In the Garden |
There are so many good plants in bloom this month that I had to narrow my choice down to one single question:
What is a show stopper in the garden right now?
The answer to that question has to be the Japanese Rose, aka Kerria japonica. My particular cultivar is 'Plenifora'; which is a double kerria that grows to about 6 feet tall and spreads slowly by suckers. It is growing in a spot where it only gets afternoon sun and it is doing great! I planted this shrub last spring and rarely watered it last summer. Despite neglect it bloomed off an on all summer and fall. And just look at it now! I think a showstopper indeed. Especially more so since it is sited under mature oak trees.
According to this website the kerria is hardy to Zone 5. Yeah for northern gardeners! This plant is a must have in all gardens. I like the green stems in the winter and I like its ease of care and long period of bloom. On my recent trip to McMinnville with my friends Judie and Phil, I insisted they should also get a kerria, and they did. You see, kerrias are poisonous and are listed as rarely damaged plants when deer maraud your garden. A good thing for gardeners with deer problems like my friends Judie and Phil. So far I do not have a deer issue here, and my dogs do not eat my plants so I do not worry about the kerria being poisonous. If you have plant eating children or pets take care when planting the kerria.
I also wanted to show you some other plants in the running for the coveted title of Plant of the Month in my garden. Last April's Plant of the was pulmonaria, a stellar performer even this year but not quite the showstopper like the kerria.
Grape hyacinths are a real stunner this year. I love the blue of them.
Camellias are still blooming strong. This particular one is a Camellia japonica. It is one of only two japonicas I grow and only because it was a markdown plant.
The 'Perfecta' bergenias I recently planted are trying to bloom.
Pieris is an outstanding shrub in the garden. I posted on this plant this time last year.
The tulips look pretty good. I enjoy them each year though hybrids are not my favorite. A post will come concerning the differences between species tulips and hybrid tulips at some point. Stay tuned.
Candytuft, aka Iberis sempervirens is hard to beat no matter the month of the year. I love this perennial very much!
Hyacinths are wonderful this year. I planted several hundred bulbs last fall. These were all marked down to cents at Rural King and I think I bought them out. The results show. And the bonus of hyacinths is that they will return each year. 
S P R I N G ! That Rose is wonderful and what a great color. The rest of your flowers look great too. I also enjoy the candytuft, mine is on the way out as far as blooms, it bloomed all winter so now I'll enjoy the rich green of it........
ReplyDeletePretty plant of the month and all the photos look great! I'm still awhile for spring but looking forward to it everyday.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, good morning. Major thunderstorm here at the moment. Great choice with the Kerria, I have the double flowered one also, a passalong from a friend of a friend. It has spread nicely and is just beginning to bloom. One of the nicest things about it is the time of bloom, before some of the other showier bushes begin. I think the yellow is perfect for early spring too.
ReplyDeleteFrances
I need to find a place for kerria, a plant that I've admired for years.
ReplyDeleteGreat plant choices!
Cameron
The star of the show right now in my garden is bluebonnets! They continue to be beautiful-but will end blooming pretty soon. Candytuff is also in full bloom as is the Indian Hawthorne. All very pretty spring flowers!
ReplyDeleteWe have that double Kerria in our Learning Garden and it is so bright and cheery! Great plant. I am envious about your hyacinths! Bet the yard is perfumed with such lovely fragrance.
ReplyDeleteTina, you have such beautiful blooms! I love hyacinths--not only because they smell so wonderful, but because the groundhogs leave them alone! Both kerria and pieris are on my wish list--I think they're both gorgeous. I'm kind of running out of room for shrubs in my existing beds... so maybe I need to create new beds! Happy Easter.
ReplyDeleteYour kerria makes a great choice for a plant of the month. It would look great on an arbor don't you think? ;) Anything that thwarts the deer around here is good!
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteI love Kerria. The *&%#@$ phone company dug ours up and threw it to the side. There is a ten foot easment In the back yard and they destroyed the entire bed and left all the plant's thrown on the lawn.
Our Hyacinths hardly did a thing this year.
Morning all! Wonderful day here after the thunderstorms have moved on. Sorry Frances!
ReplyDeleteDarla, Gotta love that candytuft!
Dawn, the bonus of having a late spring (I guess) is that you don't suffer thru such long summers.
Frances, It was a bit rough here but so short a storm. My dogs went berserk as always. Glad you like the kerria. Mine is growing too-it's amazing really. Guess what I bought on my nursery trip? Muhly grass! I planted it in my foundation garden and hope it does well. I have the deciduous azaleas you like so much, but can't help thinking of you when I see the muhly. I hope it blooms!
Cameron, I thought the fact it is deer resistant would be a big deal for you. It is a lovely shrub that gives and gives.
Bluebonnets are wonderful Linda! I would love to see them as I don't know if they grow here. Do you know? Hmmmm, got me thinking.
Janet, Those kerrias are great! Yes, the hyacinths are everywhere and happy and very strong. These are the giant mixed, said to be most fragrant. I almost get sick of the smell, if that is possible.
Monica, I did not know the groundhogs would leave hyacinths alone. Sounds like a very good thing in your garden. Yes, time to make some new beds:))
Dave, a good deer resistant plant indeed. Not sure how you'd put it on an arbor though as the habit is more shrublike, though it can sprawl. Are you giving a hint to your project?
Jamie and Randy, I'd be most upset if the phone company did that to any of my plants too! Grrrr-we might need to get back by planting two of everything then! Sorry about your hyacinths. Maybe next year.
The kerria is a show stopper. I can visualize it here in front of my pine trees.
ReplyDeleteThis fall I'm going to follow your example and plant a lot more bulbs.
Marnie
Hi Marnie, Yes they would look great by pines. The dark shows off their color. The bulbs were unexpected. Rural King had tons and they were literally cents. The planting took so much time and I have promised myself I absolutely will NOT do it again. It's not the work that is a bother, it is finding spots! My one acre yard is full by now. Plants on top of plants-urgh. Yes, time to stop but if you have the room, look for those sale bulbs. Still just as good and oh what a joy in the spring.
ReplyDeletespringtime is so nice, also at germany, I love this time of the year most...have a nice eastern time !!! Kathrin aus Bremen
ReplyDeleteFor being new last year I would also call it a show stopper. Looks great!!
ReplyDeleteI have NOTHING in bloom. My crocuses were gorgeous this year but have gone by (my neighbor still has some in bloom). I do have Daffys and Tulips nearly up all the way to the blooming stage.
I forgot yesterday and again today but Anonymous and Little Sidekick are home as I had an e-mail from her.
ReplyDeleteYour garden must be wonderfully fragrant with all those lovely Hyacinths. The variegated Kerria is nice too - it has single flowers and green and white foliage. I had to get rid of mine as it was in too small a space but I wouild recommend it if yoiu want a second one.
ReplyDeleteKathrin, Yes! Spring is wunderbar!
ReplyDeleteMom, You will have so much in bloom soon it isn't funny! Those lupines will be great!
EG, I am still working on your tree and guess what? We have the same here in the US. Tons of them in the woods. With the same seed. I have not forgotten-just been busy. Thanks for the recommendation on the variegated kerria. I've not seen it but will keep an eye out and get it as I am sure I can find room for just one more shrub-I hope!
Happy easter :))! Kessi
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, It is one of my favorite shrubs, too. I like the lovely yellow against the crinkled leaves! I have the single and really like it! The variegated kerria would be a boon to this shady garden...must look for it! Have a delicious weekend! I love your flower of the month series! gail
ReplyDeleteI rented a house once, and we had kerria growing in the backyard. At the time I had no idea what it was and tried to figure it out. That was over 10 years ago and I've only just realized recently what it was. It's such a pretty plant.
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to my Pink flowering currant. The hummingbirds have been loving it and it's covered in bright pink flowers.
Well, your first plant is not hardy here. Too bad. It is very pretty. My hyacinths were gorgeous, four I had in a pot of sedums. But they've faded away. Spring bulbs are about gone.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
That Japanese Rose is a show stopper! I have never seen one! I love the vibrant yellow! You have alot going on in your garden now!!!
ReplyDeleteThat Japanese Rose definitely screams April is here! I would have to say that the Azaleas would be my plant of the month since they are blooming right now everywhere. :)
ReplyDeleteA sure beauty and the hyacinths are georgous! They look like Easter eggs ready for Sunday!
ReplyDeleteI am off on the road again as of tomorrow so may only be in here a time or two....
Have a good weekend and Happy Easter everyone!
I really like the Single-Flower Kerria and I don't know why I haven't gotten one yet! They are especially beautiful in dappled shade.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. I noticed our candytuft the other night. a year or so ago I decided to rid the world of grape hyacinths... luckily they won and we have a few blooming right now.
ReplyDeletelol I'm chuckling right now about an April "plant of the month" here. It wouldn't be much of a contest ~ either daffodils or grape hyacinths since they are the only thing in bloom. That you have choices is amazing. It all looks so great and springy. I've never thought hyacinths looked good in my garden but I think the trick must be to plant them in mass because yours look so nice that way. The Japanese rose looks beautiful too. I can see why you chose it. Happy Easter Tina!
ReplyDeleteI found the same bargain at Rural King in IL before we left! Planted most of them in pots, and they did very well but are finished now. Some of my azaleas are still blooming, and the Knockouts and a few other shrub roses are starting their show. Stella d'Oro is blooming already here, and other daylilies have some big fat buds ready to pop. That Kerria is lovely, Tina.
ReplyDeleteGrape hyacinths - I love them... beautiful colours, it's true. Yesterday I saw a great area grape hyacinths.... hmmmm beauty beauty :)...
ReplyDeleteI always love the grape hyacinth - its rich blue blooms attract my attention to them and I'm planning to ask my sis to get the seeds for me. Do they do well in hot weather?
ReplyDeleteSorry, I couldn't resist talking about BH first, but your Kerria blooms are beautiful and their foliage too. Okay! Okay! I accept. Any serrated leaved plant would look good to me [showing my teeth with a stupid expression].
Ah! The tulips. Lovely is the word. Well, I'm sure this months GBBD is gonna be crazy!
Great pics Tina. Sure wish I'd had time to see them in person.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful April gifts, Tina. I love the vivid blue of your grape hyacinths and the sunshiney Kerria. And the hyacinths too. So pretty... Oh! I give up! I could never choose just one.
ReplyDeleteThe Kerria Japonica is one I've seen a few times recently--maybe you showed it before? And I do like it; if it's poisonous, though, I may have to wait until Sophie outgrows her puppy stage. I never know what she will eat:)
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading your post about tulips--I plant whatever appeals to me, and haven't given much thought to how the different varieties might do. I love hyacinths! What a deal you were able to get. Not much is in bloom here, but I'd have a hard time choosing between daffodils and hyacinths for my plant of the month.
Boy, I went to bed last night not expecting many more comments-and was quite shocked to have my email box full this morning. Thank you all for commenting and adding input to the Plant of the Month series. I think it is a good thing for folks around here and I enjoy hearing all the choices for plants and how weather is so different-from India all the way to Colorado!
ReplyDeleteTo answer a specific question. Chandramouli asks if the grape hyacinths will do well in hot climate. A Google search shows they grow in Zones 3-9 in the US. Doesn't help someone in India thought so I then checked Zone 9 (our hottest zone) to see what kind of requirements it has. In Zone 9 the lowest temp it will get is to 20 degrees. The highest temp is pretty hot as Zone 9 is located in central Florida in the US. So Chandramouli, I believe that if your area gets a bit cool at some point, then the grape hyacinths should grow well for you. They grow in Europe. Actually I think the Muscari armenicum originate in the Armenia area, so I am thinking they would grow well for you. Get some seeds soon.
You all have the greatest day and Easter!
That kerria is great--and so much better that it likes the conditions that you offer it. Isn't it great to have so many good choices for plant of the month?
ReplyDeleteYou left a comment about Heucheras on my blog a while back and I wanted to write it some place you'd find it :)
ReplyDeleteThey are my favorite! Generally speaking the more colorful the foilage, the more sun they need. Tiarellas (Foam Flowers) are the best real shade lovers. I have some planted in dappled sunlight and they seem to be doing ok though. The variety of Heucheras, Heucherllas and Tiarellas are vertually endless. They are supposed to be deer proof but, a woman at my local nursery was telling me about how her heucheras got munched by deer in her front yard. So I don't know if those deer are just odd or what but, if you buy some really lovely ones then maybe try to hide them from any woodland creature that would be tempted by the foliage. :)
Sometimes I swear that garden bloggers are bad influences on each other. Yet another plant that has been added to my wish list, kerria japonica!
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, it's all so beautiful I can't decide. My plant of the moment is scilla, oh, and hellebores. Well, can't forget daffodils. And of course there are the dogwoods. Nope. can't decide. (Maybe bleeding hearts. . .)
ReplyDeleteI've been studying up on kerria japonica recently, and thinking it might make a nice addition to my shady garden.
I've been looking for some climbers - will definitely keep an eye out for kerria. Do you think it would work in a large container?
ReplyDeleteI love the pulmonaria this time of year. Aside from the daffs its one of the few things the deer don't touch.