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PLANT OF THE MONTH
JANUARY 2012 Winter Evergreens Perennials Listed below are a few of our favorite
perennials that will stick around with you through out the frigid winter months. Hellibore or “Lenten Rose” - Is a special little guy who
has cup shaped flowers that hang from rich dark green evergreen foliage.
- This plant is a turn off to the deer with
its thick leathery leaves.
- Winter weather only seems to egg this plant on, with its lovely blooms peeking above the shallow
snow.
- There are hundreds varieties of Hellibores on the market, from some very affordable to the normal home owner to those
only affordable to the serious collector. The blooms vary from greenish white to light pink all the way to a rich deep plum.
The flowers may have only one row of petals or may be extra special and rare with several fluffy rows of petals. One could
quickly become obsessed with collecting Hellebores!
- This plant is for shade.
Tassel Fern - Tassel Fern is one of a few types of ferns which can tolerate the winter cold with out loosing their fronds. However
in more serious winters they may loose their leaves, don’t fret in the spring your fern will come back out refreshed.
- For part shade to shade.
- Deer do not tend to like this guy much.
Grows 18-24” tall.
Liriope - Liriope, or Monkey Grass is a staple to the landscape community.
- This
comes in a variegated form and a solid green form both having spiked purple flowers in summer.
- When purchasing
this plant be sure to ask what variety you are getting. Liriope spicata will spread from here, there, and yonder where as
Liriope muscari will stay in nice tidy clumps. If you need a Liriope to cover a bank to help with erosion then maybe you would
be ok with spicata. Remember spicata = spreads the words sound similar, that’s how we remember one from the other!
- Deer
DO like Liriope, and apparently cows do too.
- It makes a great edging plant, ground cover, or just
about anywhere you need a low growing, little grass like evergreen perennial.
- Be warned, the green varieties
will become sun burned if exposed to the full sun in the heat of the day! The variegated ones have a better tolerance to the
sun, however they benefit from some shade protection during the hottest part of the day.
Dianthus - Also known as Pinks. With silvery green blue foliage that usually lasts
all winter Dianthus is a lovely addition to your landscape and has a lovely, spicy scent.
- The Dianthus blooms
late spring and sporadically in the fall with white, red pink or a combination. You will want to prune off the flowers after
they have finished blooming for a cleaner look.
- Dianthus is a sun lover which does well in a rock garden
type setting not needing extra water after it is established.
- Deer do not prefer to munch Dianthus.
The above listed Perennials are just a few good perennials
that will at least be visible throughout the winter when most die back to the ground and hibernate until the warm reach of
spring finds them once again.
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