Boo! Hiya campers. A nip in the air? Fall is coming -unless you are in Alaska like my friend Pat who had his first snow. Our plants are starting to die down in lemony waves of fading foliage. But we’re in the spirit of Halloween. With the plastic skeletons, plastic costumes and plastic gravestones surrounding you, wouldn’t it be nice to add a little natural Goth? Happy Violas, mums and kale can hardly darken one’s Halloweenieness, but we have some doozies. Scary goth-black Heuchera, dripping purple trailing and blood-red centered Heucherellas set the mood. Pick it up with a Black Pennisetum erupting in the centers or some seasonal and natural witches and bats to make an unforgettable combination planter.
Of course you can’t dismiss mums entirely, so what the heck, if you gotta buy them, hold them against the Gothy blacks and purples and make the statement. Culturally, the black and purple plants we offer tolerate full sun and average soil conditions. Standard potting soil is optimum if it has a bit more drainage. If the pot does not drain in fifteen seconds, then the soil needs more mineral aggregate like perlite or pumice. If you like your foliage big and bold, try Heuchera Grande™ Amethyst or Black.
Want a fun option? Take a small pumpkin, carve out the center, and drill a drainage hole. Next, take a four inch pot of Ophiopogon japonicum ‘Nigrescens’ and stuff it in the pumpkin. Instant Goth! (OK, you can add some googly eyes…) Come to www.terranovanurseries.com and download our latest catalog (it’s a doozy!) So many cool plants! Let’s have a boo!
Heuchera ‘Black Forest Cake’
Smooth, dark chocolatey foliage topped with bright cherry-red flowers. What's not to like? Excellent habit and showy flowers are a terrific addition to any perennial foliage lineup. Hardy in USDA Zones four to nine. A medium-sized plant that's great in containers and garden beds. The white flowers rise to twelve inches high on an upright but compact habit, twelve inches wide by six inches high. Bloom time is May through June, though you may see flowers in autumn. Excellent in a mid-sunny or partially shady border or large container. If you are into goth, this one is for you. Try as a Halloween accent plant. 'Black Forest Cake' is a favorite of the staff and visitors of TERRA NOVA®. No matter how you slice it, it's great.
This lovely, fast growing Heuchera has the blood-reddest leaves ever, a great crown, and it is a vigorous grower. The leaves are cut and somewhat ruffled and reddest in the spring and fall when the temperatures are cooler. The fourteen spikes with white flowers in midsummer complement and contrast with the foliage. Hardy in USDA Zones four to nine. It takes a sunny or partially sunny exposure, good drainage and likes to dry out between waterings. Pink flowers rise to fourteen inches high on an upright but compact habit, fourteen inches wide by seven inches high. Bloom time is from August through September. Excellent in a mid-border or large container. Works well with autumn color blends or bloody Halloween containers.
A star performer in Oklahoma's hottest summer ever. 'Gold Zebra' is a plant with a twist. Bright yellow, feathery leaves are boldly (and bloodily) marked with dark red. A standout in containers or “Front and Center” of the border. Nice bronzing with frost. Hardy in USDA Zones four to nine. It takes a shady or partially sunny exposure, good drainage, and likes to dry out between waterings. Pink flowers rise to eighteen inches high on an upright but compact habit, fifteen inches wide by eight inches high. Bloom time is June through July. Excellent in a mid-border or as a component in a large container. Works well with autumn color blends or bloody Halloween containers.
Dan Heims is an award-winning author who lectures throughout the world. He was recently honored by The American Horticultural Society with the Luther Burbank Breeding Award, as well as the Perennial Plant Association’s Award of Merit. He was also honored in receiving the Royal Horticultural Society’s Reginald Cory Cup for advancements in breeding. You may contact Dan at [email protected] Questions on culture and care or availability for a speaking engagement can be found at this email.
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
By Natalie Carmolli for Proven Winners® ColorChoice®
Fall is the perfect time to plant many woody perennials. Click here for interesting article that presents six outstanding shrubs that not only thrive when planted in the fall but also bring effortless color and interest to your garden next spring.
Click here to sign up for our monthly NEWSLETTER packed with great articles and helpful tips for your home, garden and pets!