Welcome to Blooming Blurbs Part Three!
Check out what's currently blooming in The Gardens:
Blue Globe Thistle (Echinops bannaticus 'Taplow Blue')
These round blue blooms can be found in the Pollinator Garden of the Garden of Eatin.' Though they are quite nice to look at, they are much less nice to the touch, as both their flowers and leaves are spiky. Bees, however, don’t mind this at all and can commonly be seen going from bloom to bloom, collecting nectar and pollen. One advantage of this species is that it will bloom multiple times throughout the summer, usually starting in July and ending in early September. It is commonly mistaken with another blue, spiky, thimble-shaped flower called Eryngium (sea holly). Echinops are part of the Aster family (Asteraceae), while Eryngiums are a part of the Carrot Family (Apiaceae). Here at The Gardens, we have a couple of Eryngiums, including Eryngium planum 'Blaukappe,' located on the south side of the visitor center near the Timber Frame if you’d like to visually compare the two.
Care information: Echinops bannaticus 'Taplow Blue' prefers full sun and can handle hot summer temperatures. While this may be surprising to some, they prefer lean soils that are rich in organic matter or amendments. This is because rich soil leads to too much lateral growth and can cause the stems to break or lean, so lean soil is better for their general structure requirements. Because of this, they also don’t need fertilizer. They prefer well-drained soils and are hardy in zones 4–9. Globe thistle should generally be watered deeply once a week but can go longer without water if necessary. Fun Fact: It is usually labeled as a "drought-tolerant" plant in other areas, but since Colorado is already so dry, it cannot adorn that label as reliably. This is the same for many other plants that are labeled this way in other states/countries due to generally wetter climates.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer
Sunset Hyssop (Agastache rupestris)
These orange, pink, and purple blooms can be found in our Plant Select, Rock Garden, Undaunted Garden, and parking lot. These hyssops are native to the Southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and New Mexico. The Agastache species found in the far southwest can feature warm or cool-colored flowers. Some feature narrow foliage, while others feature somewhat broader leaves. Most are plants of high mountains rising from the desert. Agastache species are native to other parts of the country, too, notably the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and Great Plains. Species from areas other than the Southwest typically sport cool-colored blooms and have broader foliage. This can be seen in the Agastache foeniculum from the Prairie Garden. Hyssops displaying orange and orange-pink flowers are adapted to be pollinated by birds, which see red and colors near red particularly well, while those adapted to be pollinated by native bees are white, blue, purple, or some combination of the three. Bees pick up better on blue, purple, and yellow.
Care information: The sunset hyssop does best in zones 5–9 as it prefers dry climates and cannot handle high humidity. Appropriately, Agastache rupestris favors soils with good drainage of any texture. They don't need large amounts of water and will do just fine being watered once a week or every other week. They should be planted in full sun in most areas but can be planted in partial shade in the southwest. Since they can grow to be 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide, they should be planted at least 1.5–2 feet from the nearest plant to avoid overcrowding and competition. These plants typically do not need fertilizer unless planted in very nutrient poor soils. Too much fertilizer or soil amendments can actually cause this hyssop to flower less and later on in the season.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer
Rose Mallow (Hibiscus 'Midnight Marvel')
These scarlet red blooms and purplish green leaves can be found adorning the rose mallow in the Children's Garden. These flowers can grow to have a diameter of up to 8 or 9 inches. Since it is a part of the Malvaceae (Mallow) family, you will notice that all of its reproductive parts are housed in or on the one staminal tube in the center of the flower. This cultivar is a hybrid of Hibiscus 'Perfect Storm' and Hibiscus 'Cranberry Crush.' Its flower color is derived from 'Cranberry Crush' and its dark green and purple foliage is derived from 'Perfect Storm.' It is typically as tall as it is wide and can grow to be up to 4 feet in width and height. The rose mallow typically doesn’t bloom until July but will last until September. Its rapid growth rate makes up for its late blooming in most cases. Flowers can continue to bloom until early September at the latest.
Care information: Even though some hibiscus are tropical plants, this rose mallow is hardy in zones 4 to 9. They prefer full sun but can tolerate light shade if necessary. They’re a big fan of moist soil and are best watered at least twice a week. Though they like water, they don’t enjoy standing water and should, therefore, be planted in well-drained soil. Fertilizer can assist in producing new growth and blooms but is by no means necessary for survival or growth. Spent blooms can be deadheaded to the first leaf to improve the look of the plant and promote new growth. During the first winter after planting, a heavy layer of mulch should be applied around it to protect the crown and roots from frost.
Hybrid soapwort (Saponaria x lempergii ‘Max Frei’)
Creating a spread of pink glory, these blooms can be found in our Rock Garden or the eastern portion of our Welcome Garden. Many of the blooms vary in color from very light to medium pinks as they age, creating dimension with an array of colors rather than a single-hued blanket of flowers. Each flower has a long tubular part underneath its petals that holds its reproductive parts. This typically indicates that it is pollinated by butterflies and moths since their thin, long proboscises can fit into narrow, deep spaces to retrieve nectar. These blooms are typically around for hummingbirds to feed on and pollinate from mid-summer to mid-fall. This means you have plenty of time to come in and witness their beauty!
Care information: This hybrid soapwort can survive in zones 4–9 with full sun or partial shade (typically prefers morning sun and evening shade). After planting a Saponaria x lempergii 'Max Frei', it will need weekly watering. Once it is established, it is quite xeric in wetter climates than ours, but since it is so dry here, it will still need watering weekly to encourage quality blooms. One benefit of growing this plant in colder climates such as Colorado is that it is very cold hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as -20°F. It can be pruned back around October to reduce its spread and promote new growth in the spring. New growth can also be promoted by adding an organic slow-release fertilizer to the base of the plant in spring, but this is by no means necessary.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer
Dwarf Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia 'Papaya Popsicle')
These orange flower spikes can be found in both our Undaunted and Hummingbird Gardens. As their placement suggests, these blooms attract birds to pollinate their blooms. Since they are native to South Africa, they are adapted to be pollinated by South African sunbirds, which perch onto the stem and feed on nectar from the downturned flowers above them. This leads to the plant having a thicker stem in order to support the bird’s weight, whereas plants pollinated by birds that simply hover near them do not need this. Since this is the "dwarf" version, it will only get to be about 2 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. Due to this, it is often used in smaller gardens or containers as a showy plant. They have a decently long growing season, usually starting to bloom in June and ending around September. Given their unique flower form and vibrant color, they are a must-see when visiting The Gardens!
Care information: The dwarf red hot poker prefers areas with full sun and isn’t picky about soil texture. Soils should be kept moist but need to have good drainage to prevent standing water or crown rot. As blooms reach their conclusion, it is a good idea to deadhead them to promote new growth. These plants can survive in zones 5–9, but the crowns of the plant should be protected in the winter in zones 5 and 6. The foliage of this Kniphofia does tend to struggle in the winter, so foliage will likely need to be cut back or trimmed in the spring right before blooming to encourage healthier foliage to grow.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer
Azure Rush Cranesbill (Geranium 'Azure Rush')
The blueish-purple blooms can be found amongst their sea of green foliage in both the Welcome and Children’s Gardens. These Geraniums typically bloom from late spring to early summer in hotter climates and mid-summer to fall in cooler climates. The name "Cranesbill" comes from the fact that the fruit of this plant tends to resemble the head of a crane with a prominent spherical "head" and protruding "beak". This specific cultivar is naturally occurring and was discovered in 2007 in Jeddeloh, Germany. It is a cross between Geranium wallichianum and Geranium himalayense 'Rozanne' and is commonly used as a groundcover plant due to its mounding and spreading tendencies.
Care information: The 'Azure Rush' crane’s bill typically does best in zones 5 through 8 and can grow to be 1.5 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide. It prefers full sun in the previous zones but will need partial shade if planted in zones 9 or 10. Well-drained soil is preferred, with watering occurring once or twice a week. Short dry periods are easily tolerated, but if prolonged they can be damaging to the plant. Though fertilizing isn’t required, a balanced fertilizer can be applied in early spring to enhance the cranesbill’s performance. Since they tend to spread out, cutbacks may be necessary to maintain aesthetics and shaping of the plant. Don’t be afraid to cut this plant back severely; this plant responds well to a hard pruning. It will stimulate new growth and blooms, just be sure to leave at least 3–5 inches of the plant above soil level to avoid killing it.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer
Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)
These fluffy white blooms can be found in our Prairie Garden. Each bloom has five tiny petal-looking parts called ray flowers that are distributed radially around the bloom. These ray flowers poking out of the otherwise densely packed disc flowers are one way you can distinguish the wild quinine from other small white flowers such as white yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Bishop’s flower (Ammi majus), and Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota). These plants are named after quinine which was used from World War I onward to treat malaria by killing or preventing growth of the parasite Plasmodium falciparium. Though it can’t cure malaria, it is still loved by pollinators and humans alike. It tends to bloom starting in June and lasting until mid to late September, so make sure to come check it out!
Care information: Parthenium integrifolium survives best in zones 4 through 8 with full sun. They do best in drier, well-drained soils of any pH. Though they tend to be very drought tolerant in other places, since it is so dry here, watering is necessary once or twice weekly. s also typically don’t need any fertilizer to thrive. With the right conditions, they can grow to be 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide, so it is important to place them at least 3 feet apart when planting to avoid overcrowding or competition.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer