Coreopsis is a member of the Aster family. This plant is also called “Tickseed” or “Calliopsis”. Most varieties are perennials, with some annual varieties. They are natives of plains in the U.S. They usually bloom with daisy like flowers of yellow or orange from summer to the early part of autumn. Coreopsis is a member of the sunflower family that looks like a daisy. This attractive plant has yellow, gold, red, maroon, or a combination of these colors ,on sturdy stalks that grow from 1 1/2′ to 4′ tall. The Coreopsis flower attracts butterflies. Songbirds like the pods filled with seed. Coreopsis makes excellent cut flowers, too. The strong stems do not require staking. Coreopsis typically bloom bright yellow, daisy like flowers all summer and into the fall. It is known for its long bloom season.

Growing conditions for Coreopsis

- The Coreopsis is very easy to grow and will tolerate any soil except waterlogged soil.
- It prefers lean, sandier soils and requires little watering once established.
- Ideally the soil should be rich and have a pH of between 5.5 and 7. – - Full sun is preferred for prolific blooms.
- Little fertilizer and watering is needed for Coreopsis once established. – Dig up your Coreopsis clumps every three years or so to divide in the fall after blooming or in the early spring.
- Deadheading will encourage prolific blooming.
- No major diseases or pests impact Coreopsis health.
- Coreopsis has interest spring through fall with attractive foliage color and texture.

How to grow Coreopsis

Step 1 :
Sow coreopsis seeds in early spring, just after the final frost of winter. Select a planting location that receives full sun throughout the day and has well-drained soil that is low in fertility. Overly fertile soil can cause invasive growth.

Step 2 :
Mix coreopsis seeds with fine sand to make spreading easier. Broadcast the seed mixture across the surface of the planting site. Do not cover with soil, as sunlight encourages germination.

Step 3 :
Use a flat board to tamp down the seeds into the soil. Water thoroughly after planting to ensure good seed-to-soil contact and to prevent the seeds from being displaced by wind or rain.

Step 4 :
Water coreopsis plants one to two times per week once they’ve emerged, just enough to keep the soil moist without becoming waterlogged. Do not water during the winter, as the plants will not use the moisture.

Step 5 :
Remove any dead or faded coreopsis flowers to prolong the flowering season and prevent self-sowing, which can quickly become out of hand if not regulated. Cut off the flowers as close to the ground as possible and fresh growth will soon appear.

It is often hard to find shrubs that flower in the summer—and even better yet, shrubs that flower well in the shade—but summersweet clethra (Clethra alnifolia) fits the bill for both. Clethra is native along the coast from Maine to Florida and around the peninsula to Texas.

Characteristics of Clethra : Ruby Spice

- Flowers actually come in two flavors: white and pink. ‘Ruby Spice’ is one of the best pink-flowered cultivars for Arkansas.
- Ruby Spice has bottlebrushlike clusters of tiny, fragrant, bell-shaped, reddish-pink flowers that appear in late summer.
- This shade-loving native shrub a favorite of bees and butterflies.
- It is a wonderful addition to the border or woodland edge.
- Ruby Spice Summersweet features beautiful spikes of fragrant ruby red flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings.
- Ruby Spice Summersweet is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a shapely oval form.
- Ruby Spice Summersweet will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet.
- It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.
- Plants are typically not dense, and they have a distinctive soft texture due to the fine twigs and leaves.
- Clethra does not appear to be susceptible to any serious disease or insect problem. Plants can be pruned in early spring, since flowers are born on new growth.
- On cool nights when the windows are open. The scent from the ruby spice fills the room.

How to sow/plant Clethra : Ruby Spice

- Purchase ruby spice in early spring. The ruby spice summersweet grows in zone 3-9.
- Plant your shrub in moist, slightly acidic sandy soil.
- This shrub grows best in an area that has sun and partial shade.
- Dig a hole the same depth of the nursery container. Allow two feet in width. Loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole. Mix organic compost or manure with the soil.
- Place the root ball in the middle of the hole.
- Apply three inches of mulch around the shrub. The mulch will help retain moisture and will prevent weed build up.
- Maintain uniform soil moisture the first season.
- Each spring before growth begins, apply an all-purpose fertilizer, following label directions.

PLANTING INFO …

- Grows to about 6 feet
- Flowers: Rosy Pink flowers in Summer
- Fall color: Yellow
- Light requirements: Some shade or full sun
- Cold hardy to zone 3 (zones 3-9)
- Easy to grow, Summersweet
- Latin name: Clethra Alnifolia Ruby Spice

The name Drumstick Allium aptly describes this group of onions having tall, thin stems, and tight knobs of bloom at the top, indeed looking like drumsticks. Onions in this group are primarily within Section Allium, the “type” section that defines the genus, although some onions in other sections may share the so-called “drumstick” appearance.

Characteristics of Blue Drumsticks

- The Allium ‘Blue Drumstick’, Allium, has unusual flax-blue flower heads, approximately 1 1/2″ in diameter.
- It is a low maintenance perennial, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season’s flowers.
- Blue Drumstick is resistant to deer and makes excellent cut flowers.
- It is easy to grow in any sunny, well-drained location.
- They should be planted in groups of ten or more.
- Divide mature clumps in August if areas become overcrowded.
- Blue Drumstick is ideal for containers, mass plantings, borders, and cut flowers.
- These plants are rabbit, squirrel, and deer resistant.
- The bloom period is of about 3 weeks and they bloom in late spring to early summer.

Conditions required for Blue Drumsticks to grow

- Blue drumstick should only be grown in full sunlight.
- Average to evenly moist conditions are best for its growth, but it will not tolerate standing water.
- It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt.
- It is highly tolerant of urban pollution.

- Sunset Hyssop is an open herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth.
- The leaves are fine-textured with a gray-green color. In the summertime, sunset hyssop is covered in trumpet shaped flowers, each with shades of orange, pink and purple.
- Sunset hyssop is a surefire way to attract hummingbirds to your garden. The vibrant pink, purple and orange blossoms definitely catch your eye, adding pizazz to any yard. It is able to grow in many zones and soil conditions.
- It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.
- This perennial will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season.

Growing Tips For Sunset Hyssop

- Plant in a sunny location. It can tolerate part shade if needed.
- In the first season, they should be watered regularly to establish the root system. The soil should be well drained as sunset hyssop does not tolerate soil that is constantly wet. After it is established, it is very drought tolerant.
- During spring, you can divide established plants.
- Sow seeds directly in the garden once temperatures are above 55 degrees. Space transplants 12-18″ apart.

Maintenance/Pruning For Sunset Hyssop

- Cut sunset hyssop almost to the ground at the beginning of spring. This will promote stronger and more vigorous growth. Deadhead spent flowers to extend blooming season.
- In colder regions, mulch with pea gravel during the winter. Do not use wood mulches; these tend to keep the soil below very moist, which this plant cannot tolerate.

Soil Conditions needed for Sunset Hyssop

Sunset hyssop prefers a hot, sunny spot in well-drained, mineral-rich, humus-poor soil. Cut the fine-textured, somewhat brittle stems down close to the ground at the beginning of the growing season, even if much of the wood remains live, as it does in warmer zones. This radical pruning promotes sturdier, more vigorous growth.
Sunset hyssop is short-lived in damp, cool climates and resents moist winter soil. Otherwise it appears to adapt to most garden situations as long as it has full sun. Its warm colors and full, bushy texture combine well with late-season grasses such as Mexican feather grass and the taller big sacaton, two other lovely Southwest natives. Late- blooming, similarly drought- tolerant plants such as blue mist spirea, Russian sage, and Maximilian sunflower also make good companions. This recently discovered treasure offers lively color and delicious fragrance, while bringing wildlife into our late-season gardens.

There are some problems that are associated with Sunset Hyssop like : Mildew, rust, and downy mildew.