Ligularia – although there are many common names for these dramatic and handsome beauties, in Calgary the usual term is the generic ligularia. They are fabulous perennials, occurring naturally from Europe across to Japan.
Ligularia stenocephala ‘The Rocket’ belongs to the plant family COMPOSIT and Genus Ligularia. This genus was classified into the Compositae by count Alexandre de Cassioni in his early 19th century work, Dictionarie de Sciences Naturelles. It is today groued into the Asteraceae. The species is native to northern China, Japan and Taiwan. This is the only widely cultivated variety.

- Ligularia ‘The Rocket’ is a stately plant with very tall, 5 to 6′ golden yellow flower spikes that rise up high over large, serrated green foliage.
- The long narrow yellow spires open up with blooms from bottom to top.
- All plants need light to allow the photosynthesis process of converting carbon dioxide to growth sugars to take place.
- Some plants need more sun-light than others.
- Ligularia stenocephala ‘The Rocket’ does not attract these beautiful hummingbird, sunbird or nectar feeding varieties of garden birds.
- Almost all plants grown in gardens need to be fed using fertilzer in order to see them at their best.
- It performs at its best when planted in cool, wet areas.
- Ligularia stenocephala ‘The Rocket’ can survive very cold winters with annual averages as low as -30 Fahrenheit.
- This plant likes soils that are bog.
- This species likes partial to full shade. It does well in moist soils.
- Ligularia stenocephala ‘The Rocket’ is a perennial.
- A robust perennial essential to the mixed border and back of perennial beds. Attractive massed in a woodland setting. Linear planting creates a striking seasonal hedge-like mass.
- Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system.
- Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.
- Prune old flower heads to encourage more blossoms.

Lamium is a short, rapid growing plant in the mint family. Also referred to as spotted deadnettle, lamium will grow in shady locations that do not commonly support other plant life. Members of the Lamium that are grown in the garden are usually done so for their beautiful foliage. The Lamium genus are hardy perennials and contains many members most of which are weeds.

Characteristics of Dead Nettle (Lamium)

- Nettle is a well behaved ground cover and is not considered a serious garden thug.
- It is easily edged in the spring and is not likely to become a weed.
- Dead nettles are ground cover perennials with leaves that are marked in silver. The flowers – yellow or pink – appear next to the leaves.
- It flowers in late spring or early summer.
- This is one hardy plant, surviving nicely down into USDA zone 2.
- Dead Nettles are deer resistant. A good plant to use for naturalizing, massing or as a ground cover.

Planting Conditions for Dead Nettle (Lamium)

- Very hot conditions can lighten up the colouring so this plant is best considered a part-shade or shade groundcover in a decent soil.
- Try planting under shrubs to brighten up unused garden spaces.
- Place the plants no deeper than they were growing in the containers.
- Set the plants 9 to 12 inches apart.
- Water well until soil is completely moist.
- Control the spread in the spring with a sharp shovel to edge it.
- Easily propagated by division in the spring or by tip cuttings.

Caring for Dead Nettle

- They should be fertilized in the spring.
- Once the flowering season is over they should be cut back.
- Shear this plant after the first bloom to promote compact growth.
- Apply a light application of organic fertilizer on top of the soil in early spring.
- Water well.

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

Sedum, also known as stonecrop, is a popular, well-known perennial garden plant. The succulent leaves, sturdy stems and massive flower heads have earned the plant a spot on many landscapers’ “must have” lists. Besides their physical attributes, sedums are drought tolerant and can withstand many adverse growing conditions, which also makes them ideal landscape perennials. Sedum ‘Black Jack’ is sure to match the tough and easy-to-grow reputation of most sedum cultivars and offers characteristics unparalleled by other sedums.

Characteristics of Sedum : Black Jack

- The Sedum ‘Black Jack’, ‘Sedum ‘Black Jack’ PPAF, is a recent discovery at Walters Garden in Michigan.
- The stems and foliage are darker than most sedum in its family. It has 2′ tall clumps of purple stems with black to purple foliage.
- With a plant height and width of 24″, its 8″ pink flower heads bloom in September, making a wonderful contrast with its foliage.
- It makes a wonderful border plant.
- Many are attractive even in winter when their foliage dies and is left standing.
- They’re favorites of butterflies and useful bees.
- The tall types are outstanding for cutting and drying.
- The characteristic dark purple foliage will take on a lighter coloration when plants are produced at lower light levels.
- During midsummer, large, broccoli-like flower heads form, containing numerous flower buds.
- By late summer, the flower buds swell and begin to show a pink coloration. As the buds open, the color intensifies, revealing an impressive color display of bright pink, 8-inch flower clusters.

Planting Conditions for Sedum : Black jack

- Plant in full sun to part sun with other Sedum or Salvia.
- Prune in spring when new growth appears; divide plants every three or four years.
- Sweet or Sour Soil ?:
Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0)
Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0)
- This good-natured, easy-to-grow plant is very drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.
- For the best performance, plant ‘Black Jack’ in a well-drained media, preferably a nursery-type (bark-based) mix rather than traditional greenhouse (peat-vermiculite) media.
- Black Jack is a light to moderate feeder.
- Black Jack requires a below-average amount of irrigation.