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.

Campsis radicans is native to the southeastern and Gulf Coast region of the United States where it grows along fences and at the edge of woodlands. Campsis radicans are also known as Trumpet Creeper or Trumpet Vines.

Characteristics of Campsis Radicans

- The trumpet creeper is a fast growing, high climbing deciduous woody vine that will grow to heights up to 40 ft (12.2 m).
- It has large trumpet shaped flowers that are bright red to orange on the outside, yellow inside and grow in clusters of 2 to 9 Flowers.
- Flowers are followed by long, bean-like seed pods (3-5″ long) which split open when ripe releasing numerous 2-winged seeds for dispersal by the wind.
- It’s flowers attract hummingbirds and provides valuable cover for birds and small mammals.
- The vine’s aerial roots that occur along the stems that attach tightly to surfaces. Once the vine climbs to a certain height it grows horizontal branches that reach away from the support in a quest for light and space.

How to grow Campsis Radicans

- It prefers rich moist soil but is adaptable to less than optimal situations.
- Use a loose, sprawling groundcover, to cascade over a rock wall, as a point of interest on a single fence post, or as a spectacular sweep up the side of a stone building.
- They should be planted where it’s spread will not be a problem or can be controlled by mowing as they grow very fast.
- Prefers full sun for maximum growth and flower production, but tolerates partial shade.
- Showy clusters of yellow orange to red trumpet-shaped flowers first appear in summer (earlier in frostfree climates) and are produced continuously until early autumn.

Usage of Campsis Radicans

- It is best used in woodland gardens and natural areas where it has space to grow.
- It covers fences and other structures.
- It’s easy to grow trumpet creeper on arbors but remember that the aerial roots use a powerful adhesive substance to cement themselves to supports which almost certain to ruin paint surfaces.

The name Allium is from the ancient name for garlic, which is part of the genus. There are estimated to be around 700 species within the genus, and many cultivars. There are perennials and biennials. Many members of the genus give themselves away with the distinctive smell of onions when the bulb or foliage is bruised.

Characteristics of Purple Sensation – Allium hollandicum

- A fall planted ornamental onion bulb, will produce purple flowers.
- This flower is sure to turn heads with its 4-inch wide globes of tightly packed pink-purple florets which sit at the top of a tall, thick, bare stem.
- In summer it bears umbels 8cm (3in) across of 50 or more star-shaped, deep violet flowers.
- Contact with bulbs may irritate skin.
- They are great for ornamental value and widely used for both landscape and cut flower purposes.
- The Allium Purple Sensation is ideal for containers, mass plantings, borders, and cut flowers.
- These plants are rabbit, squirrel, and deer resistant.
- The Purple Sensation has a bloom period of about 3 weeks and they bloom in late spring to early summer.

How to grow Purple Sensations

- Flower bulbs should be planted at least two and a half times the height of the bulb.
- They should be far enough so that they do not touch.
- Frost should be avoided while rooting.
- When planting in grass areas mowing should not take place until the
leaves have died off (about six weeks from planting.)
- Do not tie up or knot the foliage as this cuts off food supply.
- Plant in groups of ten or more for an eye catching focal point.

Basic Requirements to grow Purple Sensations

- Soil should not be too wet.
- Soil should be well drained but should have good moisture retention as flower bulbs are not deep rooted.
- Plant bulbs 5-10cm (2-4in) deep in autumn.
- The ideal PH level is approximately 6.5.
- It grows well in full sun or partial sun.
- The growth rate is moderate.
- Fertilizer is not essential but a dressing of a high potash and phosphate fertilizer may prove beneficial.

Photos of Purple Sensation on Flickr (link)
Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ (Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’) – Photo (link)
Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ (detailed photo) (link)

The nodding onion, Allium cernuum (cernuum means nodding in Latin)
is an attractive small species native to North America, distributed from New York to Michigan and British Columbia and south in the mountains and cooler regions from Arizona and North Georgia. Nodding Onions are a native perennial plant that grow from bulbs that are longer than they are wide.

Characteristics of Nodding Onion

- The most remarkable feature of the nodding onion is its adaptability.
- Nodding Onion features dainty lightly-scented nodding plum purple flowers from late spring to early summer. It will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity extending to 18 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches.
- It’s grassy leaves remain green in color throughout the season.
- The leaves are flat; unlike the onions you may have in your kitchen, but have that onion-like smell, and taste.
- Nodding Onions bloom between July and August and last about a month before setting seeds.
- While deer, rabbits and pesky squirrels may stay away, during the blooming season they’re frequented by bumblebees, honey bees and small short-tongued bees.
- Each mature bulb typically bears a single flowering stem with up to 30 flowers.
- The flowers are individually about ¼” long, and may be white, light lavender, or pink.
- The scapes bend sharply downward at the top so that the umbel droops downward. The small bell-shaped flowers have protruding stamens.

Soil Conditions for Nodding Onion

- It is very easy to grow.
- It prefers well-drained soil in full sun, but will tolerate clay soils.
- It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt.
- The soil can consist of black loam, or contain either rocky or sandy material.
- It thrives in difficult sites such as hot sun and gravely soil.
- Divide every third year or when 8-10 bulbs appear in the clump.
- It grows at a medium rate.
- It is expected to live for approximately 5 yrs under ideal conditions.
- It is best inter-planted with late-season bloomers to hide the dying foliage.
- It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments.

How to grow Nodding Onion

- It is easy to grow from seed, or can be planted as a bulb in either late fall or early spring.
- Use it at the front of the garden border where its distinctive flowers and fine texture can truly be appreciated.
- It can also be sheared back after flowering to produce a second flush of rich green growth.
- The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply.
- Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes.
- Seed sow spring in a cold frame.
- Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle – if you want to produce clumps more quickly then put three plants in each pot.