BOTANICAL: Abelmoschus moschatus (syn. Hibiscus abelmoschus)

PRONOUNCED: a-bel-MOS-kus MOSS-kuh-tus

COMMON: Musk mallow

LIGHT: Bright shade to full sun

HEIGHT: 1ft. - 6 ft. x 2 ft.

COLORS: Yellow, red or pink.

COMMENTS: This Asian native and member of the mallow family bears large flowers with white centers. A tender, trailing perennial which enjoys a rich, moderately dry soil. Not commonly seen in American gardens, but if you are fortunate to obtain seeds, sow outdoors after the soil has warmed. Nick the seeds, then soak them overnight. They will sink in the water when they are ready to be planted. In hot climates it is best to grow this annual in filtered sunlight. Blooms to frost. Hardy in Zones 9 - 11.

Click on pic for a close up.

BOTANICAL: Abutilon pictum

PRONOUNCED: a-BEW-tih-lon PIK-tum

COMMON: Flowering maple

LIGHT: Full sun to light shade

HEIGHT: 30" - 3 ft. x equal or greater spread.

COLORS: Creamy white, lavender or pink, or bicolored.

COMMENTS: A tender perennial and a beautiful plant with graceful drooping branches with bell-shaped flowers in many colors and maplelike foliage. Some cultivars have very attractive variegated leaves. It requires a moist, fertile soil. Not a long-bloomer, but even out of flower is a beautiful plant. Zones: 8 - 11

Click on the pic for a close up.

BOTANICAL: Acanthus mollis

PRONOUNCED: a-KANTH-us MAW-liss

COMMON: Bear's breeches

LIGHT: Semishade

HEIGHT: 3 ft. x 18"

COLORS: Rosy purple

COMMENTS: A tender perennial grown as an annual in cold-winter zones. This strong-growing, deeply rooted plant, happy under almost any conditions, is used largely for woodland plantings or shady spots where few plants would survive. It is grown as much for the bold foliage as the blooms. The handsome, deeply serrated and veined, deeply cleft, heart-shaped, dark leaves are 1 ft. across and 2 ft. long. The 3 ft tall, densely clustered spikes of light purple bracts appear during late summer. It is generally considered too vigorous in growth for the ordinary herbaceous border. A deep, humusy, moist site is best suited. It is very similar to, and often confused with the earlier blooming A. hungaricus which has darker blooms and is winter hardy.

BOTANICAL: Ageratum houstonianum

PRONOUNCED: ad-jur-RAY-tum hoos-toh-nee-AH-num

COMMON: Flossflower

LIGHT: Full sun to light shade

HEIGHT: 8" - 30"

COLORS: Blue, mauve, white or pink.

COMMENTS: A reliable bloomer which holds its puffy blue clusters throughout the summer. Provide a rich moist soil. Fertilize monthly. Deadhead to maintain compactness and to promote further blooming. A selection of other low growing varieties: 'Adriatic', 8". 'Blue Blazer', 5" - 6". 'Blue Danube', 7". 'Blue Lagoon', 8". 'Blue Mink', 1 ft. Bavaria', 9"-1 ft. 'Capri', 8". 'Royal Delft', 6". 'Hawaii'-series, 8". 'Pacific', 8". 'Pinky', 6" - 8". 'Wedgewood'. Tall flowers suitable for cutting: 'Blue Bouquet' and 'Blue Horizon', 2 ft.- 30".

BOTANICAL: Alcea rosea syn. Althaea rosea.

PRONOUNCED: al-KEE-uh RO-zee-uh

COMMON: Hollyhock

LIGHT: Full sun

HEIGHT: 2 ft. - 9 ft.

COLORS: Pink, purple, white, yellow shades, single or double, and bicolored.

COMMENTS: An essential for the English cottage garden. It flowers early in the season with papery single or double blooms.This biennial* may self -seed under ideal conditions. Water and feed regularly and will need staking. Hollyhock are prone to rust, an unsightly fungal disease, therefore cut to soil level after blooming. An average soil will help deter soft, disease-prone growth. *Biennial: A plant that lives for two years or growing seasons, producing leaves the first season, and flowers and seeds the second.

Click pic to view a variegated variety.

BOTANICAL: Alternanthera dentata

PRONOUNCED: al-ter-NANTH-ur-uh den-TAY-tuh

COMMON: Calico plant, Indoor clover.

LIGHT: Full sun

HEIGHT: 1 ft. - 2 ft.

COLORS: Foliage: Purple, red or green, and in various combinations.

COMMENTS: A tropical perennial, easy to grow, and despite the common name, it is used for contrast color in the flowerbed. Also interesting in large containers where its vigorous growth will not overpower the other plants. Prefers a moist, well-drained, low fertile soil. A. 'Purple Knight' is shown, a 2003 'Simply Beautiful' introduction.

Click on the pic for a close up.

BOTANICAL: Alyssum maritimum (syn: Lobularia maritima)

PRONOUNCED: al-ISS-um muh-RIT-tim-mum

COMMON: Alyssum, Carpet of Gold, Carpet of snow (white).

LIGHT: Full sun

HEIGHT: 6" - 8" x indefinite spread

COLORS: Yellow, lavender, pink, purple or white.

COMMENTS: Recommended as a late summer blooming edging or border plant and is suitable for hanging baskets as well. Compact and spreading, Alyssum is a vigorous plant that features groups of delicate flowers. Prefers a well-drained, poor soil. A reliable reseeder for many years. The picture subject is in its 6th year. Many varieties are available. Here are some: A. maritimum 'Wonderland Citron' is a 2003 introduction from Bodger Seeds ’Wonderland'. series. It produces soft-yellow flowers. A. maritimum ‘Golf Lavender’, a 2003 improved introduction has honey-scented, ball-shaped flowers of white, pink, rose and violet cover this low-growing annual. A. maritimum 'Rosie O'Day' spreads up to 10-inches and is covered with fragrant, lavender-pink blooms. A. maritimum 'Royal Carpet' provides a dense carpet of royal purple flowers.

Click on the pic for a close up.

BOTANICAL: Anchusa capensis

PRONOUNCED: an-KOO-suh ka-PEN-sis

COMMON: Cape forget-me-not, Cape bugloss, Summer forget-me-not.

LIGHT: Full sun

HEIGHT: 8" - 2 ft. x equal spread

COLORS: Brilliant blue

COMMENTS: It produces some of the most vivid, clearest of blue flowers. Unfortunately, the coarse, large foliage can often hide the bloom heads. Removal of the uppermost foliage can solve this problem. Accepts average soil. Cut back to 6-inches after first bloom to promote a bushier plant and encourage further blooming. Lower growing cultivars are more attractive. Anchusa Blue Angel, is a more compact species growing to 15".

Click on the pic for a close up.

BOTANICAL: Angelonia 'Purple stripe' and 'Deep plum' shown

PRONOUNCED: angel-ON-ee-a

COMMON: Orchidfalls, Summer snapdragon.

LIGHT: Full sun to bright shade.

HEIGHT: 1 ft. - 18" x equal spread

COLORS: Purple/white, rosy purple or white.

COMMENTS: A stunning plant best grown in moist, well-drained soil. Do not allow to dry out. It has a bushy and upright habit. Shear plants back about 50% half-way through the season, and plants will reflower in 2 to 3 weeks. Fertilize heavily monthly, or lightly with each watering. Watch for aphids and powdery mildew. The AngelMist® series, a 2000 introduction, offers wonderful blooms all summer: Angelonia 'Deep plum' Angelonia 'Lavender pink' Angelonia 'White' Angelonia 'Angel Mist' is a light pink 2003 'Simply Beautiful' introduction.

Click on pic for close up.

BOTANICAL: Antirrhinum majus

PRONOUNCED: an-TEE-ry-num MAY-jus

COMMON: Snapdragon

LIGHT: Full sun

HEIGHT: 6" - 3 ft. x 1 ft. 18"

COLORS: Red, pink, orange or yellow.

COMMENTS: A tender perennial treated as a half hardy annual. The Rocket series (shown) is much taller than the Tahiti series as it can grow up to 2-1/2 to 3 ft. tall. An excellent cutting flower. Cut to soil level in the fall and it will survive a mild winter! A well drained soil is essential. Fertilize monthly. Pinch young plants for heavier branching. Deadheading is essential. The Rocket mix has long tapering spikes in orange, orchid, pink, red, rose, white, and yellow.

Click on pic for a close up of a white form.

BOTANICAL: Argyranthemum (prev: Chrysanthemum frutescens)

PRONOUNCED: ar-ji-RAN-the-mum

COMMON: French marguerite, Marguerite.

LIGHT: Full sun to light shade.

HEIGHT: 1 ft. - 5 ft.

COLORS: Lavender, white, pink or red, some with yellow centers.

COMMENTS: It has been in cultivation for more than 200 years, with over 80 different types available coming from the Canary islands and Madeira. Most Argyranthemum encountered are cultivars. They are abundantly used by the florists either as cut or as potted flowers. In the garden it needs well drained, moist soil and protection from wind, but unfortunately can decline in high humidity, although newer forms are combating that problem. Do not allow to dry out. In the ideal location can become quite large and provide a long blooming patch in the garden. It is slow to grow, therefore begin with the largest starters possible as soon as the soil is warmed. Will accept light shade. Deadhead to maintain appearance. Look for a yellow form by Proven Winners. A. frutescens 'Butterfly' is sunshine yellow, long-blooming and voted "Best of the Best" in 1995 in the University of Georgia performance trials. A. frutescens, 'Summer Melody' is another variety offered by Proven Winners. A double-pink daisy that outperforms anything that has come before. Where double pinks used to be very short to bloom, with a stretchy, floppy habit, Summer Melody is actually nice and bushy. Its beautiful flowers bud in a deep pink color and shade to soft pink as they open up. A. frutescens, 'Courtyard Daisy Primrose Petite' sports delicate pink blooms. It is free flowering, spreading, and compact with silvery green foliage. A. foeniculaceum, Lanceleaf marguerite (2 ft. - 3 ft. x 3 ft.). The flowers are white with a yellow center.

BOTANICAL: Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum

PRONOUNCED: be-GON-yuh sem-per-FLOR-enz kul-TOR-um

COMMON: Waxleaf begonia

LIGHT: Full sun or light shade.

HEIGHT: 6" - 1 ft.

COLORS: Flowers: pink, white or red. Foliage: Green, mauve or bronze.

COMMENTS: Begonias are one of the top ten bedding plants in North America. The genus originates in tropical and sub-topical regions of the world. Since most of the United States experiences topical temperatures during its summer months, Begonias are perfect summer flowering annuals. Provide a rich, well-drained soil, although this plant will adapt to average soil. Enjoys frequent fertilizing and allow the soil to dry between watering. Easy, reliable and blooms throughout the season. In 2002, Bodger Botanicals introduced a new series of B. semperfloren, the Gumdrop Series. Gumdrops have very large double, crepe paper flowers that grow to over one-inch in diameter. Gumdrop varieties offer the popular colors of white, red, pink and rose. Where this series breaks the mold are colors such as Gumdrop Mandarin and Gumdrop Cherry blossom. Its improved branching habit makes it just as useful in containers as in the borderbed.

Click on the pic to view a yellow form.

BOTANICAL: Calendula officinalis

PRONOUNCED: ka-LEN-dew-luh oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss

COMMON: Pot marigold

LIGHT: Full sun to light shade.

HEIGHT: 10" - 2 ft. x 1 ft.

COLORS: White, cream, gold, orange, yellow or purple.

COMMENTS: These flowers are a familiar sight in cottage and country gardens. Prefers cool sun, so protection from intense sun is advisable. Mildew can be a problem, therefore, keep leaves dry by deep watering the roots only (place the hose nozzle at soil level), or water early in the day to allow the sun to dry the foliage. Long blooming, easy to care for and naturalizes nicely. The dried flowerheads were used several centuries ago to flavor broths and stews, and this practice is apparently making a comeback. This is not a marigold, despite the common name and resemblance to a marigold. Being a hardy annual, if left to go to seed at the end of the growing season, reseeding is possible in ideal conditions.

Click on the pic to view a bicolored form.

BOTANICAL: Calibrachoa hybrids

PRONOUNCED: kal-ee-BRAK-oh-uh

COMMON: Million bells

LIGHT: Full sun to light shade.

HEIGHT: 3" - 9" x 1 ft. - 2 ft.

COLORS: Violet, blue, pink, red, magenta, yellow, bronze, white or bicolored.

COMMENTS: A tender perennial, hardy in Zones 9 - 11. Compact, mounding, trailing and a prolific bloomer, making it ideal for containers. It is best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates very light shade, but flowering decreases as the amount of part shade increases. It is important to keep the soil moist but not wet. It may need watering daily in the height of summer. The 'Spring Fling Series' offer a wide variety of colors to complement every garden color scheme. Lemon and white are the latest color introductions, blue is shown above, red, rose which is more purple, salmon and yellow.

Click on the pic for a close up.

BOTANICAL: Catharanthus roseus (prev. Vinca rosea)

PRONOUNCED: kat-uh-RANTH-us RO-zee-us

COMMON: Madagascar periwinkle, Periwinkle.

LIGHT: Full sun to light shade

HEIGHT: 4" - 18"

COLORS: Pink, mauve or white.

COMMENTS: Not to be confused with the hardy Vinca minor, which also shares the common name 'Periwinkle'. Actually needs heat and humidity. Keep moist although it is drought tolerant. It requires very little maintenance, not even deadheading. Self-seeds and blooms to frost.

BOTANICAL: Celosia cristata plumosa

PRONOUNCED: kay-LO-see-uh kris-TAY-tuh plum-OH-suh

COMMON: Cockscomb, Feathered amaranth.

LIGHT: Full sun

HEIGHT: 6" - 3 ft. x 10" x 1 ft.

COLORS: Pink, orange, red or yellow.

COMMENTS: Differs from the stiff-looking crested cockscomb (Celosia cristata [childsii group]) in that their flowers are arranged in loose plumes. High organic, well-drained soil. Reliable all summer and look more appealing planted in groups rather than dotted singularly around the garden. Moderately water.

Click on the pic to view a bicolored form.

BOTANICAL: Clarkia amoena (syn: Godetia amoena)

PRONOUNCED: KLAR-kee-uh am-oh-EN-uh

COMMON: Farewell-to-Spring, Godetia, Rocky Mountain garland flower, Satin flower.

LIGHT: Light shade

HEIGHT: 18" - 2 ft.

COLORS: Lilac to pink

COMMENTS: Named for Captain Wm. Clark of Lewis and Clark fame, this beautiful annual puts on a magnificent show at the end of spring/beginning of summer. It is an erect or sprawling plant with showy, 4-petaled, cup-shaped, pink flowers occurring in the axils of several of the uppermost leaves. The large flowers, single or double, are highlighted with a splash of bright red on each petal. Prefers cool summers and sandy soil, therefore, shade from hottest sun and allow to dry out between waterings. Will accept average soil. An excellent cut flower and an excellent alternative to the biennial hollyhock.

Click on pic for close up.

BOTANICAL: Cleome hasslerana

PRONOUNCED: klee-OH-me hass-ler-AY-nuh

COMMON: Spider flower

LIGHT: Full sun

HEIGHT: 3 ft. - 4 ft. x 2 ft. - 3 ft.

COLORS: White, pink, lavender or bicolored.

COMMENTS: When other late summer plants look wilted under the torrid sun, cleome stand out robust and strong. Needs room to spread. Blooms late summer to frost. Withstands drought but does even better when kept moist. Reseeds invasively, but not always true to color. Look for unwanted seedlings in early July as this plant makes an appearance in the heat of summer.

Click on the pic for a close up.

BOTANICAL: Coleus x hybrida

PRONOUNCED: ko-LEE-us hy-BRID-uh

COMMON: Coleus, Flame nettle.

LIGHT: Light to medium shade

HEIGHT: 6" - 3 ft.

COLORS: A vast range of foliage colors are available.

COMMENTS: A tender perennial. The foliage color will fade in full sun, and the plant will wilt. Pinch as they begin to grow to promote density and water well. A popular container plant as well as a useful border addition. They are not suitable house plants.

Click on the picture for a close up.

BOTANICAL: Cosmos bipinnatus

PRONOUNCED: KOS-mus by-pin-NAY-tus

COMMON: Cosmos, Mexican aster.

LIGHT: Full sun to light shade

HEIGHT: 18" - 4 ft. x 1 ft.

COLORS: Red, white, pink, lavender, yellow or orange.

COMMENTS: Every cottage garden should include this beautiful plant. Protect from wind and do not fertilize. Lacy, airy, and difficult to stake. Suggest planting among lower mounding plants for natural support. Long blooming and available in many colors. Reseeds prolifically if it is happy with the site. Prefers a dry, infertile soil, but performs very well in richer locations. Cosmos bipinnatus 'Sea Shells' has unusual fluted petals.

Click on the pic for a close up.

BOTANICAL: Cynoglossum amabile

PRONOUNCED: SIGH-no-gloss-um a-MAH-bih-lee

COMMON: Chinese forget-me-not

LIGHT: Full sun

HEIGHT: 1 ft. - 15" x equal spread

COLORS: Blue, pink or white.

COMMENTS: Easy to care for and long blooming. Provide well-drained, high organic soil, and moderately water. Light monthly fertilizing will help keep it vigorous. Reseeds easily. A cottage garden must have.