Garden flowers that stay the course despite extremes of heat, rain or humidity make gardening a lot more pleasurable. Here are some old favourites that have been toughened up.
Over the years certain plants have gained a reputation for being finicky. Remember when bedding impatiens were wiped out by downy mildew. Zinnias, verbena and dahlias have all had a bad rap for getting powdery mildew and rust. Petunias tend to go soggy in the rain, as do some geraniums and lavender.
It’s those crinkles that plant hybridisers have been ironing out, to produce more vigorous plants that flower more and are more disease resistant.
As gardeners we can also do our bit to keep plants healthy. Planting too close together, over watering, poor drainage and soggy soil, are the main causes of fungus diseases, even where there is higher resistance.
Spacing plants further apart, or just following recommended spacing on the plant tag, allows for better air circulation that dries off the leaves and petals faster. Adding compost to the soil when planting improves drainage. Fertilising with the right kind of fertiliser for flowers builds stronger plants. Flowering plants need more potassium and not nitrogen, which produces sappy stems and soft leaves.
Get those basics right and with the right plants, gardening should be a breeze.
Zesty zinnias
‘Zahara Double’ is a zinnia variety with outstanding disease tolerance, low water needs and large, double flowers that look a lot like dahlias. It has a superb colour range; orange, fiery red, cherry, raspberry ripple, salmon rose, yellow and white. These zinnias grow 50cm high and wide, with flowers on long pickable stems. They are undemanding garden plants that need full sun, grow in ordinary garden soil and like deep watering once a week in summer. Space plants 20cm apart. https://www.ballstraathof.co.za/en/product/2805/
Unbeatable Beacon Impatiens
‘Beacon’ impatiens is the new bedding impatiens that can be planted in partial shade without the risk of it dying from downy mildew. This highly disease resistant impatiens performs like the Impatiens Super Elfin of old: flowers profusely and continuously from spring to autumn, stays neat and compact. It is the best colour option for semi-shade and doesn’t need any special care.
Space plants 15 to 20 cm apart, in compost enriched soil that drains well. Water regularly. Impatiens likes moist but not sodden or bone dry soil The more sunshine the plants get, the more water they need, with less in shadier areas. Plants are self-cleaning as the old flowers fall off. Feed with a liquid fertiliser for flowers once a month.
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Designer dahlias
Dahlia Dalaya is a mini dahlia (knee high) but with big, exotic blooms in a range of vivid colours with deeply coloured centres. The bright yellow stamens attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Unlike the dahlias of old it is highly resistant to powdery mildew, provided it is grown in soil that drains well.
Dahlia ‘Dreamy’ is a dark leaved variety, and its ruffled, semi-double blooms in shades of salmon, coral and yellow, flushed with pink on the outer petals stand out against the burgundy-bronze foliage.
It grows a little taller, up to 60 cm and tolerates both hot summer days and rainy, windy weather. The flowers are produced on strong, leafy stems, making them good cut flowers that last up to 10 days in the vase.
Dahlias are recommended for newbies to gardening because they grow so easily. They do best with morning sun and afternoon shade, not full sun or in hot, dry gardens. They also don’t like heavy soil that becomes waterlogged. The more the blooms are cut, the more the plant flowers.
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Petchoa’ s are perfect
Petchoa ‘BeautiCal’ is a cross between the petunia and the calibrachoa. It’s the perfect plant for the garden or for pots. Plants flower like calibrachoa, with a multitude of blooms in a large range of colours. The flowers are larger, closer in size to petunias, but the blooms are more weather resistant as plants recover from rain much faster than standard petunias.
The bloom colours are unusual too: cinnamon, caramel yellow, yellow sun, French vanilla, sunray pink and Bordeaux. Plants stay compact, 30cm high and 45cm wide, and perform best in full sun. Feed once a month with a liquid fertiliser. https://www.ballstraathof.co.za/en/product/4145/
Drought tolerant Geranium Marcada
Marcada™ is a strong growing Interspecific geranium that is drought tolerant, coping with heat as well as cooler conditions. It needs to be kept dryer than other geraniums.
Marcada flowers prolifically but drops its dead flowers so there is no need to deadhead. It is semi-trailing, with a spread of 45cm, which makes it suitable for hanging baskets as well as in the garden.
Plant in a position that receives sun or semi-shade, in fertile, well composted soil that drains well. Water regularly and thoroughly, but let the soil dry out in-between watering. Feed garden plants once a month and pot plants every two weeks. https://www.ballstraathof.co.za/en/product/3271/
Tough as nails Angelonia
Angelonia ‘Archangel’ can take the punishing heat and humidity of summer, especially February. Archangel’s blooms are three times larger than normal Angelonia blooms. Each plant produces a profusion of flowering spikes; very showy.
The colour range includes cherry red, a blue bi-colour, coral, dark purple, raspberry and white. Plants are well branched and compact 25cm high and wide, ideal for filling beds that receive full sun or afternoon sun. Prepare the soil with plenty of compost to ensure good drainage. Plant in groups and repeat throughout the border or plant a drift. Two or three plants will fill a large container. Water the containers daily in midsummer.
https://www.ballstraathof.co.za/en/product/2939/
Text: Alice Coetzee
