Sunday, June 17, 2012

Sea Thrift in the Little Yard


Armeria maritima
Common Name: sea thrift

Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Plumbaginaceae
Zone: 4 to 8
Native Range: Mountain and coastal areas in the northern hemisphere
Height: 0.5 to 1 feet
Spread: 0.5 to 1 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Color: Pink, White
Bloom Description: Pink to white
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry
Maintenance: Medium
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Tolerates: Dry Soil, Shallow, Rocky Soil, Drought
Uses: Groundcover, Will Naturalize

Culture:
Best grown in infertile, dry, well-drained soils in full sun.
Foliage mounds tend to rot in the center if grown in moist,
 fertile soils or in heavy clay. Good drainage is essential.
 Deadhead spend flower stems to encourage additional bloom.

Noteworthy Characteristics
Thrift or sea pink is a compact, low-growing plant which forms a dense,
mounded tuft of stiff, linear, grass-like, dark green leaves (to 4" tall).
Tufts will spread slowly to 8-12" wide. Tiny, pink to white flowers
bloom in mid spring in globular clusters (3/4-1" wide) atop slender,
naked stalks rising well above the foliage to 6-10" tall. Sporadic
additional flowering may occur throughout the summer.
Flower clusters are subtended by purplish, papery bracts.
In the wild, thrift or sea pink commonly grows in saline environments
along coastal areas where few other plants can grow well,
hence the common name.

Problems No serious insect or disease problems.

The Little Pink Mounds in the back and around the tree is the Sea Thrift
Right on the tree trunk are chives ready to go to seed.
.

More on the Little Yard Boxwoods


Buxus microphylla japonica 'Winter Gem'

Excellent evergreen shrub for small hedges.
Among the hardiest of Boxwoods, the rich green foliage acquires
a golden bronze hue through winter, returning to green in spring.
Evergreen.

Botanical Pronunciation: BUK-sus mik-ro-FIL-la
Key feature: Hedge Plant
Plant type: Shrub
Deciduous/evergreen: Evergreen
Cold hardiness zones: 5 - 9
Light needs: Partial to full sun
Water Needs: Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat.
Average landscape size: Moderate growing 4 to 6 ft. tall and wide, when unpruned.
Growth rate: Moderate
Flower color: Yellow
Blooms: Inconspicuous
Foliage color: Green

 
Care Information
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. For a tidy, neat appearance, shear annually to shape. Pruning time: summer
after flowering.

Design Ideas
This is the classic hedge plant. Its dense, evergreen growth makes it perfect for
shearing into a small, formal hedge. Ideal for defining different spaces in the garden
 or for a tidy foundation cover-up. It is especially lovely against red brick. Use as a
 partition to divide your front yard or driveway from your neighbor's. Also beautiful
as background foliage. Creates lovely topiaries, particularly in cone shapes if planted
where it snows. An excellent plant for parterres and hedge mazes. Keeps its color over winter.

Companion Plants
Boxwood is so versatile and offers a nice backdrop to a variety of low growing
shrubs and perennials. If kept more natural in shape, pair with Lilac, Burning Bush,
 Smoke Tree and Japanese Rose. For a formal appearance or knot garden, combine
 with topiary forms, fragrant plants and culinary herbs such as Germander,
Rosemary and Sage.

History
Also known as B. harlandii, this species is native to Japan. Boxwood is so
named because its very hard wood was valued in ancient times for making
 boxes and small containers.

My Little Yard this week June 17 2012





The Little Yard

Work Continues on the little yard.
The last 2 weeks have been a winter gem boxwood Hedge.
Lowes has them still on unmarked sale at 12.94 each for the 2 1/2 gallon size.
Also put in 6 candytufts along the backside.

We hit a 5 foot by 3 foot blue basalt rock and took 5 hours and a jack hammer to break off about 8 inches across the front.