Louisiana's own guide to great gardening and landscaping. A State-by-State Gardening Publication

 

Crepe Ginger Stunning in the Summer Garden

Q:   I saw a 5-foot tall spiraling ginger in August with a red cone and white papery flowers coming out of the cone. What is it and where can I get it? -- Jeni

A:   That ginger sounds like Costus speciosus, also called crepe ginger. Like all Costus, it goes dormant in the fall and then returns in late spring each year. It gradually spreads and is easy to share by taking a piece of the rhizome. The stems and leaves are spirally arranged and the flowers open from a cone on the terminal end of the stems. You probably won't find this one at the corner nursery but it is available on the web and at nurseries specializing in gingers and tropical plants. Better yet, find someone with the plant and beg or barter a small piece of the rhizome for your garden. I saw this in someone's garden while on the way to Grand Isle and stopped to visit with the gardener who shared a small piece with me. It's been with me for 13 years and shared with many friends. This ginger is a very dramatic addition to the summer and fall garden.

- Louisiana Gardener, November/December 2010

 

Speaking of Ground Covers…

Q:   I have to strongly disagree with one of your recommendations concerning ground covers in the October issue. Most people have no idea how invasive Asian jasmine can be and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. -- Kenneth R. in Sulphur

A:   Thanks for your e-mail. I should have included more information along with the recommendation. You are right that it can be a nuisance if planted in the wrong spot. Asian jasmine is a useful ground cover if you have a large area to cover. It is not suitable for use in a mixed bed of perennials, annuals and small shrubs since the Asian jasmine will quickly gobble them up. Even larger shrubs will have to contend with vine removal from time to time. In mixed beds or smaller areas, less aggressive ground covers are more suitable.

- Louisiana Gardener, November/December 2010

 

Creeping Raspberry - Ideal for Containers

Q:   This fall I bought a creeping raspberry at a local plant sale. I was told it was great in containers. Can you tell more about it?

A:   I love, love, love this plant. Creeping raspberry (Rubus pentalobus) is a creeping ground cover that can also be used in a container planting. It spills over the edges of a mixed planting and is at home in a container on its own. It can take sun or shade and is evergreen. The leaves are small, round and rough to the touch. They resemble a strawberry or geranium leaf in shape with the ruffled edges but are much thicker and courser. I use it often in mixed container gardens as the spiller where it gives an Old World look to formal plantings.

- Louisiana Gardener, November/December 2010

 

Pruning a Bradford Pear Tree

Q:   Please tell me how and when to prune a 'Bradford' pear tree.

A:   Many of you may know that the 'Bradford' pear has a bad reputation as being highly susceptible to wind damage. It grows vigorously, putting out way too many branches reaching vertically toward the sky. This results in an overcrowded canopy with weak branches. It's not considered a hardy tree because at maturity the weight of the branches along with brittle wood and poor structural form leads to broken branches on windy days.

You can help the tree along by carefully pruning when it is in the juvenile stage of its life. Winter is the best time to prune your 'Bradford' pear since it will be leafless and you can get a good look at what needs pruning. Start by removing any dead or dying branches. Next, select a central leader which should be the biggest trunk in the middle of the tree and cut back by half any other branches growing close to and parallel to that leader. This means even small branches that look insignificant now since in just a few years they could be as large as the leader, which will weaken where they join at the trunk. Also, remove any branches that rub or are within 6-8 inches of a larger branch. This may sound extreme but you want to open the tree up and leave only branches that are growing more horizontally than vertically.

- Louisiana Gardener, November/December 2010

 

Evergreen Privacy Screen

Q:   I need a green privacy fence that will be in dappled shade with some afternoon sun. I would like something that is evergreen and at least 10 feet tall. -- Kay K.

A:   An excellent choice for a quick evergreen privacy screen is a viburnum. My favorite for hedging is the Japanese viburnum (Viburnum japonicum) which grows about 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide at a rapid pace. It's virtually pest free. While the flowers are fairly insignificant, the leaves are a very attractive glossy dark green. The showiest of the viburnum species is the Chinese snowball viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum 'Sterile'). It has a hardiness range of Zones 7-9 so it does well in most of Louisiana. It can be evergreen in our area and has nice dark green leaves. It reaches a size similar to the Japanese viburnum but it is a shrub definitely grown for its flowers. It puts on an amazing spring show with large, showy white flowers that resemble white hydrangeas. In Louisiana, we may get a repeat performance in the fall. Like many viburnums, it can be grown in full sun but enjoys a semi-shady spot in the garden for the healthiest performance.

Camellia japonica and C. sasanqua are also excellent hedging shrubs, especially in an area that receives part or dappled sun as in your situation. They are evergreen with winter blooms and beautiful dark green leaves that are attractive all year long. There are two drawbacks to camellias: They are prone to several pests and diseases (although these can usually be controlled if you stay on top of the problem), and they are slow growing, so it may be a while before you have the privacy fence you desire.

Another excellent choice is the banana shrub, Michelia fuscata (M. figo). Its mature size is around 12-15 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide. It can handle part shade this far south and the most exceptional attribute of this old-fashioned evergreen shrub is the small late spring, early summer flowers that smell of ripe bananas. I have one in my landscape and when in bloom the slightest breeze carries its fruity fragrance throughout the entire yard. It'll make you stop in your tracks and take a deep breath and enjoy this simple pleasure of spring. There are other good choices so pick up a good book on Louisiana gardening or head to your local nursery where the professionals can give you additional choices.

- Louisiana Gardener, November/December 2010