http://www.searchreslt.com/blue-star/
Blue Foliage Plants by Floral And Hardy
Following on from last week's article concerning silver toned foliage, this week we will be covering the colour blue, and a selection of the most effective cultivars for displaying this hue. As has been mentioned previously, it is interesting to consider the time of year that your foliage will have the greatest impact in the garden and this colour may be particularly effective in summer when it will be enhanced by the (hopefully!) blue skies we will be enjoying.
Floral and Hardy's Top Five Blue Beauties:
Cerinthe major purpurascens
Otherwise known as 'Honeywort', Cerinthe major purpurascens is an upright annual flowering cultivar which can grow up to 60 centimetres tall and whose foliage will alternate between blue and turquoise throughout spring and summer. The flowers of this plant have bright purple petals, offset by a vivid yellow heart and they will also be accompanied by purple bracts growing at the base of the flowers. They are highly attractive to bees and will thrive if cutting is performed regularly. They prefer well drained soil and a sheltered position that enjoys full sun, but the Honeywort is fairly indifferent to soil structure and will perform equally well in almost any ph. level.
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'
'Elijah Blue' is a compact, clump-forming, evergreen ornamental grass, producing strikingly blue tufts of wiry foliage about 20 centimetres tall, accompanied by blue-green flowers in the summertime that, come autumn, will fade to pale brown. However, these blooms are tiny to the point of unnoticeable and so will not detract from the beauty of the foliage itself. The plant will require very little maintenance and even better is suited to the majority of environments, withstanding high levels of exposure or extremes at either end of the ph. spectrum.
Helictotrichon sempervirens
If you like the Festuca but need something a bit bigger, the 'Blue Oat Grass' might be for you, as this is another dense evergreen with a tufted habit - rather like the Festuca, but taller. Its rigid, spiky leaves will grow to approximately 1.4 metres in height, in a blue or silver tone throughout all seasons. In the summertime it will also produce brown flowers in small spikelets borne on broad panicles, provided it is grown in full sun, however, the eponymous foliage is quite hardy and will therefore thrive in most environments, even in poor soil, but it does prefer an alkaline based soil. They can be easily propagated by means of division following flowering in mid-summer.
Hosta 'Hadspen Blue'
'Hadspen Blue' is a small herbaceous perennial of minimal maintenance that will grow to a maximum height of 35 centimetres m within 2-5 years. It is possessed of smooth, blue-grey, heart-shaped leaves and produces summer blooming, bell-shaped, mauve flowers. It has a clump forming habit and will perform best in heavy clay or loam based soil, however, despite its high level of hardiness, it does prefer a sheltered position and an acidic ph. level, so be aware that a light, sandy soil may cause its leaves to yellow. Hostas are notoriously attractive to slugs and snails, however, they don't seem to like the blue-leafed varieties as much, so this one might be a good choice.
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
This is a dwarf, coniferous shrub with bright blue, needle-shaped foliage, forming a dense, low-growing clump. Being an evergreen, it will give good year-round colour, making this a particularly dramatic choice if planted en-masse, which may be necessary as the plant only has a maximum height and spread of 50 centimetres and 1 metre respectively. Another extremely hardy cultivar, Blue star can be planted in any well-drained soil and will even tolerate very hot and sunny sites. However, it is also important to note that all parts of this cultivar are toxic, so maybe not a good choice where there are young children or pets.
So concludes our segment on blue foliage, which hopefully will be as much a highlight to your garden as the blue skies they will reflect, come their summer matinees.
About the Author
Written by Joshua Ellison of Floral & Hardy Gardens, specialists for Garden Design Sevenoaks
Blue Star-EMS
|
|
HM Digital TDS-EZ Water Test Meter $24.99 Ideal for all basic water testing applications. The best value meter in the world! .. Economy model that is ideal for end-users. .. Highly efficient and accurate due to its advanced microprocessor technology. .. Hold Function: saves measurements for convenient reading and recording. .. Auto-off function: the meter shuts off automatically after 10 minutes of non-use to conserve batteries. .. Meas… |
|
|
Ball Regular Mason Canning Jar 1 Qt., Case of 12 $8.62 You’ll taste the freshness of fall’s harvest in February when you open the jar of preserves you canned…. |
|
|
Wilton 415-9400 Easy Flex Silicone 3-Inch Reusable Baking Cups, 12 Count $8.95 Discover the convenience and easy release of flexible silicone bakeware! ?Exceptional baking performance for your favorite recipes ?Freezer, refrigerator, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe ?Resists stains and odors ?Oven safe to 500°F ?Easy and convenient storage ?Limited lifetime warranty Standard size, 2 in. diameter. Convenient fill line…. |
|
|
Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Soothe and Glow Seahorse Pink $14.88 With a gentle squeeze, this cuddly friend glows and plays soft music, lullabies and soothing sounds of the ocean. After five minutes the music fades, lights dim, and baby can drift off to dreamland … Recommended Ages: 0 Months & up… |
|
|
Pink Floyd: The Wall (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) $10.99 Based on Pink Floyd’s hit album, this dazzling rock musical stars Bob Geldof as Pink, a rock star tortured by his past and descending into madness. His breakdown is represented by striking live-action and animated sequences and such Floyd songs as “Another Brick in the Wall,” “Comfortably Numb,” “Goodbye Blue Sky,” “The Trial” and others. With Bob Hoskins, Christine Hargreaves; Alan Parker directs… |
|
|
It Might Get Loud $8.50 The Sony DVD It Might Get Loud is an epic, exhilarating backstage pass into the world of rock stars. There are guitar players, and then there are rock stars. Over the course of one day, three generations of electric guitar phenoms come together, crank up their amps, and let it roll.Documentarian Davis Guggenheim gives us so much more than an all-star jam session (that alone would make even the gna… |
|
|
Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) [Blu-ray] $78.99 Relive the unforgettable moments and experience the spectacular adventure of STAR WARS The Complete Saga in a way only Blu-ray can deliver. This incredible collection unites all six Episodes together for the frst time in stunning high definition with the purest digital sound in the galaxy. With over 40 hours of thrilling special features, including all-new content created exclusively for this rele… |
|
|
Alien Anthology [Blu-ray] $43.95 Review of AlienA landmark of science fiction and horror, Alien arrived in 1979 between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back as a stylishly malevolent alternative to George Lucas’s space fantasy. Partially inspired by 1958′s It! The Terror from Beyond Space, this instant classic set a tone of its own, offering richly detailed sets, ominous atmosphere, relentless suspense, and a flawless ensemble c… |
|
|
Star Wars: The Original Trilogy (Episodes IV – VI) [Blu-ray] $35.99 The Star Wars trilogy had the rare distinction of becoming more than just a series of movies, but a cultural phenomenon, a life-defining event for its generation. On its surface, George Lucas’s original 1977 film is a rollicking and humorous space fantasy that owes debts to more influences than one can count on two hands, but filmgoers became entranced by its basic struggle of good vs. evil “a lon… |
|
|
Streamlight 73001 Nano Light Miniature Keychain LED Flashlight, Black $3.75 FEATURES Easily attaches to just about anything with pocket clip or key ring: 1 Up to 8 hours run time: 2 Machined aircraft grade aluminum with anodized finish: 3 Uses 4 alkaline button cell batteries included: 4 White LED bulb with 10 lumens: 5 Weatherproof: 6 Includes a non-rotating snap hook for easy one handed operation when atta… |