Backyard Plant Grow Habits
I have so many plants in the backyard, I needed a place to keep my notes. I have compiled this list from the internet and book sources.
Calla Lily - big white single flower with huge green leaves, ravaged by snails (using Sluggo to treat), may go dormant during the winter. Can die back to ground and return. Prune level with ground when leaves brown and bend over.
Lantana - dark green leaves, light purple umbel flowers, does not go dormant. Pruning for shape recommended.
Lilac - large leaf, light purple-white flowers, goes dormant over winter. Starts to become dormant in late Sept.
Potentilla - small green leaves, white 5 petal flowers, goes dormant over winter. Prune in early spring. Shape in winter.
Bougainvillea - large leaves, thorny stalks, fuchsia flowers, does not go dormant. Snails love to eat these.
Roses - feed often during blooming season. Water once or twice a week when settled. Prune back after first freeze.
Pinks - Trim older vines starting from the most distal. Cut to base of cluster. New growth starts from the middle of the plant and lays over older growth. In winter, prune back to ground while leaving a few short green stalks with leaves.
Polygonatum - long stalks with white fringed green leaves, cut to ground after leaves fade for dormancy. Starts to fade into dormancy around end of September or as early as late July. Spring growth evident in March 2011. Spring growth evident in March 2012.
Verbena - Does not take to pruning well. Dark green leaves with red flowers. Ground creeper.
Lonicera nitida (Honeysuckle) - small yellow and green leaves, does not go dormant. Slow growing.
azaleas - lower pH soil required (between 5 and 6). adjust pH with soil amendments (sulfur) and azalea food.
Iberis sempriviriens - small green leaves, long stalks of white flowers. Does not go dormant. Easily broken by dogs. Cut back old blooming spikes. Will grow from crown.
Ceanothus (California Lilac) - evergreen and very drought tolerant. Do not over water (keep dry during summer), do not apply soil amendments, must dry out between watering.
Weigela florida - large pale yellow and green leaves, flowers, prune late spring or summer after bloom. Doesn't always bloom first year. Will try "Cloud Cover" spray to help this plant retain water. Becomes dormant in fall, leaves brown at margins. Spring growth apparent in February 2012 (warm winter).
Rhododendron - large dark green leaves, deep red blooms, prune late spring or summer after bloom.
Corea 'dusky bells' - distinctive pink bell-shaped flowers, dark green leaves. drought tolerant. tolerates shade well.
Rosemary - hardy woody herb that withstands summer heat and drought.
Lavender - in our region, this is a weed! Monthly pruning is a necessity during the bloom season. Prune up to 1/3 for thinning. Don't prune the lowest growth because it will not replace them leaving a vase shaped plant.
Lilies - can die back to ground and return.
Crab Apple - Hardy tree that holds-up during summer heat and low watering.
Maple - prune any time. May be very 'sappy' when pruned.
ferns - water and shade loving. Divide by cutting rhizomes with spade and transplanting.
forsythia - prune after flowing (early spring), new flowers grow on "old" wood not on new growth.
Camelia - dark green leaves, does not go dormant. messy flower shed once flower has ripened.
clematis - long vine climber, vines turn brown once final length is reached. Cold hardy. Goes dormant in winter. Leave brown vines in-place for growth to start on in the spring. Will start new growth from base of crown.
Aquilegia 'Northern Lights' - grows to 2', perennial and deciduous, hardy to 0deg.
Soleirolia soleirolii 'Baby Tears' - prefers shade and moderate moisture. The plant dies back during winter, but it returns with lush growth as the temperature increases.
Santa Margarita Penstamon - They can tolerate a little water to get established. After that leave them alone! They actually like dry summers and generally arid conditions. Depending on the vigor of the plant, cut them almost to the ground (leaving a low tuft of foliage) or cut back all the old flower stems to encourage additional bloom.
Astromeria Peruvian Lily - rootstock consisting of a slender rhizome or group of rhizomes. The plant is injured below 23°F. dislikes dividing; prefers rich, well-drained soil. Flower stems can be cut at the crown of the plant or pulled up directly from the soil with your hand, as they will readily release from the crown. Deadhead and discard blooms after flowering if you do not want the plant to self-sow. Prepare your alstroemeria for winter by shearing off the fading foliage at the crown of the plant in the fall. Water well and lay down at least a 6-inch thick blanket of mulch or compost over the rhizomes.
Calla Lily - big white single flower with huge green leaves, ravaged by snails (using Sluggo to treat), may go dormant during the winter. Can die back to ground and return. Prune level with ground when leaves brown and bend over.
Lantana - dark green leaves, light purple umbel flowers, does not go dormant. Pruning for shape recommended.
Lilac - large leaf, light purple-white flowers, goes dormant over winter. Starts to become dormant in late Sept.
Potentilla - small green leaves, white 5 petal flowers, goes dormant over winter. Prune in early spring. Shape in winter.
Bougainvillea - large leaves, thorny stalks, fuchsia flowers, does not go dormant. Snails love to eat these.
Roses - feed often during blooming season. Water once or twice a week when settled. Prune back after first freeze.
Pinks - Trim older vines starting from the most distal. Cut to base of cluster. New growth starts from the middle of the plant and lays over older growth. In winter, prune back to ground while leaving a few short green stalks with leaves.
Polygonatum - long stalks with white fringed green leaves, cut to ground after leaves fade for dormancy. Starts to fade into dormancy around end of September or as early as late July. Spring growth evident in March 2011. Spring growth evident in March 2012.
Verbena - Does not take to pruning well. Dark green leaves with red flowers. Ground creeper.
Lonicera nitida (Honeysuckle) - small yellow and green leaves, does not go dormant. Slow growing.
azaleas - lower pH soil required (between 5 and 6). adjust pH with soil amendments (sulfur) and azalea food.
Iberis sempriviriens - small green leaves, long stalks of white flowers. Does not go dormant. Easily broken by dogs. Cut back old blooming spikes. Will grow from crown.
Ceanothus (California Lilac) - evergreen and very drought tolerant. Do not over water (keep dry during summer), do not apply soil amendments, must dry out between watering.
Weigela florida - large pale yellow and green leaves, flowers, prune late spring or summer after bloom. Doesn't always bloom first year. Will try "Cloud Cover" spray to help this plant retain water. Becomes dormant in fall, leaves brown at margins. Spring growth apparent in February 2012 (warm winter).
Rhododendron - large dark green leaves, deep red blooms, prune late spring or summer after bloom.
Corea 'dusky bells' - distinctive pink bell-shaped flowers, dark green leaves. drought tolerant. tolerates shade well.
Rosemary - hardy woody herb that withstands summer heat and drought.
Lavender - in our region, this is a weed! Monthly pruning is a necessity during the bloom season. Prune up to 1/3 for thinning. Don't prune the lowest growth because it will not replace them leaving a vase shaped plant.
Lilies - can die back to ground and return.
Crab Apple - Hardy tree that holds-up during summer heat and low watering.
Maple - prune any time. May be very 'sappy' when pruned.
ferns - water and shade loving. Divide by cutting rhizomes with spade and transplanting.
forsythia - prune after flowing (early spring), new flowers grow on "old" wood not on new growth.
Camelia - dark green leaves, does not go dormant. messy flower shed once flower has ripened.
clematis - long vine climber, vines turn brown once final length is reached. Cold hardy. Goes dormant in winter. Leave brown vines in-place for growth to start on in the spring. Will start new growth from base of crown.
Aquilegia 'Northern Lights' - grows to 2', perennial and deciduous, hardy to 0deg.
Soleirolia soleirolii 'Baby Tears' - prefers shade and moderate moisture. The plant dies back during winter, but it returns with lush growth as the temperature increases.
Santa Margarita Penstamon - They can tolerate a little water to get established. After that leave them alone! They actually like dry summers and generally arid conditions. Depending on the vigor of the plant, cut them almost to the ground (leaving a low tuft of foliage) or cut back all the old flower stems to encourage additional bloom.
Astromeria Peruvian Lily - rootstock consisting of a slender rhizome or group of rhizomes. The plant is injured below 23°F. dislikes dividing; prefers rich, well-drained soil. Flower stems can be cut at the crown of the plant or pulled up directly from the soil with your hand, as they will readily release from the crown. Deadhead and discard blooms after flowering if you do not want the plant to self-sow. Prepare your alstroemeria for winter by shearing off the fading foliage at the crown of the plant in the fall. Water well and lay down at least a 6-inch thick blanket of mulch or compost over the rhizomes.