Perennials and Annuals with a Christian Name

Although lantana prefers rich, moist conditions, it does very well in hot, dry conditions and for that reason is a favorite warm-season annual, trailing beautifully from containers and hanging baskets. It can be grown as a perennial, especially as a ground cover, in Zones 10 and 11, but it's as an annual that it's most commonly used. It's available in a wide range of colors, and flower clusters often show off two colors at once, including white, orange, yellow, red, and lavender.

Likes average to rich, neutral to acidic, very well-drained soil with moderate water but it's drought-tolerant once established. Fertilize by working in compost two or three times during the season or by applying a slow-release fertilizer, following label directions exactly. Cut back plants by one-third to half in late summer if plant gets too leggy.

Planting: Plant established plants in spring after all danger of frost has passed. Space about a foot when planting directly in the ground.

8 varieties available at Top Tropicals:

http://www.msaqua.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=LANTANA_CAMARA

Royal Trinity

Lilium longiflorum hybrid

Pure mango orange flowers are bowl shaped, slightly outlines and no speckles.

Bulb size: 14-16 CM

Keep in: sun, partial shade Usage: cut-landscape Height: 48-50"

Flowering Months: June-July, Planting Months: March-Sept.

Available at: http://www.igardenworld.com/s/shop/item.asp?=18979

Emerald Angel

Trumpet/Aurelian Hybrid Lily

USDA Zones 5-10, (colder climates w/winter mulch)

Facing towards the heavens, the chalice-shaped, softly tinted green blooms of 'Emerald Angel' seem like rare jewels. Each petal of the fragrant blooms carries an elegant, darker midrib.

Since the delicate shading of this clonal selection may bleach in hot climates, plant it in light afternoon shade where summer temps are often over 90 F.

Height: 3 to 5 feet. Bloom Time: July

Available from: http://www.snowdaylily.com/l6243.html

Bulb Size - Our standard for bulbs of this lily cultivar ranges from

Premium-size» (16/18 cm) to Exhibition-size» (over 20 cm)

Garden Angel

Oriental Hybrid

USDA Zones 5-9, (colder climates w/winter mulch.)

There are few white Oriental lilies that can compare to 'Casablanca', but 'Garden Angel' is one that will easily hold it's own by comparison.

Being a little shorter in stature and blooming about two weeks earlier, 'Garden Angel' not only adds July bloom to the white flower garden, but can be planted nearer the front of your lily bed for a close up view. Up-facing flowers on very strong stems. Height: 3 to 4 Feet.

Available from: http://www.snowdaylily.com/l7046.html

Golden Angel

Trumpet/Aurelian Hybrid

USDA Zones 5-10, (colder climates w/winter mulch)

This group of lovely, up-facing Trumpet lily clones was selected from the very best of the 'Golden Angel' Strain.

Heavenly scented, golden yellow flowers with soft green or mahogany-brown reverses are held on strong stems. 'Golden Angel' lilies are easy to grow, but their height varies. Most rise to 3 to 5 feet, but they may get much taller when established. Limited Supply. Available from: http://www.snowdaylily.com/l6201.html

Maltese Cross

Lychnis Chalcedonica

Med to Tall 3' - Plant 12" apart.

Scarlet Lighting - Lush green upright growth. Dazzling scarlet flowers form dense clusters in summer. Place toward the back border of the flower garden as the flowers are held high and foliage tips can brown in late summer's heat. Great cut flower. Blooms: Late Spring, Early summer

Available at bluestone perennials http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/LYCHS.html

Virgins Bread, referred to as Mallow in the Bible

Malva alcea

Perennial USDA Zones: 4 - 8, Light: sun; prefers light shade in hot summer areas of Zones 6 and warmer

Height: 2 to 4 feet, Width: 6 to 24 inches

Flower Colors: charming pinks, blues, whites

Bloom Time: summer - fall

Often thought of as miniature hollyhocks, malva produces the same charming cottage flowers but on a smaller scale and often with prettier colors and delicate veining on the petals. Malva ranges in height from 2 to 4 feet and is bushier than hollyhocks, ranging from 6 to 24 inches. Most reseed prolifically and while they can die out easily after just a couple of years, once they colonize a spot you'll have a ready supply for years to come in your flower garden. They're also pretty in bouquets.

Malva alcea has lovely 2-inch white or pink flowers. Needs rich to average, well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant in cool-summer areas in Zones 4 to 5; moderate moisture in hot summer areas in Zones 6 to 8. Fertilize occasionally or work in a slow-release fertilizer. It self-sows to the point of excess, so mulch and cut back in fall to control reseeding. Stake as needed. Planting: Plant established plants in spring in all zones or fall in Zones 7 and 8. Mulch to conserve moisture.

Available at: White Flower Farms Malva

Cross Mint

Mentha crispa

Hmm, curly mint... Crisped leaves in Mentha are under the control of at least one gene, and another gene probably controls the degree of crispness. Crisped mints are known in spearmint and peppermint, its hybrid. Both these have been called curly mint, but the former does not breed true from seed and the latter is intensely sterile.

The best scam of "curly mint" seeds that we encountered was one packet labeled curly mint on the front and peppermint on the rear accompanied by a picture of the green pineapple mint, M. Suaveolens. It germinated to a rank, plain-leaved spearmint! Other packets of "Curly mint" germinated to M.Suaveolens. If you want to gamble, here's a way that's cheaper than Las Vegas or Atlantic City.(from international herb assoc.)

Botany. com came to my rescue on this particular plant as none of my books mentioned Curly Mint, the only common name I knew it by. This plant, they write, is valued more for its intricately curled, fringed leaves than for its fragrance. The foliage is dark green and lightly splotched with a contrasting lighter green. They can grow up to 2 feet high and are invasive. Chefs like Curly Mint for garnishes, but prefer the pleasant flavor of regular Spearmint and Peppermint.

Grow this Mint in full sun and moist, fertile soil. Cut the stems to the ground and take the 2 or 3 sets of terminal leaves for fresh use. Throw out the rest. This isn't a good Mint for drying or for use alone in teas. It should be used for garnishes, or if dried, as a filler in potpourris.

Transplant runners or potted plants in the spring or early fall.

Available at: http://www.papagenos.com/descript/description.asp?catid=8

And also at: http://www.chesapeakeaquatics.com/Availability.htm

Holy Herb

Nicotiana tabacum

The tobacco plant is a thick-stemmed annual bearing large leaves with short petioles or leaf stems. Leaf blades are often more than 20 inches long and half as wide. They rise in a spiral along the stem. Stems grow 4 to 6 feet tall and terminate in a cluster of flowers if not topped. Except for seed production, however, plant terminals are usually removed when flowering begins in order to increase size and thickness of leaves - the marketable portion.

Plants are usually started in beds under cloth cover in early spring and moved to the field after all hazard of frost is past. Growth in the field from setting to harvest covers 3 to 5 months. Harvesting may consist of removing most mature leaves by hand at about weekly intervals or cutting the whole stem. The former method is more generally used as it gives higher leaf yield and better quality. Leaves are then dried by one of several processes. In flue-cured tobacco, heat is applied in such a way that no smoke reaches the leaf hung in racks. In fire-curing, open fires are used and the smoke results in a darker colored, distinctlv flavored leaf. In air-cured tobacco no heat is added except as necessary to prevent mold during humid periods. Kinds of curing depends on type of tobacco grown and ultimate use. Cigar wrapper tobacco, grown mainly in Connecticut, is produced under partial shade - resulting in thinner leaves and less damage to the leaves. In the final products from tobacco (cigarettes, pipe tobacco, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff) the leaf midribs and larger veins are largely removed. They may be processed to obtain nicotine insecticides or used as mulching material. They are not used as feed. Tobacco was grown on 967,000 acres in the United States - average acreage for 1966-67. Almost 66% of this was flue-cured and nearly 33% aircured. Less than 3 percent was fire cured. Around 50,000 acres was devoted to cigar tobacco.

Seeds at companionplants.com and http://www.prseeds.ca/catalogue/flowers.php?C=Flowers#annualflowers

Listed under “annual flowers” at the second link.

Holy Basil

Ocimum sanctum

Musky/mint scent. Hindu use - Kaprao and Tulsi in Thailand and India.

Medicinally used to sooth stomach. Culinary use for pesto sauces and

flavoring dishes. Aromatic.

Planting Instructions: (included with packet) Plant outdoors at room

temperature 1/4" deep, 2 seeds/inch in 18" rows. Firm up soil and thin to 6" apart.

Moist and somewhat rich soil with full sun in the flower garden is best. Harvest leaves before flowering. Smaller leaves are best after established. Best to harvest basil leaves before blooming. Try not to bruise leave during harvest.

Available at: seedlings.com

Star of Bethlehem

Orinthogalum umbellatum

Star of Bethlehem has dwarf, white with green striped, star-shaped flowers.

Flowers Early Spring onwards

Height: 30 - 45cm, multiplies rapidly, plant in an open sunny position.

Suitable for pots,

available at:http://windyhillflowers.com.au/index.html?target=dept_65.html&lang=shop