Perennials and Annuals with a Christian Name

An elegant flower, glads have tall spikes crowded with ruffled flowers that face the same direction and open from the bottom of the stem up. Planting time depends on climate; they bloom about 8 weeks after planting.

Care: In all climates, dig up corms and overwinter indoors in a cold, dark place.

Planting: After the soil warms (early spring in the South, midsummer in the North), plant corms in full sun in average to fertile well-drained soil in holes 4 to 6 inches deep and spaced 4 to 6 inches apart. Make plantings in the flower garden at two-week intervals to prolong the bloom period.

Pests and Diseases

Thrips can infest corms. Buy clean corms, plant in a different place each year, and clean up old stalks and leaves.

14 different colors available at http://www.djgrowglad.com/

Christ’s Cloak

and St. Frances Flower

Gomphrena globosa

Family: Amaranthacea (amaranth)

Globe amaranth is the common name, an annual bedding plant that grows 1-2 ft tall with a spread of about 1 ft. The branched stems are erect and stiff and the plant has a bushy appearance.

The leaves are opposite, oblong, 4-6 in long, and wooly-white when young, becoming sparsely white-hairy as they age. Cloverlike flowerheads, 1.5 in long, are borne on upright spikes from summer until frost. The individual flowers within the flowerheads are inconspicuous, but the stiff, papery bracts that form the bulk of the structure are colorful and showy and come in shades of white, pink and purple. Pinch back the tips of young plants to encourage branching. It benefits from mulching in hot, dry weather.

Light: Full sun. Hardiness: Globe amaranth is an annual grown as a summer bedding plant. It cannot tolerate frost, but it is quite tolerant of summer heat.

Propagation: Plant globe amaranth seeds in spring after all danger of frost has past. Many gardeners set out 6-8 week old seedlings for a head start on the season. Seeds should be soaked in water for a day or two before planting and will take about a week or two to germinate at 70ºF (21 ºC).

Gophrenas are used in annual beds and borders in the flower garden. In masses, the round flowerheads produce an interesting texture, and their bright colors last late into the season. Their low stature makes them well suited for edging around taller plantings. Globe amaranth is often grown in containers on the porch or deck. The conelike flowerheads are beautiful in dried arrangements and will hold their shape and color indefinitely. To grow gomphrena for cut flowers or dried arrangements, plant closely together to force longer stems. Cut the stems just as the heads are beginning to open and hang upside down in a warm, dark place to dry.

Available from: http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/

or at: http://www.selectseeds.com/

Notable Varieties

'Amber Glow' is a light orange variety that grows 18 to 24 inches tall. 'Blushing Bride' produces pale salmon-pink blooms on 18- to 24-inch-tall plants. 'Innocence' bears white flowers on plants 18 to 24 inches tall. 'Lavender Lady' grows 18 to 24 inches tall and has lavender-pink flowers. 'Buddy' is smaller, to 9 in high, and has bright intensely purple flowerheads. 'Cissy' also is smaller and has white flowerheads. Gomphrena 'Strawberry Fields' is a hybrid with bright red flowerheads to 2 in long.

Christmas Rose

Perennial Helleboros niger

USDA Zones: 3 - 8 Light: partial - full shade

Height: 12 inches

Flower Colors: white with yellow stamens in the center

Bloom Time: late winter - early spring

The Christmas rose gets the award for the earliest blooming plant in the colder climates. In late winter or early spring, this hardy harbinger pokes its head up, sometimes pushing aside the snow.

The 3-inch flowers resemble a single-flowering rose's bloom. Flowers start out white, but fade to pink over time; in warmer areas, they can last up to 2 months. In Zones 7 and warmer, the Christmas rose is evergreen. In colder areas, it dies to the ground in winter.

Although it looks delicate, the Christmas rose is quite sturdy once it gets a foothold in your flower garden. Planting in a location sheltered from bitter winter winds will help it get established quickly.

Large clumps of Christmas roses can be divided to create more plants, but they can also be left in place for many years. Plant in well-drained soil, adding organic amendments such as peat or compost if the soil is clay or sandy. Christmas roses do best in partial shade and away from harsh winter winds.

Available from White Flower Farms #30735 Helleborus niger

Christ Root

Helleborus viridis

Green Hellebore Nodding, lizard-green flowers begin to bloom in late winter and usually last through May. This species was in the Middle Ages identified with Black Hellebore and continues to be used medicinally in Black Hellebore's place Europe, although it should still be considered poisonous.

This is true Green Hellebore, as opposed to Veratrum viridum, which is usually offered as Green Hellebore. Grows best in zones 6-9 and gets over 1 ft/45 cm tall.

How to grow hellebores: The seed needs warmth and then cold treatment to sprout. Plant and keep at 72F/22C with constant humidity for at least 6 weeks. You can use bottom heat from a waterproof heating pad for this. Put them in the freezer for 6-8 weeks (0C/25-39F). Then raise temps to 50F gradually (keep in fridge for a while). Then take out and they should germinate. If the cold treatment was not long enough, they will not germinate until the following year. You can also just plant them outside in pots when you get them and leave them outside through the warm weather and then the cold until after Winter Solstice. making sure that they have moisture but are not soaked. They will germinate in February. The seedlings should be transplanted to their permanent site when they are about two inches tall. Plant out in dappled shade. Extremely heavy shade will mean a leggy plant--long stalks and stems. It likes deep, fertile soil that is well drained (no standing water or clay) and no competition with tree roots. These plants take two years to bloom, although some will bloom the first fall. However, they will self-sow prodigiously. Once they get growing, mulch them before it gets too cold. Plants can be flattened by very cold weather but will spring back up. The farther south they are, the more shade they like. Pick off dead leaves to keep disease from getting hold. When they get established, you can make root divisions in July or just let them self-sow, which they do readily.

Available at: http://www.pineknotfarms.com/Next%203.html

Snow Angel

Heuchera sanguinea

Zone: 3 - 8, Elevation to: 8000', Growth habit: Mound forming

Max height: 12", Spread: 12"

Flowers early summer

Cultivation: Plant in full sun to partial shade in well drained soils. Heuchera tolerates most soil types well. Space new container grown plants 12" apart. Remove spent flowers to promote new flower growth for your flower garden. Flowers are good for cutting.

Propagation: Seed can be started in a cold frame or greenhouse in early spring, then moved outdoors after danger of frost has passed. Once established, plants can be divided in spring.

Available at: http://www.sugarcreekgardens.com/APPerennialsH.htm

'Guardian Angel' (C. & R. Thompson 95)

Hosta, Origin: Blue Angel Hybrid

Part Sun to Shade Zone: 3-8 Height: 24" tall

Web-Only Special! Surely, everyone needs a "guardian angel." Discovered at Mobjack Nursery, this hot new sport of H. 'Blue Angel' grows like its parent, except when it emerges in early spring, the center of each leaf is bright, creamy white. For the spring flower garden, this beauty will put all other hostas to shame!

After spring, the center color fades to leave a simply stunning, large blue hosta to 3-4'+ wide. In late spring, the clumps are topped with near-white flowers.

Available at: http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/03292.html

Assumption Lily

Hosta plantaginea

Pure white, extremely large (6"), fragrant flowers, coupled with large glossy

green leaves makes an outstanding show in August.

Perennial growing to 0.6m by 1.2m . It is hardy to zone 4 and is frost tender.

It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from September

to October.

The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil.

The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil. The flowers are said to have anticancer activity. An essential oil is obtained from the leaves, used in perfumery.

In general, the sunnier the position the moister the soil should be. Plants are best not grown under trees in town gardens since the soot washed from the leaves of the trees in wet weather will tend to remain on the hosta. Plants flower better when grown in a sunny position but the foliage is better when the plant is in a shady position. This species tolerates quite a lot of sun.

A very ornamental plant. The flowers open in the evening and have a delicious lily-like fragrance. Division is possible at almost any time of the year so long as there is sufficient moisture. It is best carried out in March as growth commences or in early autumn if the soil is not too dry. Hostas can be left undivided for many years and should not be divided any more frequently than once every 3 - 5 years to allow the leaves to reach maturity. The species is from China is noted not only for its shiny, light green foliage, but for its 15cm long, deliciously fragrant white flowers. The flowers, open in late afternoon, and make any flower garden a fragrant oasis. Each clump reaches 60cm wide on this great candidate for a mixed border.

Available from: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~rossruth/MO-Hostas.htm

Christ’s Eye

Inula oculus-Christi

Patches of silvery felted foliage send up stems bearing several orange-yellow daisies

in early summer. Semi-evergreen, super plant. Drained soil in full sun. 40cm.

Available at: http://www.plantpref.co.uk/html/h_to_l.html

Mary’s Sword of Sorrow

Iris germanica

USDA Zones: 3 - 10 Light: sun Zones 3 to 6; partial shade appreciated in warmer regions. Height: 6 to 36 inches, Width: 4 to 24 inches Flower Colors: white, pink, blue, violet, yellow, and orange; bi-colors.

Bloom Time: late spring – summer

Among the many members of the iris family, the bearded iris is probably the most popular. It's the same flower you would have seen in your grandmother's flower garden. This tough plant can provide lovely color in sun and partial shade, moist and dry soil.

Bearded iris (also called German iris) provides a striking vertical accent with its stiff sword-shaped leaves. And although the larger, 3-foot-tall plants may come to mind first, bearded iris comes in sizes from 6 inches to 4 feet. All are good for cutting. Bearded iris are fairly undemanding if their basic needs are met. Fertilize in the spring with a product suited to bulbs. Keep irises watered well for the first year, and divide them every 3 to 4 years to rejuvenate aging colonies.

Plant established plants or rhizomes or tubers in fall or spring, sinking them no more than one inch below the surface. Allow 12 to 15 inches of space between new plants. Divide when flowering diminishes, or when the plants become crowded.

The word iris means ‘eye of heaven’. It was the name of a Greek goddess, this flower, and the center of your eye. This means that each one of us carries a piece of heaven with us. The purple iris is used as a disguised symbol for shadowing the grief of Mary at the Crucifixion of Christ. The sword shaped leaves of the iris are the basis for it’s other name, sword lily. Thus it is an illusion to the old Simeon’s prophecy to Mary during the presentation of Christ in the temple, “yea, a sword shall pass through thy own soul also”.

Available at: http://www.kvbwholesale.com/fall/y33321.1.html