Trumpet Creeper

The trumpet creeper, or scientifically known as Campsis radicans, got its name because it looks like …. Well … a trumpet that creeps. It climbs up any vertical poles or structures such as trees, telephone poles, and shrubs. If there are no vertical objects to climb up on, they will just sprawl majestically. These crawlers have aerial rootlets which make it possible for them to go upward, just like any other plant vines.

The color of the plant’s flower is orange and reddish orange. It has no fragrant or scent but despite this, humming birds, especially the ruby-throated species, love this plant very much. In fact, you can find trumpet creepers in any areas or places where ruby-throated hummingbirds inhabit or breed. It usually grows in woodlands, thickets, savannas, riverbanks, glades, along the roads, in abandoned fields—in short, anywhere. You can even plant this in your backyard to give your garden that exotic ambience. The plant can survive in any kinds of disturbance. However, they need enough space and vertical structure that can act as support for them to grow beautifully.

The blooming season varies from place to place, but usually it is from late May to middle of September.

This perennial woody vine attracts other insects such as bumblebees, ants, halictid bees and caterpillars. Some caterpillars feed on the leaves while some feed on the seed pods and the seeds themselves. Although generally speaking, it has few pest problems and diseases.

It is sometimes referred to as “cow-itch” because it can cause rashes to people when they come in contact with the foliage.

Zinnia

Named after Dr. Johann Gottfried Zinn, the German botanist who described zinnia in the 18th century, this flower is native to the Americas, more specifically to Southwest U.S., Mexico, and Central America.

The plant is very famous for its single, slender, long-stemmed blooms that come in a variety of bright and vibrant colors such as white, lilac, orange, red, purple, yellow, and chartreuse. On the other hand, the leaves are sessile or without stalks.

The wild relatives of these flowers were like daisies that were more weeds than plants. They are also small and the color of the flowers is reddish-purple. Nowadays, gardeners turn this weedy wildflower into a wonderful bedding ornamental plant.

Zinnia could be a single, semidouble, or double based on the formation of the flowers. Single-flowered means the plant only has one layer of petals and the middle part is protruding. Double-flowered plants have so many layers of petals which makes the middle part covered and well-hidden. Semidouble-flowered is something in between. Double-flowered is further divided into types—the beehive type and the button type.

These plants, because of its wildly colored flowers, are popular among home gardeners, especially the species Z. elegans. This is a very nice addition to one’s garden because aside from its ability to make any garden look lively, it can also add fantasy-like atmosphere to any garden because the flowers attract butterflies.

Zinnias prefer well-drained soil that is very rich with humus and fertile. They should also be exposed to sunlight, since they are originally warm-hot climate plant. They could either be annual or perennial plants.

Moss Verbena

Known for its magnificent fuchsia flowers, Moss Verbena is native to South America. These plants could be annuals or perennials and can reach only up to 6 to 12 inches, which gave it the name because of its tendency to grow very low, just like mosses. It can be grown by planting seeds and also by stem cuttings.

The flowers bloom from late spring to early summer, mid summer, and from late spring to early fall. Because of its colourful and attractive flowers, these plants attract insects such as bees and butterflies and also birds.

Leaf color is deep green and the plant has a sprawling habit. It crawls on the ground that is why it is ideal for groundcover.

It is very easy to take care of Moss Verbena. It only requires average water and they self-propagate their seeds freely. Do not water them too much because the roots may drown. They are also tolerant to drought. However, right amount of water will still affect the size and vigor of the plant.

These plants also grow in any types of soils. However, it will be healthier and will produce lush leaves and rich flowers if they are planted in slightly-amended, well-drained soil.

It is very useful if you want to quickly cover an unattractive bare ground in your yard because these plants grow very fast. If you have little space in your yard, you can also put Moss Verbena in hanging containers for that whimsical look in your garden. This plant is very persistent—it will still grow back even after you mowed it down using a lawnmower.

Cosmos

If you like order, proportion, and balance in your flower, then you should plant some cosmos in your garden. Sure, “order, proportion, and balance” are not the usual characteristics that most people look for in a flower and also not the qualities that make a flower attractive, but it sure helps in achieving that perfect, polished look.

Cosmos is a genus of flowers that has more than twenty several kinds of species that could be annual or perennial. But you will most likely find the annual species C. sulphureus and C. bipinnatus in home gardens.

This annual plant got its name from the Greek word, well, “Cosmos” which means a harmonious and orderly universe because the petals are evenly arranged and distances are proportion.

Originally from Mexico and South America, these plants were the Spanish priests’ favourites and they usually plant them in their gardens.

This plant has a soft stem, which makes it a herbaceous plant, and can grow up to 0.3 to 2 meters tall. The leaves’ venation depend on the species. It could be simple, pinnate, or bipinnate. But the arrangement is in opposite pairs. The petals of the flowers are arranged in an ordered manner around a small cluster of florets.

The colors of the C. sulphureus flowers are always different shades of red, yellow, and orange which make it a nice addition to any gardens that need brightening up. On the other hand C. bipinnatus usually have white or pink and dark rose colored flowers.

Because of its growing popularity among gardeners, many cultivars and hybrids have been chosen and names were also given.

Coreopsis

Coreopsis, or more commonly known as tickseed, has more than 30 species—twenty eight are originally from North America and the remaining are scattered in the Central and South America. It got its name from the Greek word koris which means bedbug because the shape of the achene looks like a bedbug. It is also sometimes referred to as “Calliopsis”.

The color of the flower is usually bright yellow and the petals have jagged tip and the petals are a bit delicate to the touch. There are some species, like the C. rosea, that has pink petals with yellow centers. C. grandiflora, on the other hand, has vibrant yellow flowers with long and slender stalks. One very new hybrid is C. verticillata and it has red flowers. The flowers bloom from early summer to the end of fall.

Coreopsis requires exposure to sunlight, making them a nice addition to your summer garden. They should also be deadheaded or dead flowers should be removed regularly so that new flowers will bloom longer. But because of the delicate nature of the petals, be very careful in deadheading the plant. What you need to do is to wait until all the blooms are already wilted so that you can prune the entire plant.

These plants are very nice to use in all kinds of borders. You can also use them as fillers or edgers since they bloom for a longer time. They also make great cut flowers. This flower is also a nice addition to any gardens because of its vibrant colors.

Coral Honeysuckle

Originally from the Eastern and Southern United States, the coral honeysuckle or Lonicera sempervirens Linnaeus has coral, red, or yellow flowers that are shaped like small trumpets. The blooms attract humming birds. It also has fruits or berries, either red or black, which attract birds like mockingbirds and cardinals.

These are evergreen to deciduous plants and have a twining method for climbing. It can reach a height of up to 25 feet and requires direct sunlight but can also live under partially shaded areas. It will bloom and grow more rapidly if planted in moist soil but can also survive in dry and arid places, but the plant will not be in its best condition or form.

Gardeners sometimes apply nitrogen fertilizer to achieve lush foliage. However, flowers will be compensated. Applying fertilizer depends on your purpose in planting coral honeysuckle.

The flowers bloom the heaviest in the spring and then will be fewer and fewer as autumn approaches.

These plants can survive in roadsides, open woodlands, clearing edges, and fence rows. You can plant coral honeysuckle in your garden or in containers if you don’t have enough space. You can make it climb up a fence or a trellis to make it look more appealing.

The great botanist Linnaeus gave such name to the plant in tribute to a German physician, Adam Lonitzer, who later on changed his name to Lonicerus to make it sound more Latin. He is known for encouraging the use of ergot to make giving birth faster. At that time, this method is very dangerous to both he mother and the baby. He also helped in stopping the spread of the black death or bubonic plague during the middle ages.

Cigar Plant

The Cigar plant or firecracker plant got its name from the cigar-like shape of its red orange flowers. The tubular flower is about one inch and a half in length. The tip of each small flower is colored violet and some are white, which makes them look like ashes at the tip of your cigar.

It also has a gaping flower and the pistil protrudes from the center. Another name given to this bloom is red, white, and blue flower, because it looks like the firecrackers that are usually observed in Independence Day.

Other reason why the plant is named as such is by the way the seeds burst freely from the flower tubes. Again, it just looks like a firecracker.

The scientific name of the plant is actually related to fire as well, Cuphea ignea. Ignea is the Latin word for ‘fire’ and is often used in terms that are fire-related such as ignite and ignition.

The Cigar plant is a tropical perennial plant which grows best if fully exposed to sunlight but will also do well under partial shade. It can grow up to 6 feet tall. Its flowers are greatly dependent to its growth. It means that an improvement in growth will be closely followed by an improvement in its blooms.

The plant’s flowers bloom from mid spring to mid fall and the flowers bright colors made it attractive to bees, butterflies, humming birds, and other garden creatures that search for nectar.

However, the Japanese beetle is one major pest of this plant. So find measures that will protect your cigar plants so that they will continue to bloom and beautify your garden.

Chinese Hibiscus

Chinese hibiscus, or known scientifically as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, is originally grown in East Asia, especially China. It is usually found in the tropics or subtropics. Commonly known as Chinese rose, Hawaiian hibiscus, and shoe flower, this plant is valued for its ornamental use. The original variety of the plant has a striking red flower that is large, firm but without fragrant. Nowadays, because of the development of different hybrids and varieties, the flowers’ colors could vary from white, yellow, orange, scarlet, and different shades of pink. The petals could also be single or double layered. Some birds that feed on nectar can often be seen visiting the flowers but in some regions, especially the Neotropics and Generalists regions, hummingbirds do not frequent these blooms.

These shrubs can grow up to 15 feet tall. The glossy, deep green leaves are a nice contrast to the large flower, especially if the flower’s color is red.

Since it is originally from the tropics Chinese hibiscus lives better under exposure to direct sunlight, but it can also live in partially covered areas. The climate should have high humidity and the soil should be very rich with organic matter and moistened very well.

You can reproduce this flora by cutting. Summer is the best season to do this.

Aside from beautifying the landscape and our home garden, hibiscus flowers are sometimes used for hair care. In some Pacific regions, the flower is also a main ingredient in some kinds of salads. It is also used in religious practice and to shine shoes in India.

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