Horticulture: Extension: Gold Medal Plants

1994 Gold Medal Winners

Bath's Pink dianthus is a choice herbaceous perennial for sunny garden spots, named in honor of Jane Bath of Stone Mountain, Ga., who discovered it.

Plant Bath's Pink dianthus 12 to 18 inches apart and within two seasons you will have a handsome ground cover of gray-green foliage 4 to 6 inches high. The foliage remains attractive throughout the year, and the plant is remarkably heat-resistant and cold-tolerant. It prefers well-drained soils.

When spring arrives, Bath's Pink dianthus is literally covered with bright pink, ruffled flowers 1 to 2 inches across that persist for about four weeks. It is not necessary to remove the old blossoms; they just fade away as new growth begins.

Bath's Pink dianthus is a landscaper's delight, providing major impact in the landscape but requiring very little maintenance. Fertilize plants after flowering and two to three additional times during the growing season with light applications of a complete fertilizer such as 16-4-8 or 12-4-8. Divide and thin plants when they become thick and dense.

Bath's Pink dianthus is "one of the top 10 perennials on the market today," says John Elsley, vice president of Product Development at Wayside Gardens in Greenwood, S.C. It's a true winner in every sense of the word and worthy of the 1994 Georgia Gold Medal Award.

When Homestead Purple verbena becomes over-grown, simply cut it back to stimulate new growth and flowering. Fertilize lightly two to three times during the growing season with a complete fertilizer such as 16-4-8 or 10-10-10.

Homestead Purple verbena is also an excellent container plant for patio pots or hanging baskets. When combined with plants having white, yellow or pink flowers or foliage, it makes a spectacular show.

Fothergilla major 'Mt. Airy' is an old plant whose merits are just being appreciated. It was discovered 20 years ago by Dr. Michael Dirr in Mt. Airy Arboretum in Cincinnati, Ohio. `Mt. Airy' is a superior selection of fothergilla with larger blooms and more brilliant fall color than the native species.

Fothergilla Mt. Airy is a real conversation piece in the spring landscape, with its creamy-white, bottle-brush- type blooms 1 to 2 inches long that provide a sweet honey fragrance. The flowers are borne on naked stems before the foliage emerges, which makes the floral display even more dramatic. Flowers are followed by coarse-textured blue-green leaves 2 to 3 inches long and about 2 inches wide. The foliage is resistant to insects and diseases.

When fall arrives, fothergilla Mt. Airy becomes a kaleidoscope of orange, yellow and red and provides a dazzling display of rich autumn color in the landscape.

Fothergilla Mt. Airy prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained soils. It grows 5 to 6 feet tall with a spread of 6 feet. It is a choice shrub for the perennial border or woodland environment. A massed planting of three to five plants provides a spectacular showing. Because it is deciduous (has no leaves in winter), it is best to plant it against an evergreen background. Two to three light applications of a complete fertilizer like 16-4-8 or 10-10-10 during the growing season is all that is necessary. Selective thinning of branches immediately after bloom, if necessary, will maintain the plant's natural form. Shearing is not recommended.

Low-growing forms of Cephalotaxus harringtonia , Japanese plum yew, add a new dimension to our landscapes with their feathery texture, compact growth habit and adaptability to many soils and microclimates.

Two forms of Japanese plum yew are readily available in the trade: `Prostrata' and variety drupacea. Both have a similar growth habit and are equally good in the landscape. The plant is evergreen and maintains its deep green color throughout the year.

Japanese plum yew is both shade and sun tolerant. It is an excellent substitute for junipers in shady environments. A group of three or more plants provides the best display. Use the low-growing forms as foundation plants or anywhere the refined textural appearance is desired. Moist, well-drained soils are preferred. The plant is adaptable to the wide range of soils and climates in Georgia, from the Coastal Plains to the Piedmont. It also is highly deer-resistant.

Plant the low-growing forms of Japanese plum yew 4 feet apart. For optimum growth, fertilize three to four times at eight-week intervals from March to September. A complete fertilizer, such as 16-4-8 or 12-4-8, broadcast at a rate of about 1/2 pound (1 cup) per 100 square feet, is generally recommended. Prune lightly and only when necessary.

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