The Garden Helper's Plant of the Day Archive

The Plants of the Day for February 2011

Below you will find an index of all the plants that have been profiled as a
Plant of the Day at The Garden Helper and The Gardener's Forum

More Plants and Flowers Plants and Flowers for the Current Month October 2010 November 2010 January 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 The Plant of the Week 2011 The Plant of the Week 2012 Share \|	February 1, 2011 Heart Leaf Bergenia Bergenia cordifolia The large, leathery leaves of the Heart Leaf Bergenia plant resemble a heart. Small, bell-shaped flowers are produced in compact clusters atop twelve inch burgundy stems in the early spring. Even when they are not in bloom, Bergenias are beautiful. Hardy in USDA zones 4-10	February 2, 2011 Variegated Bugleweed Ajuga genevensis Bugleweed is one of the best known and most useful ground covers because of its suitability for many different situations. The flowers may be purple, rose or white. The foliage color ranges from green to bronze to purple or variegated. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9	February 3, 2011 Columbine 'Winky' Aquilegia Columbines are perennial native wildflowers with flowers range from 1"-3", in colors ranging from black to white, with every color in between. The foliage is light and delicate. Columbines prefer light shade and moist soil. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9	February 4, 2011 Bishop's Cap Epimedium alpinum The Bishop's Cap or Fairy Wings is an excellent choice for any shade garden. These perennials will survive in the dry shade beneath a tree. The heart shaped, light green foliage is attractive the year round. Makes a great ground cover. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8
February 5, 2011 Lilac Syringa vulgaris Lilacs require full sun for maximum bloom. They prefer a slightly alkaline soil (pH 7.5). Most Lilacs require a pronounced winter chilling period or they may fail to bloom. "Descanso Hybrid Lilacs" were developed to eliminate the necessity of chilling. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9	February 6, 2011 Sea Pink Armeria maritima The Sea Pink, or Thrift is a low maintenance, drought tolerant, short lived perennial that forms a 6-12" cushion-like, compact mound of coarse, narrow, dark green grass-like leaves. 1" white, red or pink flowers from late spring until mid summer Hardy in USDA zones 3-9	February 7, 2011 Snowdrift Clematis Clematis armandii 'Snowdrift' The fragrant 2-3 inch flowers of the Evergreen Clematis appear in abundance in March and then continue on through late April. Glossy, dark green foliage makes it an attractive, year round covering for fences and arbors. Blooms best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Hardy in USDA zones 6-9	February 8, 2011 Foxglove Digitalis purpurea The Foxglove Plant is a biennial flower that is native to Europe. These deer resistant plants are toxic but are a great flower for the Hummingbird garden. The four to six foot spikes of bell shaped flowers appear in late spring to early summer Hardy in USDA zones 4-10	February 9, 2011 Plantain Lily Hosta undulata The Hosta, or Plantain Lily is a very useful, long lived perennial for the shade garden. This family of plants is known for it's decorative, large clumps of lush green foliage and spikes of lily shaped, sometimes fragrant flowers which appear later in summer. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9

February 10, 2011 Weeping Pussy Willow Salix caprea For an early indoor bloom cut branches of Pussy Willows can be brought in the house and set in a water filled vase in a sunny window anytime after the middle of January. The catkins will develop and make an nice, long lasting display. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8	February 11, 2011 Rhododendron 'Purple Splendour' Hardy in USDA zones 6-9. Ruffled, deep purple flowers with black blotching in late May. Grows to 5' tall x 5' wide. Rhododendron Care Pruning Rhododendrons Transplanting Rhododendrons	February 12, 2011 Rhododendron 'Blitz' Hardy in USDA zones 5-9. Deep red trumpet shaped flowers in late May. Grows to 5' tall x 5' wide. Rhododendron Care Pruning Rhododendrons Transplanting Rhododendrons	February 13, 2011 Rhododendron 'Wren' Hardy in USDA zones 7-9. Low growing, mounding miniature Rhododendron with bright yellow flowers appearing in early May. Reddish-bronze winter foliage Grows to 1' tall x 1' wide. Rhododendron Care Pruning Rhododendrons Transplanting Rhododendrons	February 14, 2011 Bleeding Heart Dicentra spectabilis Bleeding Heart is a mound forming plant with finely cut, fern-like foliage on graceful 2-3 foot arching stems topped with pretty, heart shaped, 1" flowers in late spring or early summer Excellent plants for any shade garden or woodland setting Hardy in USDA zones 3-9
February 15, 2011 Marguerite Daisy Argyranthemum frutescens Marguerite Daisies are easy to grow, tender perennials that are usually grown as annual plants. They produce masses of fragrant, 1-2", Chrysanthemum-like flowers from mid spring until mid fall that attract many types of butterflies Hardy in USDA zones 8-11	February 16, 2011 English Daisy Bellis perennis Brightly colored, 2" flowers appear in succession on 6" stems from April through June. English Daisies are excellent ground covers, border plants or for the rock garden, as well as for growing in containers. Biennial, USDA zones 3-10	February 17, 2011 Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis The intensely colored flower spikes of the Cardinal Flower serve as a beacon to the hummingbirds and butterflies who dine on the flower's nectar. The plant itself also acts as a host for some species of butterfly larvae. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9	February 18, 2011 Daylily Hemerocallis Daylilies produce an abundance of flowers in many colors and shades, which open over a long period of time. They are useful in the perennial flower border, as a garden centerpiece, or any corner of the garden which needs to be brightened up. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9	February 19, 2011 Blazing Star Liatris spicata The Blazing Star produces 1-3 foot spikes of bright purplish-pink or white flowers in late June to early fall. Blazing Star is sometimes called a Gayfeather or Snakeroot plant. They are an ideal plant to grow in your butterfly garden. Hardy in USDA zones 3-10

February 20, 2011 Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflowers produce large, fragrant pink flowers beginning in April and May. The three to five foot flower stalks make them an excellent background planting for your landscape, or in your butterfly garden. Coneflowers are excellent for cut flowers. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9	February 21, 2011 Treasure Flower Gazania splendens The Treasure Flower's daisy-like flowers are 2-5 inches in diameter, growing atop 6-12 inch stalks. Gazania flowers are brightly bi-colored combinations of orange, pink, red, white, cream, or yellow. The foliage is somewhat grasslike, but narrow at the base and widening toward the tip. Annual Plant	February 22, 2011 Transvaal Daisy Gerbera jamesonii Gerbera plants have dark green, deeply cut 10" leaves with fuzzy undersides. The large, brightly colored, Daisy-like flowers stand above the foliage on stiff, leafless stems all summer. Gerbera Daisies can be grown as a house plant if given a little protection from hot sun. Hardy in USDA zones 8-11	February 23, 2011 Purple Passion Plant Gynura aurantiaca The Purple Passion Vine is a trailing, evergreen perennial that was originally discovered on the island of Java in Indonesia. Unfortunately, Purple Passion Plants are only hardy in USDA zones 10-12, so their most common use is in hanging planters, growing as house plants.	February 24, 2011 Dragon Lily Dracunculus vulgaris Dracunculus vulgaris is known by many names, Dragon Lily, Voodoo Lily, Viagra Lily and the 'tell it like it is' name of Stink Lily. Luckily the odor dissipates after the first day, allowing you to enjoy the exotic beauty of this unusual plant! Hardy in USDA zones 5-8
February 25, 2011 Bitter Root Lewisia cotyledon Bitter Root plants produce clusters of 1" flowers on 10" stems in shades of white to pink or gold, occasionally with red and white stripes from spring to early summer. Easily hybridized Rock Garden plant. Lewisias can be grown as house plants. Hardy in USDA zones 6-10	February 26, 2011 Vine Maple Tree Acer circinatum Vine Maples are small, multi stemmed trees that are excellent plants for erosion control. Their flowers provide food for butterflies and their seeds feed birds, squirrels and chipmunks! This easy to grow Maple tree is hardy in USDA zones 5-9.	February 27, 2011 Pouch Nemesia Nemesia strumosa Nemesia strumosa is a brightly colored annual plant that quickly grows to a height of 12-18 inches. Nemesias are excellent plants for borders, beds or containers, and can even be grown as a short lived house plant if given sunny days and are kept cool at night.. Annual Plant	February 28, 2011 Snapdragon Antirrhinum majas The fragrant flowers of the Snapdragon make great fresh flower bouquets and they make nice dried flowers as well. Snapdragons are a favorite flower of both Butterflies and Hummingbirds and they are Deer resistant! Annual Plant