The cultivar , ‘ Gay Feather ’ is a medium , dense perennial with lance forge , upright , pick to white leaves with green boundary . funnel shape shaped , lavender prime bloom on straight , leafy 24 inch stanch , in the midseason . brave perennial for shaded gardens with large , bold leaves often marked with contrasting people of colour . Leaves browse in chassis from one shot to fizgig - shaped , and colors can be scandalmongering to dark-green to blue , often with livid , yellow or greenish marginal markings . rattling line when imbed with small - leaved plants , contribute texture to the landscape painting . slug and escargot love hostas !
Google Plant Images : sink in here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Partial shademeans that an area have filtered light , often through tall branches of an open grow tree . Root competition is commonly less . Partial shade can also be achieved by locating a plant beneath an pergola or lathe - like structure . suspect sides of a edifice are normally the northerly or northeast sides . These side also incline to be a small cooler . It is not uncommon for plants that can tolerate full Sunday or some sun in cool clime to demand some nuance in warmer mood due to stress placed on the plant from reduced moisture and excessive warmth . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants favor light that is filtrate . Sunlight , though not direct , is of import to them . Often morning sunlight , because it is not as strong as afternoon Lord’s Day , can be considered part sun or part subtlety . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be o.k. . In other country such as Florida , flora in a localization where afternoon shade will be received .
Watering
Planting
The best times to plant are springiness and declension , when soil is feasible and out of danger of icing . gloam plantings have the advantage that origin can develop and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more desirable for perennial that dislike sloshed condition or for cold areas , allowing full organization before first winter . Planting in summer or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless plant a more established sized works .
To plant container - grow plant : machinate planting fix with appropriate profundity and space between . Water the industrial plant thoroughly and let the excess water drainpipe before cautiously removing from the container . Carefully loosen the etymon testicle and place the plant in the hole , working grease around the root as you fill . If the plant is extremely rootage bound , separate etymon with finger . A few slits made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue filling in territory and water thoroughly , protecting from verbatim sun until stable .
To plant bare - root plants : Plant as shortly as possible after leverage . organize suitable planting holes , spread roots and operate stain among source as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until static .
To implant seedling : A figure of perennials create self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also commence your own seedling layer for transplantation . Prepare suitable planting holes , space appropriately for plant development . Gently lift the seedling and as much surrounding grease as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it at once , tauten territory with fingertips and water well . Shade from unmediated sun and water on a regular basis until stable .
Problems
bar and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , eliminating concealment piazza such as leaf debris , over - turned pots , and tarp . Groundcover in shady places and big mulches provide auspices from the chemical element and can be favored hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and destroy eggs ( clusters of modest translucent empyrean ) and adult during dusk and dawn . Set out beer traps from late spring through dusk .
Many chemical controls are available on the marketplace , but can be vicious and pernicious for youngster and pets ; take aid when using them - always read the label first !
Miscellaneous
Although many multitude believe that cool temperature are creditworthy for the color change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days raise brusk and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree starts up , relinquish a hormone which restricts the flow of sap to each leaf . As fall progresses , the sap flow slow down and chlorophyll , the chemical substance that gives the leaves their green color in the spring and summertime , disappear . The residuary sap becomes more concentrated as it dries , produce the color of fall . gloss : pHpH , mean the potential of Hydrogen , is the beat of alkalinity or sour . In gardening , pH denote to the pH of soil . The scurf quantity from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is indifferent . Most industrial plant prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an virulent range , but there are raft of other plant that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the works can most easily take in the most nutrient in the soil . Some plants opt more or less of certain food , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are littler than bacterium , are not subsist and do not retroflex on their own . They must swear on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the electric cell ’s functionality , outward sign of a viral infection outcome in a flora disease with symptom such as abnormal or scrawny outgrowth , damage fruit , discoloration or spot .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus postman such as aphid , leafhoppers , and thrips under ascendency . These plant eating insects spread out virus . Viruses can also be introduced by infected pollen or through plant openings ( as when prune ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . raw works should be checked , as well as tools and existing plants . Use only certified seed that is hold disease - innocent . Plant only repellent varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotate crops , not imbed tight tie in plants in the same area every year .
