Oh those silly people who purchase only plants they have a place for, they don’t know what they’re missing out on! I happened to be at Means Nursery a couple of weeks ago and fell hard for these dark leaves with bright green venation, how could I not? Especially when the price tag said $5.99…
![]()
I didn’t have the foggiest idea where I’d plant it but those leaves at that price, how could I walk away? Weigela florida 'Dark Horse'…
![]()
So it turns out this beautiful creature has pink flowers, that means it has to go in the front garden. Trouble is we’re at the time of the year where the water from the sky stops and things get hot and dry. Not ideal planting weather, especially in the minimally watered front garden.
![]()
This is when I remembered one of my favorite tricks!
![]()
Find an empty spot in a planting bed. Plant up the new purchase in a container and sink it into the spot…
![]()
Voila! (I know, some of you are thinking “that was an empty spot?” trust me it was worse in person)…
![]()
The best thing about this temporary location is there’s a Salvia discolor right at its base which will weave around the grevillea branches and bloom its fabulous dark blooms. Some might call that a color echo but I’m just going with sexy and so glad I went with my impulse to buy it, even though I had no idea where it would go.
![]()
Stats on the Weigela florida 'Dark Horse'…
So are there any new "had to have" plants in your garden? Any foliage that makes you weak in the knees? Dramatic blooms? Come-on tell us about it...
![]()
All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I didn’t have the foggiest idea where I’d plant it but those leaves at that price, how could I walk away? Weigela florida 'Dark Horse'…
So it turns out this beautiful creature has pink flowers, that means it has to go in the front garden. Trouble is we’re at the time of the year where the water from the sky stops and things get hot and dry. Not ideal planting weather, especially in the minimally watered front garden.
This is when I remembered one of my favorite tricks!
Find an empty spot in a planting bed. Plant up the new purchase in a container and sink it into the spot…
Voila! (I know, some of you are thinking “that was an empty spot?” trust me it was worse in person)…
The best thing about this temporary location is there’s a Salvia discolor right at its base which will weave around the grevillea branches and bloom its fabulous dark blooms. Some might call that a color echo but I’m just going with sexy and so glad I went with my impulse to buy it, even though I had no idea where it would go.
Stats on the Weigela florida 'Dark Horse'…
- hardy in USDA Zones 4-8
- wants full sun and medium water, tolerates clay soils
- low, spreading shrub to 3 ft tall and wide
- pink blooms in the spring
- deciduous
So are there any new "had to have" plants in your garden? Any foliage that makes you weak in the knees? Dramatic blooms? Come-on tell us about it...
All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.