The Garden Gazette

The Alyssum Basket of Gold Compacta, ‘Aurina saxatilis’, is a wonderful water-wise groundcover with dense clusters of golden-yellow spring flowers. This special dwarf variety of Basket of Gold is tight, compact, and very attractive. Combine the Alyssum Basket of Gold with red tulips, blue phlox, and candytuft for a wonderful early spring color display. The dense clusters of tiny, golden yellow flowers are massed on top of the short plant. They will bloom early in the spring for 2 to 4 weeks. The Basket of Gold perfers full sun to light shade and well drained soils. They are very drought tolerant and only need water when they begin to stress. Plant in the spring 2 to 4 weeks before average last frost date or in the late fall. This plant is excellent in rock gardens, in hanging baskets, in the foreground of borders, and as a ground cover

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The Oxypetalu Southern Star Heavenly Blue,’Oxpetalum caeruleum’, displays a color rarely seen in flowers. The intense glacier blue 1 inch flowers are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Even the buds are unique with their pale lavender color. The Southern Star also attracts hummingbirds. Heavenly Blue produces very decorative seed pods and they can be overwintered as a houseplant. They bloom mid summer to early fall. The Heavenly Blue prefers full sun and fairly rich garden soil. Deadheading the spent flowers before fruit set will prolong the bloom time. Plant after all danger of frost has passed. The Southern Star provides a most unusual cut flower. They also are great in patio containers or hanging baskets.

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