Plants of the Season Summer 2022, July-September

Perennial: Gaura: Gaura lindheimeri. This perennial is a shrubby herbaceous native of southeast Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico. It is also known as apple blossom grass, bee blossom, wand flower, or white gaura. It has clusters of small ½ to 1 inch white flowers which open sequentially from pink buds along stems that are 3 to 4 feet tall. There are many cultivars and they can be seen at: Gaura, Gaura lindheimeri. It grows best in full sun, is well adapted to the hot summers of the Central Valley, and it is drought tolerant. The open form is well suited to naturalistic plantings and cottage gardens.

Dwarf cultivars can work well in borders or more formal settings. It has a very loose form and will provide movement in the breeze. Plants can be kept smaller in late spring by removing half the height. Removing some of the stems will keep the plant looking less untidy and encourage more blooms. If all flower stalks are cut back, it will take 2 to 3 weeks for blooming to resume. In the winter, remove all dead foliage and cut flower spikes back to the ground.

Perennial Herb: Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis. Lemon balm is an ancient herb native to southern Europe that is in the mint family having a square stem characteristic of that family. It can be grown outdoors in our warm climate and likes a sunny spot. If given too much water it tends to bolt and blooms should be pinched off as blooming will give the leaves a bitter taste. If they do succeed in bolting it is best to start new plants and discard the bolting one. Watering should be done when the top inch of soil gets dry. It prefers a light well-drained soil and most potting mixes will work with a pH between 6.7 and 7.3. Lemon balm seeds need ample light to germinate and grow. To start your plant from seed, start them in a shallow pot or dish, barely covering the seeds with a sprinkle of soil. It is an herb with a citrusy smell and is used in salads, soups, and others culinary uses. Lemon balm was also used as a curative that can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where its leaves were used in a variety of tonics and teas, and its essential oils were extracted to aid with digestive issues.

Tree: Japanese maple, Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'. If you are looking for a beautiful focal point or just want some red color in your landscape, this tree will do that. The foliage is an unusual color and it retains it throughout the season and is definitely very attractive, as is the bark which is silver colored. It will grow to about 15 to 20 feet tall. It can grow in a variety of moist, organically rich soils and in full sun to part shade. Pruning should be restricted to removal of crossing or dead branches as the natural form looks best. The roots of ‘Bloodgood' tend to stay near the surface so it will benefit from a layer of mulch, wood chips or bark that is 4 inches deep spread to the outside of the canopy. ‘Bloodgood' Japanese maple is fast-growing in its young years, growing about a foot a year, and then slows down afterward. Surprisingly the name ‘Bloodgood' didn't come from its color but from the family name of the owners of Bloodgood Nursery in New York. This tree received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticulture Society.