KY Garden Flowers - Baptisia to Buddleia

*Baptisia*	*Bergenia*	*Brassica*
*Begonia*	*Boltonia*	*Browallia*
*Belamcanda*	*Borago*	*Buddleia*

Baptisia australis - False Indigo, Blue Indigo

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
Blue	36"- 48"	late spring	few	border	seed, division in late fall or early spring

Performance - False indigo is a Kentucky native and is a reliable perennial in Kentucky landscapes. Because of its shrub-like habit, this plant is attractive in the garden after bloom. Even moisture is best. Average, well-drained garden soil is adequate.

Comments - The tall blue spikes make a spectacular show for about three weeks. The charcoal-gray seed pods are attractive in dried arrangements. No special care is required to dry them. False indigo is a dependable, low-maintenance plant.

Begonia - Begonia

B. semperflorens-cultorum ‘Bayou’ series

B. tuberhybrida ‘Nonstop’ series at Benary Seed Co.

Begonia semperflorens-cultorum - Bedding Begonia, Wax Plant, Wax Begonia

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
white, red or pink	6"-16"	May - October	stem rot, occasionally powdery mildew	Planters, low edging, bedding, borders	seeds, stem cuttings

Performance - Bedding begonias are one of the best performing annuals grown in Kentucky gardens. They are a standard for commercial landscapes because of the strong colors and ease of maintenance. These plants will bloom all season until the first hard frost. Begonias perform well in shade and partial shade, but also grow well in full sun. The only common problems occur when gardeners do not give these plants enough water and fertilizer when planted in full sun. Begonias are valued for their profuse bloom and low maintenance.

Varieties - 'Cocktail' series (the most commonly used cultivars), 'Bingo' series, 'Harmony' series, 'Senator' series, 'Ambassador' series, ‘Bayou’ series, 'Prelude' series, 'Super Olympia' series, 'Victory' series, 'Party' series

Begonia x tuberhybrida - Tuberous Begonia

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
white, red, orange, yellow, salmon, pink	6"- 24"	May - October	stem rot, occasionally powdery mildew	containers, bedding, borders	seeds, tubers

Performance - Tuberous begonias are a showy garden or container plants. The flowers are large, have bright clear colors and are generally double so they make a spectacular display. Unfortunately, they prefer conditions that are generally cooler than Kentucky summers. Thus they require excellent care in the home garden or patio. They should be grown in partial shade or full shade in gardens amended with organic matter or often grown in hanging baskets.

Varieties - 'Nonstop' series, 'Panorama' series, 'Ornament' series, 'Charisma' series, 'Pin-up' series (bicolors)

More information and photos in HortFacts 51.10 06 – Begonia.

Belamcanda chinensis - Blackberry Lily, Leopard Flower

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
yellow, orange (spotted blooms)	36"- 48"	summer	iris borer	border, dried flowers	seed, division

Performance - Blackberry lily is a reliable perennial flower in Kentucky gardens. It does well in average garden soil. The foliage is very similar to that of an iris. In addition, it tends to self-sow and spread in the garden.

Comments - Each bloom lasts only a short time, but the plants produce a large number of buds. The seeds give the plant its common name because the black seeds look like a large blackberry when the pod opens. Birds often spread this plant to other parts of the garden. The shiny black fruit remains for a long time and drys well for floral arrangements.

Varieties - 'Freckle Face'

Bergenia cordifolia - Bergenia, Winter Begonia, Pigsqueak

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
pink, red	1-2 ft.	spring	few	border, ground cover	division in spring, seed

Performance - Bergenia is a reliable perennial in Kentucky gardens.The glossy, large leaves are practically evergreen. The foliage is showier than the flowers. The plants tolerate a wide range of conditions but do best in semi-shade conditions.

Comments - During the winter, the foliage becomes red or bronze in color. Many cultivars are available.

Varieties - 'Abendglut', 'Bressingham White', 'Distinction', 'Bressingham Ruby'.

Boltonia asteroides - Boltonia, Star Flower

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
white, pink	3-5 '	late summer	foliar disease	border	division in spring

Performance - Boltonia is a reliable perennial in Kentucky gardens that produces a spectacular mound of white or pink flowers in late summer. It does not require staking when grown in full sun and performs best in deep, moist, organic soils. It should be divided every 3-4 years.

Comments - Seeds of 'Snowbank' do not come true to the cultivar. 'Pink Beauty' is superior to 'Snowbank.'

Varieties - 'Snow Bank', 'Pink Beauty'

Borago officinalis - Borage

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
blue	2' - 3'	midsummer	few	herb or wildflower garden	seed

Performance - Borage is an annual and grows best in full sun with well drained soil. They are tough plants that are drought tolerant and will self seed every year. Even though it is an annual, borage should be expected to return every year.

Comments - Borage is considered an herb with a mild cucumber taste. Its leaves are prepared and eaten similar to spinach and can be eaten raw. Since it has a rough habit it is best suited in wild gardens or herb gardens instead of formal beds.

Brassica oleracea Acephela Group - Ornamental Cabbage, Flowering Cabbage, Ornamental Kale, Flowering Kale

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
yellow (not important)	10"-15"	spring or fall	cabbage loopers	bedding plant	seeds

Performance - Ornamental cabbage and kale are cool season annuals grown for their striking foliage. The leaves have silvery green colors mixed with white or pink/lavender colors. The plants prefer well-drained garden soil and full sun. These plants are used in spring and fall and do not perform well in summer. The plants are quite cold tolerant, they are not damaged until temperatures fall below 10^o F. Planting in areas of low nitrogen will provide a more vibrant color in the foliage.

Comments - Flowering cabbage and kale are in the mustard family; they are edible but do not produce a head.

Varieties - 'Dynasty' (Osaka) series, 'Tokyo' series, 'Pigeon' series, 'Chidori' series, 'Emperor' (Nagoya) series, 'Kamome' series, 'Peacock' series

‘EZ Blue’

Browallia speciosa - Browallia, Amethyst Flower, Sapphire Flower, Bush Violet

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
blue or white	8" - 16"	summer	few	bedding, containers	seed, cuttings

Performance - Browallia is a good annual that grows well in shaded gardens with moderate water. If it is watered too heavily or over-fertilized few flowers and excess foliage will be produced. Flower color is enhanced when browallia is shaded in the afternoon.

Comments - Browallia offers blue flowers to many container gardens. Plants will flower in the winter if dug in the fall, cut back and placed in a sunny window indoors.

Varieties - 'Bell' series, 'Starlight' series

Buddleia davidii - Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
lilac, white, purple, yellow	3' - 12'	summer, fall	few	naturalized areas, perennial border	stem cuttings

Performance - Butterfly bush is a large, shrubby perennial that performs well in Kentucky landscapes. It produces a multitude of flowers in spikes from summer into the fall. Depending on how cold winter temperatures are, butterfly bush may freeze to the ground in winter. In general it is best to prune the plant back to the ground each spring to keep the plant at a reasonable landscape size. Butterfly bush should be grown in full sun and get adequate water during the summer for best growth.

Comments - As the name implies, butterflies are strongly attracted to the flowers of this plant.

Varieties - 'Black Knight', 'Harlequin', 'Nanho Purple', 'Royal Red', 'Summer Beauty'.

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