Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Giant Turk’s cap is the larger tropical cousin of the popular hummingbird and butterfly plant, Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus). The bright red, 2-inch flowers of giant Turk’s cap droop downward and never fully open. This multi-stemmed, low-maintenance tropical evergreen shrub is deer resistant and drought tolerant. Use it …
An ongoing series of plant profiles for Louisiana landscapes Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon A pond filled with masses of 6-inch blue or purple flower spikes jutting from the attractive green foliage of native pickerelweed is a sight to behold. Among the flowers, you will surely see an assortment of brightly colored butterflies, …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon There are several species of Callistemon that will grow in Louisiana, but in my opinion the eye-catching lemon bottlebrush is the most tolerant of temperature extremes and poor soil. The large, red, bottlebrush-shaped flowers attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and nectar-feeding songbirds such as orioles and prothonotary warblers. Bottlebrush …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon If you enjoy large, showy, saucer-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds and pollinators, then you will love native rosemallow. This cold-hardy, heat-tolerant hibiscus grows well in wet places or in moist full-sun to part-shade beds and perennial borders, in formal or naturalized settings. Several outstanding cultivars and hybrids have …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Supertunia Vista Bubblegum and the others in the Vista series are wonder-plants for hot, humid Louisiana gardens. They are said to be the best petunia for landscapes. Vistas exhibit vigorous growth, are heat tolerant, disease resistant, and don’t require deadheading for continuous blooms from spring through fall. These …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Versatile, hardy, and beautiful, native fringe tree is perfect for urban landscapes. Also known as grancy graybeard, this member of the olive family has long, fragrant, wispy white spring blossoms that move with the slightest breeze. In summer, it sports dark purple fruit beloved by birds. In fall, …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Woodland phlox, also known as wild sweet William, is a low-growing native perennial sporting masses of white, pink, blue, and lavender blooms. Pollinators, such as swallowtail, gray hairstreak, and western pygmy butterflies, are attracted to the fragrant flowers. Phlox forms colonies, spreading by shallow roots from stem nodes, …
Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Old-fashioned nasturtiums are perfect for Louisiana’s cool seasons. In North Louisiana, the attractive edible beauties can be enjoyed from early spring through summer. In South Louisiana, this flowering cook’s delight can be grown from fall through spring during mild winters. Vining varieties are happy on fences, trellises, or …
Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon As a tea lover, I am pleased to report that the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), which is the source of white, green, black, oolong and also fermented teas, can be grown in Louisiana. The attractive shrub’s dark evergreen leaves and fragrant white flowers do well in the landscape …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon ‘Nova’ and ‘Pink Remembrance’ pentas, also known as Egyptian starflowers, are introduced flowering plants that bring hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees to the garden in droves. These hardy, vigorous beauties with 3-4-inch clusters of star-shaped flowers were recognized by the LSU AgCenter as “Plants with Potential.” ‘Nova’ and ‘Pink …
