Want amaryllis bulb to bloom for Christmas? Look for those marked ‘early blooming’
Question: Every year I buy an amaryllis bulb to force into bloom for Christmas. It is weeks before I see signs of growth and flowers don’t appear until long after the holidays. What am I doing wrong?
Look for amaryllis marked early blooming. These bulbs were imported from growers in the Southern Hemisphere. It is springtime in South America and these bulbs are ready to start growing and flowering, Plant them in early November for flowers in December.
Most bulbs sold in the U.S, likely those you purchased in the past, are imported from Holland and their natural bloom time is January through March. It can take six to 10 weeks after planting for the first flower bud to appear. For the best selection, order your bulbs early and store them in a cool, dry, dark place until you are ready to plant.
Consider buying several varieties, including some early bloomers. Stagger planting by three to four weeks from November through January to enjoy amaryllis blooms throughout the winter. For help creating months of flowers, see the Longfield Gardens blog at blog.longfield-gardens.com/amaryllis-all-winter-long/
Q: We would like to block an unsightly area. We would like something 5 feet tall and it must tolerate shade. We do not want arborvitaes but are open to ornamental grasses. Any suggestions? Evaluate the amount of sunlight or bright light reaching the area before selecting your plants. If space allows, consider using several different plants to form your screen. This way if a disease or insect attacks, it is less likely to totally destroy your planting. Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
is a shade-tolerant evergreen that requires moist, well-drained soil and shelter from drying winds. Look for narrow upright varieties and check the growth rate as many compact conifers can be slow growing. I grew Gentsch White with silvery white tipped new growth in a shady spot in my Milwaukee home. Most sources say it grows 4.5 feet tall and wide in 10 years, but mine reached 6 feet tall and was a bit narrower in less time.
‘Emerald Fountain’ is upright, eventually reaching 6 to 10 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. The challenge will be finding these or other suitable varieties.
You might consider some shade-tolerant deciduous shrubs. Even though they lose their leaves in winter, the twiggy stems can provide some screening. Red and Black chokeberries (Aronia) are upright with white flowers in spring, glossy green leaves in summer, outstanding red fall color and persistent red or black fruit.
Isanti red twig dogwood is compact growing about 5 feet tall and a bit wider but is susceptible to leaf spot disease. Alleman’s Compact Tatarian dogwood is similar in size with red stems and trouble-free rich green leaves.
Most ornamental and native grasses prefer full sun, but some tolerate light to partial shade. Karl Foerster feather reed grass tolerates partial shade and grows 4 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. ‘Northwind’ switchgrass is a compact cultivar of our native switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). It grows about 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide tolerating partial sun.
Vines trained on a trellis work well for narrow spaces. ‘Major Wheeler’ is a cultivar of our native honeysuckle vine. It prefers full sun but will tolerate partial sun, is resistant to powdery mildew and continues to bloom throughout the summer. The deep red flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds. Climbing hydrangea needs a rough surface to cling to and quite a few years to start flowering. But the orange peeling bark and leaves are attractive.
These are a few plants to get you started on your search for the best plants to screen that unsightly view.
Email questions to melindamyers. com, or write P.O. Box 798, Mukwonago, WI 53149.