‘ Alicia Amherst ’ , syn . H. ‘ Veitchii ’ is a hardy shrub that rise erect with bollock - shaped , lustrous dark green leaves to 4 - 1.2 inch long . From late summer to fall , dark purple - purple blossom from axillary spike 3 - 3 - 1.2 in long . These are suitable for sway garden , motley or bush border and are also good container plants .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Pinching is take away the stem tips of a young plant to advertise branch . Doing this avert the motivation for more terrible pruning later on .
cutting imply removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the DoI of a flora to rent more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The safe mode to start thinning is to begin by removing dead or diseased woods .
Shearing is even out the airfoil of a shrub using script or galvanizing shears . This is done to keep the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of old leg or the overall step-down of the size of a shrub to bushel its original form and size . It is recommended that you do not transfer more than one third of a plant at a time . call back to take away branches from the inside of the flora as well as the exterior . When restore plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various meridian so that plant will have a more natural look .
Watering
Planting
cautiously remove shrub from container and mildly separate solution . Position in centre of hole , good side face forward . take in with original grunge or an amended mixture if involve as describe above . For larger shrubs , make a piss well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant life is ball - and - burlapped , remove fixing and fold back the top of instinctive burlap , tucking it down into trap , after you ’ve positioned bush . ensure that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water off from rootball during hot , dry menstruation . If synthetical gunny , remove if possible . If not potential , cut by or make slits to allow for roots to modernise into the new soil . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If shrub is bare - root , reckon for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this gull is likely where the soil line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drainage and water holding capacity . Fill soil , tauten just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and watering well . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an cosmetic feature of speech , a planting option when there is little or no grunge to plant in , or for flora that necessitate a soil eccentric not chance in the garden or when filth drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make trusted that all have similar cultural requirements . select a container that is bass and heavy enough to give up root maturation and growth as well as relative balance between the amply developed plant life and the container . Plant large containers in the place you intend them to last out . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , collapse clay pot pieces(crock ) or a composition coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting ground you choose should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality soils ( or ground - less medias ) absorb wet pronto and equally when sloshed . If water supply runs off grime upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet pot soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . fulfill container about halfway full or to a storey that will allow plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with filth line when project is gross . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennials for your garden by considering sun and shade through the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , exposure , water requirements , climate , soil makeup , seasonal color desire , and position of other garden plant and tree .
The best time to plant are bound and fall , when soil is workable and out of danger of frost . Fall planting have the advantage that roots can grow and not have to compete with developing top growth as in the spring . Spring is more worthy for perennials that dislike wet consideration or for cold region , permit full establishment before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless plant a more established sized plant .
To set container - grown plant : Prepare planting holes with appropriate depth and space between . Water the plant thoroughly and let the excess urine drain before carefully withdraw from the container . Carefully loosen the root ball and place the plant in the hole , exploit soil around the roots as you satiate . If the works is extremely root bond , separate ascendant with fingers . A few twat made with a pouch knife are okay , but should be continue to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and weewee thoroughly , protect from lineal Sunday until stable .
To constitute naked - base plants : works as shortly as potential after purchase . Prepare suitable planting holes , circularise roots and work soil among roots as you fill in . H2O well and protect from verbatim sunlight until stable .
To plant seedlings : A number of perennials give rise self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplant . Prepare suitable planting holes , spacing appropriately for flora development . Gently lift the seedling and as much ring land as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it now , firming grease with fingertips and body of water well . Shade from lineal Dominicus and water system on a regular basis until stable .
Problems
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the course of a month without mating . Aphids often appear when the surroundings change - spring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on succulent tissue . Aphids are attract to the color yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow habiliment .
Prevention and Control : Keep dope to an absolute lower limit , especially around desirable plant . On victuals , wash out off infected area of plant . ma’am bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - constitutive and inorganic - that can be used to keep in line aphid . assay the good word of a professional and follow all label routine to a tee . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis ordinarily found on plants that do not have enough air circulation or equal light . Problems are bad where nights are nerveless and days are quick and humid . The powdery blanched or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or fruit . leave will often turn yellow or brown , curl up , and shake off off . New foliation emerge crinkled and malformed . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they encounter tolerable light and air circulation . Always water from below , celebrate water off the foliage . This is paramount for rose . Go slow on the nitrogen fertiliser . practice antifungal according to label direction before problem becomes knockout and follow directions incisively , not missing any required intervention . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , prime , or detritus in the decline and put down . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet point are too high and fungous spore present in the grease , come in contact lens with the susceptible plant life . The base of stems discolor and shrivel , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and give-up the ghost . Leaves near base are affected first . The roots will reverse dark and rot or stop . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or contaminated water supply .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plant and their ascendent , and discard surround soil . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only employ fresh , sterilized soil premix . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plant and make certain that soil is well drained prior to plant . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptoms look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to fly high in well drained soils . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf bit are make by fungi or bacteria . Brown or pitch-dark patch and spell may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . insect , rainwater , muddy garden creature , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the industrial plant is juiceless . farewell that collect around the base of the plant should be scan up and cast aside of . invalidate overhead irrigation if potential ; water should be directed at dirt level . For fungous leaf spots , use a recommended fungicide according to recording label counseling .
Miscellaneous
You will often find out loam referred to as a sandy loam ( have more sand , yet still plenty of constitutional topic ) or a Lucius DuBignon Clay loam ( heavy on the clay , yet workable with honorable drainage . ) The summation of organic matter to either sand or clay will result in a loamy soil . Still not sure if your soil is a backbone , clay , or loam ? Try this bare test . force a handfull of slightly moist , not slopped , ground in your mitt . If it forms a stringent clod and does not precipitate apart when gently tapped with a finger , your stain is more than likely cadaver . If soil does not form a ball or crumbles before it is tapped , it is guts to very sandy loam . If dirt shape a ball , then collapse readily when lightly tapped , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light taps could signify a remains loam . Glossary : Ground CoverAground coveris any low growing plant that is planted in a mass to cover the ground . bush , vine , perennial , and annuals can all be considered ground cover if they are aggroup in this fashion . Ground top can beautify an region , help melt off soil erosion , and the need to weed . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth commence with a complete fertiliser . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred clock time to prune this plant .