Warm Season Favorites

As the warm season starts to wind down (despite how slowly it seems to be happening with this never ending heat!) we in the Horticulture Department are looking towards our cool season plantings at Brookgreen Gardens. As we prepare to say goodbye to this year’s warm season display, I wanted to share with you some of our Horticulture staff’s favorite warm season annuals from this year.

Frank, one of our Horticulturists, was particularly pleased with Impatiens walleriana ‘Impreza Cherry Splash.’ Boasting an attractive flower, it is a tough plant that has no disease or insect problems. Impatiens are a great option for shade plantings, and Frank particularly liked how well it adapted to its shady space in the Upper Left Wing.

Another of our Horticulturists, Gina, was pleased with Pentas ‘Lucky Star Mix.’ Planted in the sunny wall beds in the Lower Left Wing, the Pentas flowered continually through our warm season display. This low maintenance plant is so easy to care for; it doesn’t require deadheading or cutting back – just sit back and enjoy the show! Gina’s favorite part about this Pentas? How many butterflies it attracts!

Amber, our Horticulturist in Bethea’s Garden, was particularly happy with Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) ‘Jing Orange’ this year. What makes Okra so special? Not only is it an attractive ornamental, boasting mallow-like flowers, but it is a great edible too. Brightly colored red-orange pods are prolific on this variety, fruiting 60 days after direct sowing in the ground and lasting until frost. These pods are often used in soups or stews, like gumbo, and eaten fried or pickled. This is a classic southern vegetable, and Amber loves to use it in her cooking! Believe it or not, Okra is also related to Hibiscus and Cotton.

My favorite warm season plant, and definitely one of my go-to’s is Angelonia ‘Serena Waterfall Mix.’ I have been growing Angelonia for a while and it never seems to disappoint. This sun-loving plant can stand up to our heat and humidity without missing a beat. This cool-colored variety has been flowering nonstop since I planted it in the Poetry Garden last April. If you’re looking for a plant with an airy texture, or a great cottage garden staple, look no further.

Christy, our Curator of Plant Collections, liked Salvia coccinea ‘Summer Jewel White’ in the Upper Left Wing the best. Native to Texas, this Salvia is a reseeding annual that will keep your garden pleasantly occupied for years. Christy finds the pure white flowers, lasting from summer into the fall, to be one of her favorite features. It’s not all about looks though, this Salvia is tough. Heat? Humidity? Not a problem. What’s more, it is also drought tolerant and a good option for its deer resistance as well!

Katherine, our Director of Horticulture, particularly likes Caladium. This classic Brookgreen warm season annual is a staple in our display. The Caladiums are most notably in Oak Allée, under our magnificent Live Oaks. What Katherine likes most about these plants is their versatility. While they are a great plant to light up a shaded space, there are also cultivars, or varieties, available that can perform just as well in full sun. They come in a myriad of colors that flawlessly compliment one another, making mixing and matching both fun and gorgeous! Another pro for Caladiums? These do not need to be planted deeply to thrive, so planting them under shallow rooted trees is a breeze, just make sure to give them ample water!

Keep some of our staff picks in mind for your garden next year – they can brighten up your space just like they have ours! Although we’ll be sad to see the summer annuals go, we are looking forward to switching to our cool season displays within the coming weeks. Be sure to stop by and see us and our new plantings! October 13th is our Fall Plant Sale and Gullah Geechee Junkanoo Festival.  The Horticulture staff will be available to help you with ideas for your fall garden, as well as what to do this fall to prepare for a beautiful spring.

See you in the gardens!