Design with ‘Fireworks’

‘Fireworks’

In addition to ‘Sugared Plum’ that we discussed last week we have another unique gomphrena: ‘Fireworks’. We’ve mentioned this intriguing plant in the past but since today is Independence Day it seems only appropriate to talk a little more about it.

‘Strawberry Sizzle’

Sure, we all like the bright, colorful ball-shaped flowers of zonal geraniums, but another major reason we use them with such frequency is their attractive foliage. Zonal leaves have a unique scalloped shape and ruffled appearance, sometimes with darker bands, or zones, of green or burgundy marking them. We’re partial to the pretty mounds of foliage we get with zonals, too, so we design with them often when we want to create an elegant, stylish display. 

Among zonals, our Fantasia™ series stands out because of its beautiful deep, dark green foliage. As you can see, the leaves intensify the brightness of these big showy blooms. We use this striking contrast to heighten the interest in sunny landscape beds and hanging baskets—anywhere we need a bold splash of color. All the drama we could ask for is right here, rolled up into one plant.

Dark green leaves intensify the brightness of the blooms

Expect to see blooms all the way through autumn; regular deadheading will keep the flowers coming. Fantasia™ geraniums love the sun and heat, and they’ll tolerate drought but it’s best to keep the soil moist. Try not to overwater these plants; actually, the best plan of action is to let the soil dry out slightly between waterings—then you should be golden.

We have the following Fantasia™ selections, all in the 8-inch pot: ‘White’, ‘Salmon’, and the hot pink ‘Strawberry Sizzle’.

A cheerful mix for nonstop summer color

If you’re in search of nonstop summer color, here’s a cheerful mix from the Magellan series. We rely on Magellans to keep the show going continuously, right through the hottest months of the season, all the way to frost. New branches and blooms grow up and over the existing ones so these plants always look fresh without deadheading.

While Magellan zinnias are short—about a foot high—you can see that the flowers are big and fully double, reaching around 5 inches across. Vibrant shades in this mix include pink, cherry, scarlet, orange, coral, yellow, and ivory—a little bit of everything.  We like mixes for nice, easy pots and hanging baskets to use as accents around decks and patios—this one looks great at the front of a sunny border, too.

Magellans sail through the hot, dry summer and stand up to wind and rain. Their pretty foliage gets full and bushy, with a tidy, uniform appearance that focuses all the attention on these eye-catching blooms.

Our brilliant ‘Magellan Mix’ is available in the 8-inch pot.