Fresh Summer Plants

 
Taishan marigolds

At Diefenbacher we’re still here carrying on through summer, even though a lot of other suppliers close up shop after the big spring shipments. We grow fresh plants specifically for the season—potted up just a few weeks ago and not repurposed from leftover spring material. Our summer crops are raised with our signature care and attention so they’re lush and healthy to liven up landscapes and retail benches.

Purple-magenta flower spikes add a jolt of vibrant color

These bold purple-magenta flower spikes are eye-catching on the retail bench and add a jolt of vibrant color wherever they’re planted. A steady stream of showy blooms keeps coming from early summer to mid fall, so ‘Intenz’ looks fresh continually, even during the hottest days of the season.

That’s quite a feat, here in Cincinnati when the temps are soaring, and it’s one reason why we consider celosia a valuable tool in the landscape. We also turn to it when we want to flood a dry, sun-baked location with color, or liven up an area with poor soil conditions—celosia thrives in all of the above.

Furthermore, we’re fans of these feathery flowers—they’re great for bumping up the texture when we need a filler for a combo. Try mixing ‘Intenz’ with brilliant ‘SunPatiens Compact Orange’ and ‘Electric Lime’ coleus, or ‘Silverdust’ dusty miller to cool down the intensity. 

Feathery flowers bump up the texture

This selection is available in the 8-inch pot.

Rich copper foxtails add vertical interest

‘Copper Prince’ is a new selection we’ve added to our millet lineup this year. Millet’s bold flower spikes are great for adding form and texture to full sun areas that are in need of vertical interest. This variety starts out a light caramel color, deepening to a rich copper tone as it sends up rosy, foxtail-like blooms.

We like the wide blades here—they form a dense mound as a launchpad for the dramatic bottlebrush flowers. Both the height and spread are similar to ‘Jade Princess’, with plants reaching about 2–3 feet tall. Though ‘Copper Prince’ is heat and drought tolerant, we find that with regular water and some fertilizer it gets even more lush and bushy.

Millet’s stately foliage makes a statement when planted en masse or when used in large containers. Pairing ‘Copper Prince’ with golden yellow and red-orange blooms bolsters the rustic look and helps transition color from late summer into fall. Try mixing it with ‘Taishan Gold’ marigolds and ‘Autumn Colors’ or ‘Indian Summer’ rudbeckia.

‘Copper Prince’ comes in the 8-inch pot. ‘Autumn Colors’ and ‘Indian Summer’ come in the 8-inch size as well. We also have ‘Jade Princess’ in the 8-inch pot.