The Fourth of July is approaching, and this year’s holiday marks a special milestone: The United States of America is officially 250 years old. Folks across the country are commemorating the occasion with lots of red, white and blue.
Why not bring that color scheme into the landscape?
At the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge, that’s exactly what staff members are doing as they refresh beds with warm-season annuals. Senior landscape manager Jason Stagg said there are plenty of patriotically hued plants that do well in Louisiana gardens.
Reds
The Burden team is using Lucky Star Dark Red pentas for a punch of red in the Burden landscape this summer. The Lucky Star series, which was selected for the AgCenter’s Louisiana Super Plant program, features small, five-pointed flowers that come in a range of vivid shades.
“This particular variety of pentas is shorter, so we’re using that on the front of the bed,” Stagg said.
Flowers aren’t the only way you can add color. Stagg likes the deep crimson of Redhead coleus, a foliage plant that thrives in our climate.
Whites
To mimic the white stripes and stars of the American flag, the Burden landscape prominently displays white-flowering lantanas — a summertime staple in Louisiana gardens. Stagg recommends the Bandana series, a mid-size lantana that is a Louisiana Super Plant.
Blues
True blue plants are rare in nature. But there are a few — along with some that come close enough to evoke Old Glory’s blue field.
“I find that some of your best blue colors are with salvias,” Stagg said. “This is also a good thing because salvias tend to be taller species of plants, and they’re great for the background of the bed.”
One of his favorite salvias is yet another Louisiana Super Plant that’s called Rockin’ Blue Suede Shoes. For even taller options, go with Indigo Spires and Big Blue.
For lighter shades, give some less-common plants a try. Plumbago offers clusters of sky-blue flowers while ageratum, also known as blue mistflower, provides textured blooms that look like tiny pompoms.
What about shady areas?
Incorporating color into shady gardens often can be tricky, as vibrant flowering plants generally prefer sunny locations. But with a little creativity, you can still make these areas look festive for the Fourth.
For shaded beds at Burden, Stagg and his crew are relying on a couple of plants. Torenia, a compact plant that works great in borders and containers, is available in blue and white. And red and white selections from the Beacon series of impatiens, a Louisiana Super Plant, are a tried-and-true choice for color in the shade.
