Size:
2-3 feet
Exposure:
Full sun to partial shade
Soil:
Well-drained soil that has been amended with peat moss, leaf mold or
compost.
Pruning:
While this
flowers on new and old wood,
the best time to prune is it after it blooms,
from mid-July to mid-August. Cease pruning in mid-august to
allow time for the flower buds to form prior to winter.
As a
young plant it is best to prune or pinch your plant in order
to build a full bodied, well branched plant. If the plant
is leggy when you purchased it, shear the plant back hard by
1/3 to 1/2 its original size. Once it puts on an inch or
two of growth, pinch the branch tips to remove just the
growing tip. This tip controls branching. Once it is
removed the buds below it will turn into stems. Once these
new branches grow an inch or two, pinch the tip out again.
You can repeat this throughout the first growing season as
you are tending your garden. This technique results in a well
branched, full bodied plant that will have more flowers in
subsequent years. The second season in the ground, repeat
the pinching practice (or lightly shear) up until
mid-August. Cease pruning and pinching to allow the flower
buds to set.
Fertilizing:
Fertilize in early spring by applying a slow release fertilizer
specialized for trees & shrubs. Follow the label for recommended rate of
application. Flower color is affected by pH. For blue flowers, the soil
must be more acidic and for pink flowers, the soil must be more
alkaline.
Uses:
Groupings or masses,
perennial or shrub borders, specimen, screens or hedges, mixed
container, cut flowers.
Breeder:
Tim Wood, Spring Meadow Nursery
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