P. Allen Smith’s Top Five Plants for the Summer

1. Totally Tempted Cuphea
   • If you love red, then this is the flower for you. Totally Tempted has tubular blooms with a lavender throat and cherry red petals. The color combination reminds me of blooms on fuchsia plants. Where the fuchsia is hard for me to grow because of the summer heat, Totally Tempted has been a carefree bloomer.
   • Cuphea is commonly known as cigar plants. 
   • Annual except in zones 9 – 11.
   • Fragrant and attracts wildlife.
   • Height: 10 to 12 inches
   • Light: Full sun
   • It can make an explosive impact in hanging baskets, beds, borders and plant combinations.
   • You may look at the flowers and think it is a delicate plant; it's a real toughie so give it a try.
2. Petunia Supertunia Vista Bubblegum Pink
   • One of my favorite plants for summer color in the garden is the petunia.
   • These just knocked me out when I first saw them. 'Supertunia Vista Bubblegum' and boy, is that a fitting name.
   • The plants grow upright, yet they also cascade. It's an interesting combination that reminds me of a tub brimming over with bubbles.
   • Plant Supertunias in a spot where they will receive full sun.
   • Consistent moisture is also key along with an application of a liquid fertilizer every 5 to 7 days.
   • Petunias are heavy feeders.
   • In fact, if you are growing them in containers you'll want to feed them every time you water.
   • They are disease resistant.
   • Self-cleaning.
   • Floriferous with sturdy stems, which means they remain attractive from spring planting until the first frost in fall.
   • Annual
3. Citrus Blend Lantana
   • Lantana steps to center stage when once the summer heat kicks in.
   • It seems the hotter it gets, the more this plant flowers.
   • This variety is a heavy bloomer. I have it planted in my home garden and at the Garden Home Retreat. At both locations it has performed exceptionally well.
   • The blooms on ‘Citrus Blend’ are clusters of tiny brilliant red-orange flowers with a few yellow ones in the center. 
   • Heat and drought tolerant.
   • Great choice for gardeners who need to be water wise.
   • Fragrant and attracts wildlife.
   • Height: 24 to 36 inches
   • Spacing: 20 to inches
   • Annual except in zones 10 – 11.
   • Requires full sun.
   • Blooms summer through fall.
   • Use in combinations, window boxes and landscapes.
   • Did not do much until it got wicked hot, but from then on it was glorious...was still blooming into early December
4. Calibrachoa Superbells
   • Cascading and vining, perfect for hanging baskets.
   • The plant produces an abundance of miniature petunia shaped blooms, but unlike the petunia, calibrachoa won't get leggy, turn into wet tissue paper after a hard rain,
   • Plant calibrachoas in the spring after the threat of frost has passed.
   • They will thrive in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil with average moisture.
   • Annual and a sun garden favorite.
   • Bloom color: wide range depending on variety:  pink, peach, purple, white or plum to name a few.
   • Bloom time: Spring through Fall
   • Height: 18 to 24 inches
   • Soil: well drained
   • Light: Sun/Partial Shade
   • Spacing: 15 to 18 inches
   • Suited for containers because it prefers soil a little on the dry side and doesn't need much fertilizer to bloom continuously.
   • Many of the containers in my garden require daily watering and weekly feeding, but pots and hanging baskets of calibrachoa seem to thrive on neglect. This is a real blessing when my travel schedule gets hectic.
5. Coleus
   • I am crazy for coleus. The incredible range of colors and forms make this plant adaptable to any plant combination. You can choose from upright to trailing forms, big leafed to fancy, frilly foliage and the rich patterns and colors are amazing.
   • I use them in both containers and my flowerbeds.
   • Perfect for adding color to shady spots, but you can find varieties that are more sun tolerant as well. And once the summer heat rolls in, they'll really take off.
   • Coleus will add visual interest in my flowerbeds right up until the first hard frost.
   • Coleus are well known for their vividly colored foliage which may have bold variations.
   • Coleus may either grow in a columnar form or in a denser, bushy habit.
   • Annual
   • Resists deer.
   • Height: 1 to 3 feet
   • Soil: moist, well drained soil
   • Light: Full Sun/Partial Shade

Ag-Pro Lecture

Saturday April 18th, 2009

Lecture - 10:00 - 11:00

Book signing 11:00 - 12:00

Opening the Gaines Street Garden from 11:00 until 1:00

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Luncheon in the Mansion Gardens

Featuring our own landscape designer P. Allen Smith
10:30 a.m. Lecture by Mr. Smith on his new book
Bringing the Gardens Indoors

11:30 a.m. Luncheon in the Mansion Gardens

12:30 p.m. Leisurely tour of the Gardens

Tickets are $60.00/person

Please make checks payable to:

Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Association, 1800 Center Street, Little Rock, AR 72206

To order online go to: www.friendsofthemansion.org