Best choices for
planting in Oklahoma
Brian Jervis: Ask a Master Gardener
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Q: I would like to plant a perennial grass
border other than monkey grass around one of my garden beds. Any ideas? Kay,
Tulsa
A:
If you go to the
Oklahoma Proven website, you will find that among this year’s new selections
are varieties of a sedge genus called Carex, which may be a good substitute for
liriope (monkey grass).
Oklahoma Proven is a program that has been in
place since 1999. It is organized by OSU Horticulture faculty and involves
nurserymen around the state. Every year, they select a tree, shrub, perennial,
annual and a “collector’s choice” plant. These plants are ones proven to grow
well in Oklahoma.
The Carex selection for perennials is a large
group of plants. They are sedges, not grasses, although they are similar to
ornamental grasses. They may be evergreen or deciduous and have a wide range of
colors. They tolerate moist and dry soils and grow in full sun and full shade.
Of the many varieties, two suggested by OSU faculty are Ice Ballet and Lemon
Zest. These are two of several that may be used for ground covers, perennial
borders and habitat restoration.
The tree selection by Oklahoma Proven for this
year is the escarpment live oak. This is a smaller version of the coastal live
oak, which is the tree associated with antebellum Southern plantations. The
escarpment variety is our only native evergreen oak and grows predictably in
hardiness zones 6-10. The tree is more drought and cold tolerant than the
coastal live oak and is tolerant of a wide range of soils. Mature height is 20
to 40 feet. It is not usually carried by local nurseries yet but is available online.
The shrub for 2016 is a yucca cultivar called
“color guard.” It needs full sun to part shade and is hardy in USDA zones 3-8.
The leaves are gold centered, variegated and sword shaped. Stalks emerge in
late spring with creamy white bell-shaped flowers, said to be fragrant.
The annual plant selection this year are
improved cultivars of annual vinca, also called Madagascar periwinkle. Improved
cultivars include plants in the Cora, Mediterranean and Titan series, along
with others. These plants do best with full sun and warm soils. They bloom
throughout the summer and flower colors come in shades of white, pink, red and
purple. Some varieties have disease resistance and drought tolerance.
The “collector’s choice” selection for 2016 are
several deciduous magnolia cultivars. These trees bloom early in spring and
have a tulip-like blossom, causing some to incorrectly call them “tulip trees.”
They range in size from a shrub to a large tree and need full sun to part
shade. They are rated for hardiness zones 4-9. Oklahoma Proven has a list of
cultivars recommended on its website, and it has a wide range of colors — from
red and white to pink and purple — and a new hybrid with yellow blossoms.
Go to the Oklahoma Proven website at oklahomaproven.okstate.edu/gallery.html for
more information and photos of all the plants.
For more information or to ask a question about
gardening, contact the Master Gardeners at 918-746-3701 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Garden tips
§ Mid-February is a good time to begin pruning and
fertilizing trees and small fruits.
§ Now is a good time to cut back your perennial
ornamental grasses, such as pampus grass. Cut back to remove the dead grass but
avoid damaging new buds and early green growth at the base.
§ Begin planting blackberries, raspberries,
strawberries, grapes, asparagus and other perennial garden crops this month.
Contact Tulsa Master Gardeners at 918-746-3701 for specifics about these plant
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