Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine

Read all about perennials and landscape trees and shrubs in the ONLA publications "Perennial Plants for Ohio" and "Landscape Plants for Ohio." The descriptions and photographs of plants were provided for these publications by the OSU ENLTT along with other industry plant lovers. These full-color publications are available at the following website, [ http://Buckeyegardening.com ], for $5.00. Click on "garden store" on the website, and then "ONLA plant guides." ONLA members can purchase these in quantities at a reduced price at [ http://onla.org ].

*PERENNIAL OF THE WEEK. LENTEN ROSE - (Helleborus spp.). These plants are wonderful for woodland gardens and under trees. In addition, they provide bloom in late winter and early spring before many other perennials are even out of bed! They come in a variety of flower colors and leaf sizes and can grow from 6-15" tall depending upon the species or variety. They require organic matter in the soil and perform best in moist soils. Many varieties also have evergreen to semi-evergreen leaves. Once they establish, Lenten rose lasts a long time in the garden.

*WOODY ORNAMENTAL OF THE WEEK. CORNELIANCHERRY DOGWOOD - (Cornus mas). This small, multi-stemmed tree or rounded shrub is in full bloom in the landscapes of central Ohio. One of the earliest noticeable flowering trees, the corneliancherry dogwood stands out in the landscape among bare branches with its small bright yellow flowers. It grows around 15-20' tall and is quite adaptable to a variety of sites. It also has nice, relatively insect and disease-free dark green leaves and a slightly flaky brown bark.