| I am looking to order black flowers from March,24,2006 usa week end advertisment by fran sorin |
| The black flowers mentioned in the article should be available from local retailers. Here's the list of plants: Sambucus 'Black Beauty,' an elderberry, is a breakthrough shrub with majestic black foliage popular among gardening fashionistas. This sambucus has huge, lemon-scented, pink flowers (usually blooming in late June), which contrast beautifully with its black foliage. Grow this plant, hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 7, as a shrub, or cut it back hard each spring to use as a bold perennial. Albizia julibrissin, commonly known as mimosa or silk tree, has a black variation that is one of the season's most sought-after trees. It's a medium-sized ornamental with a short trunk and a broad, spreading crown of very dark leaves with pink flower clusters. Its leaves are delicate and fernlike, and each one has 15 to 30 pairs of oblong leaflets. Mimosa can reach 30 feet tall and is a fast grower. Hardy in Zones 6 to 9, the tree thrives in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Cosmos atrosanguineus, also known as the chocolate or black cosmos, originated in Mexico and has deep maroon flowerheads with a chocolate scent, particularly on warmer days. It flowers from summer on and is hardy in Zones 8 to 10. One summer I used it in a container, planted next to tangerine potentilla. The combination was stunning and the scent intoxicating. Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic' is the dramatic black leaf elephant ear plant with large leaves up to 2 feet long; plants can reach as high as 6 feet. It's striking in containers with silver-leaved foliage or other tropicals. I also love it scattered about tropical gardens. It thrives in sun and partial shade and is hardy in Zones 7B and higher. Dig up the tubers in fall, and store them like cannas and dahlias. For years, hybridizers tried to breed a black rose. Finally, in 2001, the House of Meilland introduced Black Baccara rose, a hybrid tea variety. It's considered one of the blackest roses and has velvety petals. The bush grows up to 4 feet tall and is hardy in Zones 6 to 10. Imagine this exotic rosebush with diminutive, soft pink dianthus or cranesbill nestled below. Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie,' known as sweet potato vine, has become a favorite of container gardeners. It's easy to grow and has striking, nearly all-black foliage. This vine loves the summer heat (it's hardy in Zones 9 and higher) and looks great draped over a container filled with coleus, cannas and other tropicals. Phyllostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo,' a new bamboo variety, has young culms (stems) that are green when they break ground, then change to almost black by the end of the first season, depending on their size. All the mature culms are ebony black. This bamboo is a runner, so contain it in a pot or allow ample room for it to spread. Also, try it as a hedge or develop it into a grove. Provide full sun to partial shade for this plant, which is hardy in Zones 6 to 9. One of the newest black flowers is a hyacinth called Midnight Mystique. It was developed by an English firm that purchased three "mother bulbs" in Holland for more than $250,000. From these, they propagated up to 30,000 bulbs that were sold in the United Kingdom to bloom this spring. Positioned among daffodils or red tulips, Midnight Mystique is sure to be a showstopper. Even at close to $15 per bulb, the Brits have been buying them up like crazy. Look for this new flower to emerge on the American gardening scene soon. When it does, it will be one hot commodity. And, here's a list of local nurseries: GRAND RIVER NURSERY INC. 5000 EAST 21ST NORTH FORT GIBSON, OK 74434 (918) 478-3964 SANDERS NSY & DIST CTR INC P.O. BOX 1836 TAHLEQUAH, OK 74465-0436 (918) 543-2589 UNDER THE SUN GARDEN CTR. 2001 S. MUSKOGEE TAHLEQUAH, OK 74464 (918) 493-7118 SANDERS NSY & DIST CTR INC 13302 E. 590 ROAD INOLA, OK 74036 (918) 543-2589 SANDERS NSY & DIST CTR INC 20705 E. 161ST ST. BROKEN ARROW, OK 74014 (918) 486-1500 UNDER THE SUN GARDEN CTR. 1108 EAST KENOSHA BROKEN ARROW, OK 74012 (918) 271-4969 MYER'S NURSERY, INC. 848 S. ELM PLACE BROKEN ARROW, OK 74012 (918) 259-5864 UNDER THE SUN GARDEN CTR. 8988-L S. SHERIDAN TULSA, OK 74133 (918) 493-7118 Give one or all a call and I'm sure you'll find the plants you're looking for. Enjoy! |
