Rudbeckia Flowers

Type of Flower 

Rudbeckia: 

Rudbeckia is a plant genus of 23 species in the family Asteraceae.The species are commonly called coneflowers and black-eyed-susans; all are native to North America and many species are cultivated in gardens for their showy yellow or gold flower heads. 
The species are herbaceous, mostly perennial plants (some annual or biennial) growing to 0.5–3 m tall, with simple or branched stems. The leaves are spirally arranged, entire to deeply lobed, 5–25 cm long. The flowers are produced in daisy-like inflorescences, with yellow or orange florets arranged in a prominent, cone-shaped head; "cone-shaped" because the ray florets tend to point out and down (are decumbent) as the flower head opens.

A large number of species have been proposed within Rudbeckia, but most are now regarded as synonyms of the limited.

Several currently accepted species have several accepted varieties. Some of them (for example the Black-eyed Susan, R. hirta), are popular garden flowers distinguished for their long flowering times. There are many cultivars of these species. 

Rudbeckia species are used as food plants by the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera species including Cabbage Moth and Dot Moth. 

The name was given by Carolus Linnaeus in honor of his teacher at Uppsala University, Professor Olof Rudbeck the Younger (1660-1740), and his father Professor Olof Rudbeck the Elder (1630-1702), both of whom were botanists. 

Rudbeckia is one of at least four genera within the flowering plant family Asteraceae whose members are commonly known as coneflowers; the others are Echinacea, Dracopis and Ratibida.

Rudbeckia are easy to establish, naturalize well and require little maintenance other than deadheading. 

Rudbeckia can be started indoors, from seed. Plant about 6-8 weeks before last expected frost. Perennial varieties will germinate best if kept in the refrigerator or similarly cold place for 4 weeks after planting. Then move them back to a warm spot (70ºF-72ºF) until seeds actually germinate.. 

Rudbeckia can also be direct seeded in the garden once daytime temperatures remain around 60ºF. Of course, plants can be purchased and transplanted. 

They are not particular about soil, but do best in soil that is not too rich, with well-draining conditions. 

Keep plants well watered the first season, to get them established. Once established, the will be quite drought resistant. 

Go easy on the fertilizer. Too much will result in weak stems and plants. A side dressing of compost should be all they’ll need. 

Regular deadheading of the faded flowers will keep the plants in bloom longer. You can let the last flowers of the season remain on the plants to go to seed and feed the birds, but you will also get a good deal of self-seeding. 

Division is only necessary if the clump gets too large for its space. Rudbeckias don’t generally die out in the center and require regular division.

Many species are used in prairie restorations and for ornamental use. Used by domestic stock for forage. An abundance of these plants on a rangeland indicates good health.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudbeckia http://gardening.about.com/od/plantprofile1/p/Rudbeckia.htm

Limnanthes douglasii Flowers

Type of Flower 

Limnanthes douglasii: 

Limnanthes douglasii is a species of annual flowering plant in the family Limnanthaceae (meadowfoam) commonly known as poached egg plant or Douglas' meadowfoam. It is native to California and Oregon, where it grows in wet, grassy habitat, such as vernal pools and spring meadows. It can grow in poorly drained clay soils. The plant was collected by the Scottish explorer and botanist David Douglas, who worked on the west coast of America in the 1820s.

The plant usually bears white flowers with yellow centers, hence the name "poached egg plant", but flower color can vary across subspecies. It is a popular ornamental plant. It attracts hoverflies to the garden to eat the aphids and is well loved by bees. It is self-seeding, and gardeners are often careful as to where the seeds fall as it will quite happily grow in a lawn.

There are five subspecies: 

• L. douglasii ssp. douglasii R. Br., is native to the coastal mountains and valleys of southwestern Oregon south to the San Francisco Bay Area 
• L. douglasii ssp. nivea (C.T. Mason)C.T. Mason, with mostly white flowers, grows in the coastal mountains of northern California 
• L. douglasii ssp. rosea (Benth.)C.T. Mason, found in California's Central Valley and adjacent hills, often has pink veining on its petals 
• L. douglasii ssp. sulphurea (C.T. Mason)C.T. Mason, is a rare yellow-petaled subspecies endemic to the Bay Area 
• L. douglasii ssp. striata (Jeps.)Morin, has recently been subsumed into this species; it occurs in the Klamath range and the north and central Sierra Nevada

The Poached Egg Plant is used in rock gardens and containers. It is also a good candidate for edging material and as a denizen of the border. The plants grow either erect or spreading, from 15 to 30cm (6 to 12in) high to 15cm (6in) wide. The fragrant, abundant flowers appear from summer to autumn and attract bees and butterflies for the duration. This lovely plant provides a carpet of fragrant golden and white blooms that will grace the front of the border, rockery or path edging. 

This beautiful little plant is very easy to grow and often found in the children’s corner of seed suppliers, however this little plant should not be underestimated, it can be a valuable resource for the allotmenteer - Limnanthes douglasii can be employed as both a companion plant to crops and as a green manure. Beloved of bees and adored by hoverflies and other beneficial insects, the plants provide a rich supply of nectar that will bring natural predators of pests, such as aphids, mites, mealy bugs and caterpillars directly to your vegetable bed. They prefer full sun and a cool moist root run and because of this do very well when grown as an edging to paths. If allowed, Limnanthes will self-seed freely and can be left to naturalise, germinating and flowering at different times. This can be imitated by sowing in autumn for flowers as early as April, and from spring to July for a long sequence of summer flowers.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limnanthes_douglasii 
http://www.seedaholic.com/limnanthes-douglasii-3.html

Sparaxis Flowers

Type of Flower 

Sparaxis: 

Sparaxis (Harlequin Flower) is a genus in the family Iridaceae with about 13 species endemic to Cape Province, South Africa. 

All are perennials that grow during the wet winter season, flower in spring and survive underground as dormant corms over summer. Their conspicuous flowers have six tepals, which in most species are equal in size and shape. 

Sparaxis bulbifera is the commonest in cultivation, with flowers from cream to yellow or purple. S. grandiflora is a similar but larger plant. Sparaxis tricolor has bright red flowers with yellow and black centres. Many named hybrid cultivars were bred from S. elegant,S. bulbifera and S. tricolor. 

A group of species with asymmetrical flowers marked in mauve and yellow, including Sparaxis variegata and Sparaxis villosa, was formerly treated as the genus Synnotia.

They are easy to grow in Mediterranean climates. They have been in cultivation for a number of years and there are many colorful hybrids grown as well. The genus Synnotia is now included in this genus. Sparaxis can become virused. Plants may continue to bloom, but there can be a color break in the petals.

Sparaxis (Harlequin) flowers are early summer bloomers that perk up walkways and patios. Individual blooms do not last long, but flowers on the slender stems open successively from the bottom up, producing a long-lasting display that will look even more striking when planted close together in large groups. Harlequin flowers grow an average height of about 10 inches high. Use them as an accent in mixed beds and borders, rock gardens and containers. Harlequin flowers also make excellent cut flowers. During the growing season, the soil should be kept continually moist, especially after planting. Corms should be planted in the spring about 2 inches deep. Harlequin flowers prefer full sun in humus-rich sandy soil, but a semi-shaded site will also produce excellent results. Harlequin flowers will also thrive well in relatively poor soil.

Little Sparaxis plant care is necessary with these flowers. In wet summer gardens, the corms are best lifted and stored but in well-drained areas, they can be left in the ground. Some species of the genus are not cold hardy. So if you live in colder regions, dig up the corms and store them before the first frost. 

The corms multiply rapidly if well watered throughout the growing season. Seeds can be sown in autumn and will flower the second spring or the offsets can be divided during dormancy and replanted.

References: 
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Sparaxis 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparaxis 
http://www.plantingflowerbulbs.com/harlequin-flowers.htm