LITTLE ROCK — Q I planted a lot of sweet William seeds in pots in late spring and kept them in part shade during the summer due to the heat, so they didn’t grow very much. They are now around 4 inches high and I am wondering if they would survive the winter if I planted them in the ground, or should I keep the pots in an enclosed porch - without heating- until the spring?
A I would plant them now. Sweet Williams are actually Dianthus barbatus, which is usually grown as biennials - growing foliage in the first season and blooming, setting seeds and dying the next. For some gardeners, it lasts a few extra seasons, but it is not a long-lived plant. It should overwinter just fine - and will probably stay evergreen, blooming early next spring.
Hot weather tends to take its toll on many dianthus, but this one is fragrant and quite showy when in bloom.
Q With the exception of the established tree in North Little Rock, do you know ofany other successful efforts with live oaks in central Arkansas? As the past several winters have been rather mild, I am thinking about attempting to grow one on my south-facing lawn. Any thoughts or advice?
A Live oak trees will live and thrive in southern Arkansas and do fairly well in central Arkansas, but don’t expect the plantation-style live oaks you see farther south.
Live oaks are one of the few oak species that are evergreen. They are relatively slow-growing in central Arkansas, but worth planting.
Q I have a lovely lavender bush that has been growing and looking very healthy until recently, and now parts of it look like dried lavender. I cut off the dried looking part, but the problem seems to be spreading. Do you have any guesses as to what is causing this and how to fix it before the whole plant is gone?
A Lavender is one of those plants that thrives in drier seasons but struggles in damp, hot and humid ones, especially if the drainage isn’t great or if you have a sprinkler system that regularly hits it. Raised beds and rocky, poor soils tend to be better for lavender than highly amended, rich sites. Cut out the damaged parts to get it through the winter. Then prune it back by one-third to one-half before new growth kicks in next spring and see what happens.
Q During a visit to Fayetteville about two years ago, I saw hydrangea trees. I live in Malvern. Would these trees grow well here? If so, when is the best time to plant them?
A My guess is you saw some peegee hydrangeas, or Hydrangea paniculata. They can be pruned into small trees or large shrubs. These hydrangeas bloom on the new growth and have large panicles of white flowers that typically fade to pink. They are not quite as finicky as the big leaf Hydrangea macrophylla, which can suffer from late freezes, particularly in the northwestern part of Arkansas. I would plant in late winter to early spring.
They should do fine in Malvern, and there are some new varieties that will tolerate more sun - “Limelight” and “Vanilla Strawberry” are just two options.
Q What is the name of this plant? (See photo) It goes unnoticed until fall, when these little yellow flowers bloom and emit such a lively scent. I have been smelling it my whole life and I always think of Halloween and my childhood when I do.
A The plant is an orange cestrum - Cestrum aurantiacum. I have the night blooming one - Cestrum nocturnum. The flowers aren’t as showy as the orange cestrum, and open only at night, but it, too, smells heavenly. Both can start blooming in June and last through frost.
Mine started in June and then stopped, but recently has begun to bloom again.
Janet Carson is a horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Write to her at 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72204 or e-mail her at
HomeStyle, Pages 37 on 10/06/2012