Variety Notebook

Cleome Senorita Blanca
The colors of this Cleome depend on the temperature. Senorita Blanca blooms silvery-white flowers in warm conditions and pale, lavender-pink ones in cool temperatures. Heat- and drought-tolerant, its flowers are smaller than typical cleomes but they will bloom all over. Reaching 24 to 48 inches tall, it’s ideal for landscape beds or in large containers. Senorita Blanca also attracts birds and butterflies and doesn’t require dead-heading.

For more: Proven Winners, provenwinners.com

Alcea Las Vegas
Shorter than most fig-leaf hollyhock varieties, Las Vegas’ saucer-shaped blooms are bright and colorful, just like the lights of its namesake. Its sturdy stems have distinctive, curvy leaves climbing up them. It lives longer than typical biennial hollyhocks, flowering from May to October. It’s also hardy to Zones 3 to 9 and will flower from the first year from seed if started early. Las Vegas needs full or partial shade and is recommended for use in borders.

For more: Jelitto Perennial Seeds, jelitto.com

Oxalis Plum Crazy Yellow
Petite yellow flowers and plum-colored variegated leaves grow up to 8 inches tall and 12 inches in spread for this Oxalis. Hardy to Zone 8, Plum Crazy Yellow enjoys the sun and heat. It’s ideal for filler in combinations and is recommended as a mix with succulents.

For more: Hort Couture, www.hortcoutureplants.com

Insider Info: Senorita Blanca will not self-seed, isn’t sticky and doesn’t have thorns.