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Get It Growing for 06/05/26
The Fourth of July is approaching, and this year’s holiday marks a special milestone: The United States of America is officially 250 years old. Folks across the country are commemorating the occasion with lots of red, white and blue.
Why not bring that color scheme into the landscape?
At the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge, that’s exactly what staff members are doing as they refresh beds with warm-season annuals. Senior landscape manager Jason Stagg said there are plenty of patriotically hued plants that do well in Louisiana gardens.
The Burden team is using Lucky Star Dark Red pentas for a punch of red in the Burden landscape this summer. The Lucky Star series, which was selected for the AgCenter’s Louisiana Super Plant program, features small, five-pointed flowers that come in a range of vivid shades.
“This particular variety of pentas is shorter, so we’re using that on the front of the bed,” Stagg said.
Flowers aren’t the only way you can add color. Stagg likes the deep crimson of Redhead coleus, a foliage plant that thrives in our climate.
To mimic the white stripes and stars of the American flag, the Burden landscape prominently displays white-flowering lantanas — a summertime staple in Louisiana gardens. Stagg recommends the Bandana series, a mid-size lantana that is a Louisiana Super Plant.
True blue plants are rare in nature. But there are a few — along with some that come close enough to evoke Old Glory’s blue field.
“I find that some of your best blue colors are with salvias,” Stagg said. “This is also a good thing because salvias tend to be taller species of plants, and they’re great for the background of the bed.”
One of his favorite salvias is yet another Louisiana Super Plant that’s called Rockin’ Blue Suede Shoes. For even taller options, go with Indigo Spires and Big Blue.
For lighter shades, give some less-common plants a try. Plumbago offers clusters of sky-blue flowers while ageratum, also known as blue mistflower, provides textured blooms that look like tiny pompoms.
Incorporating color into shady gardens often can be tricky, as vibrant flowering plants generally prefer sunny locations. But with a little creativity, you can still make these areas look festive for the Fourth.
For shaded beds at Burden, Stagg and his crew are relying on a couple of plants. Torenia, a compact plant that works great in borders and containers, is available in blue and white. And red and white selections from the Beacon series of impatiens, a Louisiana Super Plant, are a tried-and-true choice for color in the shade.
LSU AgCenter horticulturist Jason Stagg, who serves as senior landscape manager at the Botanic Gardens at Burden, reviews plants he and his staff are using for a red, white and blue landscape this summer.
Many plants can be used to create a red, white and blue landscape. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter
Lucky Star pentas are excellent choices for hues of red and white. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter
White-flowering cultivars of lantana, foreground, and impatiens pop in the landscape. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter
Salvias come in a range of colors, including many shades of blue. This cultivar is Rockin’ Blue Suede Shoes. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter
Impatiens can be used to add color in the shade. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter
Foliage plants can provide color, too. Redhead coleus is a great option. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter
