IN THE GARDEN

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette purple shamrock illustration.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette purple shamrock illustration.

Q My purple shamrock looks healthy but has gotten leggy and thin. It probably needs repotting. My mother-in-law had it for many years before it passed to my daughter, now deceased. It is sentimental to me. Could you advise me on caring for it?

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Special to the Democrat-Gazette

Reullia, or Mexican petunia, thrives in warm climates.

A Keep it going for the next month or so as it is, waiting to repot and possibly divide it when it is safe to move it outdoors. It should bounce back and thrive in a shady spot outside. But wait for the weather to warm up a bit.

Q We have a beautifully shaped wild cedar in our yard. It is about 15 years old. Some needles have a brown cast while most of the others are nice and green. Any suggestions on getting the needles to green up?

A Are the needles brown year-round? Winter color for many cedars is a burnt orange or bronze color, but they should green back up during the growing season. Old needles often turn brown before they shed.

Q For many years now, I have been waging war against annual bluegrass. I have pulled it, and I have used a pre-emergent. I have not had good luck with the pre-emergent. Someone told me to use glyphosate (Roundup) when the annual bluegrass is germinating and growing, which is now, and also when my zoysia is still dormant, which is now. This way it won't kill the zoysia. It is killing the annual bluegrass, but I'm wondering, come spring will I discover it is also killing the zoysia? I'm applying the grass killer only at the spot of the annual bluegrass. What do you think?

A I think they are wrong. Zoysia grass looks dormant, but at the base of the plant the blades are green. It would be damaged by glyphosate if the glyphosate touched it. The only lawn grass that I think Roundup could be safely used on is Bermuda, and that is only in January when it is totally dormant. If you are only lightly applying the Roundup and really spot-spraying, you might skate by, but that is not something I recommend. Often the best defense is a good offense. Having a really thick, healthy zoysia lawn can keep a lot of weeds at bay.

Q I live in Hot Springs and am wondering if a pomegranate tree will grow here. We live on Lake Catherine and have plenty of sun. Supposedly they will grow in zone 7B, but that's a very large area of the country. I am interested in the species "Granada" for the beautiful flowers and the fruit. Also, which nurseries might carry pomegranates?

A Pomegranates should do well in Hot Springs. They are thriving as far north as Conway and even Russellville. Punica granatum is the Latin name. There are many varieties, with some having larger fruit than others. I think you are looking for Granada as a fruiting variety. "Wonderful" is another.

Many of our nurseries carry pomegranates, but often they are the more ornamental varieties. I saw some large fruiting forms at nurseries in Little Rock and Fayetteville last year, so I know they are out there. Visit your local nursery to ask if they can get one for you. With showy orange flowers and delicious fruits, they are a winner.

Q I am trying to identify a plant I got last summer while attending water exercise classes at the Bella Vista pool. This plant was in large planters and was probably 3 feet tall, at least, and quite full with purple flowers. A branch of it broke off in a storm; I retrieved it, was successful rooting it and saved it for some of the summer at my home. So I have just a "branch" off the original plant. It was a sturdy plant in the original setting, did not require staking and was quite full. I have never seen such a plant before and would love to have it for a tall plant within my large planters this summer.

A The plant in question is commonly called a Mexican petunia. The genus is Ruellia. This tall species can become quite vigorous, and in warmer climates can even be invasive. I would think in Northwest Arkansas it won't be as aggressive, but it should be a perennial. Just watch it. It does thrive in the hot months of our summer. A dwarf form is much better behaved.

Janet B. 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 email her at

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HomeStyle on 03/14/2015

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