Lower South
April, 2006
Regional Report
Web Finds
Earthwise Guide to Lawn Care
This Earthwise Guide to Lawn Care from Texas Cooperative Extension and the City of Austin Watershed protection department is an excellent guide on proper mowing, watering, and fertilizing techniques to help you build a beautiful southern lawn while protecting our precious water recources. It includes full color photos and charts. Check it out!
Favorite or New Plant
Batface Cuphea
Batface cuphea (Cuphea llavea) is a drought-tolerant annual or tender perennial that loves a sunny exposure. It has a prostrate growth habit, reaching a little over a foot high and 2 to 3 feet in width, depending on growing conditions. Batface cuphea is well-suited for a landscape bed, hanging basket, or container. The standard type blooms from spring to frost, bearing a profusion of small, tubular, red blossoms with a purple center that resembles a bat's face. The exciting new Flamenco series is more compact with larger blooms. 'Tango' bears large, bright pink flowers with a purple/mauve throat -- very eye-catching. The large, vivid coral-red blooms of 'Rumba' are equally stunning.
