The April Perennial and Houseplant of the Month
We’re paying a little more well deserved attention to a select perennial and select houseplant each month. You’ll find them in the garden center, and when you download the free Bedner’s app, you’ll save $2 on your perennial and houseplant purchases during their month in the spotlight.
Columbine ‘Aquilegia Early Bird’
To start things off, we’re focusing on the Seussical perennial Columbine Aquilegia Early Bird. This fanciful columbine is compact and grows in a tidy little cluster, with lacy, parsley-like foliage. The beautiful thing about this plant is that the colorful double-layered blooms in shades of purple, pink and cream begin on short stems, then gently rise above the rounded, shrubby mound.
The best parts? Columbine is easy to grow in loose, moist but well-drained soil and part shade (morning sun is best), and it self-seeds, so there’s no need to divide. Simply cut yours to the ground in fall when the foliage declines.
One more thing: butterflies and hummingbirds love Columbine, but deer and rabbits will generally leave them alone.
Curly Spider Plant ‘Chlorophytum comosum Bonnie’
If you haven’t heard of the Curly Spider plant Chlorophytum comosum, you’ve most likely seen one of these curly tendrilled houseplants. In Africa, they grow as self-propagating perennials. We get to enjoy ours indoors.
Most Spider plants feature green and white-striped variegation, as does the Curly Spider. But we really love the texture and interest the swirly curls bring to the table.
Like most houseplants, yours will do best in bright, indirect light, away from cold drafts or scorching hot sun. Keep your soil moist and well drained, reducing water in the winter. That’s when something magical happens. Short winter days with less light actually help the Spider plant produce baby air plants that can be trimmed off, potted up and shared.
Remember, when you download the free Bedner’s Farm & Greenhouse app, you’ll save on a new Perennial and Houseplant every month.
The people of Bedner’s Farm & Greenhouse are here to inspire future plant people. We care about the vast benefits to our environment, health and quality of life, and would love to share it all with you. Ask if you have any questions on how to plant and care for your perennials and houseplants. We’d be thrilled to help.
