Unique Blooms

05/16/2025

While I am absolutely always thrilled to see people promote things like edible lawns....I want to be a advocate for caution and consulting experts before watching a vid like this one here and deciding to jump in and grow this "spinach alternative" as ground cover.

I am suspicious when I hear that a plant grows really fast but that we don't have to worry about it becoming invasive. Bradly pear anyone? Or thousand other examples of humans thinking that we're doing something great when we're really doing is unintentionally crashing a local ecosystem with one freaking plant. That's not an exaggeration either.

I did some digging on this plant... Not great. While they are still not calling it invasive in Wisconsin they are in California and other areas out west. Several countries have dedicated intensive resources to getting rid of it because it's taken over waterways and pushed out local fauna. With the climate shifting so much, rapidly and who knows what's to come here in Wisconsin in the next 10 years or 20...... I just would not be comfortable promoting this plant as an option. In fact, id advise against it.

What adds to my concern is comments under this very video that the plant is growing just fine during winterband quite feisty. Anyone read about the homes being destroyed by bamboo? I see rivers choked out and storm drains by this "spinach imposter "

There is no one plant that's all. There are however almost always native species that meet the need you're looking for, probably do the job better, and won't risk tipping the delicate balance of the ecosystem around you. Yes, Even edible ones :).

A one size fits all in terms of plant territory has gotten humans in nothing but plant trouble .... So before running out to buy the latest plant trend or worse having it shipped to you from some unknown grower... Please be responsible for gardeners.

How?

1. ALWAYS CONSULT A LOCAL EXPERT before introducing a fast spreading plant to your area. (Your UW extension has great resources as well as the DNR and of course Unique Blooms is always happy to guide you as well.

2. Choose local plants when possible.

3. Be sure the plant comes from a responsible , educated, & sustainable grower. You would not believe how many invasive species and easily spread diseases I find when I go to large consumer targeted garden stores.

4. Understand the plant and what companion plants might be necessary to keep it in check in its environment.

Following these tips will help you be a responsible grower can enjoy your garden for years to come without screaming "why did I plant this" and filling your garden adventures with regrets. It will also be much appreciated by your flying, furry, & blooming friends :)

TY!

These top two edible ground covers help protect the soil, smother "w**ds", provide wildlife habitat and food!

05/03/2025

Some of these varietals won't last long! Drop your email in the comments to get an order form. Bloom with the best perennials this year!

05/03/2025

For years our landscape customers have fallen in love with their plants. For the first time EVER this year... we're making our plants available direct to the public!

Forget the annuals this year is all about saving money and we know it. That's why we're promoting our perennial sale for container planting! Drop your email in the comments and will send you an order form to take a look at what we've got. You'll be amazed how great the prices are on these award winning perennials!

07/24/2024

🌼Plants 💚 plants💚 plants🌞

Trays of 72 sedum, mixed varieties, 6-packs, & 9-packs with single varieties. All of these are drought tolerant, will tolerate road salt and even light foot traffic. Full sun or partly shade..

How do you use them to improve your landscape?

If you have been following what Unique Blooms has been doing with live mulch.... You know it is our favorite kinda w**d protection. You may have seen it taking off around the city in the hell strips, or even your neighbor's front yard as they realize how much easier than grass this stuff is. The stonecrop especially improves your soil aeration and moisture retention. Great for other plants that are nearby.

If you are using as ground cover or a grass replacement, you will find it's a lot less work than grass and no worries about stray pets peeing on them or the city dumping a huge pile of road salt on your walkway. They take it like true champions. Even black thumbs can handle these guys.

Takes approx 3 years to fully grow in if planting these 1-2" plants 3" apart. Expect to w**d once a week for about 10 or 20 min per 8'x4' section for the 1st couple years- if that ! After 3 years, they mesh together keeping new w**d seeds from reaching the dirt and thereby, doing a great job as effortless w**d control. One of the lowest maintenance landscapes tricks you could dream of. And pretty too!

Long-term after a couple of years, if it starts getting a little too big for the space, or if the plants get looking a little leggy... It is real quick and easy to set back right. Run it on over with your lawn mower or hit it with your trimmer. it will look like you had just planted it with new sprouts in days. Save the cuttings pop them in dirt water for about a week and voila! You can expand that ground cover now with all the new babies you just made. So simple!!! Plus... Who else is sick of having a mulch every other year? Or having ants take off with your wood chips and move them underground? None of that here. These are pest resistant and mold and mildew resistant.

The particular varieties I have available right now are....

Sedum A) Leningrad. An absolutely lovely ground cover and one of the more shade capable of the sedums. This one blooms pretty lil white flowers in spring. Come fall plant turns a yellow-green, but will hold that green all thru winter so long as it's not covered by snow, adds a nice pop of green in February:)

Sedum B) John Creesh... Comes in green, has sweet little pinkish flowers pop up late spring, and turns a deep beautiful red by fall. A true classic.

Sedum C) Blue Spruce. It really does look like little bitty Christmas trees except that this one in summer sprouts a beautiful yellow flower about 4 in tall. The gorgeous light blue with that bright yellow and just a tinge of pink adds a little mystery to a mix.

Sedum D) Kamtschaticum Stonecrop. This is by far the toughest sedum I have ever worked with. I have found if Weeds start trying to take it over it fights right back and the ones that have grown in where w**ds snuck up next to it have all grown twice as fast and wide. The beautiful yellow flowers in spring have a dark red dot in the center of them. The colors this plant turns in the fall too is astounding. Yellows and golds and oranges will carpet your garden floor. I have become a huge fan of this plant for how much abuse it takes. You can really forget about this one and she just does fantastic regardless of what you put her through!

Get in touch with me if you are interested in getting started! I have a limited number of plants available now so don't wait! Trays of 72 start at only $40! 6 packs $8. And 9 packs $10!

In the meantime here's some pictures of some finished installations using these guys :). One last thing I should add.. I have yet to see any of these guys interfere with any of the good plants that I wanted to keep. They are not bullies! They do play well with others ;).

12/22/2023

Come see us this Saturday December 23rd when we'll be vending for the 1st time at the Kenosha Spiritual Market. Pick up our ceremonial moon brews, find the perfect new print for your room, or some fresh holiday decor! Last minute gifts for the eco-conscious
loved one on your list!

We will be joining local vendors, card readers, practioners, have a kids corner and even a visit from Mrs. Clause from 12pm to 2pm!! FREE ADMISSION!! We are also doing a raffle!! Bring in a non perishable food item and get a raffle ticket. Bring as many as you'd like as the raffle basket will full of great goodies from our local vendors!!

07/19/2023

Great list.

Keep your wisterias and ivy in a pot. Avoid the flowers which seeds spread by wind and wildlife altogether.

These pretty plants can actually wreak havoc on your outdoor space.

07/11/2023

There are so many plants to love... And reasons to love them. Like...

"the only known plant in the world that can become a carnivore under certain circumstances";

Wow. Just wow. I love how the plant world continues to expand my understanding of whats possible. Mother nature is amazing.

Triphyophyllum peltatum is a unique plant native to the tropical regions of West Africa. This particular liana species garners significant attention from the medical and pharmaceutical sectors owing to its special constituents. Laboratory tests have revealed that its constituents exhibit promising m

07/07/2023

First install in Florida! Loved Sweet Bay Nursery , the selection, the plants, and the view! And I don't know about you... But when a rainbow ..oh wait!!! A DOUBLE rainbow forms directly over the site of a new garden plot...I consider a sign of good luck and a blessing from the earth, smiling on all the native plants we're putting in for our wild friends today.

06/20/2023

Reasons you should tear up your grass.

#1. You were never great at growing in anyways. (It's okay to admit, we don't judge)

#2. You hate mowing the lawn. (We do too)

#3. You love butterflies. You like having apples without having to hand pollinate the tree with Qtips.

#4. You love color

#5. You want to do something good for the planet.

#6. You support biodiversity and not monoculture.

#7. Cuz installations with UniqueBlooms are fun and will make you a lotta friends in the neighborhood.

Enjoy a lil peak behind the scenes from our latest and greatest :)

Now...go grow something beautiful!

06/04/2023

Is anything better than plant day? I'll tell you nothing gets me quite as excited as when I get to do the run to our grower. Only one problem . I WANT THEM ALL!!

Here's a little day dream material for you to kick off the weekend with. Maybe even get inspired to get your hands in the mud. (Don't worry hippie manicures are very "in")

Maybe you're just trying to come up with new plants to use in the shade? You'll see a bunch in here! I could not get enough of the Ligularia, Brunerra, or the Palmonario - they made the air seem cooler. Calmer.

05/18/2023

For me, one of the most exciting parts of a new install is 2 weeks after planting when I can see the plant taking to its new home. This one has been particularly satisfying as not only was this the worst soil I have ever worked with, the w**ds were insane! While today I will lay in cardboard to keep the w**ds from taking over again, I wanted my ground cover to "get tough". So I waited on laying barrier so some w**ds would start sprouting again and get my ground cover to fight for its spot.

A new install is usually watered everyday, see the post on this page for how we water to train roots, but in this case my plants were too "perky". Which told me they were still keeping too much energy above ground and not enough below. So, employing strategy #2 in the "get tough" training, I deprived them of water for 2 days during this time. This forced the roots to search harder, deeper. I knew from digging here that the ground was like concrete underneath. They were really going to have to put the effort in to break through to deeper ground. This will protect them in the future from dry spells without needed humans to water them more. A much more sustainable way to grow.

Though sometimes nerve racking to watch them wilt a bit. I was rewarded for the anxiety. After 2 days I watered again. And the very next day - new growth was everywhere!!

See the buds on the echinacea babies as well as the yarrow. We'll have blooms anyday now. Most exciting to me was the progress the ground cover made. It's pushing those roots deep and sending out Shooters to compete with w**ds that were allowed to sprout. And it's winning! Check out all the new growth! It's sent new sprouts all over the place and each plant shows numerous new buds. Success!!

05/14/2023

So cool! Check out this article about why plants may have water droplets along the edge of their leaves in the morning. Learned something new today. Check it out below.

https://dengarden.com/news/garden-dew-drop-mesage

Perfect timing then for my reminder to everyone this year. Resist the urge to overwater. What's one of the most common ways people kill their plants?... Improper watering!

What I see the most is people giving the plants water daily. Not enough to soak them, but just a "drink". Keeping the plants roots always wet is usually not a good idea. Of course there are plants that live in water and must be kept always wet, that's an exception and not what is typically found in the average garden or potted plant. Keeping the soil too moist can cause rot, mildew, and fungus to become a problem.

What to do instead? When you water, SOAK the plant. My rule of thumb is to slowly pour water at the base of the plant. I will pause when I see water begin to puddle. Then I start counting. If the water is absorbed into the soil before I get to 3, I return to watering and repeat until it takes a full 3 seconds to absorb.

For new outdoor plantings that you have planted in the ground, we recommend watering like this each day it does not rain for approximately 2 weeks. By that time, the roots should be established enough to handle periods of drought without extra waterings. If however, you feel the need to water more often, first check to see that the soil is really dry by sinking your finger at least knuckle deep into the soil. If it's still a little wet, resist temptation! The plant has plenty to drink.

It's a good practice as well to always water at the base of the plant so roots go downward for water not to the surface. Getting the soil wet in a larger area tells a plant to send up a lot of surface roots and keeps it from sending larger roots deep into the soil. This can be a problem when it has to endure drought periods and also on windy days. Long deep roots help the plant reach water far below the surface. They also support the plant, helping it withstand wind and the weight of flowers without falling over. Shallow roots instead dry out with the top soil in the summer sun and offer little assistance to the plant we want to see standing upright.

Hope those tips help you keep your plants beautiful all season. And definitely check out the article linked to below. Happy growing!

Do you have your listening ears on? Because the garden is talking.