‘Black Tartarian’ is a popular large cherry tree that produces luscious dark red, almost black, sweet cherries in summer. This old variety has been around and is tried and tested for a good performance in the garden. It’s a popular choice for commercial growers, so you know it would be a good choice for a home garden. Here, gardening expert Wendy Moulton establishes the best conditions to get the best out of this tree. This variety is one of the first cherries to flower and then fruit, and it is one of the easiest to grow in a home garden. ‘Black Tartarian’ grows big and strong and produces abundant fruit with a lovely sweet taste during cherry season. It’s also a beautiful ornamental tree that features a neat pyramid shape with dark green leaves that turn vibrant red and orange in the fall. This tree requires another to pollinate, so prepare for an abundant cherry season. Here, I’ll share what you need to know to grow a healthy and high-yielding ‘Black Tartarian’ cherry tree. What Is It? Prunus avium ‘Black Tartarian’ is an heirloom cultivar from Russia that came to England in the 1700s. It was originally called ‘Ronald’s Large Black Heart’ after Hugh Ronalds, who was instrumental in bringing the tree to England. In the 1800s, it came to America, where it became a popular commercial choice for its vigorous growth and abundant yields of dark red to black cherries. Native Area This heirloom cherry originates from Circassia, a region named Caucasus after the mountain range of the same name. This region is now part of Russia. Prunus avium, also known as wild cherry, sweet cherry, or bird cherry, originated in Europe, Asia, and North Africa and became naturalized in North America. These are the varieties we know as sweet cherries, as opposed to the sour cherry varieties, Prunus cerasus. Characteristics ‘Black Tartarian’ is an excellent pollinator variety for other cherries, but it also needs pollinating itself to produce fruit. The best trees to plant with this variety include ‘Bing’, ‘Lapins’, ‘Van’ or ’Stella’, ‘Coral’, ‘Napolean’, and ‘Rainer’. This popular variety has dark green leaves that turn red and orange in the fall, fragrant white flowers in the spring, and beautiful dark fruits in clusters in the summer. Planting Get the planting right, and you will be halfway to a bumper harvest of juicy cherries in the summer. Plant in autumn to settle the trees in the ground over winter and spring into bloom, or plant in spring for harvesting the next season. Make sure you have enough space for a ‘Black Tartarian’ and another variety of cherry tree for pollination. This is a large tree that needs at least 30 feet to grow to maturity. Before you begin, make sure there are no other plants or structures that will impede its growth. Also, ensure it’s in the full sun most of the day. The sun needs to get into the tree for it to set fruit. Dig a hole at least twice the width and at the same depth as the root ball. Add the tree and make sure it’s straight before backfilling. Plant the tree so the graft union is two to three inches above the soil. As you add the soil, tamp down to remove any air pockets. This prevents any infections from getting to the roots. Make a basin around the tree to help direct water to the roots and give the tree a good watering. Add a layer of mulch to the whole area, at least three inches away from the trunk.

Ornamental peppers produce brilliantly colored fruit and look fantastic in garden spaces. While they are grown to be ornamental, they can also be eaten. In this comprehensive growing guide, Sarah Jay explains how to care for them. Ornamental peppers provide more than just eye candy. They’re also packed full of spice. While they aren’t the most pleasant or flavorful peppers, they provide a punch in any dish. So consider growing ornamental pepper plants this spring! Once you plant ornamental peppers, you can practically ignore them and they will thrive. Growing ornamental peppers, therefore, is an easy and rewarding experience. While you focus on the higher maintenance plants in your vegetable garden, your ornamental peppers pop with color. Whether it’s hot pepper flakes you’d like to include in a dish, or simply a splash of color with some heat, the colorful fruit of an ornamental pepper plant provides. If eating the fruit of the pepper plants isn’t your style, know they’re great in pest deterrent sprays and landscapes. So, let’s discuss growing ornamental peppers, and cover a few different types you can seek out for your spring planting. What are Ornamental Peppers? The ornamental pepper plant (Capsicum annuum) has many different varieties and, thus, multiple common names. Ornamental pepper plants are tender perennials often grown as annuals. Native Area Most ornamental peppers originate in southern North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Ornamental peppers made their way to Europe in the 15th century and were prized as showy, colorful garden plants. Today, they’re known as Christmas plants due to their bright fruit that makes them an excellent addition to floral arrangements and as a bedding plant in ornate landscapes. They’re also great container plants. Whether you want to eat them or not, they’re sure to be a hit. Characteristics The ornamental pepper is a dense, round shrub with alternate, ovate dark purple to deep green leaves. It’s a bushier plant with green branches that reach anywhere from six inches to three feet tall and spread eight to twenty-four inches wide. The compact plants bloom inconspicuous off-white flowers – sometimes with a purple tint – that require pollination either by hand or from bumblebees. The flowers bloom in the late spring, and with successful pollination, peppers form within four months. They resemble Christmas lights in an upright position. Pepper colors range from bright red, yellow, orange, green, or deep purple. The root ball of ornamental pepper is small and shallow. As the weather cools in early fall, ornamental peppers stop producing, and they die back in frost. Those not exposed to frost will survive throughout the year. Most people grow ornamental peppers for non-culinary reasons, but they work very well in bean dishes, salsas, and hot sauces. Anywhere you need an extra kick, these peppers deliver. Some people are unpleasantly surprised when they take a pepper off the ornamental plants and take a bite. That’s because there’s more punch than flavor involved when you eat ornamental peppers. Varieties ‘Chilly Chili’ peppers ‘Chilly Chili’ peppers grow on a dense plant with green leaves that reach one foot tall and spread six to ten inches wide. The plant produces upright, slender red, orange, and yellow fruit that, at their hottest, have the same amount of spice as a poblano. This chili plant grows well in prepared ground or containers. ‘Prairie Fire’ peppers ‘Prairie Fire’ pepper plants are great for hanging baskets, containers, or the ground due to their low-lying nature. They’ll fit into almost any landscape at a height of eight inches and a spread of one foot. The densely arranged dark green leaves are punctuated by stout red, yellow, orange, purple, and cream-colored peppers. If you want to use them in the kitchen, know they are just as spicy as Thai peppers and ten times the heat of jalapenos. ‘Bolivian Rainbow’ peppers ‘Bolivian Rainbow’ peppers are just as lovely as the name suggests. They’re taller than the previous ornamental peppers we’ve mentioned, which are two feet tall. The slender leaves are accented by Christmas light-shaped peppers that are purple, bright red, orange, and yellow. These have a cayenne-level heat. ‘Black Pearl’ peppers ‘Black Pearl’ peppers grow on a plant with dark green leaves that is 18 inches wide and tall. The fruit is the origin of the common name for this pepper plant, as it turns from a bright red to a deep, almost black purple. Black pearl peppers also pack cayenne-level heat and add a touch of spicy darkness to a garden or a dish. ‘Medusa’ peppers ‘Medusa’ ornamental peppers are very small and make excellent bedding plants or container plantings. They reach a mere six to eight inches tall, and have peppers that are ivory white when they first form, then deepen to a yellow, orange, and finally bright red. These peppers are great for children’s gardens because they don’t pack nearly the same punch as the others we’ve mentioned. ‘Numex Easter’ peppers ‘Numex Easter’ peppers are lovely and produce fruits that cluster together in fours. Pepper colors range from white to pale yellow, light purple, orange, and red. The leaves are dark green and sit atop stems that reach eight inches high and spread ten inches wide. They’re lovely in hanging baskets and container plantings and pack a pretty hefty heat. ‘Sangria’ peppers ‘Sangria’ peppers are lovely vibrant specimens that grow red peppers that turn reddish-purple late in the season. The ‘Sangria’ plant type grows peppers bred for their intensely colored fruit, and their hues pop out among the deep green foliage. The height and spread of these plants are 16 and 18 inches, respectively. ‘Sangria’ plants have hot peppers that are about the same heat as cayenne. And Sangria is great indoors, outdoors, in the ground, or in containers. Planting To grow ornamental peppers, plant seeds in well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. They prefer warmer temperatures and a sunny location. Regular watering is crucial, but avoid overwatering to prevent root rot. Once established, the plants are relatively drought-tolerant. How to Grow Once you’ve chosen your preferred plant, it’s time to focus on growing ornamental peppers. Here are the basic tenets of working with these lovely plants. Maintenance The only reason to prune ornamental peppers is to attain the desired shape and remove diseased or damaged leaves. You can never trim flowering stems, but feel free to trim stems after they grow to six to eight inches to promote a bushier appearance. The increase in leaves will also assist in producing healthier fruit. If you plan to overwinter the plant, cut it a few inches above the ground in late fall. Then cover it with mulch to retain moisture in dormancy.

‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is an old garden rose with abundant blooms, superior fragrance, and loose, full rosettes. As Bourbon roses, these historic hybrids bring high fragrance and vigor in a climbing form. Explore this favorite heirloom, deserving of a spot in today’s garden, with gardening expert Katherine Rowe. ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is an heirloom rose with full, deep pink blooms and a vigorous climbing habit. Part of the Bourbon class, this selection is a favorite for reliable flowering and fast growth. Bourbons feature repeat flowering, strong performance, fragrance, and adaptability, ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ delights with an exceptional classic rose fragrance full of raspberry notes. The antique roses perform beautifully in the contemporary garden. As climbers, they create vertical appeal by training on an upright structure or arching their long canes as graceful shrubs. What are ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ Roses? ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is a continuous bloomer with an exceptional old rose fragrance and a tall, vigorous habit. Deep rose-colored flowers emerge in late spring and bloom until frost. An 1868 heirloom rose, ‘Zephirine,’ is of the Bourbon classification. These old garden hybrids led to the cultivation of modern roses and remain popular today. They are hardy and adaptable, with origins in wild species. Their abundant blooms, vigor, fragrance, and history enchant the garden. Bourbon roses boast large, fragrant flowers, recurrent blooms, hardiness, and disease resistance. The cherished antique roses are parented by hybrid teas, and display adaptability and exceptional flowering. As a carefree climber, ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ suits a variety of garden situations. It quickly fills trellises, house walls, arbors, pillars, arches, and fences. Without upright support, this vigorous Bourbon rose grows as a free-standing specimen shrub with arching canes. Characteristics A time-tested beauty, ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ roses shine in bloom color, size, and fragrance. Cerise-pink blooms perfume the garden with raspberry notes. Flowers occur most prolifically in the cool temperatures of spring and fall. The four-inch, semi-double blossoms hold 20 to 30 petals for a look of lush, loose, old-fashioned rosettes. This variety has dark green foliage with coppery-red new growth. Its long canes are nearly thornless, making them easy to work with and prime for seating areas. It is also very adaptable, thriving in full sun and tolerating partial shade and less-than-ideal soils. While susceptible to black spot and mildew diseases, the plant continues to grow and bloom despite them. As a climbing rose, this heirloom reaches heights of 20 feet but, more commonly, a midrange of 10 to 12 feet. Climbing roses don’t twine or vine naturally; they need support, training, and tying to a sturdy structure. Native Area On an island in the Indian Ocean, wild roses naturally cross-pollinated to create a new type of rose and the origin of modern roses. Bourbon roses represent a group of old garden rose hybrids from a natural cross between wild roses on the Ile de Bourbon (now Reunion) near Mauritius and off Madagascar. A lineage of ‘Autumn Damask’ hybridized with a China rose, which accounts for their heavenly fragrance and continual blooming. The new Bourbon roses arrived in France around 1820, and they went on to produce more hybrids, like ‘Zephirine Drouhin.’ ‘Zephirine’ is of French origin from the breeder Bizot. Planting Climbing roses grow in a variety of garden situations. Place them near a support structure like a pillar, wall, arbor, or trellis. As roots establish, long canes develop, and ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ quickly climbs. Tie the long canes to your support structure to direct growth. Ensure good air circulation and that the roots have enough room to spread. To avoid overcrowding, leave at least one foot between roses and companion plantings and three to four feet between larger plants.