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Growth Rate
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- Moderate. Picobella Bianco typically grows 6–12 inches per year, reaching its mature size in about 2–3 years under optimal conditions.
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Flowering
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Yes |
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Bloom Color
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Disease resistant
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Yes |
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Cold Tolerant
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Yes |
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Heat Tolerant
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Yes |
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Drought Tolerant
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No |
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Deer Resistant
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Yes |
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Edible
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No |
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Wildlife Attraction
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- Pollinators: The trumpet-shaped flowers of Picobella Bianco attract a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The plant provides these creatures with an important nectar source, particularly during its abundant blooming period.
Birds: The small seeds produced after flowering may attract birds looking for food, particularly in the fall. The plant's dense foliage also provides shelter and nesting opportunities for small birds.
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Self-pollinating
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Seasonality
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- Spring to Summer: Picobella Bianco begins blooming in late spring, typically around May or June, with a profusion of white trumpet-shaped flowers. The blooming period lasts throughout the summer, adding vibrant color to your garden and attracting pollinators. The dark green foliage remains lush and healthy throughout the growing season, providing a nice contrast to the white blooms.
- Fall: In the fall, the leaves turn a yellowish color before falling. Although it goes dormant during winter, the compact shape and structure of Picobella Bianco still offer visual appeal in the colder months.
Winter: Picobella Bianco enters dormancy in winter, shedding its leaves but maintaining a neat, rounded form. The plant remains attractive even without foliage, offering structure in the landscape.
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Leaf Description
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- Leaves: The leaves of Picobella Bianco are dark green and ovate, with a smooth texture. The foliage is dense and uniform, providing a solid backdrop for the flowers throughout the growing season. The leaves stay healthy and vibrant in the warmer months, offering an elegant, rounded appearance.
- Fall Color: As the season transitions to fall, the leaves change to a soft yellow before dropping. This seasonal color change adds extra beauty before the plant enters dormancy.
Texture: The leaves are smooth and slightly leathery, which gives the plant a refined and polished look.
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Flower Description
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- Flower Description: The flowers of Picobella Bianco are funnel-shaped and bloom in abundant clusters. They are a pure, bright white that stands out beautifully against the shrub’s dark green leaves. The mild, pleasant fragrance adds a sensory element to your garden, drawing pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Flower Longevity: The flowers last for several weeks, with new blooms continuously emerging throughout the blooming season. After flowering, deadheading the spent blooms can encourage more flowers and help maintain the plant’s appearance.
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Planting Instructions
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- Best Time to Plant: The best time to plant Picobella Bianco is in early spring, after the last frost, or fall, before the first frost. These seasons allow the plant to establish strong roots before the growing season or the colder months set in.
- Planting Instructions: Choose a location with well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Picobella Bianco thrives in moist, well-drained soil and performs best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal blooming. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Place the plant in the hole, ensuring that the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Backfill with soil, firm it gently, and water thoroughly to settle the roots.
Spacing: Space plants about 2–3 feet apart to allow for their mature size and to ensure good air circulation, which helps prevent disease.
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Pruning & Maintenance
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- Pruning Time: Prune Picobella Bianco in early spring, just before new growth begins. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased stems, and trim the plant to maintain its compact shape.
- Pruning Tips: After the main bloom period, deadheading spent flowers can encourage further blooming and maintain the plant’s tidy appearance. Light pruning throughout the growing season will help maintain its dense, rounded form.
Maintenance Pruning: Regular deadheading and light shaping will help Picobella Bianco maintain its compact, tidy shape and encourage fresh growth.
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Water Needs
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- Watering: Picobella Bianco requires moderate watering, especially during dry spells. Water the plant deeply once a week, ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. It prefers well-drained soil but cannot tolerate standing water.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, Picobella Bianco is moderately drought-tolerant but performs best with consistent moisture, particularly during its flowering period.
Watering Tip: Water at the base of the plant and avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal diseases such as powdery mildew.
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Light Needs
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- Light: Picobella Bianco thrives in full sun to partial shade. For optimal flowering, it should receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. In regions with very hot summers, some afternoon shade will help protect the plant from heat stress and preserve its vibrant blooms.
Shade Tolerance: While it can tolerate some shade, the plant will bloom less prolifically and may have a more open form in shadier conditions.
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Harvesting
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- Harvesting: Picobella Bianco is perfect for use in floral arrangements due to its lovely, fragrant flowers. Cut stems with fully opened blooms to enjoy them in vases. These flowers will last for several days in water, filling your home with their fresh fragrance.
- Seed Pods: After flowering, small seed pods may form. These pods are typically left for birds to enjoy, but they can also be harvested for future propagation if desired.
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Fertilizing
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- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring, just before new growth begins, to support healthy flowers and foliage throughout the growing season.
- Fertilizer Tip: Avoid fertilizers with high nitrogen content, as they can promote excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowers. A balanced fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium will support both foliage and flower production.
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Pollination
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- Picobella Bianco produces both male and female flowers and is self-pollinating, meaning it does not require another plant for pollination. However, planting it near other pollinator-friendly plants will enhance overall pollination and could result in more prolific blooms.
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Companion Plants
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- Perennials: Pair with perennials like Coreopsis, Echinacea, or Daylilies for added texture and contrast in your garden.
- Shrubs: Combine with other small shrubs like Spiraea, Viburnum, or Hydrangea for a dynamic and multi-textured landscape.
Groundcovers: Use low-growing groundcovers like Ajuga or Liriope beneath Picobella Bianco to provide additional texture and contrast.
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