This creeping perennial is evergreen in mild climates and spreads quickly
to form a low mat that is hard for weeds to penetrate. The attractive foliage
ranges from a deep green laced with bronze to a pink and cream depending
on the cultivar you choose. Deep blue flowers are held on spikes above
leaf rosettes.
Beautiful downy, gray green scalloped and pleated leaves collect dew
that appears as silvery drops. This was once collected by alchemists for
their pursuits, hence the name Alchemilla. Cloud like chartreuse flower
sprays bloom for a long time and complements almost all flower colors.
Try cutting for fresh and dried bouquets. Great in dried arrangements.
This showy white blooming onion is also edible. Use like chives for
cooking, it also puts on a wonderful Fall blooming display in the garden.
Grows 1 to 2' tall, and the blooms reach sometimes 6" across in a cluster
of flat headed yet rounded masses.
Japanese Anemones like moisture-retentive soils and are low-maintenance plants which are suitable for borders or rock gardens. Clumps flower best if left undivided. The branching stems are covered with seedheads in winter that look like cottonballs. These plants will need protection from the wind. This plant gives good garden value, attractive foliage and long-lasting flowers!
There aren't very many gardens that can't find a spot for a columbine and this cultivated variety is one of the best. Flowers come in a variety of colors and are large and showy. They nod gracefully in the slightest breeze and will make an enchanting display. You should plan to replace some plants each season as the hybrid varieties are not long-lived. Cut flower stems when they have finished flowering. 'McKana's Giants' is pictured and is a recommended cultivar.
I will also have several more varieties of columbine later this year, blue, beider meir, short spur pink, Irish elegance.
An evergreen, clump forming plant that blooms in late Spring and early Summer with pink flowers. Flowers are born on long stems floating above dense clumps of glasslike foliage . This is a drought tolerant plant.
This is the type of Artimesia called perennial dusty millar. A prostrate growing plant with silver white, slightly hairy leaves that only reaches 6" tall. Spreads to about 12" per year. Works well in hanging baskets. One of my favorite plant combinations is silver brocade with allium ostweriunum and lavatera silvercup.
This majestic perennial grows up to 7 feet tall. Ornamental sprays of tiny white flowers bloom briefly but spectacularly for two weeks in early summer. Its native environment is the semishade of woodland clearings and it is most attractive in this setting. In the wildflower garden it makes an imposing background plant, especially when displayed in an isolated grouping. Each flower spray contains thousands of tiny blossoms which rise in loose plooms 6 to 10 inches above rthe foliage. In a mixed border, place Goat's beard in the back both because of its height and because its bloom season is short and the attractive foliage will make a nice backdrop for shorter, longer blooming plants. The plants are either male or female; one plant does not contain both sexes.
Aruncus will grow in almost any soil, and in sun or partial shade. The soil should be moist.. The plants need little care as long as the soil remains moist; they will survive indefinitely if left undisturbed.
Tolerant of dry soils. Blooms in late summer. Does well in shade. Lovely pink flower spikes. Neat dwarf habit. These are some pretty convincing reasons to add this cutie to your garden plans. 'Finale' is a late-blooming cultivar while the popular 'Pumila', pictured, blooms earlier.
This is a tall astilbe which is more drought tolerant than most other species. Will perform very well in average garden soil that is moist and partially shaded. The soft pink flowers are densely clustered on long flower spikes. This astilbe will benefit from a monthly fertilizing during the growing season. 'Superba' is the cultivar pictured.
This perennial has large, lobed leaves and forms a neat clump. The flowers are held high above the leaves on branching stems. Masterwort prefers to have a soil that does not go completely dry. Some recommended cultivars are 'Rosensinfonie' and 'Sunningdale Variegated' (which will need shelter from strong sunlight).
Basket-of-Gold is a profuse-blooming perennial which bears bright yellow flowers in early spring. The silvery gray-green foliage makes a good contrast through the growing season. Drought-tolerance makes this perennial an ideal choice for a sunny rock garden. For best growth and flower production, plant in a sunny, warm place with good drainage. Seeds may be planted by mixing with sand or garden soil before broadcasting them over the exposed garden bed in early spring or fall. Thin your seedlings from 6 to 12 inches apart. You will want to mulch in winter where temperatures drop below freezing. Avoid over-watering or over-fertilizing to keep plants compact and in vigorous flower. Rejuvenate plants every 3 to 4 years by dividing. When in bloom has quite a sweet fragrance.
Bishop's weed is an ideal, rapidly spreading grouncover for difficult areas. It provides a thick mass of coarse green and white leaves with saw-tooth edges. It grows to 8-10 inches and dies down in winter. Clusters of small white flowers come into bloom in midsummer.
Bishop's weed is suitable for areas where barriers can contain its vigorous growth, such as a strip between a house and a paved path. It will grow in almost any soil in sun or shade in Zones 3-10 and will thrive under most trees. It isn't discouraged by heavy clay soil.
Plant in spring, setting plants 6 to 12 inches apart. New plants are propagated by dividing old ones in early spring while dormant, or in early fall when the season's growth has matured. Aegopodium is an aggressive grower best used by itself to underplant larger woody trees and shrubs. Sometimes, toward the end of hot, dry summers, the foliage will look tired and bedraggled. Just run the lawn mower over it and water it deeply a few times to encourage fresh new growth.
The brilliant blue blooms of campanula are a must for every perennial border. This variety is especially nice because it's a prolific bloomer. The flowers are quite beautiful: they're 1-inch wide and upward-facing, making them a showy edging plant. Once in bloom, remove faded bellflowers to promote additional flowering. You should divide this perennial every other year.
Climbing vine that grows well on a trellis or fence. Blossoms are very
fragrant and flowers come in a wide range of colors. Prune lightly in spring
by cutting out weak growth, but save as much old growth as possible. For
a spectacular summer display, cut the entire plant back to 2-4 feet in
the spring. You will sacrifice your spring blooms by using this method.
Small-flowered. Probably one of the the heaviest-flowering varieties . Even a young plant will produce thousands of flowers in autumn, at a time of year when new flowers are most welcome. The flowers are moderately fragrant. The plant grows vigorously and will cover a small tree or fence in a very short time. Prune to about 36 inches in spring. Sometimes known as C. maximowicziana or C. terniflora. From Asia.
Delphiniums are what many people think of when they picture a perennial border. I like this back of the border plant for the height it gives without taking up a lot of garden space. This species requires staking as rain and wind can easily topple the large clusters of blooms. Still quite worth the effort as it is a show stopper in all gardens where displayed.
This is a genus of summer flowering biennials and perennials. The common name Foxglove comes from "Folks Glove," the glove of the Good Folks or Fairy People who lived in the woodlands where the flowers grow. As the above implies, these plants do best in rich soil. For those of you who have problems with deer, this is a garden must have.
A profusion of large, daisy like flowers covers this plant from late summer to mid autumn. The reflexive petals surround a large, attractive cone. This perennial requires moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil, and will tolerate wind and drought. The foliage is comprised of lance-shaped, dark green leaves. The purple form is most common, however the white flower shown here is rising in popularity. Coneflower is traditionally grown as an herbal medicine. It is used to treat mastitis, abscesses, colds, cystitis, diverticulitis, earache, eye infection, flu, hayfever, sore throat, and wounds. It is an indispensable plant in any herbalist's garden. As an added bonus, it also attracts butterflies.
This is the the echinops that bears the beautiful violet/blue
flower globes. A compact clump forming yet spiny leafed plant that
enhances the rock garden or cottage garden it is planted in.
Flower heads are 1 to 1 1/2" in diameter or larger and truly a beautiful
shade of violet/blue. Looks weedy until it flowers, I have
mine planted behind large hosta.
Imposing perennial with strap shaped, rough margined, bluish green leaves,
to 4 ft. long. In early Summer, bears pale pink flowers, on
long stalks to 6 ft. tall. Resembling , as the name implies foxtails.
Though they require excellent drainage and Spring frost protection (the
bud must not be touched by frost) to insure bloom, they are well worth
the effort.
Also referred to as Tanacetum Parthenium. A short lived bushy, aromatic,
woody based perennial, often grown as an annual. Clusters
of daisy like flower heads are produced in summer and continue blooming
right until hard frost in fall. Flowers can be used for a tea to
help headaches. Beautiful in borders or mass plantings Foliage is attractive
about 8 months of the year.
These colorful relatives of the hollyhock bear enormous red, white or pink flowers 6 to 12 inches in diameter from midsummer until frost. Garden varieties may grow up to 8 feet tall is soil that stays very moist all summer. Southern Belle is a recommended strain. Place them in the back of the border or in groups by themselves
HOW TO GROW
Rose mallows grow in Zones 4-9. They do best in full sun but will tolerate
light shade. Soil should be moist and well-composted. Space plants about
3 feet apart. When setting out plants place the crowns, or tops of the
root structures, 3 to 4 inches beneath the soil. To start new plants from
seeds, sow early in spring; the new plants will produce only a few flowers
the first year, but will come into full bloom in subsequent years. Because
the rose mallow clumps do not spread underground, the plants can be allowed
to remain undisturbed indefinitely.
These enormous clusters of summer-blooming white, pink or blue flowers. The most attractive blossoms are unable to produce seeds. These sterile blossoms are flat, four-petaled and 1 inch or so across. Some plants bear clusters containing only sterile flowers, but most have clusters that include fertile ones, tiny starlike blossoms usually at the centers of the clusters.
Big-leafed hydrangea are available in blue, white or pink. Flower clusters are 4 to 8 inches across. Plants may blossom when only 1 foot tall; most garden plants become 3 to 6 feet tall. They have 6- to 8-inch shiny coarsely toothed leaves. All varieties are useful in borders and near a house. The flowers may range from pink to blue depending on the soil's acidity.
HOW TO GROW.
Hydrangeas grow in full sun or light shade and do best in a moist but
well-drained soil supplemented with peat moss, leaf mold or compost. Big-leafed
hydrangeas require acid soil: pH 6.0 to 6.5 for pink flowers, pH 5.0 to
5.5 for blue ones. They do well in seaside gardens and big-leafed hydrangeas
positively flourish near the shore. For hedges, plant hills-of-snow hydrangeas
2 to 3 feet apart.
Propagate from softwood cuttings of young growth in late spring or early summer, from semihardwood cuttings of more mature growth in mid- or late summer, or from hardwood cuttings of dormant leafless growth in fall or winter. Hills-of-snow and oak-leafed hydrangeas can also be propagated by digging up and replanting the underground branches known as suckers and by forcing a branch to grow roots by ground layering.
Clump forming, sometimes rhizomatous perennial. Fully hardy.Coarse rough light green foliage, woolly buds open into large, shaggy yellow daisy-like flowers in mid summer. I'm going to give this one more year in my garden, I find it very weedy looking and not worth the few flowers it gets.
A rugged and easy to grow member of the Iris genus. The large range of colors, height and bloom times is ever expanding with the development of new hybrids. The roots of the Siberian Iris are deep, which makes them drought resistant. They prefer a moist, well-drained soil that is moderately rich and will thrive in full sun or part shade. After blooming, the leaves remain tall and green; an attractive accent plant in the garden. Excellent cut flower.
This is a parent plant to many modern hybrids, but this species will
never go out of style. Its distinctive red and yellow blooms continue to
delight and satisfy gardeners across the United States. This genus containing
60-70 species is named after J.J. Kniphof, a German professor who lived
in the eighteenth century. Kniphofia uvaria was introduced into cultivation
in 1705. Divide clumps after they are large and well-established. These
fine perennials need shelter from winds and require soil that is very well-drained.
Winter wet will cause the roots to rot. Mildy drought tolerant.
Will grow in dry shade if the soil is good. It is related to the familiar pest, Nettle, but in lamium the stinging plant hairs are absent. Excellent groundcover plant with heavy variegation. Leaves are silvery grey with a green margin.
Beautiful pink flowers totally obscure the plant of the fragile looking,
but tough as nails variety. Seems to thrive on neglect, and is verydrought
tolerant. Makes a lovely statement when planted with purples and blues.
It gets it's name from the silver cup, that is left behind after the seeds
have dropped. I grew this last year and I didn't see any silver cup!
A beauty to place in among Belamcanda lilies, as the bloom time usually is the same. The feathery rose purple blooms of the Liatrus accent the orange red blooms of the Belamcanda for a striking combination in late summer. A very showy clump forming plant. Roots are used for a soothing tea to ease kidney problems and sore throat.
Triangular leaves are lobed and toothed, making for some pretty interesting
foliage on this summer-blooming perennial. Small, yellow flower heads are
held in loose sprays along dark stems through the summer. Ligularia grows
best in rich, fertile soil that is deeply cultivated and never dries out.
Shade loving plant for borders or ground cover. Lovely small, fragrant bell-shaped white flowers amid lush green foliage only 6-8" tall. I don't have great success with this plant. It is easy care enough that I'm not getting rid of it, but it doesn't flower for me like it should.
Erect spikes of red flowers glimmer above mounds of foliage when you grow this native of stream and pond banks. Spreading mounds of Lobelia are also good for container plantings. Does best in full sun or partial shade in a humus-rich, sandy, moist but well-drained soil. Lightly mulch in the winter. To encourage bushy growth, pinch off tops when seedlings are 1"
Native to Eastern areas, this plant was named by Linnaeus who
had heard of its use by native Americans to cure venereal disease.
This proved false; nevertheless, the name stuck. It was used medicinally
for colds and stomach troubles by native people and colonists
alike. The flowers are lavender blue marked with white, and cover
the stout stems with bloom for over a month in late summer and early fall.
Grows well in sun or shade , and almost any soil. This plant seems to be
quite drought tolerant and resists insect pests.
Brilliantly colored flowers that are five-petaled, slightly lobed and frilled emerge above dark green foliage of this hardy perennial. The foliage forms a large clump and this perennial will self-sow. If propagating by seed yourself, remember that seeds need light for germination. Seed propagation is easier than division. Full sun is recommended in cooler climates and part shade in the warmer growing zones. Cut back after flowering and you may get another flush of flowers in fall
This medium-sized perennial is short-lived but will self-sow. Clusters of cross-shaped flowers appear on strong, leaved stems. The leaves are opposite and toothed. Deadhead is recommended for prolonged blooming period. Propagation by seed sown in early spring is easier than division and these seeds need light for germination. Thrives in well-drained soil with full sun, but some light shade is suggested in warm climates. Needs plenty of water in dry periods and you may shear to the ground at autumn's end.
This is a beautiful accent for the border or as a spot planting in your garden. Foliage is silver to white and somewhat downy. This perennial is not long-lived but will self-sow. Rose Campion prefers full sun and requires good drainage.
Beautiful bright yellow flowers are formed around leaf axils in circles,
and continue up the stem at each axil. This type will tolerate dryer conditions
than the others. Does better in at least part shade. Beautiful in mass
plantings. Makes a long-lasting cutflower. I added the variety 'Firecracker'
to my garden summer of '98, and so far it is not lived up to the rave reviews
that convinced me to buy it in the first place. It does have purple
leaves which can provide a nice color contrast, but the flowers were disappointing.
I'll see how it does this year.
Creamy white plumes adorn a spectacular gray, green foliage. A gorgeous plant from China. It has 8 inch wide leaves, the undersides of which are covered with a white felt. The flowering plumes are held on long chalk-white stems. The plumes are about 12 inches long. Will form a large clump but is not invasive.
A cottage garden plant and a reliable performer from mid-summer to early autumn. Will self-sow freely. A hardy perennial which is free-flowering and will do well in ordinary garden soil with full sun.
This is a tall and bushy perennial with terrific purple blooms that are darkly veined, semi-double or ruffled. They are quite dramatic against the dark green foliage. They prefer light shade to full sun and like deeply cultivated, fairly rich soil. Staking will probably be necessary to get the full enjoyment of growing this perennial.
This is a heavily-branched plant which produces flowers that open late in the afternoon and stay open until the next morning. Bloom colors are usually a magenta pink, yellow, white or rose color and are sweetly fragrant. Blooms from summer into autumn. They will form a tuber like a dahlia.
Grows from one to three feet and blooms in its first year from seed. Flowers are quite fragrant and have a shimmering and lovely form. This is a short-lived perennial grown as an annual. Seeds should be sown at a temperature of 55 degrees and transplanting seedlings should be done very carefully. Division may be done in mid-spring. All parts of this plant are poisonous.
This is a large family of flowering plants which have been extremely popular in Europe for a long time. The cultivar pictured, 'Husker's Red', was developed at the University of Nebraska and is praised by gardeners for its deep bronze-purple foliage and spikes of white blooms. This plant grows to be about 3 feet tall and is the perfect foil for many other perennials in the border. This is a hardy plant that enjoys a good mulching in colder climates.
Rich, fragrant blooms are the hallmark of these summer-flowering perennials. They are not only excellent for the cutting bed, but will also fill your house with their sweet perfume.
Grown primarily for its bright orange, lantern-like calyx which is a sought after addition for dried arrangements. (Try drying them before they turn orange for a color variation, they also look good sprayed gold) Insignificant white flowers in summer are followed by the round, bright red-orange seed pods. I have mine growing underneath my raspberries where I don't see them all summer and in the fall when all the leaves fall off the raspberries there they are in all their glory!
Blooms from summer to autumn, with pink, purple or white snapdragon-like flowers on tall spikes set off by dark green willow-like foliage. Spreads easily in good soil but may become invasive. Thrives in acid soil that is moist but well-drained. Feed regularly and add humus or top-dress with compost if needed when planting. Divide every 2 to 3 years or when necessary in the spring. Fully hardy. 'Variegata' provides an added bonus of striking green and white foliage.
Mark where you plant this puppy, as it emerges really late. Balloon-like blooms open into wide star-shaped flowers. You can never have too many of these in your garden. They do not transplant well.
Alternate leaflets resemble a ladder, topped with clusters of blue flowers with yellow stamens . One of the first perennials to emerge after winter.
Primulas are synonomous with spring and do extremely well here on the Pacific Coast. This buttercup yellow variety comes through the winter full of vigour and leaves in good shape. The flowers are fragrant, will last at least two months, and may give a second, smaller flush.
You either love this plant or hate it. Good early color and spotted leaves add interest for the rest of the season.
These are tough, easy to grow plants that last a long time as a cut flower. They dry well too. Good color for late summer and fall.
The variety I have is 'Pink Mist'. This tidy, well-behaved plant will be covered with pink flowers all summer. The seed heads resemble a tiny pin cushion and can be used for dried flower arrangements.
The most widely used everlastings, statice has a large flower head of small, papery blooms on stiff stems. The small flowers are held in dense, large clusters above the gray-green foliage. They are unsurpassed for fresh and dried arrangements. Statice is easy to grow and salt tolerant. Seeds can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before planting or sown directly outdoors. Division may be done in early to late spring or root cuttings can be taken in mid-winter and grown indoors or in a coldframe until spring. It is resistant to deer and will bloom all summer long.
I love this plant. Maybe because its three-petaled flowers resemble
a small trillium. This workhorse will bloom nearly all summer (especially
if deadheaded)
The large, grey-white, pointed leaves grow in a rosette. The long flower spikes rise rapidly from the center of the foliage, followed by secondary flower spikes. Most are biennial, but they self-seed freely creating yearly blooms.
This is a delightfully airy perennial with tall, wiry stems which hold tiny clusters of pink, lilac or purple flowers at the tips. The stems rise high above the clump of foliage and are a useful and charming member of the border. Grow in fairly rich garden soil that is well-drained. Full sun or part shade is recommended. Seeds need darkness for germination.
Flowers heads are flat and 2" to 6" across on 2' to 5' stems. Colors include white, yellow, gold, pink and red. The aromatic foliage is green or gray.
Yarrow is an undemanding plant that thrives even in poor soil but does best in a sunny position with good drainage and light soil.