UNL Herbaceous Plants: Dog Days of Summer

Hummingbird Mint/Sunset Hyssop

Agastache rupestris

Lamiaceae

Form: Rounded, upright form, 30 inch height by 24 inch spread

Foliage: Fine-textured foliage and stems, leaves glaucous, extremely narrow and linear, silver-gray to gray-green

Flowers: Elongated trumpet with extended lower lobe to welcome insects and hummingbirds; ¾ inch to 1 inch long; striking colors in sunset purples and oranges; August to October; delicious scent to foliage and flowers

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Desert southwest native; must have perfect drainage, dry neutral to slightly alkaline soil, full sun. Typically short-lived in areas of higher humidity and rainfall. Slow to establish from small plants; allow to dry out thoroughly between waterings; cut back spring only; not bothered by pests; root rot may occur in wet soils. Nebraska gardeners lose the Agastaches regularly.

Uses: Texture, color, scent in dry garden; hummingbirds and insects.
Companions: Coneflowers, grasses, fall-blooming sedums

Propagation: Cuttings
Other Species: A. cana,Texas hummingbird mint - has proven itself in hot, dry, sunny, well-drained sites, particularly the selection ‘Sinnig’. The foliage is larger, more triangular, and more blue-green. The flowers are shades of pink and orange, the trumpets also are longer than A. rupestris. The flowering season begins in June and continues until frost. These are both short-lived in Nebraska, but worth planting in gallon sizes.

Blackberry Lily

Belamcanda chinensis

Liliaceae

Form: Colonies of strong upright clumps from stoloniferous roots; uniform height to 24 inches, spread 24 inches or more

Foliage: Sword-like foliage (fans), flat, light green; up to 1” wide

Flowers: Flowers are held in terminal clusters of three to ten on stems up to 24” long above foliage in August; bright orange with spots; three sepals and three petals of almost equal size; 1 to 2 inches long, not long-lasting

Seedheads: Dehiscent tan seed pods split to reveal shiny black round seeds until birds or wind scatter them; effective into late autumn or as dried material

Culture: Well-drained soil, full sun to part shade; will not flower well in full shade; may be injured by winter in zone 4. Remove seedheads to limit spread. Watch for iris borers, and practice sanitation

Uses: Colonize under trees (competes with roots in dry shade) division is rarely necessary), or use as masses or edgers for texture and seasonal interest.
Companions: Rudbeckia, asters, hummingbird mint, Russian sage, yarrow, ornamental grasses

Propagation: Transplant seedlings, start fresh seed, or divide in spring

Other species: ‘Hello Yellow’, (B. flabellata) - uniform plant to 24 inches, clean, bright yellow flowers without spots; foliage thicker and leaves more broad than B. chinensis

X Pardancanda norrisii, candy lily - A bi-generic cross, combines the oranges and spots with sunset colors in a similar plant.

Plumbago

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

Plumbaginaceae

Form: Stoloniferous groundcover, height to 12 inches, spread 24 inches or more; very late to emerge in spring

Foliage: Bright green foliage emerges with bronze or red tinge; leaves entire and spatulate with broadly acute tips and fine sandpaper-like hairs covering all surfaces and margin; 1 to 3 inches long and up to 1 ½ inch wide. Fall color deep bronze red and persistent until after hard freeze

Flowers: Brilliant blue, ½ inch to ¾ inch across in terminal clusters up to 3 inches in diameter;

begin appearing in July and last until nearly frost

Seedheads: Pointed capsules deep red, persistent

Culture: Part sun to sun; loose, average to dry soil; does well in rock walls and edges; not bothered by pests or diseases. Mark location to avoid digging into it in spring. Can be quite aggressive in good soil. Late to emerge in spring. There are many different species of plumbago that are used as annuals in colder zones and as significant landscape plants in California and other warmer states

Uses: Loose groundcover under shrubs or trees, walls and rock gardens.
Companions: Fall-blooming sedums, ‘Husker Red’ penstemon, asters, bergenia

Propagation: Divisions in early spring; cuttings, stratified seed

Solitary Clematis

Clematis integrifolia

Ranunculaceae

Form: Mounded form when first emerging, becoming weakly upright and sprawling (this is a plant that wants to lean companionably on its neighbors) to a height and spread of 24 to 36 inches

Foliage: Wiry stems are clasped by widely spaced opposite, sessile, entire leaves 2 to 4 inches long. The leaves are dark green, ovate and slightly cup-shaped, pubescent on the underside; medium texture. When emerging, a single pair of leaves looks like hands folded in prayer

Flowers: Nodding, guitar-pick or heart-shaped flowers up to 2 inches long appear on short stems held at 45 degree angles from leaf axils. The four sepals recurve when fully open, revealing bright yellow stamens. The flowers are mostly dark violet-blue, but shades of mauve and lighter blue also occur. Bloom begins in May and is strongest in early summer, but continues sporadically until frost, especially if plants are cut back.

Seedheads: Fluffy seeds with long ‘tails’ (achenes) are ornamental, and a source of many offspring

Culture: Sun to part shade (too much shade will reduce bloom and make the plant even less upright); moist, well-drained soils enriched with organic matter. Tolerant of poorer soils, including heavier clays, once established. Cut back to 6 inches after first bloom to encourage new foliage and later flowers. Remove seedheads to limit production of seedlings. Move very small plants in early spring; transplants sulk for the first season but then establish; or terminal cuttings

Uses: Cut flowers, casual border as a weaver through other plants.
Companions: sedums, cranesbill, yarrow, coneflowers, daisies, variegated feather reedgrass, variegated solomonseal

in borders for extended season of interest, and thread it through other perennials that can support its habit

Propagation: Seed, terminal cuttings

Cultivars: Not often seen on the market, but are gaining prominence. This is also a species that is being crossed with other clematis to create very interesting garden plants.

Threadleaf Coreopsis

Coreopsis verticillata

Asteraceae

Form: Dense, very fine-textured stoloniferous mound of upright stems that spreads by to a height of 30 inches and a width of 36 inches; stolons form thick mats in fertile soil

Foliage: Opposite, medium green leaves, sessile and palmately segmented into filiform (thread-like) segments up to 2 inches long and less than 1/16 inch wide; very fine texture

Flowers: Butter-yellow, with fewer than 10 notched ray flowers and a center disc, 1 to 1 ½ inch across, surrounded by two sets of bracts (distinct in Coreopsis and Bidens), and loosely arranged in corymbs on short peduncles; bloom time up to ten weeks; June to August

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to very light shade; well-drained loamy or loose soils of average fertility; tolerant of drought once established. Very slow to emerge in spring (particularly the smaller cultivars); mark location. Shear lightly after initial flowering to encourage rebloom

Uses: Edger, borders, cut flower, texture contrast, blender.
Companions: Russian sage, butterfly milkweed, coneflowers, tall ornamental grasses, catmint

Propagation: Division in spring or fall

Cultivars: 'Moonbeam' - Soft yellow with no orange in it; almost continuous bloom beginning in July and lasting until frost if sheared; 18 to 24 inches tall; some problems with winter kill in open winters and a tendency to become weak and thin after three or four years

'Golden Showers' - The species on steroids

'Zagreb' - Deeper yellow, upright habit to 30 inches, fairly aggressive spreader

'Crème Brulee' - brighter yellow and larger flowers than `Moonbeam’

'Sweet Dreams' - ruby red edged with lighter pink; limited information about hardiness

'Limerock Ruby' - weakly upright to 24 inches, rose-red flowers with pale edge on each ray; treat as annual in zone 5

'Full Moon' - is a promising new hybrid with yellow (no orange tints) flowers on strong stems, larger leaves

'Route 66' - is a dramatic selection with a brilliant dark red center

'Sienna Sunset' - is a warm light apricot orange

Other Species: C. tinctoria - is native; it is a very short-lived perennial best treated as an annual. Zonal coloration on rays, with reddish centers
C. auriculata, eared coreopsis - includes several interesting garden cultivars such as ‘Zamphir’

Yellow Coneflower

Echinacea paradoxa

Asteraceae

Form: Basal mound of foliage, to a height and spread of 12 inches; flowering stems are weakly upright and may reach 36 inches

Foliage: Narrow, light green, lanceolate; scattered pubescence; medium texture

Flowers: Drooping dark yellow rays surround a brown disk; June to August

Seedheads: Effective for winter months

Culture: Average to dry soils in full sun; may be short-lived in Nebraska. Allow to reseed

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Asteraceae

NATIVE
Form: Irregular arching basal mounds of foliage, to a height and spread of 18 inches; flowering stems are upright and may reach 60 inches.
Foliage: Deep green, broadly lanceolate with irregularly spaced teeth along margins; individual leaves may be 12 inches long and 6 inches wide on 18 inch petioles; sandpaper pubescence on all surfaces; a few prominent veins. Stem leaves much smaller and may be sub-alternate, almost whorled or opposite; coarse or bold texture
Flowers: Flat or slightly drooping, stiff pink ray flowers up to 2 inches long with notched ends surround prominent prickly orange-brown cones like 1 inch gumdrops; entire flower can be up to 4 inches across; July to September
Seedheads: Cones elongate as the season progresses and persist; very effective for the winter months and the seeds are favorite food of chickadees and finches

Culture: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soils; tolerant of clay, loam or sandy conditions; fairly drought tolerant but less so than the native species. Can be cut back to reduce height and stagger bloom time; removing initial spent flowers will cause some rebloom. Self-sows vigorously; does not transplant well in large sizes unless adequate and consistent moisture can be provided. Susceptible to aster yellows; remove and destroy affected plants and control leaf hoppers that spread the disease. May also get botrytis.

Uses: Naturalized garden, prairies, wildflower plantings, borders, backdrop, cut flowers, habitat.
Companions: sunset hyssop, garden phlox, maidengrass, switchgrass, little bluestem, goldenrod, sedum. The warm pink and orange combine remarkably well with a wide range of colors

Propagation: Seed (coneflowers will cross-pollinate with other species), terminal cuttings

Cultivars: ‘Magnus’ - perfectly flat, huge rose-purple flowers

‘Rubinstern’ - deeper red-purple

‘Kim’s Knee High’ - shorter than species, to 24 inches

‘White Swan’ - pure white, not as vigorous

`Double Decker’ - flowers appear to be layered, with the bottom set of rays topped with a ‘hat’

‘Prairie Giant’ - flowers up to 8 inches across

Other Species: See the prairie lists for the other native coneflowers.

Tennessee Coneflower

Echinacea x tennesseensis

Asteraceae

Form: Basal foliage spreads to a uniform height and width of 18 inches; flowering stems may reach 48 inches

Foliage: Narrowly lanceolate, to 9 inches long and 1 ½ inches wide on petiole up to 12 inches long; stem leaves smaller; all bright green and slightly pubescent; two veins parallel to the prominent midvein; more refined than the foliage of other coneflowers; medium-coarse texture

Flowers: Rose-purple ray flowers are upturned like a flat bowl and follow the sun; up to 5 inches across, surround slightly raised dark center disc disc. Flowers are held upright on strong stems, and entire plant appears of uniform height. Flowers dry in place, extending season of interest. June to September

Seedheads: Center discs are ornamental, persistent although not as dramatic as E. purpurea

Culture: Full sun to very light shade; well-drained but evenly moist soils; not as tolerant of exposed conditions or drought as other coneflowers and may be short-lived if allowed to dry out. Hybridizes readily but also comes true from seed; not as prolific a seeder as E. purpurea; does not transplant well in large sizes. It does not perform well in western locations.

Uses: Tall edger, cut flowers, butterfly garden, naturalized areas.
Companions: Globe thistle, lambs ear, ornamental oregano, boltonia, prairie dropseed, switchgrass
Propagation: Seed

Cultivars: ‘Rocky Top Hybrids’ - newly on the market from High Country Gardens

Coneflower Hybrids

Echinacea x

Asteraceae

The new hot hybrids, with combined characteristics of E. paradoxa and E. purpurea, including narrower foliage and colors ranging from the narrow, dayglow orange rays of ‘Orange Meadowbrite’ to the pale cream, extremely long-lasting blooms of ‘Sunrise.’ Hardiness has not been fully tested in Nebraska, but it doesn’t look good. Uniform total losses occurred during the winter of 2008. The plants are also expensive, and so far, are very prone to aster yellows.
Propagation: Tissue culture
Cultivars: 'Orange Meadowbrite,' 'Pixie Meadowbrite,' 'Sunrise,' 'Sunset,’ 'Sundown,' 'Art’s Pride,' etc. etc. etc.

Globe Thistle

Echinops ritro

Asteraceae

Form: Upright, dense plant to a height of 48 inches and spread of 36 inches

Foliage: Alternate, wavy-margined, with pointed spiny tips, up to 12 inches long and half as wide; silver-green and smooth on top, underside pubescent. The whole plant looks thistle-like and ‘bites,’ although it won’t leave stickers; coarse or bold foliage

Flowers: Small, star-shaped flowers less than ¼ inch across arranged in perfect round globes up to 2 inches in diameter, deep dark blue to medium blue on several wide-branched stems. The globes consist of multiple small flowers, and are surrounded by bristly bracts; July to August

Culture: Full sun; dry, well-drained soils to average garden loam. Remains more contained and less prone to prolific reseeding in infertile conditions. Drought tolerant once established. Cut to ground after bloom to control spread; or allow globes to remain. Avoid standing water and supplemental water.

Seedheads: Persistent until early winter; flowers hold their color well when dried

Uses: Specimen, texture contrast, cut flowers, insect attractor, hot spots.
Companions: goldenrod, fine-textured maidengrasses and other fine ornamental grasses, boltonia, dwarf asters, shrub roses

Propagation: Spring division or seed

Cultivars: ‘Taplow Blue’ - large plant to 60 inches, steel-blue flower heads

‘Veitch’s Blue’ - shorter, darker than ‘Taplow Blue’

Appleblossom Grass/Gaura

Gaura lindheimeri

Onagraceae

Form: Rounded to slightly vase-shaped, with flower spikes creating a floating mass; height and spread 36 inches to 48 inches

Foliage: Alternate, bluish green, lanceolate leaves to 3 inches, sessile (no petioles); fine texture

Flowers: Four-petaled 1 inch white flowers that fade to pink, usually with 8 stamens; flowers open sparsely but continuously as the flower spikes elongate—and the flowering stems take on a reddish caste that adds to the ornamental value. Flowers appear to float above the foliage on arching wands and spent flowers drop neatly. Mid-May through September.

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Original plants may be short-lived (but worth it) unless placed in full sun and given given well-drained, loose soil. Tolerant of sandy soils and rock wall alkalinity as well as roadside ditches; fairly xeric plant once established. Remove spent flowering stems for continuous bloom. Red leaf spot appears regularly, but does little to damage the plant’s vigor. Difficult to transplant because of deep taproot; division is rarely necessary.

Uses: See-through texture and constant motion make this plant useful with bold-textured plants and dense forms. Companions: coneflowers, sedums, Shasta daisies, goldenrod, small asters

Propagation: Easily grown from seed; seedlings must be handled carefully to avoid damage to deep root system

Cultivars: ‘Whirling Butterflies’ - darker pink, more floriferous; blooms itself out and may not last beyond a season

‘Siskiyou Pink’ - deep pink, very heavy flower production

‘Corrie’s Gold’ - variegated foliage, which does not allow the flowers to show well

There are also several annual gauras that are useful in containers and display beds.

Daylily Hybrids

Hemerocallis x

Liliaceae

Form: Arching clumps from stout, fleshy, fibrous root system; height and spread vary with cultivar from dwarf (6 inches or less) to over 36 inches; flower scape can exceed 5 feet

Foliage: Long, linear leaves, 18 to 24 inches long and ¾ inch to 1 ½ inches wide, bright green; medium texture

Flowers: Three petals and three sepals, varying in size from 2 to 6 inches long depending on cultivar; 5 to 9 attached by pedicels to a long, branched scape held above foliage. Colors include orange, yellow, bronze, red, purple, peach, pink; and hybridization has resulted in contrasting center eyes in green, yellow, gold, brown, purple, pink or white; ruffled petals; tetraploid performance; repeat bloom. May to October; new cultivars are reliable repeat bloomers

Seedheads: Not effective. The pod is a three-part, dehiscent brown tube.

Culture: Full sun to almost full shade (the foliage is a workable groundcover but bloom is reduced); All soil types, as long as drainage is good competes well with tree roots. May be susceptible to aphids and thrips if overly stressed. Also may decline in periods of extended heat and high humidity, but can be rejuvenated by cutting the foliage to 6 inches and providing regular water. Remove scapes after bloom for a tidier appearance. Divide if flowering is significantly reduced.

Uses: Edger, groundcover, uniform texture, hot spots, specimen, mass. Companions: Bulbs (daylily foliage hides dying bulb leaves), Russian sage, coneflowers, butterfly milkweed, catmint, asters, boltonia. If used in areas of critical winter visibility, surround with plants with some seasonal interest—daylilies die completely to the ground

Propagation: Division nearly any time; almost impossible to eradicate once established because of tenacious, fleshy, fibrous root system; each tiny piece will regenerate

Cultivars: Huge numbers of daylilies from which to choose, including dwarfs, rebloomers, and even old-fashioned straight species with exceptional fragrance

`Trophytakers’ - Darrell App’s newest hybrids

`Returns’ series - reblooming, with an ever-widening range of colors

`Fairy Tale Pink’ - beautiful, huge (5 ½ inch) sugar-pink blooms with ruffled edges, 24 inches

Truly an astounding array of choices.

Knautia

Knautia macedonica

Dipsacaceae

Form: Rounded mound 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide; flower stalks extend to 24 inches or more and may become a messy tangle if not managed

Foliage: Basal foliage is entire, with dark green leaves from 2 to 4 inches long; stem leaves are progressively smaller and deeply lobed; medium-coarse texture

Flowers: Deep red to merlot inflorescences 1 inch in diameter resemble pincushions, with the heads composed of many flat, tiny, flowers above green leafy bracts. The plant provides startling little pinpoints of color against dusty light green foliage. Mid-May through September if cut back

Seedheads: Round balls of papery ‘cups,’ not showy

Culture: Full sun to very light shade, average soils amended with organic matter and consistent moisture with good drainage. Prefers cooler spring and fall evenings for best bloom, and is not tolerant of high humidity or crowded conditions. Cut back in spring to reduce overall height and control flopping; cut again after initial bloom to rejuvenate and remove floppy stems.

Uses: Cut flowers, natural gardens, unusual color to contrast with blues and silvers.
Companions: catmint, garden salvia, Russian sage, veronica, snow in summer, garden phlox

Propagation: Seed

Cultivars: `Mars Midget’ - pleasingly small dwarf to 12 to 15 inches instead of 24 to 30 inches

Torchlily/Red Hot Poker

Kniphofia uvaria (Tritoma uvaria)

Asphodelaceae

Form: Strong, vase-shaped clump of rhizomatous foliage to a height and spread of 24 to 36 inches; flower stems may reach 48 inches

Foliage: Evergreen, gray-green in color and swordlike, each leaf up to 36 inches long with a triangular cross-section (keeled), sharp tip and rough margin; medium texture

Flowers: Tubular, 1 inch long and drooping in a tightly packed raceme at the very top of the flowering stem. The raceme may be up to 10 inches long. Flowers are yellow and red, with cultivars including cream and green. An established plant can have two dozen flower stalks which often flop and curl miserably, especially in wet weather.June through August, depending on cultivar

Seedheads: not effective

Culture: Full sun and loose, well-drained soil of average fertility. Cannot tolerate standing water at any time. Remove spent flowers to prolong life and encourage repeat bloom. Foliage may deteriorate after bloom; remove the worst of the leaves. Division is rarely needed

Uses: Strong architectural form and dramatic flowers add structure as a specimen; hot spots, focal point. Companions: butterfly milkweed, goldenrod, ornamental grasses, yarrow.

Propagation: Seed, division

Cultivars: ‘Stoplight’ - as you can guess, red, yellow, and green flowers
‘Flamenco’ - large and robust, blooms early.

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Lamiaceae

Form: Vertical, mounded habit; height 18 inches, to 30 inches in bloom, spread 36 inches. Stems square, whitely tomentose, vertical and good for cutting

Foliage: Opposite or whorled, silver-green and evergreen, up to 2 inches long but only ¼ inch wide, entire, lanceolate or linear. Tufts of new foliage occur in leaf axils, especially early in season, giving plant a stiff appearance

Flowers: Small (1/4 inch to ½ inch) purple-blue, occurring in tight whorls around the square, woolly stem, and forming vertical spikes up to 6 inches long. Flowers are fairly persistent and showy on select cultivars; will rebloom sporadically after first flush. The entire plant is scented like lavendar; grown for its use in potpourri or as cut stems. June to October

Seedheads: Not effective, but dried flowers will last over a year

Culture: Must have full sun and well-drained, light soil to persist. Prefers low humidity. Cut back to new growth near semi-woody base in spring only, after all danger of frost has passed; transplant carefully at this time. Poor drainage or soggy winter soils are the death knell for lavender

Uses: Butterfly garden, cut and dried flowers, potpourri, formal edge or small hedge.
Companions: plainleaf primrose, yarrow, sedum, snow-in-summer, basket-of-gold, zauschneria

Propagation: Cuttings from side shoots; seed

Cultivars: ‘Hidcote’ and ‘Munstead’ are more compact, with deep purple-blue flowers in profusion
‘Provence’ - is taller and very deeply scented

Other Species: Many of the lavenders on the market are actually lavandins, which are hybrids. Few are reliably hardy in Nebraska; many gardeners lost all their old, well-established plants in the 2007 freeze.

Shasta Daisy

Leucanthemum x superbum

Asteraceae

Form: Strong, upright clumps, made more so by vertical flower stems; height of basal foliage clump 15 inches, spread 24 inches; flowering stems to 30 inches (height and spread varies significantly with cultivar)

Foliage: Alternate, coarsely toothed, bright green, lower leaves up to 12 inches long and 2 inches wide; stem leaves sessile and smaller, medium texture

Flowers: Flat discoid flowers with white rays and yellow centers, single or double, 2 to 3 inches across in species, and up to 6 inches for some cultivars; borne singly on strong stems. July to September

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to very light shade, well-drained fertile soils with consistent moisture; do not allow water to stand on the crown at any time. Cut back after bloom to rejuvenate foliage and encourage additional flowering; divide when clumps become crowded and flowering is reduced. No staking required. Leaf spot, stem rot, and crown rot can cause problems, as can four-lined plant bug

Uses: backdrop, specimen, cut flowers.
Companions: shrub roses, coralbells, dwarf blue false indigo, garden salvia, ornamental grasses

Propagation: Division before or after flowering; some cultivars come true from seed and can be prolific

Cultivars: ‘Becky’ - Perennial Plant of the Year in 2003; 36 inches tall in flower, flowers 4 inches across

‘Alaska’ - old standard, hardiest, 3 inch wide flowers

‘Esther Reed’ - short, double

`Crazy Daisy’ - wild, fringed ray flowers

‘Sunshine’ - pale yellow rays, the first daisy to boast this color

Lily

Lilium spp.

Liliaceae

Form: Upright clumps of vertical stems, with the height and spread varying from 12 inches to over 6 feet depending on species and cultivar

Foliage: Narrow, lanceolate, with entire margins; crowded on stems and varying in length and width from 2 to 8 inches long and ½ to 1 ½ inches wide; medium-bold texture

Flowers: All flower parts in threes, with prominent extruded stamens covered with yellow or orange pollen. Pointed, recurved petals are the most well-known lily shape. Color range includes white, orange, red, yellow, pink, bicolors, deep spots and center eyes. June to September, depending on type

Seedheads: Pods; remove to channel energy to bulb

Culture: Full sun to very light shade, in groups rather than as individual plants. Well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Avoid standing water at all times, and particularly watch winter conditions. Remove flowers but allow leaves and stems to stand to provide the bulb with food. Plant immediately to avoid dessication, to a depth 2 to 3 times the diameter of the bulb. Divide when flowering and plant vigor are reduced; spring only. Botrytis, fusarium, and lily mosaic are diseases to monitor

Uses: Backdrop, specimen, cut flowers, natural gardens.
Companions: grasses, fine-textured backdrop companions like asters and boltonia, or mounded foreground plants such as coralbells, sedums, cranesbills, knautia.

Propagation: Division, bulb scales or bulbils; tissue culture

Vast numbers of selections. Primary groups include the following:
Asiatic - Easiest to grow and typically smaller than the other major types with smaller leaves tightly arranged around the stems; color range is usually ‘hot,’ and flowers often face up, densely clustered toward the top of the plant.

Oriental - Magnificent flowers with arresting scent, often facing out or down; excellent foliage with large, thick, glossy green leaves. The foliage is distinctly different than that of the other lilies. More demanding than Asiatics or turk’s caps.

Martagon or turk’s cap - Whorled foliage; often reach 36 inches and carry flowers with recurved petals and dramatic spots in candelabra-like clusters. More tolerant of alkaline soils

Orienpet - Hybrids of very short stature, combining the characteristics of oriental and trumpet lilies, and full-sized flowers, usually upward-facing and in the warm tones. Excellent in containers

Sea Lavender/Statice

Limonium latifolium

Plumbaginaceae

Form: Stout basal rosette up to 24 inches wide and 12 inches tall; to 36 inches in bloom

Foliage: Leathery, semi-evergreen, with entire margins and an oblong to elliptical shape. The leaves may be 18 inches long and 6 to 8 inches wide and are on slightly hairy petioles of the same length; distinct bold texture

Flowers: Airy scapes held weakly upright on twisted stems (until the first heavy rain or wind). Inflorescence broad-spreading and branched, with each flower a tiny, blue corolla. The entire effect is like a spray of fine mist.

Seedheads: Not effective; but the silvery white calyx persists, and the entire flower head resembles a water spray.

Culture: Full sun to part shade; excellent drainage and loose loamy soil of average fertility; \Sea lavender will also tolerate poor soil as long as it is well-drained; plants will develop root or crown rot in heavy soils. Spent flowers smell like a dead animal. Transplant or divide rarely, as it resents transplanting

Uses: Multi-season interest, edger or scrim, cutting, winter foliage interest.
Companions: Artemisia, short ornamental grasses, ornamental oregano, any color

Propagation: Tiny seeds should barely be covered; root cuttings; almost impossible to transplant with success because of stout root

Russian Sage

Perovskia atriplicifolia

Lamiaceae

Form: Woody base gives rise to broadly upright (bushel-basket) gray-white stems; the plant assume shrub-like proportions over time; height and spread 48 inches

Foliage: Gray-white, greener toward base of plant and on top surfaces. The leaves are 1 inch to 2 inches long, opposite, dissected and feathery, fine texture

Flowers: Two-lipped, tubular, lavender-blue, whorled in interrupted terminal spikes with numerous side branches and flowering above foliage. Long bloom season, beginning early June and lasting through September

Seedheads: Spent flower spikes remain ornamental well into winter

Culture: Full sun and well-drained soils; also tolerates part shade if kept on the dry side. Very drought tolerant once established. Cut back to within several inches of woody base in early spring only; pinch to reduce overall height and control flop due to age and humidity. Not bothered by pests or diseases. Tends to spread by seed and weak rhizomes.

Uses: Backdrop for smaller, bold-textured plants, insect attractor, texture, hell strips, provide scale transition between perennials and shrubs.
Companions: asters, shrub roses, large sedums, daisies, lilies--works with nearly all plants and fills a lot of space quickly

Propagation: Older plants do not transplant well; but plants spread from offshoots that can be transplanted; or take softwood cuttings with stemwood

Cultivars: ‘Longin’ - more upright cultivar; leaves not as ornamental

‘Filigran’ - very silver, leaves half the size of the species and at least twice as dissected, giving a “filigree” appearance. More upright in form

‘Little Spire' - half the size of the species

Garden Phlox

Phlox paniculata

Polemoniaceae

Form: Upright, with strong stems developing into a substantial clump; height 36 inches, spread 24 inches

Foliage: Opposite, dark green, medium texture, 3 to 5 inches long with slender, pointed ends, oblong or ovate-lanceolate, thin and not waxy

Flowers: Fragrant, tubular, flattened “petal” appearance, each 1 inch wide and arranged in dense, weakly pyramidal rounded panicles 8 to 10 inches across. Color range includes pink, purple, white, bluish, reddish and bicolors; the standard seedlings are a brash magenta. June to September

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Sun to part shade in fertile, well-drained soil with average moisture. Must have good air circulation to reduce powdery mildew; avoid standing water or heavy soils to reduce chances of root rot. Remove spent blooms to encourage rebloom and decrease seed production. Phlox plant bug can be a problem, as can anthracnose.

Uses: Summer bloom, cutting garden, fragrance, rain garden edges. The pink and red ones attract hummingbirds
Companions: penstemons, maidengrasses, asters, cranesbills, joe pyeweed, daylilies

Propagation: Root cuttings, offshoots, spring division. Seedlings are usually inferior and ghastly colors.
Cultivars: Breeding is resulting in many more good garden plants of various colors.
‘David’ - excellent white, very mildew-resistant; has replaced other white cultivars; to 36 inches tall and wide

‘Eva Culllum’ - clear, cool pink with red eye; slightly smaller than ‘David’

‘Starfire’ - cherry red color

Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana

Lamiaceae

Form: Thick dark green square stems form vertical, aggressively stoloniferous clumps, height 36 inches and spread at least that

Foliage: Opposite, dark green, opposite, lanceolate, and sharply serrate. The foliage is not troubled by insects or diseases and contributes to the garden for the entire growing season; medium texture

Flowers: Showy corolla looks like a one inch long, sessile, rose-pink or white snapdragon. The individual flowers are densely packed in four evenly spaced vertical rows on terminal spikes, and open from the bottom to the top. July to September; later if deadheaded. Individual flowers can be turned on the stems and will hold their position “obediently”

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to very light shade; slightly acid, well-drained, average to poor soil. Limit fertilizer to control spread. May be pinched to reduce height.

Uses: Cutting garden, late season bloom, vertical structure, large groundcover.
Companions: Bergenia, short sedums, pincushion flower, coralbells.

Propagation: Easily transplanted, which helps with control

Cultivars: ‘Miss Manners’ - well-behaved, smaller clump former with little tendency to spread, pure white. More difficult to establish

‘Vivid’ - deep pink

There is also a variegated one (P virginiana ‘Variegata’) with a jarring combination of green and white variegated foliage and pink flowers

Balloonflower

Platycodon grandiflorus

Campanulaceae

Form: Broadly upright with erect unbranched stems to a height and spread of 30 inches; tendency to flop and open up in the center, especially in older plants

Foliage: Opposite, sharply serrate, dark green, leathery leaves to 3 inches long, persistent, and adding to the garden during the entire season. Showy fall colors of yellow to burgundy; medium texture

Flowers: Terminal, deep blue with darker veins and contrasting stamens, usually solitary on peduncles, opening from “hot air balloon” buds; 2 to 3 inches across, with 5 pointed lobes. July to September

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Sun to part shade and well-drained but fertile soil; intolerant of standing water or wet conditions. Slow to establish, but long-lived with few insect or disease problems. Very late to emerge in spring; mark location. Control flopping by staking or pinching.

Uses: Cut flowers (sear stems first); bud interest and bloom in late summer; fall color is a bonus. Companions: yarrow, threadleaf coreopsis, candy lily, plumbago, gaura

Propagation: Seed, careful spring division to avoid damaging deep taproot

Cultivars: ‘Mariesii’, (var. mariesii) - 18 inches tall, bright blue

‘Hakone Blue’ - double blue

‘Komache' - very dwarf, and the buds do not open but remain closed like balloons

`Astra’ - newest series

Meadow Sage

S. nemorosa/S. superba

Lamiaceae

Form: Rounded to upright mounds of foliage give rise to spikes of flowers; foliage height 6 to 18 inches and spread; height in flower 12 inches to 24 inches

Foliage: Opposite, variable size and shape from 3 to 6 inches long, oblong to lanceolate, with rounded teeth, green-gray with slight pubescence on undersides; medium texture

Flowers: Tubular with two lips, densely packed into terminal spikes up to 8 inches long on robust square stems from the basal foliage and axillary whorls, deep violet blue; June to August

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to part shade, average soils amended with organic matter, consistent moisture with good drainage. Over-fertilization, too much shade, or too much water will cause the plants to fall open in the center from their own weight. Pinching or shearing hard after the initial bloom will produce another flush of flowers. Few insect pests or diseases

Uses: Border, edger, cut flowers.
Companions: threadleaf coreopsis, purple-foliaged alumroots and coralbells, lambs ears, coneflowers, lady’s mantle

Propagation: Terminal cuttings or division for sterile hybrids; some (like ‘Blue Hill’) can be seed-produced

Cultivars: NOTE - Most are hybrids of some sort

‘Mainacht’ - deep dark indigo-blue flowers; height to 18 inches

‘Marcus’ - very dwarf and outstanding dark purple-blue flower display

`Caradonna’ - tall, upright form with distinctly dark purple stems; very showy

‘Purple Rain’ (S. verticillata) - distinctly different foliage and flowers like thick purple smoke

Pincushion Flower

Scabiosa columbaria

Dipsacaceae

Form: Compact basal mound, height and spread 12 inches; 18 inches in bloom

Foliage: Basal leaves are oblong/lanceolate and slightly ruffled, up to 6 inches long; greenish with white bloom. The stem leaves are opposite and pinnately divided; pubescent

Flowers: Blue to blue-pink, flattened inflorescences 2 to 3 inches wide, borne singly or in twos and threes. Shallowly lobed petals surround the central ‘pincushion’ and “pins” (stamens); June to October

Seedheads: Small round balls, not effective for long periods

Culture: Full sun to very light shade and well-drained fertile soil; mulch to maintain cool soil temperatures. Shear after initial bloom to encourage rebloom. May be short-lived because of prolific bloom and tendency of crown to heave in open winters. Rarely needs dividing.

Uses: Cut flowers, edger, mass of color in border, insect attractor.
Companions: threadleaf coreopsis, snow-on-the-mountain, candy lily, bergenia

Propagation: Seed, cuttings, division
Cultivars: ‘Butterfly Blue’ and ‘Pink Mist’ - bloom so long and so profusely that they provide season-long color; not long-lived, and hard to transplant successfully

Other species: S. caucasica - much larger, with wider, flatter flowers in a range of colors including deep wine red.
'Fama' and ‘House Hybrids’ - are readily available
S. ochroleuca - a pale cream to yellow, smaller flowers borne profusely on a very large plant

Orange Stonecrop/Kamschatka Stonecrop

Sedum kamtschaticum

Crassulaceae

Form: Spreading, rooting at the nodes, to form a casual sprawling mass 4 to 6 inches tall (up to 9 inches in bloom) and 18 inches or more across

Foliage: Alternate, succulent in appearance and variable in size and shape, up to 1 ½ inches long and wide. Leaves may be spatulate to almost linear, with rounded teeth. Medium-fine texture

Flowers: Yellow up to ½ inch across, with 5 pointed petals and 5 sepals surrounding 10 long yellow stamens. Flowers are clustered in a short-stemmed cyme, usually 6 to 10 per cyme. June to July

Seedheads: Dark brown, star-shaped, and persistent, but small and not overly showy

Culture: Full sun to part shade, nearly any soil as long as it is well-drained. Plants will become open in too much shade, in rich soils, and when given too much water. Very drought tolerant. Plants that become leggy or open can be cut back any time and new foliage will appear.

Uses: Open groundcover, rock gardens, hot spots, walls.
Companions: bellflower, pussy toes, penstemons, blanketflower
Propagation: Terminal cuttings, seed, division

Cultivars: ‘Variegata’ - with cream colored leaf margins. Tends to revert. There are huge numbers of sedums, many of them summer-bloomers. Most of the taller sedums are fall bloomers.

Stoke’s Aster/Stokesia

Stokesia laevis

Asteraceae

Form: Broad basal rosette, forming an open and arching clump, to a height and spread of 18 inches

Foliage: Entire green leaves, lanceolate, up to 10 inches long and 2 inches wide on petioles 4 to 6 inches long. The leaves are ‘V’-shaped along a distinct whitish midvein but the rest of the veins are barely discernible; stem leaves are sessile. The foliage is semi-evergreen if not exposed to dessicating winds; medium texture

Flowers: Varying shades of blue, occasionally white, 3 to 4 inches across, with two sets of ray flowers, the outer set deeply lobed and almost fringed. Up to four flowers per stem, opening singly or in pairs; June

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Sun (protect from hot late-day exposure) to part shade; well-drained but evenly moist, loamy soil; not tolerant of standing water or heavy clay. Remove spent flowers all the way to the base; rebloom is unlikely but plant will be tidier. Fleshy roots resent disturbance and plants divided will take at least a season to recover. Mulch in winter to reduce dessication and prolong life.

Uses: Edger, formal borders (plants maintain their clump form indefinitely) long-lasting cut flowers.
Companions: corydalis, alumroot and coralbells, small variegated ornamental grasses, cranesbill. Most effective when planted in groups or masses

Cultivars: ‘Purple Parasols’ - very large, purplish-blue

‘Klaus Jelitto’ - deep lavender, consistent

‘Mary Gregory’ - pale yellow

‘Blue Danube’ - older, popular form

Nettle-leaved Mullein

Verbascum chaixii

Scrophulariaceae

Form: Basal rosette of foliage up to 18 inches wide; vertical form in bloom, to a height of 36 inches

Foliage: Large, bold basal leaves 6 or more inches long with pointed tips and wedge-shaped bases, margins with coarse and rounded teeth. Stem leaves are alternate and sessile, all covered with gray or white hairs; coarse or bold texture

Flowers: Borne in upright, spikelike terminal racemes on thick, almost ridged stems. Stems are a single spike on young plants, but branched on older plants. Flowers single on short stalks, up to 1 inch wide with five bright butter yellow petals with distinct purple stamens in center eye. June to July

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to part shade; well-drained, loose soil of average fertility. High humidity and excessive moisture will shorten the lifespan. Plants are biennial or short-lived but reseed readily and produce flowers the second year; Cut unwanted spent flowering stalks immediately after bloom. Thick roots need care during transplanting

Uses: Vertical accent, cut flowers, strong specimen.
Companions: cranesbills, catmint, broadly rounded grasses, lavender, globe thistle, yarrow

Propagation: Spring root cuttings or seed

Cultivars: `Album’ - pure white, to 36 inches tall
Other Species: V. x hybrida - includes some beautiful cultivars in a wide range of colors - ‘Summer Charm’ is shades of apricot and peach. Also biennial or short-lived. The common ‘ditch’ mullein, Verbascum thapsii, is a noxious weed.

Spike Speedwell/Hybrid Speedwell

Veronica spicata/Veronica x

Scrophulariaceae

Form: Tidy, upright mounds of foliage, to a height and spread of 6 to 24 inches depending on cultivar

Foliage: Opposite, shiny green leaves are lanceolate, and up to 2 inches long and half as wide. The center sections of the margins are toothed. Medium texture

Flowers: Blue, pink, and occasionally white flowers occur in the straight species, with deep blue the predominant color. The flowers are small, ¼ inch in diameter, with protruding stamens that make them seem larger. They are packed densely into spikelike racemes 3 to 5 inches long. Flowering begins in mid- to late June and continues for up to 6 weeks. Rebloom occurs with deadheading

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to very light shade and moist but well-drained soils are required for best performance. Spike speedwell is susceptible to crown and root rots in poorly drained situations. The plants can remain in place for years without division.

Uses: Cutting garden, edger, rock garden (some).
Companions: rudbeckia, coralbells and heuchera, cranesbills, garden phlox

Propagation: Seed (the species); division and terminal cuttings (cultivars)

Cultivars: ‘Glory’- Royal Candles - deep blue-purple on a very short plant, up to 12 inches tall

‘Sightseeing Mix’ - a strong mix that is propagated from seed, containing all three colors

‘Red Fox’ - very short, reaching a height of 12 to 15 inches, with dramatic rose-red flowers that are produced prolifically

‘Blue Charm’ - taller, with leaf margins that appear scalloped and medium lavender-blue flowers from July to September

‘Sunny Border Blue’ - a hybrid, with excellent foliage and violet-blue flowers from July through September

California Fuschia/Hummingbird trumpet

Zauschneria garrettii

Onagraceae

Form: Dense, spreading mounds of foliage form a loose groundcover, to a height of 9 to 12 inches and spread of 24 inches or more

Foliage: Bright green leaves are lanceolate, less than ¾ inch long, and ¼ inch wide. They are covered with soft hairs, and the midvein is distinct. The foliage is tightly arranged alternately around the upright stems.

Flowers: Bright orange trumpets up to 1 inch long with protruding stamens appear in leaf axils from June to August

Culture: Full sun and well-drained soils of sandy or clay loam composition with support hummingbird trumpet. Poor air circulation and overhead watering can promote foliar diseases and the eventual death of individual stems.

Uses: Rock garden, groundcover in hot spots, edger in naturalized areas.
Companions: gaillardia, lavender, lambs ears, rudbeckia

Propagation: Cuttings or division
Cultivars: ‘Orange Carpet’®