Plants

Coreopsis verticilatta 'Zagreb,' Threadleaf Tickseed

This Coreopsis starts the season with darling tufts of needle-like leaves emerging from the soil. The dense mound is covered by golden sunburst flowers June to August. It is a vigorous, tough perennial making it great for parking strips.

• Full sun
• 18-24" tall 15-24+"wide
• Zones 3-9
• Combine with grasses, Echinacea, Euphorbia and Agastache
  

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Delphinium elatum
'New Millennium Series'

There is nothing quite like Delphinium for adding fantastic vertical blooms to the garden. The blue and purple varieties are especially eye-catching. The first round of blooms are in early spring with a rebloom in late summer when cut back. The New Millennium series are bred for exceptional garden performance, and are longer lived than other varieties.

• Full sun
  
• Well-drained, rich soil, regular water
  
• 3 ½ -4' tall 1 ½ -2' wide
  
• Zones 3-8
  
• Combine with Allium, Roses, Campanula and Beebalm.

 

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Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus', Purple Coneflower

There are so many Echinacea available these days but it is good 'ole Magnus that we still love. It is not fussy, Blooms from June till frost and is a great cut flower. We also love 'Harvest Moon' for its bright orange flowers and the pinkish orange flowers of 'Sundown'.

• Full sun
• Drought tolerant when established
• 2-3' tall and wide
• Seed heads attract birds too!
• Zones 4-9
• Combine with Euphorbia, Salvia officinalis, Berberis, or grasses.

 

 

Eryngium 'Saphire Blue'
Sea Holly

Amazing spiky steely blue flowers late summer into fall make this sturdy, drought tolerant perennial an attention getter in the garden. It adds bold architecture to borders and is an exotic cut and dried flower.

• Full sun
• Drought tolerant
• Lean, well-drained soil
• Zones 5-8
• Combine with Sedums, Kniphofia, Cistus or Convolvulus cneorum

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Geranium maculatum 'Elizabeth Ann'

There are so many wonderful hardy Geraniums it was hard to pick one. G. maculatum 'Elizabeth Ann' has large chocolate leaves topped by large lavender flowers May to July. It is very adaptable to many soil and sun situations which makes it quite useful.

• Full to part sun
• Many adapt to most soils
• Water needs vary
• Size varies from 24" tall and wide
• Minimum Zone 4
• Combine with gold leaved plants (Cotinus 'Golden Spirit', Centaurea 'Gold Bullion' or Carex 'Evergold') for great contrast!

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Papaver orientale 'Beauty of Livermere', Oriental Poppy

The true red color of these poppy flowers is just dynamite! Large 6" flowers on 2-3' stems just rule the garden in May and June. Plus they have wonderful rosettes of hairy leaves that persist through the winter. They are very easy to grow. Oriental poppies do go dormant after they bloom so be sure to combine them with something for summer interest.

• Full to part sun
• Drought tolerant
• Grow in most soils
• 2-3' tall 2' wide
• Zones 3-9
• Combine with grasses, Rheum, Crocosmia, Dahlia or Hebe.

Penstemon 'Margarita BOP' and 'Firebird', Beardtongue

Penstemon are gorgeous specimens for the dry, arid garden. They thrive in areas with low fertility and well-drained soil. Margarita BOP is compact with showy spires of iridescent blue flowers May through September that fade to purple. At the same time the semi-evergreen Firebird explodes into bloom with tubular scarlet flowers. Some of the best things about Penstemon are a second flush of flowers in July and they attract hummingbirds.

• Full sun
  
• Drought tolerant
  
• Well-drained soil
• Margarita BOP 18-24" tall
• Firebird 30" tall and wide
• Zones 6&7-8
• Combine with Achillea, Lagerstroemia, Rosemary, or Zauschneria.

Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstsonne', Black-eyed Susan

This Rudbeckia adds height and late summer color to the garden. Beautiful, bright yellow flowers bloom July to fall and attract butterflies. It is a reliable, clumping perennial. Over time you can divide the clump and share with friends!

• Full sun
• Slightly drought tolerant but prefers moist well-drained soils
• 5-7' tall 2+' wide
• Zones 3-10
  
• Combine with Miscanthus, Monarda, Canna musifolia 'Rubra', or Lobelia 'Queen Victoria'

Sedum 'Angelina'

This creeping Sedum creates dense carpets of golden thread-like, succulent foliage. And it is evergreen, taking on orange tints in the cold weather. This sedum adds amazing color and texture to dry spaces, containers, living walls and green roofs. Masses of yellow summer flowers are a honeybee's delight

• Full to part sun
• Drought tolerant
• 3-6" tall 6-12" wide
• Zone 4
• Combine with Agave, Perovskia, Lithodora or Sedum 'Dragon's Blood'

Zauschneria 'Mattole Select'

Zauschneria add late summer and fall color to the garden with their brilliant orange, tubular flowers. An attractive snack for hummingbirds. 'Mattole Select' sports large silver leaves and has a clumping (as opposed to vigorously running) habit. Zauchneria like it hot and dry, therefore they are spectacular for parking strips and blazing hot container plantings. Even though Zauschneria die back in the winter, do not cut off the spent stems until the danger of winter freezes have passed.

• Full sun
• Drought tolerant
• Well drained soil
• 10" tall
• Zone 7
• Combine with Ceratostigma, Euphorbia, Ceanothus 'Tuxedo' or Agastache rupestris.