Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Landscape - Perennial Flower Garden

I was recently asked for suggestions for a perennial flower garden with long blooming plants in late spring, summer, and fall up to frost. While it is too late to plant perennials now, you can plan and place plant orders for the spring. One option is to use landscape plugs. These are much more cost effective than plants in quarts or gallons when landscaping a large area or doing mass plantings. Many perennials will establish quickly from landscape plugs and will bloom the same year. The following is the list I gave the client:

Achillea - any of the long blooming yarrows (many to choose from in many colors)
Agastache rupestris
Echinacea - any of the cone flowers (many to choose from in several colors)
Eupatorium dubium 'Little Joe'
Eupatorium maculatum 'Bartered Bride'
Gaillardia 'Fanfare'
Gaura - any of the Gaura varieties (many to choose from in several colors)
Helenium - any of the Helenium varieties (many to choose from in several colors)
Heliopsis helianthoides 'Ballerina'
Hibiscus - any of the Hibiscus varieties (many to choose from in several colors)
Kalimeris integrifolia 'Daisy Mae'
Nepeta subsessilis - Showy Catmint
Perovskia 'Little Spire' Russian Sage
Rudbeckia - any of the black eyed susan varieties
Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'
Scabiosa 'Pink Mist'
Verbena 'Homestead Purple'

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

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