SPIDERWORT
Tradescantia x andersoniana (1.5 ft. high x 3 ft. wide) Well recognized for their
ability to tolerate poor soils, drainage and light conditions, these plants contribute
a great deal of summer color to the landscape. 'Red Cloud' has rosy red flowers,
'Snowcap' is distinguished by pure satiny white blooms and 'Zwanenburg Blue' is noted
for its large royal blue flowers.
YUNNAN MEADOW RUE
Thalictrum delavayi (2 - 3 ft. high x 2.5 ft. wide) This species blooms
in summer with rose-violet flowers that are highlighted by yellow stamens.
It makes a fine cut flower and has very graceful, fernlike foliage.
STONECROP "VERA JAMESON"
Sedum (1 - 2 ft. high x 1.5 ft. wide) These stonecrops form neat
mounds of fleshy foliage and bloom from late summer until frost. They are
long-lived, easily grown subjects for the landscape. 'Rosy Glow' and
'Vera Jameson'
are both plants of low spreading habit. The former has dark ruby red flowers
and blooms in late summer while the latter has maroon foliage with contrasting
pink flowers in early fall. 'Autumn Joy' and Sedum spectabile 'brilliant'
are taller and more upright in their growth habit. 'Autumn Joy' has
flowers that open pink, turn salmon-pink and eventually mature to an attractive
coppery-red. 'Brilliant' also blooms in late summer and fall but has
deep pink flowers.
TOAD LILY
Tricyrtis hirta (2 - 3 ft. highx 2 ft. wide) Toad Lilies are wonderful natives
that bloom late in the season, making them valuable for adding fall interest to the
shady landscape. The flowers, clustered in the leaf axils and tips of the stems,
have a mauve-white background and are heavily spotted with deep purple. Tricyrtis
hirta 'Alba' is an attractive white flowered form.
LUNGWORT
Pulmonaria (8-15 in. highx 18 in wide) This is an important genus for early
bloom and groundcover in the shade garden. The common name refers to the silvery
spots that are present on the leaves of most types. 'Janet Fisk' has highly
mottled leaves with a silvery effect from a distance and flowers that open pink and
age to blue. The standard cultivar in the nursery trade, 'Mrs. Moon' has the
same flower color but foliage that is not as highly spotted. 'Roy Davidson'
is a recent release with long, narrow, spotted leaves and flowers that are a very
subdued shade of blue.
GARDEN PHLOX
Phlox paniculata (2-4 ft. high x 2.5 ft. wide) Certainly among the best
known prennial flowers, this group is highly valued for its long bloom period in
summer and fall. Flower color ranges from white to various shades of pink, rose,
lavender, purple and red often with a contrasting eye. 'Blue Boy' has
unique lavender-blue flowers while 'Fairy's Petticoat' has large heads of pale
pink flowers with darker eyes. The standard white cultivar, 'Fujiyama'
is noted for its vigor, large florets and long bloom season. 'Starfire'
is among the earliest blooming summer phlox and is a real eye-catcher with its
brilliant display of cherry red flowers.
FALSE DRAGONHEAD
Physostegia virginiana (2-4 ft. high x spreading) This is a very
easily grown plant that bears spikes of beautiful flowers in late summer and
fall. In addition to its beauty in the garden, False Dragonhead also makes a
fine cut flower. 'Pink Bouquet', as its name implies, has numerous bright
pink flowers. 'Summer Snow' grows two feet tall, is earlier to flower
and has pure white blooms.
ORANGE CONEFLOWER
Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' (2-3 ft. high x
2 ft. wide) Avery easily grown, pest-free long-lived perennial that is very
popular. The golden yellow flowers have dark centers and remain showy over
a long period in late summer and fall.
TOP
