|
Cass
County Extension |
|
Ratibida to
Virginia Bluebells |
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Ratibida (Coneflower) |
18-30 |
1 |
Yellow |
July-August |
Flowers have
prominent cones and showy drooping rays; resemble Mexican sombreros. Crushed heads are
pungently fragrant; flowers attract butterflies. Leaves are pinnately lobed or divided
with 3 or more toothed segments. Prefers full sun; plants tend to be weak and floppy in
partial shade. Does better in somewhat lean soils.
Ribbon Grass (see Ground Cover)
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Rudbeckia (Black Eyed
Susan) |
|
1-1.5 |
|
July-Sept |
| `Goldstrum' strain |
24-30 |
|
Yellow |
|
| Gloriosa Daisy |
24-36 |
|
Yellow Bicolors |
|
Rudbeckia fulgida
`Goldstrum' has mounds of
daisy-like flowers on nicely branched stems; yellow
with brown centers. Cut back for rebloom; long lasting cut flowers. Attract butterflies.
Do well in sun to partial shade and somewhat lean soil. Best planted in masses. Wet early
spring soil can shorten life. Don't come true from seed. Very short lived. Borderline in
hardiness. Rudbeckia hirta `Gloriosa Daisy' has single or double flowers with a
dark base on the ray flowers; good cut flowers. Young plants overwinter much better than
older ones. Do well in sun to partial shade and somewhat lean soil. Powdery mildew
can be a problem. Commonly self seeds; short lived plants. `Marmalade'
(shorter), `Indian Summer' has large flowers
(5-6") but doesn't overwinter well.
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Russian Sage |
36-48 |
1.5-2 |
Blue,Purple |
July-Sept |
Perovskia atrilicifolia
has small two lipped
flowers in 12-15 inch sprays above the foliage; soft grayish green leaves are finely divided and arranged on the four sided
stems. Highly aromatic when crushed or bruised; bees love. Silky gray seed heads are
attractive in fall. Dies back in winter; cut back severely in the spring. Best in
full sun; in shade loses upright form, may become floppy and need staking. Must have good
drainage especially where winters are wet; better in less fertile soil. Best grown in
groups. Species is a little hardier, more vigorous and has wider leaves; better here.
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Salvia (Sage) |
18-30 |
1.5 |
Blue,Pink,Purple |
June & Aug |
Salvia X superba
has 4-8" long spikes of small, double lipped flowers on square vertical stems; cut to
the ground after bloom. Will regrow and bloom again in fall. Leaves are oval or
lance-shaped, coarse in texture, opposite, soft, slightly grayish and usually aromatic.
Need well drained soil especially in early spring; tolerate poor alkaline soil. Too much
shade, overly rich or moist soil can cause them to be leggy and floppy. Good air
circulation helps prevent mildew.
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Sea Lavender (Statice) |
12-24 |
1-2 |
Various |
August |
Limonium latifolium
has strap-like, leathery
dark green basal leaves and dainty flowers in long
sprays. Pick early and dry for winter bouquets. Flowers hold their color for long periods.
The richer the soil, the larger the flower heads; may need staking. Likes full sun;
tolerant of drought but water in dry weather.
Low Growing Sedum (see Ground Cover)
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Shasta Daisy |
12-30 |
1.5 |
White |
June-July |
Leucanthemum x superbum
has coarsely toothed,
narrow, lance-shaped leaves with 2-3" daisy-like flowers
with yellow centers on upright stems; single or double. Rebloom if dead headed; good cut
flower. Prefers full sun to partial shade and moderately fertile soil. More compact plants
and nicer flowers if divided frequently. Winter protection is needed; heavy feeders. Wet
cold spring soil can shorten life; 3-5 year life span if protected with mulch. Aphids can
be a problem. `Alaska' is a good variety; single flowers.
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Showy Sedum |
12-24 |
1.5-2 |
Pink, Purple, Red |
August-Sept |
Sedum spectabile
is an upright growing plant
with light green succulent foliage; red leafed forms are not hardy. Large plate-like flower heads on top of the stem. Leave heads uncut in
fall; attractive and holds snow. Favorite of butterflies. Does best with full sun and lean
soils. Very drought tolerant; needs good drainage especially in the spring. Don't like to
be disturbed. `Autumn Joy' is an excellent cultivar.
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Sneezeweed |
24-48 |
1-1.5 |
Red, Yellow |
July-Sept |
Helenium autumnale has small daisy-like
flowers on dark brownish black stems. Pinch in spring to reduce height and increase
bushiness; will delay flowering. Stop pinching 6 weeks before flowering. Prefers full sun;
fairly tolerant of moist soils and cool temperatures. Best when grown in groups.
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Snowdrop Anemone |
12-18 |
1 |
White |
May-June |
Anemone sylvestris
has a mound of dark green foliage and fragrant nodding 2" flowers followed by fluffy white fruits; may rebloom
through summer and fall. Prefers sun to partial shade and fairly fertile soil. Needs
adequate moisture; likes shelter from hot afternoon sun. Self seeds.
Snow in Summer (see Ground Cover)
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Spiderwort |
18-24 |
1 |
Various |
May-July |
Trandescantia
has narrow, linear leaves along
fleshy sprawling stems; blooms are borne in terminal
flower heads. Individual flowers last only one day but the number of buds insures that
flowering lasts up to 8 weeks. By late summer leaves look rather untidy; cut back for
regrowth and possible rebloom. Does well in all light conditions; tolerate poor soil, poor
drainage and dry conditions. Rich soil leads to rapid spreading. Will not tolerate long
periods of drought.
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (in) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Tulip |
12-30 |
3-6 |
Various |
April-May |
Many types and colors available. Earliest flowering types tend
to be shortest; latest tallest. Flowers last 10 days to 2 weeks; good cut flower. Don't
cut foliage back until it has completely dried up. Best when planted in mass; all should
be planted at the same depth for uniform flowering
time. Does well in sun or part shade; fertilize in fall with bulb food or 5-10-5
fertilizer. Needs dry soil in July and August to survive; won't tolerate poorly drained
soil. Mulch or snow cover is beneficial. Plant in October; small bulbs 3-4" deep and
larger bulbs 5-6" deep. Larger bulbs flower better. Need at least 3 weeks to root.
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Veronica (Speedwell) |
|
1-1.5 |
|
|
| latifolia
(creeping) |
6-20 |
|
Blue, Purple |
June-July |
| spicata(spike) |
12-36 |
|
Blue, Pink, White |
July-August |
Has narrow, sawtooth
edged green to gray-green leaves; tiny star-like flowers are borne on graceful sturdy flower spikes. Good cut flowers; dead head to extend
flowering. Spikes of taller varieties may droop. Good in mass plantings. Needs adequate
moisture and good air circulation; mildew and leaf spot diseases. Does well in full sun
and moderately lean soil; rich soil can cause sprawling plants and weak flower stems. `Crater Lake Blue' is dense with a rounded shape;
`Sunny Border Blue' is a taller spike form with coarser foliage; dead head for July
to October bloom.
Vinca minor - Common Periwinkle (see Ground Cover)
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Viola |
6-12 |
.5-1 |
Various |
May-Sept |
Viola and Johnny Jump-ups are low growing, tuft or
clump forming plants. Johnny Jump-ups have glossy heart-shaped leaves and small pansy-like
flowers well above foliage on long stems; fragrant.
May bloom all summer if flowers are dead headed and soil is moist and not too hot. Do well
in any light condition. May become weedy; short lived plants.
| Common Name |
Height (in) |
Space (ft) |
Flower Colors |
Flowering |
| Virginia Bluebells |
15 |
1-1.5 |
Blue, White |
April-May |
Mertensia virginianahas soft green foliage
with clusters of funnel-shaped flowers; buds are pink
but flowers turn light blue when open. Blossoms are in a nodding pattern of one sided
clusters on tips of plant stems. Prefers partial shade and medium rich soil. Foliage dries
up in early July; don't plant annuals over dormant roots.
This page was last updated March 2003
Go to Perennial Flowers
Go to Horticulture Page
Flowers have
prominent cones and showy drooping rays; resemble Mexican sombreros. Crushed heads are
pungently fragrant; flowers attract butterflies. Leaves are pinnately lobed or divided
with 3 or more toothed segments. Prefers full sun; plants tend to be weak and floppy in
partial shade. Does better in somewhat lean soils.
Rudbeckia fulgida
Perovskia atrilicifolia
Salvia X superba
Limonium latifolium
Leucanthemum x superbum
Sedum spectabile
Helenium autumnale has small daisy-like
flowers on dark brownish black stems. Pinch in spring to reduce height and increase
bushiness; will delay flowering. Stop pinching 6 weeks before flowering. Prefers full sun;
fairly tolerant of moist soils and cool temperatures. Best when grown in groups.
Anemone sylvestris
has a mound of dark green foliage and fragrant nodding 2" flowers followed by fluffy white fruits; may rebloom
through summer and fall. Prefers sun to partial shade and fairly fertile soil. Needs
adequate moisture; likes shelter from hot afternoon sun. Self seeds.
Trandescantia
Many types and colors available. Earliest flowering types tend
to be shortest; latest tallest. Flowers last 10 days to 2 weeks; good cut flower. Don't
cut foliage back until it has completely dried up. Best when planted in mass; all should
be planted at the same depth for uniform flowering
time. Does well in sun or part shade; fertilize in fall with bulb food or 5-10-5
fertilizer. Needs dry soil in July and August to survive; won't tolerate poorly drained
soil. Mulch or snow cover is beneficial. Plant in October; small bulbs 3-4" deep and
larger bulbs 5-6" deep. Larger bulbs flower better. Need at least 3 weeks to root. 
Has narrow, sawtooth
edged green to gray-green leaves; tiny star-like flowers are borne on graceful sturdy flower spikes. Good cut flowers; dead head to extend
flowering. Spikes of taller varieties may droop. Good in mass plantings. Needs adequate
moisture and good air circulation; mildew and leaf spot diseases. Does well in full sun
and moderately lean soil; rich soil can cause sprawling plants and weak flower stems. `Crater Lake Blue' is dense with a rounded shape;
`Sunny Border Blue' is a taller spike form with coarser foliage; dead head for July
to October bloom.
Viola and Johnny Jump-ups are low growing, tuft or
clump forming plants. Johnny Jump-ups have glossy heart-shaped leaves and small pansy-like
flowers well above foliage on long stems; fragrant.
May bloom all summer if flowers are dead headed and soil is moist and not too hot. Do well
in any light condition. May become weedy; short lived plants.
Mertensia virginianahas soft green foliage
with clusters of funnel-shaped flowers; buds are pink
but flowers turn light blue when open. Blossoms are in a nodding pattern of one sided
clusters on tips of plant stems. Prefers partial shade and medium rich soil. Foliage dries
up in early July; don't plant annuals over dormant roots. 
