Gaura is a lovely, airy plant with either pink or white flowers that vaguely resemble butterflies. Foliage is usually green, but some newer varieties have reddish foliage. Plant size varies from about two feet to four feet. Gaura can self-sow vigorously under the right conditions, but it is so long blooming (late spring to frost) that much can be forgiven. It is a long lived plant and very drought tolerant, but provide some water for best appearance.
Achillea (yarrow) Green or gray ferny foliage and lots of colors to choose from! White (‘Calistoga’), yellow (‘Sunbeam’ or ‘Moonshine’), crimson red (‘Red Beauty’) and orange red (‘Faust’ and ‘Terra Cotta’). They all endure the hot summers and cold winters. Water needs are low and bloom time long.
The genus of Euphorbia contains about 2000 species, all of which contain a milky sap that is caustic or poisonous. Needless to say, deer and gophers stay away from these very interesting, useful and attractive plants. Euphorbia pulcherrima is the poinsettia of Christmas. What we call the flowers are actually bracts that surround the very…
There are so many colors and sizes of penstemon hybrids. Among the favorites are ‘Firebird’ (red), ‘Midnight’ (purple), ‘Garnet’ (fuchsia pink), ‘Thorn’ (white with a pink blush), ‘Apple Blossom’ (pink), ‘Bev Jensen’ (magenta) and ‘Raven’ (darkest purple). A very floriferous variety on a smaller plant is ‘Pike’s Peak Purple’. All these varieties take heat and cold and…
Hemerocallis (daylily) have arching narrow leaves and lily-like flowers. They are tough plants and reasonably trouble free. A couple of favorites are ‘Stella D’Oro’, a dwarf golden yellow with a longer bloom period than most, and ‘Bitsy’, a repeat bloomer with bright yellow flowers on tall, dark stems about eighteen inches tall. Many flower colors are available including cream, orange,…
Gaillardia is a great perennial for sunny spots. It flowers profusely, loves heat and needs only moderate water. Flower color ranges from yellow to orange and yellow to bicolor (as shown at left) to red. Bloom time lasts from early summer to frost.
The genus Chrysanthemum provides gardeners with some indispensable plants. Shasta daisy (C. maximum) is a wonderful summer blooming perennial that is available in tall or dwarf forms. Flowers can be single, double or somewhat shaggy. C. hosmariense is a great little plant, growing to about eight inches tall and two feet wide. It has finely…