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.
Invasive Plants or Plants for The Lazy Gardener? It all depends on your point of view! All these perennials are hardy and colorful. and some are prolific reseeders. Pictured is Erigeron karvinskianus (Santa Barbara daisy). It will bloom all summer with very little care, but you have to decide if you want it everywhere or if it’s worth it to pull out…
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…
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,…
Lantana ‘Miss Huff’ is hardy to ten degrees. Although it dies back in the winter, it returns with a vengeance in early summer and blooms until frost. This plant can reach six to seven feet in one season. It is very bright with yellow, orange and pink flowers that light up the garden for the entire summer. Deer don’t care…
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…
Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker) This plant is often seen at houses dating back to the thirties and forties. It is extremely drought tolerant and very showy. Colors available are orange, yellow and cream. The leaves are strap-like with flowering stems that vary from eighteen inches to five feet, depending on the variety.