Rudbeckia, or black-eyed Susan, is a tough plant that blooms summer and autumn. Nearly all have flowers in the yellow and orange range. ‘Indian Summer’ has a dark brown center while ‘Irish Eyes’ has a green center. ‘Goldsturm’ is a reliable perennial. variety with somewhat smaller flowers and dark centers.
Hellebores are wonderful plants that bloom in winter and early spring when very little else is flowering. Color ranges from white to dark purple, although some species have greenish flowers. The evergreen foliage is generally dark green and glossy, divided into leaflets. They do very well in shade, even deep shade. They can get by…
Ferns are wonderful shade plants, adding a lush, woodland look to a shady area. Shown at left is Polystichum munitum, a native fern that grows to two to four feet. Another excellent fern for our area is Woodwardia fimbriata, also known as giant chain fern, shown at left. Generally, it will grown to…
Centranthus, or Jupiter’s beard, is a great perennial, but be prepared for its rather vigorous self-sowing. It is very tolerant of most conditions and needs little water. Flower color ranges from crimson to pink to lilac to white, with a very long bloom period. Gophers do not seem to like it, perhaps because of its…
Aquilegia, or columbine, has lovely lacy foliage with flowers that rise above the leaves. There are many flower colors available, all of which attract hummingbirds. It blooms in spring and early summer and prefers shade, especially in the afternoon. Regular water and well-drained soil are its primary requirements.
Heuchera (coral bells) This genus has seen incredible additions in the last few years. The variations in leaf color dominate the latest varieties. Examples are ‘Snow Angel’, light green leaves dusted with white, ‘Caramel’ (the name says it all) and ‘Crimson Curls’ with curly dark crimson leaves. ‘Wendy’ is a durable hybrid with green leaves and…
Coreopsis adds a lovely bit of color to the garden. These are tough plants that need little to moderate water and they seem to bloom almost endlessly, especially if deadheaded. They also tend to self-sow, so be prepared for either even more color or a bit of weeding.