Catmint
Falls into my personal top 5 list of great perennials. Forms
a rounded mound of beautiful blue flowers that last for months.
Cut to the ground in winter. Average size 2’x2’. |
Red Hot Poker
Grassy look that adds texture to any landscape. Stunning
blooms that resemble a red hot poker.
Blooms reach 3’ tall. |
Paprika Yarrow
Interesting color on a common perennial. Blooms for
months. Leave the spent blooms for interest. Shear to a small
mound in winter. 18”x18” max. size. Color starts pale and then
turns dark (you guessed it ) paprika color. |
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Artemisia “Powis Castle”
Beautiful low growing silvery plant. You must cut this one
back in winter. No blooms but great lacy foliage. An interesting
addition to any landscape. 2’ tall x 3’ wide. |
Salvia “May Night”
Another top 5 in my book. Copious amounts of dark purple spikes
in late spring to summer. 18” tall and wide. This is a plant that
will make the neighbors come visit. Shear the blooms to see if you
can get some fall blooms. Also available in pink. |
Gaillardia “burgundy”
Great variation of the standard red and yellow native plant. 18”
tall and wide. Long blooming but please dead head after blooming-the
spent blooms are not attractive. Very drought tolerant after
established. |
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Yellow Yarrow
This is the yellow plant that you see in most of my photos.
Very eye caching large blooms that last for months. Leave the
spent blooms or cut them back. Cut to a low mound in winter.
Easy to grow and drought tolerant after established. 2’ tall
including blooms with foliage 18” wide. |
Russian Sage
We all want plants that are easy to grow. Be careful what
you wish for. This plant can spread. You “neat Nicks” out there
will not like this plant. If you like a plant that will
naturalize this is your plant. Cut back heavily in winter. 5’x5’
avg. |
Coreopsis
Nice small perennial that blooms for long periods. 18” tall and
wide. Yellow flowers that must be cut to ground in winter. |
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Salvia Greggi
Longest blooming perennial that I use. But there is a trick. You
must cut the plant to 1’ or less every year and follow with
fertilization if you want results. Blooms all season- heavy in
spring and fall. If you don’t cut it back it will look like a bunch
of sticks with few blooms. One of my favorites. 2’ tall and wide.
Red, pink, white and wonderful raspberry. |
Yellow Gaillardia
Common native plant. Low water use. Please dead head after
blooming
18” tall and wide. |
Columbine
If you have shade you will probably get some of this.
Does very well in shade with wonderful blooms. The state flower of
Colorado. Does best in cooler weather. Yellow, red, lavender very
exotic blooms in late spring. 2” tall and it can spread a little but
not too bad. |
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Day Lily
Grass like foliage all season and dies to ground in most
winters. Huge trumpet like blooms in summer. Cut back in winter.
Foliage to 18” bloom stalk to 3’. Many color available. |
Jupiter's Beard
Begins to return very early in the spring. One of my
top 5. Fabulous bright pinkish blooms that last for months. 3’
x3’. Cut to the ground in winter. |
Lavender
Much sought after but not as great as advertised. Cat Mint looks
like it and blooms a lot longer. But if you must have the fragrance
there is not a substitute. Average size 2’x2’. It’s semi evergreen.
And you guessed it—it blooms lavender! Yes --I know some are white
also. |
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Pine-leaf Penstemon
Short little plant with massive amounts or intense red
blooms in summer. Leaves are needle-like thus the name. |
Mexican Primrose
Blooming ground cover. Must be cut back in winter so restrict it
to small areas. Light pink large blooms and easy to grow. 1’ tall. |
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Pincushion
Flower
Perennial Plant
of the Year
several years back. It is a stunning display in spring and
if deadheaded will repeat in fall. Very short and great for |
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small areas. The name comes from the fact that the flower
resembles a pin cushion complete with pins. Very easy to
grow in full sun to part shade. |
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Black Eyed Susan
This plant spreads but doesn't get out of control. If you like
large blooms this plant along with Purple Cone Flower and Day lilies
are "must have" choices. |
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Long blooming plant that grows 3'x3'. Returns every year but
must be sheared to the ground annually |
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