Apr222023

Warm season gardens are at their best when full of bright and cheerful flowering perennials. Add long lasting color to your landscape with our Top 5 Perennial Performers and make a statement this summer! We’ve selected these blooming plants for their vibrant, long lasting blooms, hardiness and drought tolerance. They’ll attract butterflies, pollinators and beneficial insects from May to the first frost, so you’ll be helping the environment too.

We hope our selections get your imagination going and help your landscape come to life!

1. Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’ (Kobold Blazing Star)

DETAILS AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Rate of Growth: 2’-4’tall and wide
Growing Habit: Clumping form with spikes of flowers.
Seasonal Interest: Deciduous perennial.  Flowering spikes in shades of pink, lavender, and white in  mid to late Summer.
Exposure and Climate: Part Sun- Shade, Zones 3-9
Water Needs:  Always water until established. Refer to the nursery plant tag for specific care and/or when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
Uses: Blazing Star work well on their own or in a border along driveways, and cottage pathways. Works well as a companion to perennial flowers.

 


2. Asclepias tuberosa ‘Western Orange‘ (Western Orange Butterfly Weed)    

DETAILS AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Rate of Growth: Fast, Reaches 2’-3’ tall and wide.
Growing Habit: Upright sword-like green foliage
Seasonal Interest: Bright colored flowers per variety. Butterfly Weed flowers are orange,yellow and often  multicolored.
Exposure and Climate: Full sun, Zones 4-11
Water Needs:  Always water until established. Refer to the nursery plant tag for specific care and/or when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. Drought tolerant when established.
Uses: Cut Flowers, Showy specimen. Bright flowers attract pollinators and hummingbirds.

 

3. Anemone tomentosa  ‘Robustissima ’ (Robustissima Anemone)

DETAILS AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Rate of Growth: 18”- 24”
Growing Habit: Dense Clumps. Pink or white flowers sit upon tall stems.
Seasonal Interest: Flowers bloom mid-Summer to late Autumn.
Exposure and Climate: Full sun-Part Shade,  Zones 4-8
Water Needs:  Always water until established. Refer to the nursery plant tag for specific care and/or when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
Uses: Great as cut flowers. Can be planted in containers.


4. Geranium  ‘Cranesbill Rozanne ’  (Rozanne Hardy Geranium )

DETAILS AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Rate of Growth: 12”-18” tall and wide.
Growing Habit:  Mounding  groundcover.
Seasonal Interest: Evergreen leaves. Flowers bloom on stems, throughout the Summer.
Exposure and Climate: Full sun- Part Sun, Zones 5-9
Water Needs:  Always water until established. Refer to the nursery plant tag for specific care and/or
when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
Uses: Plant in mounds below trees and multi-trunked shrubs to add soft texture. Varieties produce blooms in pink, white, or blue.


5. Echinacea ‘Summersong Firefinch’ (Summersong Firefinch Coneflower)

DETAILS AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Rate of Growth: 12” x 16” tall and 16 x 18”wide.
Growing Habit: Upright clump
Seasonal Interest: 3.5” Flowers daisy shaped flowers. Red petals bloom throughout Summer.
Exposure and Climate: Full sun, part shade. Zones 3-9
Water Needs:  Always water until established. Refer to the nursery plant tag for specific care and/or
when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
Uses: Beneficial pollinators love Echinacea. Leave the seed heads on during Winter for the birds to eat.

Keep enjoying “Top 5 Performing Plants for the Pacific Northwest” with Harmony Design Northwest by subscribing to our newsletter, and be on the lookout for our next post, “Top 5 Foundation Plants”.

Content contributor: EMILY PURDIN | stonybrooklandscapedesign.com
Credit to MONROVIA for plant sizes and care instructions. www.monrovia.com
Photo credit to PIXABAY and their wonderful contributors. www.pixabay.com
Photo credit to Proven Winners and their wonderful photographers. www.provenwinners.com
Photo credit to Google Images and their wonderful contributors. www.googleimages.com
Photo credit to  © Copyright Mary Keim and NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence