Perennials - All

From dark colored spikes and calyxes emerge vivid hot fuchsia colored two-lipped tubular flowers that are produced throughout the growing season on a mound forming, heat and sunloving perennial. San Carlos Festival Littleleaf Sage, a Yucca Do selection of Salvia microphylla from the mountains of Tamaulipas, Mexico, has proven to be a top garden performer with excellent season long flower power and reliable cold hardiness. The brightly colored, nectar rich flowers are sure to draw hummingbirds as well as bees and the occassional butterfly. Provide this tough perennial Salvia with a well-drained, fertile soil with average moisture, although, fully established plants are somewhat drought resistant the plants will flower best where they have at least some moisture available during the growing season. In areas that experience hard freezes plant this Salvia out between early spring to midsummer to ensure winter survival. Item# 12477

3-4" wide light pink to purplish pink coneflowers with drooping narrow petals are held high above the foliage on sturdy 18-24" high stems. Flowers begin in May and may continue through August and they attract bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. The Sanguin Purple Coneflower is a taprooted, clump-forming native with an easy to get-along-with and tough nature. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9304

The arching spikes of 1" long, velvety, tubular, purple flowers emerge from long lasting, velvety, purple calyxes in late summer and into fall, and potentially spring where plants are protected from freezing temperatures, attracting Monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Santa Barbara Mexican Bush Sage, a dwarf selection of Salvia leucantha, is a multi-stemmed, clump forming and slowly spreading perennial whose 2' high, upright to slightly arching stems are cloaked in velvety, narrow lance-shaped, green to gray-green foliage that adorns the young white stems. This is a heat and sunloving, salt tolerant, and deer proof plant that typically does best in an average moist, well-draining soils but are somewhat drought resistant once fully established. Its uniform habit lends it to use in formal to informal garden and landscape settings as well as medium to large containers. It is considered reliably hardy in zones 8-10 and it can be enjoyed as an annual in colder winter regions. In areas that experience hard freezes, plant out as early in the growing season as possible to ensure a strong crown before frost arrives and a breathable winter mulch and excellent drainage will further help to ensure winter survival. Item# 9094

1-1/2" long, deep orange tubular flowers with lavender upper petals and exerted stamens give this cute Cuphea the 'batface' look and are produced throughout the warmer months of the year, or year round where winters are frost free. The flowers attract loads of hummingbirds and other long-tongued pollinators. This is a bushy shrub-like and herbaceous, tender perennial suitable for sunny outdoor locations and can be overwintered in bright indoor locations where not hardy. Enjoy Schumann's Cuphea as a container plant or in the garden. Provide a well-drained, moderately fertile soil for the best results. Item# 10702.

Deep blue falls, standards, and style arms are accented with slightly darker veining and a contrasting orange signal. Sea Knight Louisiana Iris is a compact growing plant reaching about 20-26" high and flowers in early midseason. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Sea Knight was awarded the High Commmendation in 1985. Item# 13452

Dense spikes of golden yellow flowers cover the upper 2/3's of this plant for an extended period beginning in mid to late summer and continuing into fall. Seaside Goldenrod is a clump forming native perennial common in coastal areas whose nectar rich flowers provide a much needed food source to fall migrating Monarch butterflies along with other butterflies, bees, and many garden beneficials. Deep green smooth foliage adorns the stems. This is a salt tolerant species that is more compact in poor and salt laden soils but in rich garden soil it is known to reach 6-8' high. Pinching out the growing tips in late spring will help to create a fuller more compact plant. Provide a full to mostly sunny location but it is otherwise adaptable to a wide variety of soil types from wet clay to sand. Item# 11627

An easy groundcovering perennial, Selfheal produces dense spikes of contrasting coppery tinged green bracts from which row after row of white tubular flowers with a purple 'hood' emerge. It begins flowering in early to mid spring lasting for several weeks providing nectar to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This member of the mint family is easy to establish and requires little care once established in the garden. Use Selfheal as a groundcover, on roadsides, as a component of the meadow, prairie and other naturalistic settings. Selfheal can be used to good effect spilling over walls or even in containers if you feel you need to contain it. Deer, rabbit, and pest resistant. Mainly a winter and spring growing perennial that moves into dormancy after seeds set in summer. Item# 11176

Large balloon-like buds open to purplish-blue star-shaped cup-like flowers. A longtime favorite in the perennial garden, Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower is a selection that boasts a compact habit and plenty of flower power that starts in early summer and can last into fall. An easy to grow perennial that may reseed under good conditions. Provide a moist but well-drained soil with a half a day or more of sun. Balloon Flowers are easy and long flowering clump forming tuberous rooted perennials that seem to just get better with age and require little care. Item# 10549

The clusters of nectar rich, larger flowers open a deep golden yellow and quickly deepen into fiery oranges to near red attracting a variety of pollinators and especially butterflies and bees. Shamrock™ Orange Flame Lantana was selected it for its moderately vigorous but compact habit, deep green foliage, larger flowers, and exceptional flower power all lending this variety to use in containers, as specimens or in mixed container gardens, as well as in hanging baskets, and for summer long color in a sunny garden or landscape. Provide Lantana with a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile soil with good drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 13500

Slender upright to arching stems are topped by spikes of purple frilly starry flowers are produced in summer attracting a variety of pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. Sharp Blazing Star, Liatris acidota, is an herbaceous, often multi-stemmed, cormous, native perennial cloaked in dark green narrow foliage and growing to about 18-30" high and is found in central and western Louisiana and southeastern Texas. The soft texture and and gently arching flower spikes make this beautiful Blazing Star a perfect candidate for the perennial garden where it is sure to attract attention as well as butterflies and pollinators. Plant a grouping for the best effect. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9865

Forget those brittle old fall mums that need pinching and special treatment! Deep indigo, dense, fully double flowers are produced over an extended period in late summer and fall atop neat compact naturally rounded plants with deep green foliage. Forget about the throw away garden mums for fall, find an aster instead! Showmakers® Blue Bayou Dwarf New York Aster or Michaelmas Daisy, a selection of Aster novi-belgii or now Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, is a dense dwarf, hardy, clump-forming, native herbaceous perennial that develops into a neat rounded mass of flowers and foliage to about 12" high and wide with no pinching required. These were developed with container culture in mind but are sure to make statement in the garden or landscape as well. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Midday shade may be desirable in hot summer climates. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, all rights reserved. Item# 13165

Vibrant yellow and red flowers are borne from Spring to frost on an upright to spreading perennial. Raise Monarch Butterflies in your own backyard! The Monarchs migrate through our area just as the Asclepias begin to awaken in spring, just in time for the females to lay their eggs on the new growth. Caterpillar host: Queen and Monarch. Item # 3078.

Silver Mound Lantana is a low growing, mounding lantana that produces an abundance of soft yellow flowers that mature to white and are borne from spring to fall attracting a variety of other smaller pollinators as well as butterflies. An old favorite with the vigor and flower power of the ever popular New Gold as it spends its energy on flower production instead of seed production. An excellent low maintenance groundcover or for the front of the garden or landscape. Item# 10896.

Medium to deep blue falls and standards with the falls being accented by contrasting gold crests at their base are produced in early to midseason, or March to April, atop 30-36" high stems. Sinfonietta Louisiana Iris has been highly popular since its introduction and was awarded an Honorable Mention in 1990 and the Award of Garden Merit in 1992 by the American Iris Society. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13339

Sinonome Toadlily is an heirloom hybrid long adored for its clean disease resistant foliage on upright to gently arching stems, clump forming habit, and in late summer and fall it produces clusters of white orchid-like flowers with nicely contrasting deep purple spots and flecks. One of the toprated Toadlilies in the Chicago Botanic Gardens extensive trials of the genus, receiving 4 out of 5 stars, for its anthracnose free foliage that remains beautiful throughout the growing season and its overall vigor. These are easy to grow clump forming shade loving perennials that prefer an average moist but well-drained soil. Easy and longlived with few pests or diseases as well as good cut foliage and flowers. The flowers attract Bumblebees and potentially other pollinators. Item# 11944

2-3" long, light bluish purple to purple fading to light blue, slightly flaring, tubular flowers are produced in large hanging clusters throughout the growing season, to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions, and are designed for hummingbird pollination, but may attract bees and butterflies as well. Sky King Iochroma, a selection of Iochroma cyaneum, is a naturally evergreen, loosely branching, tropical shrub with an upright to spreading habit typically growing to about 4-6' high and 2-3' wide. This miniature cousin of the Angel's Trumpet is easily enjoyed as a container plant where not hardy. Site in full sun to partial shade in a fertile, average to well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Iochroma, Tubeflower, or Mini Angel's Trumpets flower on new growth so keep them growing and healthy for and endless display. Item# 790

This low growing, mat forming perennial covers up in 1/2" wide white daisies with yellow eyes in late summer and fall attracting bees and smaller pollinators. Snow Flurry White Heath Aster, a selection ofSymphyotrichum ericoides , is a 4-8" high, sprawling, groundcovering selection of this normally 3' high native perennial with dark green narrow heath or juniper like foliage. This species is found most commonly throughout much of the central US as well as into the northeastern and northwestern regions. Provide this easy perennial with a full to mostly sunny site and well-drained, semi-dry soils. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12246

Bright rosy pink to rosy red new growth matures to bright white and green creating a yearround splash of color in the garden, landscape, and even as a spiller for containers and over retaining walls. Snow-N-Summer™ Asiatic Jasmine, a wonderfully colorful selection of Trachelospermum asiaticum, creates a tough and easy, evergreen groundcover that has the ability to thrive even under trying conditions. This 6-12" high groundcover to small twining vine can produce creamy yellow fragrant flowers similar to Confederate or Star Jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides, when grown as a vine or when allowed to trail from hanging baskets and over retaining walls, though it is generally infrequent and is the exception rather than the rule. Few plants can compete with the disposition of this dense groundcover once it is fully established in the landscape making it an easy and reliable choice for landscapers and tough to garden in areas, like beneath trees, where few other plants can thrive or in parking lot islands. It is heat loving, both sun and shade tolerant, deer and rabbit resistant, and has few pest or disease issues particularly when grown in soil with average or better drainage. For the best and brightest foliage coloration some direct sunlight during the day is beneficial and the more the better. Probably best suited to zones 8 and warmer for inground plantings but it can be used as a groundcover in containers beneath larger plants. item# 1188

The long, cascading spikes composed of hundreds of golden yellow flowers are produced in late summer and fall attracting a variety of pollinators and an especially important for native bee species. Solar Cascade Short's Goldenrod, a Cincinnati Zoo Botanical Garden selection of Solidago shortii as part of the Endangered Plant Program, is a well-behaved, clump forming, or short thizomatous, upright to arching perennial that is tolerant of calcareous soils, has good deer and drought resistance, and is self-sterile. By being self-sterile, if it is the only goldenrod species flowering at that time then any seed produced should not be viable. Use this easy to grow native perennial in naturalistic settings and in mixed perennial gardens and landscapes. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist to periodically dry soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Cincinnati Zoo Botanic Gardens, all rights reserved. Item# 12874

"One of the Best" in 2017 at Penn State Trial Gardens! The 3-4" wide, rich lemony yellow flowers are complemented by a orange cones and are held on sturdy 20" high stems above the deep green foliage in summer. SOMBRERO® Lemon Yellow Improved Coneflower or Echinacea is a reliably hardy clump forming perennial growing to about 18-22"H x 22-24"W making it compact enough for containers as well as being a colorful addition to the sunny garden and landscape. Like all of the Echinaceas, the fragrant nectar rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, especially butterflies and bees. Provide a fertile, average moist, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13600