Garden asters form compact mounds of colorful blossoms—shades of blue, red, pink, lavender, or purple with bright yellow centers. Aster will brighten garden beds and borders and they are well-suited for container gardens. There are more than 600 species of asters; most are a foot or two tall but some grow to 6 feet tall…
Perennial blue salvia, Salvia x superba, bear slender, terminal racemes of bright violet or purple flower from midsummer to early autumn. Perennial blue salvia is a clump-forming, erect, branched perennial with lance-shaped mid-green leaves. It grows up to 3 feet (91cm) tall. It grows best in Zones 5 to 9. Get to know perennial blue…
Achillea–commonly called yarrow–is a colorful addition to the garden. Yarrow has fernlike, fragrant leaves. Species and cultivars range in size from very small, creeping plants to very large—up to 4 feet (1.2m) tall. Achillea is easy to grow and grows well even in poor, dry soil. Achillea is a perennial. It is also known as…
Acanthus–commonly called bear’s breeches–is an imposing perennial with deeply cut, glossy dark green leaves, and tall snapdragon-like flowers. It is grown for its bold-textured evergreen leaves and sculptural beauty. The mauve-and-white tubular flowers bloom on tall, dramatic stalks for a month in early summer. The flowers can be freshly cut. Acanthus can be used in large…
Astilbe features plumy spikes of brilliant colors in mid to late summer. With its fern-like leaves, astilbe is a good choice for shady borders and under trees in cottage gardens. Astilbes cultivars range in size from 1½ to 6 feet tall. Astilbe is a perennial member of the Saxifrage family. Astilbe’s feathery trusses of tiny…
Sunflowers–botanical name Helianthus–are grown for their bright yellow ray florets and edible seeds. There are both annual and perennial sunflowers available in a wide color range. Some have smaller flowers; others have very large flower heads. The Helianthus genus numbers nearly 80 species. There are tall often coarse plants that can be planted as windbreaks…
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