• Sun to Part Sun
• Requires well drained soils
• Somewhat drought tolerant once established
• Deer resistant
• Pale blue blooms in spring and summer, specific bloom time varies with variety

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Arkansas Blue Star – Amsonia hubrichii

It makes sense that this perennial loves our summer heat, given that it is native to Arkansas! The leaves are needle-shapes but soft to the touch.  Each shoot waves gently in the breeze, making it a wonderful texture addition to a sunny spot.  This perennial gets its name not only by location but by the blooms; light blue, star-shaped flowers. Another outstanding feature is the fall color it offers; a bright gold! Mature size is 32- 40″ in height and width, making a wonderful option as a background plant in a perennial border garden.

Shasta Daisy – Leucanthemum

So much to love about this perennial, not the least of which include abundant, bright white blooms that stand strongly above medium green leaves. There are taller growing varieties like Becky (grows to several feet tall) and smaller growing ones like Christine, which tops out around 10 inches in height. Width varies by variety as well; clumps can be divided and shared with friends. Shastas are long lasting cut flowers too!

Sedums

Sedums have been around forever but there are constant additions to these garden favorites! These are perennial succulents, whose leaves store water, making them very heat and drought tolerant once established.  Some varieties are low growing groundcovers (like Lemon Ball and Lime Zinger) and some are upright, such as Thundercloud (a more compact and vibrant blooming improvement on Autumn Joy) or Plum Dazzled. Leaf and bloom color vary widely too. Leaves might be lime green, green with colorful edges, variegated, purple, or blue-gray. Blooms may be insignificant or stunning; it all depends on variety! Sedums are perfectly at home in rock gardens.

Meadow Sage – Salvia

This is another genus of perennial that has many variations to choose from!  This one is a Salvia greggi called Heatwave Blaze… and it’s pretty obvious why; that red is blazing red. This one is bigger than some of the other salvias and grows to about 30 inches tall with a width of around 36 inches.  Hummingbirds and other pollinators love this perennial! Heatwave Blaze has a long bloom season; from spring to fall.  May Night is another popular salvia; it features purple bloom spikes above gray-green foliage.  These plants may not look much alike but they do share a very important feature; they both love the heat, bloom for a long time and are wonderful in water wise gardens, due to being drought tolerant once established.

Russian Sage – Perovskia

Both salvias and perovskia are both called sage, they aren’t in the same plant genus although they are both in the mint family. They are both heat and drought tolerant once established though and the plant form and blooms are similar. Russian sage as these gorgeous fern-like, serrated, gray colored leaves on shoots that end in soft lavender purple blooms. Right now, we have Denim ‘N Lace and Sage Advice. Did we mention they are deer resistant?

Hardy Ice Plant – Delasperma cooperi

This low growing groundcover perennial is a perennial succulent, like sedum.  However, Ice Plant features a totally different looking bloom; frilly star-shaped magenta colored flowers that look similar to an aster bloom. It’s very low growing, with a height of only around 2 inches, but spreads out significantly to around 20 inches. As you would guess, this one is drought tolerant as well!

Our perennial department is currently full of these beauties and many more; it’s a wonderful time to stroll through both our sun and shade perennial departments!

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Dianthus ‘Georgia Peach Pie’

There is always a bunch of Dianthus in the pink and red shades, but this one is different.  The flowers are blush pink with a coral eye. Likes well drained soil, and is drought tolerant once established. Grows 10-12” tall and wide.

Photo cred Walters Gardens (‘Rosie Posie’)

Agastache ‘Morello’, ‘Rosie Posie’, and ‘Heatwave’

Three new varieties for the Agastache group for 2019! This is a perennial that gives a long, long bloom time in the summer. Dare say almost all summer. Perfect for the Hummingbirds and butterflies.  Loves hot, dry sunny spots, with good drainage especially in the winter.

Photo cred Walters Gardens

Nepeta ‘Cat’s Pajamas’

The plant breeders have been working on new cultivars of catmint, and this one is exciting to see.  It is said to bloom from top to bottom unlike their older cousins that bloom on the tips. A bit of a smaller variety growing 12-14” tall and 18-20” wide.

Vintage Violet Yarrow photo cred Proven Winners

Achillea ‘New Vintage Violet’, ‘New Vintage Rose’ and ‘Sassy Summer Sangria’

Yarrow is another plant that is hot and trendy for 2019. By attracting bees and butterflies it isn’t hard to understand why.  Easy for beginners.

Photo cred Walters Gardens

Amsonia ‘Storm Cloud’

This variety is a bit different than the native Amsonia that you might have.  What makes this once different is that the leaves are much wider therefore the plant has a very different overall presence.   It is said that when emerging in the spring the leaves are near black, or at the very least very dark, just like a storm cloud in the distance. They both bloom light blue in the spring.

Veronica ‘Tidal Pool’

Veronica is a fast up and comer plant group, and while most are tall upright varieties, what about a ground cover option?   We got you covered there, too.  This veronica will creep and crawl, and spread  18-30” wide.  It doesn’t mind the humidity, tolerates light foot traffic, blooms violet blue in the spring, and is evergreen! This one checks off a bunch of must haves on the list.

Monarda ‘Bubblegum Blast’

Bees and butterflies just adore Bee Balm and this sweet shade of pink is one to include.  In fact, there will be other new colors as well for 2019. This variety is a great size, growing 24” tall.  Not too big, not too small.

Perennials will be available at different times throughout the spring, as weather plays a role with our crops.

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