BLACK-EYED SUSAN (Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’)
Flowers: Black-eyed Susans, the highlight of summer, look like pure gold when planted in multiples or drifts.
Mature Size: 30”+ tall.
Bloom time: July – early October.
Light: Full or part sun.
Why I like them: They are tough and deer resistant perennials that bloom for 3+ months. Give these plants room and they will spread quickly.
Classic combinations: Drifts of Black-eyed Susan and ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’)
CONEFLOWERS (Echinacea purpurea ‘Merlot’):
Flowers: Rose-pink petals surround a bronze-orange cone. The large flowers are supported by strong and long, burgundy stems.
Mature Size: 24-36” tall.
Bloom time: July – September.
Light: Full or partial sun.
Why I like them: Coneflowers thrive in an average, well-drained soil. This North American genus looks just as beautiful in a formal or cottage garden. First the butterflies are attracted to the nectar and later, the finches love the dried seeds in the cone. Echinacea is available in a stunning variety of colors and heights.
Classic combinations: The daisy-shaped, pink Coneflowers pair nicely with the clouds of tiny, white-flowers of Calamint (Calamintha nepeta nepeta). Place the 12-inch tall, Calamint in front of taller Coneflowers or other perennials. Both are deer resistant.
ASTER (Aster x frikarti ‘Monch’): ‘Monch’ is a shrubby or mounded perennial aster with deep-green foliage and daisy-shaped flowers. Asters are one of the longest blooming perennials and come into their own in late summer—when most flowering plants are finished.
Flowers: These flowers are a classic, daisy shape—and available in many rich shades of purple, blue, magenta or white.
Mature Size: 2’-3’ tall.
Bloom time: July – September.
Light: Full sun to part shade.
Why I like them: Asters are one of the longest blooming perennials. Provide consistent moisture to keep the flowers from drying out. Pinch back in midsummer to encourage the most blooms.
Classic combinations: Mounds of this Aster’s lavender-blue flowers with yellow centers combine well with Masterwort (Astrantia major), Coneflower (Echinacea), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) and Stonecrop (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’).
RUSSIAN SAGE (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Feathery, lavender blue spires and silver-green foliage make this sunny border perennial a favorite. They prefer a well-drained soil and plenty of sun. Don’t give up on them because they are a little slow to start in the spring.
Flowers: Tall, foot-long wands of blue or purple flowers bloom on finely-cut, gray-green leaves. Plants need good drainage and full sun to bloom from mid-summer into fall.
Mature Height: 24- to 48-inches tall, depending on the variety.
Bloom time: July – September.
Light: Full sun.
Why I like them: It is deer, rabbit and drought resistant and butterflies love them.
Classic combinations: Plant regular or dwarf varieties of Russian Sage in multiples to create an elegant background for coneflowers. Try the fragrant, sunset-orange, coneflower ‘Mama Mia’ for maximum impact.
FEATHER REED GRASS (Calamagrosti x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’): This feathery, compact ornamental grass is recognized for its architectural, vertical habit. It thrives in full to part sun and in a range of conditions from hot summers to frigid winters.
Flowers: The feathery, flower stalks emerge creamy white with a bit of pink in June and turn to a gold-straw color in autumn. This variety blooms 2-3 weeks earlier than the common feather reed grass.
Mature Height: up to 6-feet tall.
Blooms last from: June through winter months.
Light: Full sun to part shade.
Why I like them: This grass is a well-behaved, clumping grass and works as a screen or see-through plant. It adds vertical interest in a neutral color. I like the way it moves in the breeze.
Classic combinations: Bring out the slight pink in the flower heads of this reed grass with pink coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’), Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium ‘Gateway’) or coral-pink, Bee balm (Monarda didyma ‘Coral Reef’).
