Perennials of the year 1998-2002

2002 Phlox “David’
This white flowered phlox makes a great mid-size addition to any flower garden. The white flowers give your garden more color longer in the day, because the white flowers reflect more light in the evening. Plant it next to your garden path or entry, so you can smell the fragrant flowers. It is powdery milder resistant, which is important for a phlox. Make sure you enjoy it inside, too, as it makes a great cut flower. Easy to grow, gets to about 30″, likes full sun. Easy to divide and give to your friends!

2001 Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’
This upright grass plant seems to becoming used more and more every year.The long bloom period (mid summer through fall) make it a great accent plant or background plant. The Light brown spikes stay on all winter, making it great for winter interest. I like to cut the spikes and use them in fall arrangements. Best in full sun, but will take some morning shade, and is drought tolerant. Makes a nice container plant, too

2000 Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’
This long blooming “pincushion” flower will make a great addition to the front border of your garden. The small but profuse flowers will start appearing in early to mid summer assn continue in to late mid fall. Dead-head (remove faded flowers) to promote more blooms. The mounded shape with its soft textured leaves makes for a nice mixed container plant or it can be planted close together for a larger, massed effect. Also makes a nice rock garden plant. Grows to 12″ x 12″, likes full sun.

1999 Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’
One of the all-time favorites! Easy to grow. The golden yellow flowers with their brown centers make a great combination with Calamagrostis (mentioned earlier) or just about any of the ornamental grasses. Also looks great when planted with purple coneflower. Has a long bloom time, mid summer through the fall. Attractive to butterflies when in bloom. The brown cone-like seed heads make for great winter interest. Make sure you take your camera out and take a picture of them, when after a light snow, the cones have neat little “snow caps” on them. Watch for finches to come in the late fall and and flit around on the plants, picking at the seed heads, looking for a treat. Grows to about 2′ x2′. Will tolerate some shade. Makes a great cut flower, easy to divide

1998 Purple Coneflower v. ‘Magnus’
This coneflower is closely related to our native coneflower. This perennial self-seeds so you can dig up the seedlings in the fall or early spring. Another favorite of butterflies. Its long bloom period starts in the summer and stretches into fall. Combine it with Goldsturm Rudbeckia in cut flower arrangements. Like the Goldsturm, the cone-like seed heads last into the winter and are a source of food for our winter friends the birds. Drought tolerant, likes full sun. Grows to 30-36″. Easy to divide.