Loraine Sunshine, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Loraine Sunshine'
Ox Eye, Sunflower Heliopsis, False Sunflower, Orange Sunflower, Hardy Zinnia

Type Perennial
Hardy range 4A to 8A
Height 24" to 30" / 60cm to 75cm
Spread 24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Growth rate Fast
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Full sun
Persistence Deciduous
Bloom Color Yellow

Bloom Time Summer and Fall

Environment

This plant tolerates drought. This plant will grow in dry to moist soil. Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy. The pH preference is a neutral soil.


Leaf Color Green and variegated

This plant has attractive foliage. The flowers are showy, suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.

Culture Notes Closely resembling the true sunflower, Heliopsis frequently needs staking. However, 'Loraine Sunshine' has sturdy stems and, generally, does not need this added support. Removal of spent flowers is needed to extend the blooming period, since spent flowers normally remain attached to the plant. Division can be done in the spring, but it will be slow to reestablish this plant. Seed can be gathered in the fall. It is normally found growing in open woods, scrub, and on dry hillsides.

'Lorraine Sunshine' has gorgeous green and white variegated foliage, which provides an excellent backdrop to its large, golden-yellow daisies.

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BEFORE, DURING & AFTER

Blazing Star, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

Liatris spicata 'Kobold'
    Blazing Star,  Spiked Blazing Star,  Gayfeather

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 9A
Height    18" to 36" / 45cm to 90cm
Spread    12" to 16" / 30cm to 40cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Purple
Bloom Time    Summer and Fall

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is sandy or clay.
The pH preference is a neutral to alkaline (6.8 to more than 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage

Culture Notes
This plant may need mulching in colder climates.  Liatris spicata prefers soil that will retain water, but not so much that winter rotting will occur due to excessive water.  Root structure is thick and fleshy, corm-like.  Seeds can be collected in the summer.  Deadhead spent flowers after blooming and, in the fall, cut back to ground level.  Plants go well with: Ornamental grasses, Rudbeckia, Coreopsis, Echinacea, and Artemisia sp.

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Rocky Mountain Columbine, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

 

Aquilegia caerulea
    Rocky Mountain Columbine

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 8A
Height    16" to 18" / 40cm to 45cm
Spread    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are suitable for dried flowers.

Environment
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Leaf miners often develop after flowering, and the foliage should be removed and destroyed.  The plant will regrow in a few weeks.  Aquilegia's have a long carrot like root making them difficult to transplant.

Wire cages may be necessary for rabbit problems.

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Rock Spiraea, Evergreen ground-cover Of The Day

Petrophytum hendersonii
    Rock Spiraea

Type    Shrub, groundcover, woody plant
Hardy range    5A to 8A
Height    4" to 6" / 10cm to 15cm
Spread    36" to 6' / 90cm to 1.80m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Prostrate and spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    White
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are showy.

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Provide full sun and exceptional drainage for this small, low growing ground cover. Plants look great in a rock garden and cascading over a wall.

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