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.

Please feel free to comment on any post at any time. All feedback is welcome and we’d love to receive all of your thoughts.

Thank You

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.

Please feel free to comment on any post at any time. All feedback is welcome and we’d love to receive all of your thoughts.

Thank You

Indian Paintbrush, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

Asclepias tuberosa
    Butterfly Weed,  Indian Paintbrush

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 9A
Height    18" to 30" / 45cm to 75cm
Spread    12" to 36" / 30cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Orange, red and yellow
Bloom Time    Summer

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

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought and a little salt.
This plant will grow in dry to 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
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Seeds will be dispersed in late summer or early fall, and offsets will emerge in the fall at the base of the mother plant.  Asclepias has a large taproot, making it difficult to transplant.  This plant is so late to break dormancy in the spring, one might wonder if it made it through the winter.  If interested in crafts, the fresh flowers from this plant can be used to make yellow dye.   Plants serve provide nectar for butterflies and are hosts for butterfly larvae.

Plant with Solidago, Heliopsis, Helianthus and Penstemon.

Cut back during growth periods to encourage a fuller plant.

Please feel free to comment on any post at any time. All feedback is welcome and we’d love to receive all of your thoughts.

Thank You

Siberian Iris, Deciduous Perennial Of The Day

Iris sibirica 'Silver Edge'

Siberian Iris

Type Perennial

Hardy range 3A to 9A

Height 18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm

Spread 18" to 24" / 45cm to 60cm

Growth rate Fast

Form Upright or erect and vase shaped

Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Blue

Bloom Time Summer

The flowers are suitable for cut flowers.

EnvironmentThis plant will grow in 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
Fall Color Orange

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture NotesThese plants are very hardy, easy to grow, and increase readily. They will grow in shade, but will bloom and grow better in the sun. Division should take place every 3 years. Plants go well with: Iris pallida, Dianthus sp., Aquilegia, Artemisia, and Carex sp. 'Silver Edge' has lovely blue blossoms with a narrow edge of silver to set it off.

Please feel free to comment on any post at any time all feedback is welcome and we’d love to hear all of your thoughts.