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February 13, 2012
Ella's Advice: 10 Best Value Plants
Posted by Ella Maxwell on 07/13/10When hot summer weather arrives, it’s valuable to have plants that can go a little while without being watered. Fortunately, there are several drought-tolerant plants that can save you money on watering and still look beautiful throughout the summer.
We’ve compiled a list of our most valuable plants that are guaranteed to come back year after year, save you money on watering (all are drought-tolerant), and eventually fill up a lot of space.
Next time you’re thinking about adding to your garden or landscape, try incorporating some of these plants to stretch your dollar a little further:
| Sedum One of the most reliable growers, sedum provides star-shaped blooms well into fall and attracts butterflies. Fall blooming varieties also offer fuel for monarchs and other late fliers on their journey south. Why we love it: Sedum is one of the first perennials to emerge in the spring, offering interesting foliage until it erupts with blooms from late summer through the end of fall. |
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| Yarrow (Achillea) Yarrow grows in almost any conditions, providing vibrant colored blooms in the garden until frost. Some of our favorite varieties are Moonshine (light-yellow), Apricot Delight (pink), and Strawberry Seduction (red). Why we love it: Yarrow is very tolerant of heat and humidity, has a long bloom season and even grows well in a pot. |
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| Coreopsis Also known as Tickseed, this plant produces sunny yellow flowers and thrives in dry conditions. Interesting varieties include Tequila Sunrise (variegated leaves), Crème Brulee (light yellow), and Jethro Tull (fluted petals). Why we love it: Native to the Southwest United States and Mexico, this perennial can take the heat and still perform beautifully. |
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| Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) This cheerful perennial offers large, daisy-like blooms from early summer through fall. Considered a wildflower by some, the bright red and yellow blooms look great in a tidy border or naturalized landscape. Why we love it: This plant is very tough and cheerful! The bright colors will add a touch of whimsy and wilderness to any area of your garden. |
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| Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) Just when we need a breath of fresh air in the late summer heat, butterfly bushes happily burst into bloom. At a time when many other plants are already spent, buddleias are just beginning their show. Their passive coloring and texture makes a wonderful backdrop for perennials, and you'll love the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds that flock to their honey-scented blossoms. Why we love it: Deer resistant, fragrant, drought-tolerant, attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds and even great in a cut flower arrangement – you can’t ask much more in a perennial! |
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| Coneflower (Echinacea) This native plant has become a standard for the summer perennial garden. Coneflowers are accustomed to harsh prairie conditions, and they are great at tolerating heat, drought, and wind. They’re even a source of seed for birds long after they stop blooming. Some of our favorites are Kim’s Knee High (dwarf), Tomato Soup (red petals), Pink Double Delight (double pink petals), Mac ‘n’ Cheese (yellow petals) and more! Why we love it: Available in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and shapes, coneflowers are some of the best perennial flowers for late summer and early fall. |
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| Agastache This drought-tolerant perennial is often forgotten, but it’s the perfect addition to any wildlife habitat, with flowers that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees all summer long. Agastache boasts a compact, upright growing habit, fuzzy licorice-scented leaves and lovely, nectar-rich blue-lavender flower spikes Why we love it: The tall blooms provide a great backdrop for other perennials and annuals in the landscape. |
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| Knock Out Rose There’s a reason we call them Knock Out Roses! This family of roses has stunning flower power with a generous bloom cycle (about every 5-6 weeks) that will continue until the first hard frost. These low maintenance roses are easy to grow and extremely disease resistant. Why we love it: Knock Out Roses can fit into any landscape. Plant them individually among shrubs, annuals and perennials, or in clusters for a dramatic visual impact. |
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| Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum) We love this tough plant for its rosette-shaped clusters of leaves. It can grow in shallow or rocky terrain in the garden, and is also very attractive in containers. The plants can be divided easily at any time by pulling up some of the "chicks" and replanting them elsewhere Why we love it: Sempervivum is very forgiving. It can go for days without water, and then perk right back up once you remember. |
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| Ornamental Grasses These perennials are the perfect garden backdrop, adding texture, color and fullness to any space. Look for switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) for beautiful fall color and feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) for a stately sweep up to 5 feet tall. Why we love it: Ornamental grass offers year-round interest and adds a touch of drama and looks perfectly at home in the Midwest landscape. |
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