The name "foxglove" is derived from folklore, where as one story goes, the plant was originally called folk's glove,' the folks' being woodland fairies and elves. The fairies and elves distributed the flowers to foxes so they could wear them as gloves while raiding henhouses...
Growing: Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Purchase plants in the spring or start your own by sowing seeds directly into ground or into pots in the early spring or late fall. Seeds need light to germinate so don't cover them, but press them gently into the surface of the soil. Plants will self-seed and can be divided in the spring or fall...
The best way to start Geraniums is by purchasing plants, because seeds take around 5 months to flower. After acquiring one plant, take 4-inch cuttings and keep them as house plants over winter until transplanting them in the spring after danger of frost has passed. In non-tropical zones, mature plants can be potted and kept indoors over winter...
Daylilies are one of the hardiest and easiest perennials to grow. Although the flowers are only open for one day, each plants produces lots of buds and many varieties bloom continuously over the entire season. It's a good idea to start with nursery plants that are blooming to ensure you're getting the color and structure you prefer. Plants are hardy enough to transplant while flowering...
Purchase a young plant or sow seeds directly outdoors two weeks prior to the last spring frost date or in early fall at least two months before the first frost date. Sow seeds 1 inch apart at a depth of 1/8" to 1/16". Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last spring frost. Thin seedlings to 12" apart...
Growing: Creeping Jenny (Moneywort, Creeping Charlie)
Purchase seedlings or transplant from establish plants anytime during the growing season. Plants spread rapidly and should be spaced at least 12 to 18 inches apart. Flowers appear in midsummer and last several weeks. This plant can withstand light trampling making it useful for filling gaps between stones in garden walkways...
Purchase plants or start with softwood cuttings from new growth in late spring or early summer, or semi-hardwood cuttings in mid to late summer. Plants can also be propagated over winter by layering. Simply make a small cut in a pencil thick branch and secure the branch (cut side down) to a pot filled with soil while it's still attached to the mother plant...
Clematis do not wrap their stems around a support while they climb. Instead, their leaf stems reach out for objects to wrap around-preferably structures made from wood or metal pieces less than 1 inch across...
Growing: Coneflower (Echinacea)
Sow seeds in pots. Set the pots outside over winter or cold treat them for a month before moving them to a warm place to germinate. Transplant them in spring after soil becomes workable and danger of frost has passed...
Start from seeds by sowing in containers in a cold frame during the fall or spring. Starting in early summer and producing less toward fall, these low-growing plants flower longer over the course of a season than most other shrubs...
Sow seeds in pots or directly into the ground in early spring to early summer. Seeds need light to germinate so do not cover them with soil, but press them lightly into the surface of the soil. Plants tend to die out in 3 to 4 years...
mums can be grown as perennials if cold-hardy cultivars are chosen. Although often planted in late summer and treated as annuals, setting them out in the spring will ensure they have enough time to establish roots to survive harsh winters...
Growing: Celandine Poppy (Wood Poppy)
Plants should not be allowed to dry out between watering. They tend to be quite prolific if planted in good soil and grow best when planted in locations toward the sunnier side of the shade spectrum...
Caladium plants are also good choices for containers. Today's hybrids are the result of widespread breeding between tropical species...
For continuous flowers all summer, trim spent flower clusters off just above a set of leaves and plants will send out two new spikes to replace the one you cut off. As they name suggests, the Butterfly Bush is very attractive to butterflies...
Purchase a nursery raised pot containing numerous plants and divide them up when you plant them. For the first summer give them extra attention...
Despite being true perennials, Iceland Poppies are usually grown as annuals or biennials. To use them as cut flowers, sear off stems with a lit match or lighter and place them in very warm water.
Growing: Azaleas (and Rhododendrons)
Spring and fall are the best times to purchase and plant azalea and rhododendron clumps. If you buy whole balled or burlap wrapped plants, late summer is the best time for planting...
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost date or sow them directly into the ground in spring. Seeds need light to germinate so do not cover them, simply press them into the surface of the soil. . .
Growing: Balloon Flowers (Chinese Bellflower)
In the spring, sow seeds directly into ground where you want them to grow. Keep sowing seeds up to 2 months before fall frost date. Seeds can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting.
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There is no shortage of reasons to fall in love with Bearded Irises. They come in hundreds of stunning colors and color combinations, they grow happily in all but the hottest and coldest zones, they have a tendency to fill out their corner of the flower garden rapidly, and some of them ("rebloomers") even bloom more than once in a season.
A Look at the 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year!
When shopping for perennial bedding plants this year, you can expect to see a lot of plant labels marked 'Cheddar Pink'. That's because the Perennial Plant Association awarded Dianthus gratianopolitanus (also known as 'Feuerhexe' or 'Firewitch') the 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year. If you've grown cheddar pinks before, then you know what all of the fuss is about. If you haven't, give them a try.
