Nice to see a list like this. It will help us.

I was very lucky with my Dianthus Firewitch. I planted it in June. There were flowers already when I planted it. Even late October, there were still few flowers blooming.

Winners:

Gaillardia "Goblin": These plants are tough as nails. It got down to 13 degrees here and they are still green. The blooms are beautiful red and yellow on nice, compact plants.

Red False Yucca: These have long lasting flowers on very talk stalks. People raved about them and the hummers did even more so.

Angel's Breath Yarrow: I ordered this from Bluestone and divided my 3 plants into 12 plants instantly. It looks beautiful as a baby's breath type filler in the coneflower bed.

Losers:

Echinacea "Big Sky Series": These are just dreadful. The blooms fade to these awful pastel shades. The plants are disease probe. The blooms are often quilled or deformed. They aren't winter hardy or as drought tolerant as claimed. Avoid these like the plague.

Nothing comes close to these plants as far as disappointment goes for me!

Good thread! Though it is important to keep in mind that the area of the country you are in can have a big determining influence on what wins and what loses.

Winners:
Mystic Spires Salvia
Ryan's Yellow Chrysanthemum
Prairie Glow Heliopsis
Hibiscus Crown Jewel
Salvia lyrata (positively beautiful foliage)
Deutzia, Chardonnay Pearls
Rosa, Oh So Easy Paprika

Losers:
Adonis Blue Buddleia (color is so washed out)
Ogon Spirea (scorched badly in my zone. What a heartbreak. I like it so much I will move it to some shade.)
Salvia Nemerosa, Caradonna: (new, so it gets one more chance, but to call it pitiful would have been a compliment)

This is a similar to a thread a few weeks back, but here's mine anyway:

Winners:

Lilium 'Orania'
Heuchera 'Rave On'
Heuchera 'Paris' (blooms from May to October here)
Heuchera 'Caramel'
Echinacea 'Green Envy'

Losers:

Sedum 'Diamond Edge'

Donna, I'm curious what you didn't like about Salvia 'Caradonna'.

Echinaceamaniac, maybe I'll try Goblin next year. Do they require much supplemental watering?

Funny you should mention Red False Yucca... I just 'discovered' it yesterday while doing a web search. Definitely looks like something me and the hummers would like.

As for the Big Sky series, I've had better luck than you, but I still don't think they're worth the price. Next year I think I'll try Paradoxa & Tennesseensis.

Torajima, just a note re. Gaillardia: they are notorious for being short-lived, and in some cases, even best treated as an annual. I've read some authorities describe them as "flowering themselves to death".

For me, this matters little as they produce so much colour.

Cheers.

My Gaillardia "Goblin" didn't require extra water even when it was above 90 degrees. I started mine from seeds. You could easily save seeds of them to get more.

Before I contemplate my winners/losers, I thought I would comment about the Gaillardia 'Gobin'. Like Coolplantsguy, I have read several times that gaillardia are a short lived perennial, but my experience has been very different. At my last home, I had them on the north side of the house, so not the full sun they are supposed to get, and they received a ton of water from lawn sprinkler overspray, and they bloomed all summer long, and returned each year. Here, at this house, they are in a full sun, very dry spot, and they bloom all summer long, and return each year. So I've always thought they were indestructible, EXCEPT when moved. I have lost a couple when moving them to a new location.

Now for my list.

WINNERS:
Gaillardia 'Oranges & Lemons' - this one is a little taller than 'Goblin', less mound shaped, but is a blooming machine as well, but what I really love about this one is the color of the blooms.

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' - this one is a bit on the lanky, floppy side, but the color is so appealing, and it blooms forever, so I forgive it.

Geums, 'Mango Lasi' and 'Fireball' - they are more of a late spring bloomer, but the bloom period is pretty long, and the colors are outstanding. The best part though, is that the foliage is neat and attractive, after the blooming is over. It does like a bit of moisture though.

Dianthus 'Ideal Select Red' - Okay technically an annual, but all of mine returned, had a long bloom period, and was a nice, short true red, not dark pink like so many things advertised as red.

Groundcover Sedums - I almost forgot about them, till you mentioned them Torajima, but I have several groundcover types and they all have such nice foliage colors, I don't even care if they bloom or not. I think my favorite one though was Sedum kamtschaticum 'Variegatum'.

Achillea - this one has both losers and winners. I have four different kinds.

Terra Cotta is the biggest winner. Starts out a burnt orange color and fades to an attractive gold.

Anthea starts as a pale yellow and fades to a pleasant creme.

Walter Funke this one starts a brick red, and unfortunately fades to a golden tan, which I hated last year, but decided I kind of like this year.

Paprika - this one starts out cherry red, and fades to pink, which would be okay, except it's in a red, yellow, and orange garden. I've relocated it, and will give it one more try.

Oh, and since you mentioned Cinnamon Basil, I thought I would give mention to an herb as well. I planted Garlic Chives in the herb bed for culinary purposes, but when it bloomed it was enchanting. I would put it in a flower bed anytime, very ornamental.

LOSERS:
Heucheras - I've tried half a dozen different ones and they hate my climate, which is dry, hot, and sunny. A couple are still alive, but they are all struggling. I'd love to find a large leaved foliage plant with all of the beautiful colors the Heucheras come in, that is happy here.

Big Sky Echinaceas - Mine all returned the second year, except the couple that I moved (note to self, quit moving things, you always kill them, LOL). The blooms this year though faded very more quickly than last year, and the foliage was always covered in powdery mildew. I have Sunrise, Sundown, Summer Sky, and Harvest Moon. The yellow ones weren't as bad, but Summer Sky and Sundown were much pinker this year than last. Bought them for the orange tones, again it's a red, yellow, orange garden. I may replace them with one of the many gorgeous Rudbeckias coming out now.

Upright Sedums - okay the local nursery sold me 'Autumn Joy', but it was actually a mislabeled 'Neon'. Not the plants fault, but it was hot pink, and had to go. I've also got Postman's Pride and Lynda Windsor. Love the dark purple color, but they were both lanky, floppy. I'll try cutting them back in late spring to see it they will do better next year. What I'd really love to find is an upright sedum with foliage like Autumn Joy that had yellow blooms. Does such a thing exist?

I'm sure I'm forgetting some things, but those are the ones that come to mind.

Bonnie

Bonnie, I would expect that your "long-lived" Gaillardia are simply perpetuating via self-sown seedlings.

FWIW, 'Oranges and Lemons' is my favourite by a long shot.

I must add "Diamond Frost" Euphorbia to the Winners column. Anyone who doesn't have this plant needs to get one pronto. It blooms more than any other plant I've ever seen. It's still blooming under my grow light. I'm rooting some cuttings in water too so I'll have more next spring. You must grow this plant!

I am surprised Gaillardias was on your NO list! I have them and love em! They are all about the same as far as growing them. I have the "Goblin" variety. You mentioned that they are short lived. And that they are, however, before giving up try this.

In early August, take a round point shovel and about 4-5" out from the plant with your foot press the shovel into the dirt about 6" in all the way around the plant. This will cut the underlying roots thus in turn forcing the plant to grow new runners off the plant itself. Come spring,dig up the new plants and plant at hearts will.

I have done that and have fresh strong plants every year. However when working with such small plants, it takes more time for them to start blooming.

They only reason Gaillardias were on my loser list is that they died half way thru the summer. But I do plan to try again next year with a different variety.

My established Gaillardias send out runners in the spring, without my assistance, and the crown does not completely die back over the winter, so I'm pretty sure it's not just reseeding itself. I believe the reason I'm so successful with them is that I live in a high desert climate, which the Gaillardias are well suited for. They used to grow wild along the roadside near my last house.

coolplantsguy, my Caradonnas just sat there in organically rich, well-drained, but consistently moist soil and declined all summer long. I suspect it is a climate problem: intense sun, night time lows above 72 degrees, and unrelenting humidity. If the problem is too much moisture or too good soil, I'll have to let them go, since this is a mixed border.

I had Salvia, May Night a few years back and 2 of 3 plants died the first year, but that one persists and makes a decent showing in spring and early summer if dead-headed. That's the only reason I am still holding onto a shred of hope for my (6) caradonnas, which are supposed to be the best Salvia superba for the south.

torajima,
Thank you for doing such an extensive list of winners and losers. It would be additionally helpful to know what zone you are in as well as a few additional details ph, irrigation, optimum conditions, ect. kt

runktrun, I'm in 7b and have poor, fast drying soil (a lotta sand and a little clay). I've never tested the ph, but I've got numerous dogwoods and holly trees growing wild, so I think acidic is a safe guess.

In the summer it is hot & humid, but I rarely have an appreciable amount of rain. I try to water newcomers (and annuals) once or twice per week, unless a thunderstorm takes care of it for me.

Most of my established plants need little or no supplemental watering. Except for my Rhododendrons... keeping them alive during the drought has been a job!

Phenomenal wonbyherwits! Stunning! Gorgeous!

Wonderful, Cameron! Just wonderful! Not only are your pictures gorgeous (as usual) but very creative presentation, lol.

I never, ever, EVER, get tired of seeing that last photo. My favorite colors and all so nicely combined. Absolutely beautiful garden - and great inspiration. Thank you!

:)
Dee

Fortunately, my plants have short acceptance speeches.

Cameron

My standout new plant this year was by far Gallardia "Oranges and Lemons". It was the last plant blooming in late Nov after frosts and made tireless stands of beautiful, bright flowers all summer long. I just deadheaded whenever I walked by, and this plant took care of itself. I sure hope it comes back this spring. If not, I will buy another one as an annual, it was THAT GOOD.
Agastache "Tutti Frutti" did very well, making a 3 ft small bush that was always beloved by hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. I would like to find a closer place to put one next year so I can better enjoy the creatures that love it so much. Perhaps as part of a container planting on the patio...

Disappointments are Monarda "Jacob Cline" because it won't stand upright. It sprawls sideways, etc and is not the look I had hoped for. Nor did it bloom very well this year. Same story for my Gallardia Goblins in same bed, now they did bloom profusely, but not standing up. Instead they flopped all over the place and were a distraction to me. We'll see if they come back too.

Not sure what to use in their places if they don't comeback or perform well enough. I need hot colors for a full sun, dry bed in front of house. Sections needing a 3 ft tall upright grower and sections for about a 2 ft tall upright grower. Suggestions ? Thanks in advance !

A real favorite for me in 2008 was the euphorbia diamond ice. It is such a carefree, sparkeley (?), light-hearted plant, it just made me smile everytime I looked at it. Great in containers on the ground, great in baskets. Last winter, I got a poinsettia with 5 diamond ice surrounding it. I tossed the pointsettia, trimmed the diamond ice back severaly in late winter, and it all came back with a huge bang. This year, when I cut it back, I stuck some cuttings to see if I can get more plants. Absolutely love this one!

Just an update on the Euphorbia Diamond Ice. Here it is the 23rd and I have roots and inch long of the cuttings I stuck on the 16th. Yowie zowie! I'll have lots this year!

I agree about e,diamond ice. At last a white sparkly plant that takes both shade and sun. I was so bored with white alyssum after 25 years of gardening and by late summer and and more shade it completely petered out. I wish I had taken cuttings of the euphorbia last year because these annuals are not inexpensive.
I cleaned out the nursery last year.

Just a comment on what others have posted. Note to highalttransplant: deadhead those garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) if you don't want plants EVERYWHERE! They are very prolific and hardy, as I learned the hard way. My favourite Achillea is A. Schwellenberg. See link below. It has silvery gray foliage, with deep mustard yellow flowers, very upright and very vigorous, even in part shade. I also like A. Anthea and Walter Funke. Favourite Heucheras are Caramel and Frosted Violet, and the native villosas, both green and purple. I agree with other posters about Gaillardia Arizona Sun and Veronica Sunny Border Blue. I have tried to grow these several times in different spots in my garden with no success. Definitely a "flop" at least for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Achillea Schwellenberg

I'll second the note on the garlic chives, I enjoy the flowers but be SURE to deadhead or you will have them everywhere. Caradonna, I absolutely love that salvia. In my bed it remains upright, unlike some of the others. With deadheading, I get a long bloom season and the deep purple stems are showy even when not blooming. Others that I have been very happy with: heliopsis,Tuscan Sun a shorter about 15-18 inch heliopsis that keeps blooming till frost stops it, Rudbeckia tomentosum 'Henry Eilers' a soft yellow with quilled petals 2 1/2 to 3 ft tall. It was new in my garden last summer but if it continues on in the same way it will have a place in my garden for a long time. Not a new plant, but Tuinca Saxifraga blooms for me from late June till Sept. with pink baby's breath like blooms on a very short 2-3 in. plant. It must have good drainage for the winter. And then there's aster 'October Skies', a 15" mound smothered in blooms. The leaves and stems are so tightly packed it can't flop and if any bottom leaves would brown you would never be able to see it.

Just a couple of quickies here, checking in on a break at work...

Eryngium 'Jade Frost' is a really stunning plant, in bloom and 'outa'. Hope it will be perennial for me though I have no problems with other eyngiums of similar pedigree so it should be.

A favorite from the last 2 years, Agastache 'Purple Haze' continues to be one of the best, *long blooming no care neat and clean perennials* I have seen in the last 10 years. The sources all say z6 but it has been though 2 z5 winters in my garden and all or almost all of the many plants I planted all around the garden made it just fine.

Oooh, thanks david -- I'm so glad to hear that you like Eryngium 'Jade Frost' as that is on my definite to get list for this spring. Has anyone else tried this one yet?

It is a form of E. planum, which I've seen reports of being hardy to zone 4 (e.g. North Dakota), so you should be OK.