Tall Fluffy Plants

15 years ago

Okay here is the simple question. I have all the happy cottage garden plants here in Zone 6, but do not have plants that seem to be "airy". Is anyone getting my drift and does anyone have any ideas what to include, I do have pink baby's breath? Need some soft plants.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (18)

Lisa_H OK
15 years ago
Verbena bonariensis is usually considered airy.

Lisa

Here is a link that might be useful: Google Images of Verbena B.
Lisa_H OK
15 years ago
I have verbena chaixii that is really tall and airy. This isn't the best picture of one, but it will give you an idea. It is a biennial.

{{gwi:679068}}

I'm sure I'll have seeds in the summer if you are interested.

Lisa
Related Discussions
Plant with small fluffy white flowers
Q
Comments (2)
Do you have a picture of the flowers? Or is this what you think are the flowers? These are the leaves, not the flowers. it could be something like Balotta pseudodictamnus. (Bear in mind that all the plants you have shown are shrivelled with the summer heat and not at their best.)
...See More
Small plant with white fluffy flowers
Q
Comments (2)
Double feverfew. Tanacetum parthenium. Not native in N America.
...See More
Fluffy/floaty companion plants?
Q
Comments (20)
Well! I checked out the Plant World website (took about half a day! What a range!), then I checked out the Aussie import/customs laws, and I *think* I can have flower seeds by cultivar sent to Australia without paying an inspection fee. I will have to contact our customs people to confirm, as the website is irritatingly vague. If so.. I'm in heaven! Thank you so much Camps! I can finally have a humble geranium! Hahaha. I am deliriously happy about this. Some (non-garden-y types) may say disproportionately so. I bite my thumb at those people! I have not been to the southwest of England since I was 4, visiting grandparents in Devon. That was Christmas time, and I remember a lot of snow and wearing mittens. Mostly I was concerned that Father Christmas wouldn't know where to bring my presents. So I couldn't really comment on the climatic similarities, but I will take your word for it. I don't know what my soil pH is, but I know it's acidic because the hydrangeas are all blue. I will do a soil test one day soon, my blueberries are outgrowing their pots and I suspect I will have to fiddle with pH when I get around to planting them in a hedge-y type configuration. I'm having a crack at this winter sowing caper this year, so yes, it's about time I got my act together. This post was edited by muscovyduckling on Fri, May 30, 14 at 9:10
...See More
Fuzzy, Out of Focus Garden
Q
Comments (5)
Just bumping this (a bit) to let you know I haven't given up! I've just been swamped by life, but I'm slowly getting back to gardening now. I did get some fountaingrass plants in pots but ... they died 8/ I left them on the porch in the sun and forgot about them! Watered them a few times but when I finally checked on them they were dry as a bone - I planted them anyway, maybe they have some life. I'll get more - fountaingrasses, at least some species, do seem to have the 'out of focus' quality I was looking for. This post was edited by TreesHugMe on Wed, Dec 3, 14 at 6:26
...See More
christinmk z5b eastern WA
15 years ago
No, I know exactly what you mean corgitrbl. People say my garden is very textural; Im always thinking 'I need something tall and architectural here, or some strappy-leafed plant here'. Heres a couple of 'airy' plants.

Crambe- Sea Kale- there are a few species I think, ranging from really huge to smaller sorts.
Scabiosa ochroleuca- has dainty, small yellow flowers.
Knautia- lookes a bit like previous flower, but more upright. Colors range from maroon to pink, and a lavander-pink.
Gillenia trifoliata- adorable white flowers
Limonium- Sea Lavender or Statice
Valeriana officinalis
Agastache cana and others
Linaria
Nigella is an annual
Some Nepeta are airy
Filipendula has very airy flowers. There are all diffrent kinds.
Im told 'Moonbeam' Coreopsis is billowy.
Gaura
Aster divaricatus?
My Aconitum 'Sparks Variety' has pretty purple flowers.
Saxifraga umbrosa and Semiaquilegia (false Columbine) have a kind-of airiness about them, and would be good for the front of the border.
Wow, this is too much info isnt it? lol.
CMK
libbyshome
15 years ago
Thalictrum (Meadow Rue)
Eupatorium purpureum (Joe Pye Weed)
Filipendula (Queen Of The Prairie)
Gypsophila paniculata (Tall Baby's Breath)

You can see them growing in my garden in the link

Here is a link that might be useful: my garden
friend
15 years ago
I was thinking Joe Pye weed and Russian sage :)

and it's not too late to throw in some cosmos seeds for this year.. they are definately airy and you can get those fast and they'll last all summer! and fall!
gottagarden
15 years ago
Libby I've seen your flowers several times, but I always have to take another look, they are so gorgeous and lush and utterly romantic.
faltered
15 years ago
Grasses are airy. I guess they're not traditionally thought of as cottage plants. Just check MrMorton's photos in the gallery section and you'll see how he incorporates them into his garden.

I was so inspired by him and a few other cottagers that I've planted four different varieties this year.

Tracy
fammsimm
15 years ago
I agree with Tracy on ornamental grasses. They are light & airy, plus they sway beautifully in the breeze.

Another idea would be ferns, particularly asparagus ferns.

Marilyn
christinmk z5b eastern WA
15 years ago
Oh good, Libbyshome mentioned Thalictrum, I forgot to. I have T. rochebrunianum and love it, and its much easier to grow than I thought.
Ok, a couple more...
Cephalaria gigantea
Artemisia lactiflora 'Guizhou'
I saw Fennel at a local public garden last year and love it. Its airy and looks a good deal like dill. Lets see... I believe its proper name is Ferula officinalis.
CMK
seamommy
15 years ago
Cleome is tall, very airy and soft looking.
Tall garden phlox is pretty and smells wonderful.
Hollyhocks are not very airy, but are very tall, cottagey looking and sculptural.
Bee balm is wonderful for it's scent, height and for the hummers it attracts.
Cheryl
olgaflowers
15 years ago
I like Mexican Bush Sage ( Salvia Leucantha )
It blows real cool ! on a real nice windy day !
Olga,
timbu
15 years ago
One more... asparagus.
georgia_rose
15 years ago
Airy fillers and/or weavers of various heights-bronze fennel, grasses, verbena bonariensis, kalimeris, catmint, Diamond Frost euphorbia, Queen Anne's lace and Sweet Annie artemisia (the last two reseed like crazy so dead heading and thinning are necessary.)

Lisa
lostmermaid
15 years ago
A wee bit off topic but twice Queen of the Praries was mentioned. Can anyone confirm what the leaves look like?
Pot plants by chance?

A client gave me some the other day but called it Queen of the plains. I googled of course and came up with nothing. She also called it Randyplay. Or that was how the English accent made it sound. A friend of hers brought a root back many years ago from France.

she did show me a picture. Tall fluffy pink plume of flowers. My very technical perennial book does not use common names (nor pernunciation!) and it is the closest I can find to the match the picture

If anyone can confirm that the leaves follow this description then I will know if I identified it correctly. I could also snap a pic.

Tall fluffy plants: Plume poppy.
Dana
libbyshome
15 years ago
Big leaves, deeply divided.
Fluffy head.
Filipendula rubra (Queen of the Prairie) or sometime called
Filipendula rubra ÂVenustaÂ. I've grown both and haven't noticed much difference.

{{gwi:679069}}

Libby
msmisk
15 years ago
Dill and Fennel are tall and airy, too, and they'll attract butterflies.

Also, Kiss Me Over The Grden Gate
{{gwi:430856}}

And Cleome
{{gwi:341419}}
angelcub
15 years ago
Yarrow
{{gwi:679072}}
Walker's Low nepeta:
{{gwi:679074}}
lostmermaid
15 years ago
Thanks Libby, that's the one.
Reddish stem with somewhat lime green leaves.
Dana