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Suggestions for new plants photo

16 years ago

This is a picture from the other side. the garden with the JP weed is lower, this is the upside. I have spiderwort to the left of the birdbath(i cut it down) which I love when it's in bloom but it didn't last very long this year. What can I put in there to fill and have some color when the spiderwort fades?

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Comments (8)

Iris GW
16 years ago
Do you have any Rudbeckia? Something like R. hirta has been very long lasting for me this year.
anita55
Original Author
16 years ago
I do not and that is a wonderful suggestion. Is R. Hirta annual or perennial? I know there are many varieties of BE Susan
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Iris GW
16 years ago
It is perennial. R. hirta has the fuzziest of leaves compared to others (for example, R. fulgida is more smooth than fuzzy) in my opinion, of course. Need a few seed heads? I got bunches of them out there now. I also have R. fulgida that is just starting to bloom now.
fatamorgana2121
16 years ago
Lupines have both pretty blooms and interesting foliage but they would be an early Summer bloom, late May - June here in Western NY State - I'm not sure what part of NY you're in.

I'm guessing the scarlet behind the birdbath is a Monarda. Another Monarda is possible. The Monarda fistulosa I find wild here are all only in the 1-2' range even though I believe it can get taller.

I find that some of the other echinaecas are not as tall as the E. purpurea. In my experience both the E. paradoxa and E. tennesseensis are only 1-2'.

Though it's a biennial and an effective self-seeder, Rudbeckia triloba is a cute addition.

FataMorgana
anita55
Original Author
16 years ago
Fatamorgana said "Rudbeckia triloba is a cute addition"; I went to the closest native garden center and this plant was at least 6 feet tall! It was more like a tree than a perennial. The next garden center had ones that were smaller, maybe 4 feet tall. Everything is always bigger than I expect. I may have to expand my garden out into the lawn to make room for all the perennials i like!
fatamorgana2121
16 years ago
Wow - 4 and 6 feet tall. I've got it in my gardens but it grows 2.5' max. It seeds it self around and stays that height. It also grows in a plot at a local historic site that is working to restore native grasses and forbs to 30-40 acres. The forbs include compass plant, lupine, various coneflowers, and more including R. triloba. The triloba plants in the native grass planting area are only 2-3' as well - I was just picture taking last week and earlier today.

So I don't know what to say about the giants you saw.

FataMorgana
anita55
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi! I don't know either. they were in pots, and not very filled out but I'm telling you they were at least a foot taller than I, which is 5'1". Maybe they were reaching for the sun, as plants will sometimes when they don't get adequate sunlight. Of course I didn't buy those, but I did buy the shorter version and they have a happy home in my garden right now.
dapjwy
16 years ago
I was thinking of Penstemon digitalis.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Native Backyard

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cold stratification?

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