Common Name |
Botanical Name |
Height |
Plant Characteristics and Notes |
USDA Zones |
Environmental Requirements Benefits for Nature |
|
Abelia |
Abelia grandiflora |
3-6 ft. |
Abelia is a very durable and adaptable shrub with dense, glossy dark green foliage. It produces hundreds of 1" funnel shaped flowers from early summer until the first frost |
6-9 |
|
|
American Dune Grass |
Leymus racemosus 'Glaucus' |
2-3 ft. |
American Dune Grass is a valuable plant for the prevention of the wind eroding your soil due to its rhizomatous spreading habit |
4-9 |
|
|
Australian Saltbush |
Atriplex semibaccata |
1--2 ft. |
The Creeping Saltbush is a low growing shrub from Australia with light green curly leaves. It will survive in areas where there is high levels of salt in the soil. Flowers in the summer are insignificant |
9-11 |
|
|
Baby Sun Rose |
Aptenia cordifolia |
10" |
The Baby Sun Rose is a trailing, succulent perennial with glossy green foliage. It produces bright 1" flowers in the spring and summer. Excellent for hanging baskets |
9-11 |
|
|
Big Bluestem |
Andropogon gerardii |
4-7 ft. |
Big Bluestem forms large clumps of stiff silvery green to blue foliage, turning to a copper color in fall |
4-10 |
|
|
Blanket flower |
Gaillardia grandiflora |
1-3 ft. |
Blanket flowers are clumping upright perennials with light green foliage. Their Daisy-like flowers appear in mid summer and are up to four inches in diameter. Blanket Flowers are easily grown from seeds |
4-10 |
|
|
Bluebell of Scotland |
Campanula rotundifolia |
1-3 ft. |
The Bluebell Bellflower is a clump forming perennial that, from June through September, produces multiple stems, each with a single nodding bell shaped flower. Campanula can be grown from seed or propagated by division. (Campanula comes from the Latin word campana, which means 'bell') |
3-9 |
|
|
Blue Chalksticks |
Senecio serpens |
6-12" |
Blue Chalksticks is a succulent sub-shrub from South Africa consisting of 4-6", ½-¾" thick, powder blue segments. In extremely hot areas, it should be protected from direct sun. |
10-11 |
|
|
Blue Clumping Wheatgrass |
Elymus magellanicus |
1-2 ft. |
Blue Clumping Wheatgrass is a clump forming plant with bright metallic blue foliage, producing taller stems of small blue flowers in early summer |
5-9 |
|
|
Blue Fescue |
Festuca glauca |
8-12" |
Blue Fescue is a durable plant that grows in clumping mounds of fine blue foliage. They tend to die out in the center after a couple years and will need to be divided |
4-9 |
|
|
Blue Hill Sage |
Salvia superba |
12-15" |
Narrow erect plant with irregular leaves, spikes of intensely bluish purple flowers all Summer if spent flowers are removed. Drought tolerant, Prefers slightly alkaline soil |
4-8 |
|
|
Blue Lungwort |
Pulmonaria angustifolia |
8-12" |
Blue Lungwort is a clumping, deciduous perennial with an 'I'll grow anywhere' attitude. They have light green, lance shaped foliage and produce short clusters of brightly colored flowers for several weeks in early spring |
3-8 |
|
|
Blue Sedge |
Carex flacca |
6-18" |
Blue Sedge produces slow spreading clumps of fine blue foliage. Great as a ground cover plantor for growing in a container. |
4-9 |
|
|
Bottlebrush |
Callistemon lanceolatus |
10-20 ft. |
Bottlebrush is a small, slow growing evergreen tree with light green, eliptical shaped 6" leaves. New growth has a nice copper hue. Brightly colored, 1½" bottle brush flowers appear conspicuously in the spring |
8-11 |
|
|
Bougainville |
Bougainvillea |
2-20 ft. |
Bougainvillias produce some of the showiest display of colors of all vines. Most cultivars have an upright growth habit, but there are many shrubby varieties and creeping types as well. |
9-10 |
|
|
Burning Bush |
Dictamnus albus |
2-3 ft. |
The Burning Bush, or Gas Plant, earned it's name because of the phenomina created by the fact that the leaves, flowers and seed pods give off a strong lemon scented vapor which, on a calm summer night can be ignited with a match. |
3-7 |
|
|
Butterfly bush |
Buddleia davidii |
6-15 ft. |
The Butterfly Bush is a fast growing, profuse blooming, deciduous shrub that will grow in almost any type of soil. Prune hard in early spring and remove spent flowers promptly. |
5-10 |
|
|
Butterfly Pea |
Clitoria ternata |
|
Butterfly Pea is a fast growing climber is a fairly common tender perennial species that produces two inch flowers in mid to late Summer. A quick cover for lattice, a trellis, arbors and chain-link fences |
10-11 |
|
|
Cape Marigold |
Arctotheca calendula |
3-6" |
The Cape Marigold is a rosette forming evergreen that is commonly grown as an annual plant. It produces loose, aster-like flowers in the summer. Cape Marigold is considered invasive or noxious in some areas |
10-11 |
|
|
Cat's Foot |
Antennaria dioica |
2-6" |
Cat's Foot is a mat forming North American native wildflower with durable silvery foliage. It produces light to bright pink flowers in late spring and early summer. Excellent mimi ground cover for hot and dry spots in the garden |
5-9 |
|
|
Catmint |
Nepeta faassenii |
1-2 ft. |
Catmint is a compact, upright branching perennial that grows 1-2 feet tall with a spread of 18". From early summer into fall, Catmint plants produce long, loose spikes of pretty, ½" violet-blue flowers. Cats love it, and it repels Aphids! |
4-8 |
|
|
Catnip |
Nepeta cataria |
2-3 ft. |
Catnip is a very easy to grow and care for plant that is somewhat less ornamental than Catmint. Catnip plants grow to 3 feet tall, with a spread of 1½-2 feet. In the summer and early fall, they produce 3"-4" spikes of tiny white flowers spotted with pale purple. |
3-7 |
|
|
Climbing Fig |
Ficus pumila |
|
Climbing Figs are frost tender, fast growing evergreen vines. The foliage lays flat so it is useful for covering walls and flat surfaces. Easy propagation by layering or softwood cuttings |
8-11 |
|
|
Cosmos |
Cosmos bipinnatus |
3-5 ft. |
Cosmos are extremely heat and drought tolerant. They prefer full sun and do well in poor, infertile soil. Cosmos plants come in a rainbow of summer blooming flower colors |
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|
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Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster |
3"-15 ft. |
Cotoneaster is an extremely diverse genus of plants which includes ground covers, dwarf sized bushes and large sprawling shrubs. The flowers are generally small and appear from spring to early summer followed by bright red or orange berries for the birds to eat in winter. |
vary |
|
|
Creeping Baby's Breath |
Gypsophila repens |
4-6" |
Creeping Baby's Breath forms a low growing mat of tiny greyish green foliage and produces masses of small star shaped flowers in early summer. This plant is easily grown from seed or propagated by division. Trim back after blooming |
3-9 |
|
|
Creeping Zinnia |
Sanvitalia procumbens |
6-10" |
Creeping Zinnia is a bright little yellow flowering annual plant. They should be planted in rich, well draining soil, in full sun. |
|
|
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Cup Flower |
Nierembergia |
6-9" |
Cup Flowers are long lasting annual plants that produces hundreds of 1", upturned star shaped flowers from late spring until mid fall. It is great for hanging baskets and planters or as a quick ground cover |
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Cypress Vine |
Ipomoea quamoclit |
|
Cypress vine is a fast growing member of the Morning Glory family with attractive, feather-like foliage and pretty, 1½ star shaped tube flowers in late summer. Can be easily grown from soaked or nicked seeds |
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Daisy |
Chrysanthemum maximum |
18-36" |
Daisies are long blooming, short lived (2-3 years) members of the Chrysanthemum family. This clumping perennial produces an abundance of 2-3" flowers from early summer through summer Attracts Butterflies: Pearly Crescentspot, Red Admiral, Queen |
5-10 |
|
|
Dandelion |
Taraxacum officinale |
1-2" |
Dandelions are a common lawn and garden weed, but can be cultivated and used. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, flowers are used to make wine, and the milky sap can be used as a mosquito repellent Attracts Butterflies: Cabbage White, Common sulphur, Comma Angelwing, Red Admiral |
5-11 |
|
|
Daylily |
Hemerocallis |
10-24" |
Daylilies produce an abundance of flowers which open over a long period of time.
They are useful in the perennial flower border, as a garden centerpiece, or any corner of the garden which needs to be brightened up. Daylilies can be propagated by division |
3-9 |
|
|
Dogbane |
Apocynum cannabinum |
3 ft. |
Dogbane is an upright, shrub-like deciduous perennial with yollowish green foliage. It produces small flowers at the branch tips from late spring until late summer, followed by slender 8 inch seed pods
Attracts Butterflies: Spicebush Swallowtail, checkered White, Common Orange Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Pearly Crescentspot, Mourning Cloak, American Painted Lady, Buckeye |
4-10 |
|
|
Coyote Brush |
Baccharis pilularis |
2-3 ft. |
Coyote Brush is a fast growing evergreen shrub with small, bright green leaves. It blooms from July through October with clusters of tiny flowers. The male flowers are yellow, female flowers are white |
7-10 |
|
|
Dwarf Yarrow |
Achillea kellereri |
8" |
Dwarf Yarrow is a vigorous growing perennial with silvery strap-like leaves that add interest when the plant is out of bloom. It produces a profusion of large white or yellow flower clusters that continue throughout the summer. |
5-10 |
|
|
Echeveria imbricata |
Echeveria imbricata |
6-12" |
Echeveria imbricata is a rosette forming succulent plant that is perfect for dry, sunny locations. It produces spikes of clustered flowers in early summer. Mature specimens readily form offsets |
8-11 |
|
|
Elderberry |
Sambucus |
6-9 ft. |
Elderberries are fast growing, low maintenance, multi-stemmed deciduous shrubs with deeply veined, serrated green leaves. They produce large flat clusters of flowers in spring followed by small berries which may or may not be poisonous, by species |
6-10 |
|
|
English Lavender |
Lavandula |
12-24 |
English Lavender is an evergreen, upright clumping perennial with bluish green, grass-like foliage. The small, fragrant flowers are held in long spikes at the top of the stems. For dried flowers, cut when the spikes first show color but the flowers are not fully open and hang inverted, in a cool dry place |
6-9 |
|
|
English Marigold |
Calendula officinalis |
6"-24" |
The English Marigold is a bright and cheery plant that produces 3"-5" blooms all summer from June until frost. They are very fast and easy to grow and are easily grown from seeds. Herbal and Medicinal uses of the English Marigold Plant |
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Eucalyptus |
Eucalyptus |
1-180 ft. |
Eucalyptus plants come in a number of varieties ranging from low growing shrubs to 180 ft. giants. Most varieties are evergreen but may shed their leaves in severe droughts. They bear fluffy little flowers in late spring to early summer |
8-11 |
|
|
Evening Primrose |
Oenothera biennis |
2-4 ft. |
The Evening Primrose is a tall, upright biennial plant |
4 |
|
|
Evening Primrose (hardy) |
Oenothera speciosa |
6-18" |
The hardy Evening Primrose is a compact, low growing, mound forming wildflower that is native to most parts of the United States. It produces an abundance of 1-2" pink or white cup flowers all through the summer |
5-8 |
|
|
Fairy Fan Flower |
Scaevola aemula |
8-12" |
Fan Flower plants are fast growing tender evergreen perennials that only grow 8"-12" tall but will spread up to 5 feet. Fan Flowers are sprawling plants with light green, coarsely toothed foliage. The 1"-1½" flowers are produced in abundance from spring through fall. |
9-11 |
|
|
Fairy Wings |
Epimedium |
6-20" |
Fairy Wings (Bishops Cap) will survive in one of the most difficult situations in the garden; the dry shade beneath a tree. |
4-8 |
|
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Feather Reed Grass |
Calamagrostis acutiflora |
5-7 ft. |
Feather Reed Grass is fairly drought resistant and tolerates a wide range of garden soils. It is deer resistant plant |
4-9 |
|
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Flame vine |
Pyrostegia venusta |
|
Flame Vines are fast growing, branching, evergreen vines that produce massive clusters of bright orange tubular flowers in late winter and early spring. Excellent fence cover |
9-11 |
|
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Flowering Quince |
Chaenomeles speciosa |
3-10 ft. |
Flowering Quince is a twiggy, rounded upright deciduous shrub. The 1" foliage opens to a beautiful reddish bronze color before turning dark green by mid summer. Showy cup shaped flowers cover each stem in the spring before turning to an edible fruit by summers end |
4-8 |
|
|
Giant Feather Grass |
Stipa gigantea |
3-4 ft. |
Giant Feather Grass forms a large, loose clump of greyish-green foliage. Seven foot arching stems of tan flower spikes persist through the summer months. Needs well drained soil |
6-9 |
|
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Goldenrod |
Solidago virgaurea |
12-36" |
Goldenrod is an aggressively spreading, upright clumping, deciduous perennial plant with light green foliage. It produces sprays of bright yellow flowers from mid summer until mid fall
Attracts Butterflies: Common Orange Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, American Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Viceroy |
3-9 |
|
|
Golden Foxtail Grass |
Alopecurus pratensis 'Aureovariegatus' |
12-18" |
Soft yellowish green with a golden stripe. This ornamental grass is NOT related to Foxtail barley grass! |
4-9 |
|
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Gold Plate Yarrow |
Achillea filipendulina |
4 ft. |
Gold Plate Yarrow is a long blooming perennial with fern like greyish green foliage and 4-6" bright yellow flower clusters |
3-10 |
|
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Grape Hyacinth |
Muscari |
5-8" |
Grape Hyacinths are small, long lived bulbs that look their best when planted in masses. They need twelve weeks of winter's chilling (below 50°) in order to bloom in the spring. Grape Hyacinth can be forced into bloom at any time of the year |
3-9 |
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