Dianthus brings much charm to the Spring and early Summer garden. Also called “Sweet William” and “Pinks”, they are an easy plant to grow and offer a wide color range. Most are also fragrant. Sheer them after the first flush of flowers to encourage a second showing in late Summer. Likes well-drained soil. Drought tolerant. Can be used as a cutflower.
Exposure: Sun
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Summer
Varieties:
Constant Beauty Crush Peach
Constant Beauty Crush Rose
Edgehog
Firewitch: 12″H x 12″W. Long blooming perennial covered in lavender-pink flowers above silvery foliage. Zone 3.
Tiny Rubies: 4″H x 10″W. Profuse pink blooms. Zone 3.
(Delosperma) Hardy South African ice plants make ideal groundcovers. Drought tolerant once established. Provide well drained soil, moderate moisture in the heat of summer. Avoid planting in areas that receive consistent winter wetness to avoid dieback. Adding a mulch of gravel can help them overwinter well.
Exposure: Sun, to Part Sun
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer
Assorted Starter Varieties May Include:
Yellow: 2″H x 18″-24″W. Hardy yellow iceplant offers a mat of bright yellow dainty daisy-like flowers that stay close to the ground. Long bloom time in Summer. Zone 4.
Fire Spinner: 2″H x 18″W. Orange, Magenta & Lavender on the same flower! Eyecatching. Zone 5. A Plant Select perennial. More info here.
Granita Orange: 2″H x 18″W iceplant with pure orange blooms. Zone 5.
Granita Raspberry: Deep raspberry red petals have a lighter lavender center giving it a pretty and vibrant two-toned effect. 1”H x 15”W. Zone 6 – not as hardy as others so best planted in town.
Red Mountain Flame: 2″H x 18″W. Orange petals with magenta ring in the center. A Plant Select perennial. More info here.
Table Mountain: 2″H x 18″-24″W. Larger 2” lavender-magenta flowers. Long bloom time in Summer. Zone 4.
White Nugget: Petite and sweet! Bright white flowers with a yellow center. 1”H x 8”W. Zone 5.
(Aurinia) Want a bright pop of early season color? You can’t beat hardy alyssum with it’s striking yellow blooms. Also known at Basket of Gold, this perennials pairs well with late Spring bulbs. Silver-gray foliage is attractive even when the plant is not in bloom. Plant in well-drained soil. Very drought tolerant.
(Asclepias) Flowers from this plant are the favorite food of the monarch butterfly. They are a bright orange and are also attractive to other butterflies as well as hummingbirds. Treat yourself to a bouquet from your backyard as they also make a great cutflower. Adapts well to poor soil as long as it is well drained. Drought tolerant. Takes a few years to really establish well, but long lived after that. Native wildflower that WILL self sow if allowed. Let it naturalize OR easily control growth by removing seed pods early on.
Agastache, also known as Hummingbird Mint, is a wonderful, drought tolerant, perennial that offer late season color. As a bonus, hummingbirds LOVE this plant as do butterflies and bees. Plant in well drained soil.
Exposure: Full Sun
Bloom Time: Late Summer into Fall
Varieties:
Double Bubblemint: 2′-3’H x 18″-2’W. Named due to the fragrance of bubblegum and mint. Deep magenta flowers bloom all summer. Zone 5.
Catnip is a perennial herb in the mint family. It is very easy to grow in either sun or part-sun in well-drained soil. It has a mounded form and serrated, pungent leaves. Cats love the aroma of the leaves.
Thyme is a low growing plant topping out at about 8”, with tiny leaves that are covered with little pink or white flowers in summer. They like a sunny exposure and well-drained soil. They are hardy here and can be planted in the landscape. Uses: Thyme will flavor any savory dish but is often paired with chicken.
Varieties:
English: traditional green cooking type
Golden Lemon (Lemon flavor and yellow leaves, Zone 5)
Common sage is used as both a culinary herb and an ornamental. It has lovely silver foliage and lavender flowers with age. Offer it full sun and well-drained soil. It can adapt to a hot, dry location. We also offer ornamental types such as Golden sage which has yellow leaves and sometimes Tri-Color that has variegated purple, silver, and white leaves. Neither are as hardy as common sage so they should be treated as beautiful accents for annual combination planters.
Varieties:
Common / Garden Sage (Zone 5)
Icterina Variegated Gold (annual)
Golden (doesn’t typically overwinter – best treated as an annual)
Oregano is a Mediterranean herb. Some varieties are perennial in our climate. All types prefer a sunny spot with well drained soil.
Uses: Leaves retain good flavor whether dried or frozen. A delicious culinary herb for pork, chicken and veal recipes. Use fresh leaves in salads and pizza sauce.
Varieties
Greek traditional oregano flavor, Zone 5
Hot & Spicy culinary, Zone 5 Oregano flavor with mild chili pepper type heat
Kent Beauty — an annual ornamental type with hops-like flowers
Mint is best adapted to a shade or morning sun area and prefers moist soil. It is an aggressive plant that spreads readily. So, if you want to keep it contained, sink a planter in the ground and plant your mint into it. You will need to trim stems back each season as they will try to jump the pot’s boundaries. Mints are hardy here and will overwinter.
Uses: Mints are used in teas, Greek cooking, and many types of desserts or drinks. Make your own Mint Mojitos!
Varieties:
Apple Lime
Orange Peppermint
Pineapple Spearmint Strawberry (infuse in water for fresh fruit taste)
