Top 20 SUN Perennials Flame Anisacanthus - (Anisacanthus quadrifidus v. wrightii): This 2' -3' plant produces tubular red-orange flowers from June through October. It is one of the best for attracting hummingbirds. Bloom quality is better in sunny locations, but it will also bloom in shady areas. This is an extremely tough, hardy performer - those in our gardens were planted in the early 1930's. Texas Aster - (Aster oblongifolius): Fall Asters add exciting color to the landscape from September to November when most all other perennials have stopped blooming. The plants mound at 2' - 3' and are covered with 1 'A" wide lavender flowers. Excellent drought tolerance. Prefers a sunny, well-drained location, but will flower in partial shade. Artcmisia 'Powis Castle' - (Artemisia x. 'Powis Castle'): The best artemisia we've tried. Grows 2' tp 3' and provides excellent gray, finely divided foliage. Accent and relief from green leafed plants is outstanding. Very aromatic. Full sun and well-drained soil. Blackeved Susan - (Rudbeckia sp.): Many varieties of the old time favorite are available. 'Golstrum' is a compact variety of one of Texas' favorite native species (grows 18" - 24" tall). The plant is covered with masses of golden yellow, black-eyed daisies from June to September. 'Irish Eyes' is a yellow bloomer with a green center. Grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Butterfly Bush - (Buddleia sp.): One of the most appropriate common names for this plant is truly one of the butterflies' favorites. Grows 3' - 4' to 6' - 7' depending on selection. Flowers are beautiful panicles and colors include purple, red, white, pink, blue and yellow. Every gardener who likes butterflies definitely should include this plant. Excellent drainage is a must. Calylophus - (Calylophus drummondianus): Outstanding yellow (2" wide) flowers cover this Texas native from March till November. Mature flowers turn orange. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Grows 1' - 1.5' tall and wide. Excellent in mass and in hot dry beds. Per square foot of bloom, no plant is showier. Plant it, and you will be impressed. Moonbeam Coreopsis - (Coreopsis verticulata 'Moonbeam'): At the top of the class for outstanding performance is the Moonbeam. This plant was voted the Perennial Plant Association's Plant of the Year for 1992, and it is easy to see why. This easy-to-grow perennial is covered with small, lemon-yellow daisies and has dark green, airy, thin leaves. It grows to 18"; does well in full sun or light shade. 'Zagreb' is also an excellent threadleaf coreopsis - a little more upright than 'Moonbeam'. 'Rosea' is a pink flowering, threadleaf variety. Other upright, broadleaf, yellow blooming varieties worthy of consideration are 'Nana' (10" - 12"). 'Sunray' and 'Early Sunrise' (both 18" - 24"). Coreopsis are not out of bloom from June till frost. Need well-drained soil. Purple Coneflower - (Echinacea purpurea): One of the most hardy, long flowering plants we sell. The 2' - 3' tall plant has rose-purple daisies with dark cones from May through September. Attravtive to butterflies. Excellent as a cut flower and for arrangements. A full sun and partial shade performer. Also available in white. Oxeve Daisy - (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum): Grows 18" to 36" tall. Blooms are classic white daisies with yellow centers and occur March to May. Grow in sun to partial shade. Excellent cut flowers. One of the showiesr perennials. Gaura - (Gaura lindheimeri): The effect is like floating butterflies. Grows 36" - 48". The small, pink and white flowers seem to float above the foliage. Flowering is prolific spring to fall. Plants prefer full sun or partial shade (too much shade causes flopping). One of the most durable and beautiful plants. Upright Germander - (Teucrium chamaedrys): Low growing (I1 to 2'), strong evergreen groundcover or perennial border plant. Use in mass plantings or as a low hedge. Tiny, pink flower spikes in summer. Full sun or partial shade in any well-drained soil. Texas Lantana - (L. Horrida): We don't mean the low-growing, new-fangled hybrids. This tall growing (41 -5' tall and wide) orange-yellow or pink-yellow bloomer is an extremely reliable perennial, whereas the new-improved versions may or may not come back after our winters. Grows well in dry, sunny, hot locations and blooms profusely from April till November. Outstanding butterfly attractor. Is showier and showier as the Texas heat becomes more intense. Plant it. Establish it. Enjoy it for a lifetime. Rock Rose - (Pavonia lasiopetala): Excellent drought tolerant, shrubby perennial best used in mass planatings or in containers. Rock Rose is covered with bright rose-pink single flowers from April to October. The flowers close in the afternoon and open again in the morning. Grows 2' - 3' tall. Needs good drainage and full sun. Gregg's Salvia - (Salvia greggii): One of the toughest, most beautiful performers for hot, dry, sunny areas. Colors available are cardinal red, light red, pink, white, yellow, coral and raspberry. Blooms from March till frost with most prolific blooming in spring and fall. Hummingbirds love this plant. To keep it low-growing and dense, cut it in half twice a year (mid February and mid June). It is one of the most frequently planted natives and it is easy to understand why. Russian Sage - (Perovskia atriplicifolia): A very under-utilized plant. This perennial is noteworthy for its long season (June -October) color (violet-blue flowers) and silvery foliage. It grows 3' - 3 -1/2 ' tall in full sun. Russian Sage is unbeatable for mass color, fragrance and outstanding foliage/flower contrast. Perennial plant of the year for 1995. Sedum - (Sedum sp.): Very diverse species that should be used more and more in mixed border plantings. Many groundcover selections are available (e.g., S. acre(yellow bloom), 'Dragons Blood' (blood red foliage), 'Tricolor' (variegated foliage)) and many upright varieties are offered (e.g., 'Autumn Joy' (bright pink flowers and 2'-3'), 'Vera Jameson' (purple leaves and It. Pink flowers), 'Mohrchen' (bugandy leaves and red flowers)). All sedum bloom in late summer or early fall. All add textural interest with their unique and colorful succulent foliage. Some of the most durable plants. Veronica - (Veronica sp.): One of our favorites is 'Sunny Border Blue', the "perennial plant of the year" for 1993. Veronicas are among the most trouble-free and long-blooming of all perennials. These lush, uniform, mound-shaped plants (18" - 24" tall) are covered with long flower spikes and rich, glossy, dark green foliage. They bloom all season long (April till frost) in full sun or light shade. 'Red Fox' (rosy pink), 'Icicle' (white) and 'Blue Charm' (light blue) are also excellent. Wild Petunia - (Ruellia sp.) (R. brittoniana, R. 'Katie's Dwarf, R. nudiflora, R. malacosperma, R. carolinensis): Right now at Weston Gardens, we sell six different Ruellia and all are excellent. They range in height from 10" to 3'. All have crinkly, purple/lavender flowers (we now have white and pink flowering varieties, too) that resemble petunias. This is the perfect plant for those troublesome shady areas where no other flowering plant will grow. This plant will also grow in full sun. Blooms April to November. 'Katie's Dwarf is an especially lush, low grower with long, thin leaves. Winecups - (callirhoe involucrata): A low growing (10" - 12"), early spring bloomer (February to June). Blooms are wine-red and unmatched by any flower in the garden. It looks good at the front of the border or cascading over a wall. Generally goes dormant in July if not given extra water. Yarrow - (Achillea sp.): Upright, lacy foliage with flat topped clusters of flowers. The variety seen most ofter along Texas roadsides blooms white. Colors of hybrids include white, rose, pink, red and yellow. Some have silvery gray foliage. Grow 1' to 3' depending on variety. Prefers full sun. Blooms early spring to summer. Top 20 SHADE Perennials Shade O : Sun © : Partial Shade Cast Iron Plant - (Aspidistra eliator): Evergreen, dark green foliage (4" x 18" leaves), and the ability to persist and thrive under the most adverse conditions and low light. What more could you ask for? One of the toughest plants for shady areas in the landscape. Direct sun will burn its foliage. Use it in masses and as a contrast to ferns. o Texas Columbine - (Aquilegia sp.) All four yellow, native Texas Columbines are excellent. (A. hinckeyana, A. longissima, A. chrysantha, A. chapliney): Plant in shade or eastern sun exposures. They bloom prolifically in March - May. This plant is also an evergreen with fine-textured, lacy foliage. Grows 1' - 2' tall and blooms are bell-shaped with long spurs. Aguilegia canadensis is also a good performer and produces a red and yellow combination. o © Coral Bells - (Heuchera sp.): Ornamental, decorative foliage characterizes this semi-evergreen. (Leaves resemble maple or ivy). Leaves are green, purple or variegated depending on this variety. Grow 12" to 18" tall and wide. Some of our favorites include 'Palace Purple' (deep purple foliage) and 'Snow Angel' (variegated, light green with mottled white leaves). Flowers spikes are held above the foliage and are pink-red to white. Coral Bells do best in well-prepared, moist and well-drained soil. Plant in partial shade to shade. ^ © Holly Fern - (Cyrtomium falcatum): One of the best for providing evergreen foliage throughout the season. It needs protection from hot sun/wind and needs good soil moisture. The foliage is thick, shiny and dark green. Unusual texture. Grows to 2' tall. o Japanese Painted Fern - (Athyrium niponicum "Pictum"): A 12" growing fern with metallic gray to gray-green fronds. This most unusual fern shows best color in partial shade in soil that is neverwet but never dries out. Fronds emerge in early spring making it a great companion for early blooming perennials and bulbs. Will tolerate several hours of sun. Very hardy and easy to grow. o © Tassel Fern - (Polystichum polyblepharum): Graceful evergreen fern. Grows 18" x 24". Fronds are very tropical in appearance - this fern looks like a jungle-growing fern. Needs a moist, well-drained soil and protection from direct, hot sun. One of the best performers in our gardens. o Wood Fern - (Dryopteris normalis): One of the best ferns for our climate and soil conditions. The Wood Fern prefers well-prepared, moist soils with high organic content. They are easily grown in shady areas and will grow to 2'-3' tall x 2'-3' wide. Diciduous. Very handsome, lush lime green foliage. One of the most widely planted ferns for our area, and it is easy to understand why. Outstanding. o Strawberry' Geranium - (Saxifraga stolonifera): Outstanding foliage - its leaves are lime green with silver veins and reddish undersides. One of the finest, unique groundcovers for full shade and dappled shade. Needs excellent drainage - it is often used in rock gardens trailing over walls. Grows 1' - 1.5' tall. As an added bonus, Strawberry Geranium produces dainty while flowers borne above the foliage in early spring. Very hardy and decorative. o © Hosta - (Hosta sp.): The best for foliage accent. A widely cultivated genus of plants that hail originally from China and Japan which perform very well in our area as long as they are planted in deep to moderate shade. Hostas come in many leaf shapes and leaf colors. They bear lily-like flowers (white to pale lavender) on graceful stalks held well above the foliage in late summer. Leaf colors range from lime green to dark green to dark blue, and many Hostas are variegated. Some of our personal favorites include 'Francee', 'Frances Williams', 'Old August Lily', and 'Royal Standard'. Try a few and you'll want more. o © Inland Sea Oats - (Chasmanthium latifolium): An outstanding ornamental grass for the shade. Lush foliage topped by heavy, nodding seed heads. It grows 2' - 3' tall. The attractive foliage changes from dark green to copper bronze in the fall. The foliage is bamboo-like in character. Inland Sea Oats are excellent in fresh and dries arrangements. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. o © Iris - (Iris sp.): Use this versicle plant in partial shade to full sun. Especially recommended are Louisiana and Bearded Iris. Louisianas are suited to boggy areas or poorly drained soils, but they will also work in other areas if watered well. Louisiana Iris offer a myriad of colors and bloom shapes. Bearded have been in North Texas gardens forever and this is a strong testimony to their resilience. Hybridizers continue to amaze us with so many beautiful colors and features that we don't have enough room in our gardens. Iris make beautiful cut flowers, and foliage is and excellent foil to other plants. Very easy to grow but very rewarding. © O Oxalis - (Oxalis sp.): The traditional pink flowering variety (O. crassipes) is one of the toughest plants we know. Oxalis starts blooming in early spring and continues into the summer. If not watered it will sometimes go dormant in the hottest months, then will return to flower again in fall and early winter. Oxalis is a low growing plant (12" x 12") used to best advantage at the edge of the border. White flowering selections and unusual purple foliage varieties are available. Protest from hot afternoon sun. Outstanding foliage and flower. o © Woodland Phlox - (Phlox divaricata. P. x 'Chatahoochie', P. pilosa): Bloom early in the season (late February to April) and are very showy blue to dark pink in color. Phlox divaricata and P. 'Chatahoochie' are evergreen. All are low growing (10" - 12") and are compact. They grow well in partial shade to full sun. A white flowering variety is also available. They prefer well-drained soil that is prepared with plenty of organic matter. Great groundcovers and early spring color. o © O Pigeonberrv - (Rivina humilis): An excellent groundcover and low tier grower for the front of the border. Grows in full to partial shade to 10" -12" tall. Flowers (light pink) are accompanied by bright red berries which occur on the plant from April to frost. Birds love this plant and you will too. o © Rain Lily - (Zephyranthes sp.): Outstanding evergreen, low growing plant that blooms in the fall. Blooms in response to rain and often will continue to flower several weeks after a rain. Grows 10" - 12" tall and flowers are white, pink or yellow depending on variety. Excellent plants. © Lyre Leaf Sage - (Salvia Lyrata): Lyre Leaf Sage prefers shade to partial shade and is a good substitute for Ajuga. Foliage is green with purple veins and jagged, wavy edges. Flowers are light blue and are on stalks above the foliage in early spring. Grows 12" - 18" tall and makes an outstanding aggressive groundcover. Grows in most any soil. o © Turk's Cap - (Malvavisus arboreus v. drummondii): Another excellent shade performer, Turk's Cap fills the bill (it also does well in sunny spots). From May through frost, bright red flowers accent the heavily textured light green leaves of this plant. Generally grows 3' - 4' tall. Hummingbirds and butterflies love the colorful flowers. Grows in any well-drained soil. o © Wild Petunia - (Ruellia sp.) (R. brittoniana, R. 'Katie's Dwarf, R. nudiflora, R. malacosperma, R caroliniesis): Right now at Weston Gardens, they sell six different Ruellia and all are excellent. They range in height from 10" to 3'. All have crinkly, purple/lavender flowers (they now have white and pink flowering varieties, too) that resemble petunias. This is the perfect plant for those troublesome shady areas where no other flowering plant will grow. This plant will also grow in full sun. Blooms April to November. 'Katie's Dwarf is an especially lush, low grower with long, thin leaves. o © O Wood Violet - (Viola sp.): A great woodland groundcover. Use Wood Violets in areas of heavy shade where you want to encourage naturalizing/spreading plantings. They will bloom in early spring (purple, lavender or white) for six to eight weeks. Wood Violets tend to go dormant in our hot, dry summers and will return in the fall to remain green the rest of the year. Variegated varieties are also available. o 0 Zexmenia - (Zexmenia hispida): A small, shrubby perennial that is covered with dainty, golden yellow daisies from April till August. Zexmenia grows 24" - 30" tall and blooms well in the sun or heavy shade. It is often found in the Texas Hill country growing under the shade of cedar trees. A tough, drought tolerant plant that is an excellent addition to the cultivated garden. o