|
|

Ive decided its finally time to update my top ten favorite
list!! The following were chosen in 2007 from my MANY favorites as
the ten BEST plants that EVERYBODY should find room for (absolute GOTTA-HAVES!!!)
Some qualifications that each plant needed to meet:
- Must be low-care and easy, even for beginning gardeners;
- Must be relatively pest and disease-free;
- Must look great even when not in bloom (for those of you that dont
know-Im a REAL connoisseur of foliage, and in fact think that
its MUCH more important than flower);
- Must be reliably hardy to our area (Zone 5); and
- Must NOT be over-used (cause even though these plants are easy,
EVERYBODY doesnt know that yet!!!)
A little aside - just because I replaced some of my old
favorites doesnt mean they arent more than worthy to be in
your garden (hmmm.maybe I should have a top twenty or thirty list??!).
|
1.
|
Brunnera Jack Frost
This
beauty makes the list due to his absolute KNOCKOUT foliage! As you
can see, it has INCREDIBLE, shimmery, silver textured foliage that
absolutely GLOWS in the shade! Oh, yeah, did I mention it BLOOMS
too?! Mid to late spring brings a plethora of sky-blue flowers that
really draw attention.give this baby some room in the shade/morning
sun and youll be chillin in the Jack Frost fan club
too!
|
|
2.
|
Caryopteris
(Bluebeard)
This sun-lover is a bloomin machine! I cant decide which
of its forms I like best..the golden-foliaged forms of Sunshine
Blue and Worcester
Gold , or the silvery-gray foliaged form Petit
Blue. Any variety that you choose will give you MASSES
of blue flowers from about late July/early August thru September,
just when youre dying for some fresh color! Did I also mention
that its a virtual butterfly MAGNET?! You want to treat this
woody perennial like a butterfly bush..cut it back in April, give
it sun, good drainage, and room to bloom!!
|
|
3.
|
Heucherasa
Obsidian and Caramel
(Coral Bells)
O.K., as any of you that know me already know, Im a real
FANATIC for Heucheras, so its REALLY hard to narrow it down
to my absolute favorite. Obsidian keeps its spot on
the top - and now Caramel joins in!
 |
Obsidian is a glassy-textured
beauty that appears almost genuinely black until the morning
sun hits it and reveals its iridescent quality. An absolute
stunner alone or as a foil to other silver or chartreuse foliage,
this gem is a MUST for your bright shade/morning
sun areas. |
 |
Caramel is a fabulous new heuchera
that provides 3 seasons of interest in your shade garden! It
is very heat and humidity tolerant and can even handle quite
a bit of sun. New leaves are bright honey gold, maturing to
warm apricot colors in warmer weather. Pinkish-white blooms
appear later than other heucheras. And, to top it all off, fall
color is an intense salmon red! Delicious! |
|
|
4.
|
Roses Double Knockout
and Morden Sunrise
 |
Double Knockout really does live up to its name! This
is by far and away Contrary Marys FAVORITE rose - blooms
keep coming until hard frost, and its new growth is a stunning
burgundy red. Ours in the display bed looks ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
all season with no supplemental watering and no real
attention at all (except admiration of course!). It bloomed
continually from late spring to hard frost with very minimal
deadheading and the gorgeous bronze tinted foliage had not
one iota of mildew or blackspot. We sell out of this very
early, but you can always come and drool over mine!!
|
 |
Morden Sunrise is one tough rose - it was bred to
thrive in Manitoba, Canada! Ours in the display bed was a
STUNNER, continually blooming from late spring to hard frost
with no extra care at all!
Flowers are an ever-changing kaleidoscope of color: orange-yellow
buds, and flowers from dark orange over yellow to lighter
shades of yellow, orange and cream. They seem to mimic a sunrise
with ever changing hues! The citrusy fragrance is to die for!
Again, We sell out early (I wonder why??!).
|
|
|
5.
|
Agasache
Rupestris
This
native hyssop has amazing flowers, foliage, and scent! From mid-summer
all the way through the first frost, it's covered with spikes of
gorgeous orange and lavender flowers. The aromatic foliage is extremely
ornamental-thread-like silvery leaves give the entire plant a very
soft, wispy look. The scent is amazing-mintlike, with hints of licorice
and citrus. Plant it where you will brush against it when you walk
by. Butterflies and hummers flock to it! It's very hardy and can
endure very dry conditions once established (it's native to Arizona!),
but needs good drainage.
|
|
6.
|
Stokesia
Klaus Jelitto
This
plants common name is Stokes Aster, but thats
just to fool ya.its not an Aster at all! Cornflower-like flowers
are as big as your palm! Its a long bloomer (mid to late summer),
attracts butterflies, and is one tough cookie if you give it sun
and dryish soil. Also makes an excellent cut flower.
|
|
7.
|
Miniature Hostas
|
|
As Im sure many of you know, I admit to being a hostaholiconce
you start down this path, watch out!!! My new obsession
is for the minis.not only are they cute as buttons,
but Garden Fairies find them irresistible also (and you know
that for a well-balanced garden you need the right ratio of
fairies to plants). Well-placed minis can help you entice visitors
down your shady garden path to the secret nook.watch out or
youll be hooked too! Check out Baby Bunting, Blue Mouse
Ears, Cameo, Cody, Country Mouse, Cherish, Cookie Crumbs, Cracker
Crumbs, Green Eyes, Hidden Cove, Hope, Ice Cream, Lakeside Elfin
Fire, Little Sunspot, Masquerade, Pandora's Box, Radio Waves,
Surprised by Joy, Teaspoon, Thumbelina, 'tortifrons', Winsome,
and X-rated - all on our Hostas page.
|
|
|
|
|
8.
|
Fallopia Japonica Variegata
Another
perennial that has a loose, shrub-like habit, this one adds height,
grace, and airiness to your garden. Stunning white-splashed foliage
with pink stems and shocking coral colored new growth, it also gets
delicate, fragrant white flowers in August. MAKE ROOM FOR HER!!!
|
|
9.
|
Tricyrtis
Blue Wonder, Samurai, Golden Leopard
(Toad Lilies)
|
|
|
Tricyrtis Golden Leopard
|
If youve got a shady spot, these Toad Lilies
are absolute MUSTS! They have interesting foliage (Gilt Edge
has creamy-yellow edged leaves, but all have great texture), but
the flowers will knock you out! They look like little wild Orchidsthey
dont even look real! The flowers are not very big (but they
are numerous), so place the plant somewhere close where you will
be sure to enjoy them. They do need shade and some moisture (they
are Toads, after all!).
|
|
10.
|
Carex
Evergold, Little Midge, Plantaginea
 |
|
Carex Little Midge
|
These grass-like plants are actually Sedges, and they make the
list on foliage alone (their flowers are insignificant).
Little Midge has very fine, wispy tufts of foliage;
Plantaginea has broad, puckered leaves like Christmas
ribbon (a really unique texture!) Evergold has vanilla-striped
blades that form a fountain effect. All of them look great near
a pond or a path; they like shade to partial shade (the more sun
you give them the more water they need).
|
HONORABLE MENTIONS: I just have to mention a few more plants (told
you I cant really stop at ten!) Be sure to check out the following:
|