PERENNIALS

 

 

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Achillea millefolium 'Colorado' YARROW

A seed grown mix, replacing 'Summer Pastels.' The colors are vibrant pinks, reds, and yellows, the plants grow more upright, and the entire group is nice for the border or cut flowers. 2' tall. Drought tolerant, but will not bloom as well during severe droughts. Zone 4.

 

Achillea millefolium 'Lavender Beauty' YARROW

Perfect for bouquets; nice soft lavender looks good with all the other colors. Zone 4.

 

Achillea millefolium 'Paprika' PAPRIKA YARROW

An excellent red yarrow. 2' tall. Zone 4.

 

Achillea millefolium 'Royal Tapestry' YARROW

Rich purple blooms with white center. Repeat blooms in late summer. 2' tall

 

Achillea x taygeta 'Moonshine' MOONSHINE YARROW

A soft yellow flower over silver foliage. One of our favorites. 2' tall. Zone 4.

 

Achillea X 'Terra Cotta' TERRA COTTA YARROW

Shades of peach, rusty red, orange and yellow. Another great cross between A.taygetea and A. millefolium. These hybrids are less likely to seed around and much longer blooming than the straight species. Zone 4.

 

Actaea simplex 'Atropurpurea' (syn. Cimicifuga)

Creamy white flowers in summer hightlight the purple leaves. Prefers compost-enriched, moist soil and part shade. 4' tall. Zone 3. Available in #1 size only.

 

Aegopodium podagraria BISHOP'S WEED

A vigorous groundcover with variegated leaves and white flowers that look like a dwarf Queen Anne's Lace. Useful in shade or part sun. 10" tall. Zone 4.

 

Aethionema schistosum FRAGRANT STONECRESS

This dwarf shrub from the steppes of Turkey is an excellent rock garden plant. Grow it in a hot, dry, rocky spot and it will reward you with soft pink flowers with a sweet fragrance in spring. Looks great with the Turkish veronicas. 4" tall x 8" wide. Zone 4.

 

Agastache aurantiaca

Yellow-gold flowers look great mixed in with all of the other agastaches, and this one is attractive to hummingbirds, too. Long blooming and compact. 18" tall. Zone 5.

 

Agastache cana DOUBLE BUBBLE MINT

This was the first agastache we grew, and still a favorite. Very fragrant and a great hummingbird plant. Native to only a few areas in New Mexico and Texas. 3' tall. Zone 5.

 

Agastache cana (dwarf) DWARF DOUBLE BUBBLE MINT

This selection of the popular Double Bubble Mint is a much more compact plant. 15"-18" tall. Pink flowers with purple calyces. Zone 5.

 

Agastache 'Coronado Red' HYSSOP

Crimson and maroon flowers are produced from July to September. 18" tall. Full sun. Zone 5.

 

Agastache rupestris SUNSET HYSSOP

Peach-colored flowers with lavender calyx. The foliage smells like licorice and root beer. 1997 Plant Select. Zone 5.

 

Agastache x 'Rye Pink' RYE PINK HYSSOP

A very showy cross between Agastache cana and Agastache rupestris. Every flower exhibits shades of pink, peach, and purple. Hardy. Zone 5--hardy to 8000 ft.

 

Agave parryi (neomexicana)

One of the hardiest of the agaves. Beautiful accent in a dry garden. Zone 5.

 

Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop' BUGLEWEED

Incredibly dark shiny leaves. We saw some of these plants growing by the La Veta library and they were stunning. Purple flowers in spring. 6" tall. Zone 3.

 

Ajuga reptans 'Bronze Beauty' BRONZE BUGLEWEED

Along with periwinkle, this is one of the traditional groundcovers for a shady area. Zone 3.

 

Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow' BURGUNDY BUGLEWEED

Showy sport of bugleweed with variegated green, white, and burgundy leaves. Blue flowers in late spring. 8" tall. Zone 3.

 

Ajuga reptans 'Chocolate Chip' BUGLEWEED

Small, dark colored leaves make an attractive groundcover. Purple blooms in spring. For part shade. Zone 3.

 

Alcea ficifolia 'Country Romance Mix' HOLLYHOCK

This is an old-fashioned mix of single flowers in shades of red, yellow, maroon, pink, and peach. Drought tolerant and heat tolerant. Zone 4.

 

Alcea nigra 'The Watchman' HOLLYHOCK

Deep dark red blooms make this hollyhock stand out. 4' tall. Zone 4.

 

Alcea rugosa HOLLYHOCK

A pretty, pale yellow perennial that flowers from mid-June until the end of August. Seems immune to the diseases that disfigure the foliage of the common hollyhocks. One plant can be a traffic stopper. 6' x 3'. Zone 3.

 

Alchemilla mollis 'Thriller' LADY'S MANTLE

Graceful and delicate in appearance, yet tough and cold hardy in the garden. Wonderful for part shade. The foliage is velvety and fan-shaped-water drops caught in the pleated leaves glisten in the sunlight. Lime-green and yellow clustered blooms. Great accent for fresh and dried flower bouquets. 18" tall. Zone 4.

 

Alyssum markgraffii

Gray-green leaves and clusters of small gold flowers. Unlike most of the "baskets of gold" the leaves stay nice all season and flowers repeat through late summer. Zone 5.

 

Alyssum wulfenianum

Another great alyssum for the rock garden or xeriscape. Blooms June-July. 8" tall. Zone 4.

 

Amsonia jonesii BLUE STAR

This native is beautiful in spring with masses of blue flowers on willowy stems. Very drought tolerant, it's deer and rabbit resistant, too. 12" x 15". Zone 4.

 

Anacyclus depressus GNOME'S HAT

Rock garden daisy that grows only an inch or two high. Gray-green leaves are ferny. The flowers are white on top, with red undersides that show when the petals fold up at night or on a cloudy day. Very adaptable to clay soils, it has even seeded into the road base in the driveway! Doesn't seem to like Pueblo's heat, but at our elevation it's easy to grow. Zone 4.

 

NEW! Anchusa capensis CAPE FORGET ME NOT

Intense blue flowers from spring to summer. Will often rebloom if cut back. Can tolerate drought after establishment. Hardiness is still being explored, but it has survived many years at the Denver Botanic Gardens, so should be hardy for Pueblo, for sure. It can be grown as a reseeding annual, it blooms so long it can be used in containers. It's rare to find such a true blue color! Good deer resistance. 15" tall. Zone 5.

 

Anemone biarmiensis

Soft cream-colored flowers in bloom in May and again in September. Good for the sunny rock garden. 10" tall. Zone 3.

 

Anemone sylvestris SNOWDROP ANEMONE

An early blooming dwarf anemone with rough textured, but finely cut foliage. Large fragrant snow white flowers. Sun or part shade. 12"tall. Blooms in spring and again in fall. Zone 4.

 

Antennaria dioica 'Rubra' PUSSYTOES

Silver foliage topped with wine-red flowers in spring. For sun to part shade. Drought tolerant. 4" tall. Zone 3.

 

Anthemis marschalliana (biebersteiniana)

This plant is slow to propagate and we rarely have enough to list it. In the garden it's a lovely little silver clump with yellow daisies. It spreads slowly by roots, never sets viable seed, and if it's overwatered it might melt. Grow it on a slope or sunny, rocky spot and it will shine like the sun. 6" tall when blooming. Zone 4.

 

Antirrhinum braun-blanquetii SNAPDRAGON

A perennial snapdragon with creamy yellow or bicolor yellow and rose flowers. 2' tall. Zone 5.

 

Aquilegia chrysantha 'Yellow Queen' COLUMBINE

A native to canyons and mountains of the Southwest, this columbine is taller than most and the big yellow flowers are strikingly beautiful. 3' tall. Zone 5.

 

NEW! Aquilegia clematiflora 'Green Apples' COLUMBINE

Blooms look like a small double clematis; the buds open in lime green, turn to apple green and finally age to cream. Very different from any other columbine we've grown. 32" tall. Zone 4.

 

Aquilegia 'Colorado Violet and White' COLUMBINE

Large blooms on 2' tall stems, they're as graceful as a swan. Zone 3.

 

Aquilegia desertorum ARIZONA COLUMBINE

The relatively small red and yellow flowers of this columbine and the smallish stature of the plant make it suitable for a rock garden. It is the longest blooming columbine I know. It starts with a big flush of flowers in June and blooms until hard frost. It doesn't rest in the heat of summer and at all times had at least 8 to 10 flowers open. 15" tall. Zone 5.

 

Aquilegia 'Dragonfly Hybrids' DRAGONFLY COLUMBINE

A wide mix of colors; long spurs; blooms May-July. Attracts hummingbirds. 18" tall. Zone 3.

 

Aquilegia hybrida 'McKana's Giants' COLUMBINE, MCKANA'S GIANTS

Big flowers on tall plants make a huge show in the late spring. Good color mix. 30" tall. Zone 3.

 

Aquilegia hybrida 'Origami Blue and White' ORIGAMI BLUE & WHITE COLUMBINE

A short, compact version of the traditional columbine hybrid, but the blooms are just as big and the color is excellent. 18" tall.

 

NEW! Aquilegia 'Korelle' COLUMBINE

Coral red with pale yellow center; long spurs; very pretty. 2' tall. Zone 3.

 

Aquilegia longissima 'Yellow Bonnet' COLUMBINE

Extremely long (4-5") spurs contribute to the overall gracefulness of the plant. Excellent for hot summer areas. Rabbit resistant.

 

NEW! Aquilegia scopulorum

Perhaps the most beautiful of our Western native columbines, I've had this one survive for many years in the big horse trough near the old foundation. It looks like dwarf version of our state flower, Aquilegia coerulea, and when it blooms, it seems to concentrate all the beauty of that larger plant into a smaller but more intense display. Twenty large flowers on one small plant is not uncommon. 6" tall (when in bloom). Zone 3.

 

Argemone polyanthemos PRICKLY POPPY

This native grows just down the road from us, defying drought and deer to flourish year after year. Big white flowers off and on all summer. Zone 4.

 

Artemisia versicolor 'Sea Foam'

A good ground cover or accent plant for the dry garden. Like all the artemisias, it is safe from deer and rabbits. 10" tall. Zone 4.

 

Artemisia x 'Powis Castle' SILVER SAGE

Deer resistant! Rabbit resistant! This beautiful mounding plant provides a long season of foliage interest. For full sun. 2'-3' tall. Xeric. Zone 5.

 

Asclepias incarnata 'Rose Form' MILKWEED

Pink flowers June through August, this butterfly attractor is glorious in the height of summer, loving the sunshine, happy growing where the water runs off the driveway, it is host to Monarch butterfly larva. Can take, but does not demand, bog conditions. Deer resistant. 3' tall. Zone 3.

 

Asclepias tuberosa BUTTERFLY WEED

A favorite of the monarch butterfly, this bright orange flower does best in well-drained soil and full sun. Transplant with as little root disturbance as possible. Native to Colorado. 2'.

 

Asphodeline damascena

Clusters of white flowers along a stalk emerge in late May and continue to bloom all through the summer. The narrow, grass-like foliage provides interesting contrast in texture. Never fails to draw comments from visitors in the garden. 20" tall. Zone 5.

 

Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome' PURPLE DOME ASTER

This deep purple aster blooms at 18" tall and is very tidy and compact. Also disease resistent. Zone 3.

 

Aster oblongifolius 'Dream of Beauty'

Aster `Dream of Beauty' is the star of the late summer xeriscape. Only one foot tall, it spreads to two feet wide, and is covered in August and September with clear pink flowers with orange centers. Zone 4.

 

Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies' ASTER

Blooms in September and October. This aster tolerates dry, poor soils. Blue flowers over bushy, aromatic foliage. 18" tall. Zone 5.

 

Aster porteri PORTER'S ASTER

A native aster with zillions of tiny white flowers in September. Absolutely xeric. 8"-14" tall. Nice for a rock garden.

 

Aster x frikartii 'Monch' ASTER, FRIKARTII

Blue flowers from July through frost. Longest blooming of any of the asters. 30" tall. Zone 5.

 

Baptisia australis FALSE INDIGO

Blue flowers in June are replaced by black seed pods that provide interest all summer into fall. For full sun. An easy long-lived perennial. 3' tall. Zone 3.

 

Baptisia x bicolor (Starlite Prairie Blues TM)' FALSE INDIGO

Jim Ault, Ph.D., director, Ornamental Plant Research, Chicago Botanic Garden, bred the Prairie Blues series of baptisia, following six years in development. Periwinkle blue blooms with cream colored keels from mid-May to June. After the flowers fade, the seedpods turn charcoal black, making a valued addition to dried flower arrangements. Patented. 30"-36" tall. Zone 4

 

Baptisia x variicolor (Twilight Prairieblues TM) FALSE INDIGO

Breeder, Jim Ault, says 'Twilite Prairieblues' is baptisia on steroids. Violet bicolor blooms. Patented. 3'-4' tall. Zone 4.

 

Bergenia 'Eroica'

The green foliage traced with copper red overtones and bright red edges make this shade lover outstanding. Rich pink flowers top red stems in April and May and the foliage turns bright red in the fall. Needs moist soil. 16" tall. Zone 3.

 

Bergenia purpurescens PIGSQUEAK

Thick leathery leaves are evergreen and turn reddish purple in December. Pink blooms in early spring. Four seasons of interest for the shade garden. Rub the leaves in the summer and they sound like a pig squealing. 12" tall. Zone 3.

 

Berlanderia lyrata CHOCOLATE FLOWER

A deer-resistant native wildflower that smells like chocolate....what more could you want? It's a profuse bloomer, with showy red-centered, yellow daisies produced all summer. The green buds, picked before the flower blooms, make a great everlasting flower, too. 15" tall 18" wide. Very drought tolerant. This is one for the NO-water garden. Zone 4.

 

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' SIBERIAN BUGLOSS

Frosty silver leaves with dark green veins have blue forget-me-not flowers above the foliage in early spring. A great plant for a shady spot in the garden. One of the best growers of the variegated brunnera. Won best new perennial of the year in Holland in 2003. 12" tall. Zone 3.

 

Callirhoe involucrata WINE CUPS (POPPY MALLOW)

This member of the malva family is a long-blooming prairie native. The numerous burgundy red flowers are held 2"-3" above the plant. Very drought tolerant. 1999 Plant Select. Zone 4.

 

Campanula glomerata superba BELLFLOWER

Great plant for higher elevations, blooms June-August in La Veta, Cuchara, Westcliffe, Beulah and Rye. Prefers part shade in fairly good soil, and a weekly watering schedule. 18" tall. Zone 3.

 

Campanula persicifolia 'Telham Beauty' PEACH-LEAVED BELLFLOWER

Upright plant for the border. 2' tall with sky blue bells along the stems. Blooms June-July. Zone 3.

 

Campanula poscharskyana SERBIAN BELLFLOWER

This extremely cold hardy campanula is a great plant for a part shaded area of the garden. Lavender blue flowers June-July; cut back after flowering. Looks great trailing over rocks. Can spread 18" wide. 10" tall. Zone 3.

 

Campanula rotundifolia BLUEBELLS OF SCOTLAND

12" tall. Blooms all summer. This is the familiar bluebell that you'll find while hiking in the Colorado mountains. Zone 3.

 

Castilleja integra INDIAN PAINTBRUSH

Southwestern native paints the foothills of Colorado from May to July. Difficult to transplant but worth the effort. Flowers are bright orange. Zone 4.

 

Centranthus ruber RED VALERIAN

Many carmine-colored blooms in early summer. 2' tall. Can survive drought once established, does not like to be overwatered, especially in clay soil. The flowers are not fragrant despite all the books, magazines, and websites that claim they are. The ROOT is fragrant (or maybe stinky is a better word) it smells like the root of true valerian (Valeriana officinalis). Zone 4.

 

Cerastium candidissimum

Native to Greece where it grows in dry, stony areas. The silver foliage is attractive all summer. White flowers in June. 4" tall; 12" wide. Zone 4.

 

Cerastium tomentosum SNOW IN SUMMER

An 8"-10" mat of silver foliage. White flowers blanket this groundcover May-June. When in bloom it's a gorgeous thing; it then goes through a rough period and benefits from cutting back. Zone 3.

 

Chrysanthemum maximum 'Becky' BECKY'S SHASTA DAISY

This shasta is one of the longest blooming of the cultivars. Starts in June and continues thru August. 3' tall. Zone 5.

 

Chrysanthemum rubellum 'Clara Curtis HARDY MUM

Loooooong-blooming hardy mum, starts in July and goes until frost. Single pink flowers with yellow centers. Hardy. 2' tall. Zone 4.

 

Chrysanthemum rubellum 'Mary Stoker' HARDY MUM

Begins in late August or early September with light straw-colored single daisies that age to peach and then a darker gold. One of my favorite fall flowers. Deer resistant. Zone 4.

 

NEW! Chrysanthemum weyrichii 'Elfreda'

A dwarf chrysanthemum, with white daisies in late summer and early fall, blooming at only 10" high, this plant can survive dry shade! Spreads fairly rapidly and likes to be divided every few years. Zone 4.

 

Chrysanthemum x superbum 'Silver Princess' DWARF SHASTA DAISY

A very floriferous compact perennial daisy. The dazzling white flowers bloom June-July. 15" tall. Zone 5.

 

Clematis integrifolia

Blue or pink bell-shaped flowers on this shrubby clematis. 3' tall. Very cold hardy. Zone 3.

 

Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' COREOPSIS

An old favorite, the sunny golden flowers appear all summer long; they look great with catmint and lavender. Not long-lived, but will reliably reseed. 15" tall. Zone 5.

 

Coreopsis 'Jethro Tull' TICKSEED

Abundant, fluted, golden yellow petals, this cross between Coreopsis auriculata 'Zamphir' and Coreopsis 'Early Sunrise' is always in bloom. You don't even need to deadhead to have flowers from June-October. 15" tall. Zone 5.

 

Crocosmia 'Emily Mckenzie'

Soft orange flowers with deep red accents. Very showy. Survives a mild winter. Mulch might help, or just grow as a showy annual for hummers. 24" tall.

 

Crocosmia 'George Davidson'

Bright golden-yellow flowers and attactive lance-shaped leaves. Sun to part shade. 20" tall. Not reliably winter hardy, but a great plant for containers.

 

Crocosmia 'Lucifer'

Bright red flowers and attactive lance-shaped leaves. Sun to part shade. 3' tall. Hardiest of the crocosmias.

 

NEW! Delosperma ashtonii 'Blut' ICE PLANT

Deep magenta blooms cover this hardy ice plant most of the spring and summer. Compact. Found by Kelly Grummons of Timberline nursery. Zone 5.

 

Delosperma dyeri RED MOUNTAIN ICEPLANT

With rusty red flowers, this ice plant looks very different from the rest of the clan. It looks good with Delosperma 'Mesa Verde', another color break in this genus.

 

Delosperma 'John Proffit' (Table Mountain tm) TABLE MOUNTAIN ICE PLANT

This iceplant is more compact than D. 'Cooperi' and it begins blooming earlier in the season. How much moisture iceplants need is a matter of some debate. My opinion is that they bloom better with regular irrigation in the summer and they survive the winter better if they are not in icy, soggy soil. Zone 5?

 

Delosperma kelaidis 'Mesa Verde' ICE PLANT

The iridescent salmon colored flowers are held tight against the compact foliage. Very nice habit and very long blooming. A cross between a yellow and a pink ice plant? My new favorite in this genus. The species name honors Panayoti Kelaidis, of the Denver Botanic Gardens.

 

Delosperma 'Lavender Ice' LAVENDER ICE PLANT

Our own foundling, this plant has large lavender flowers with a darker lavender-blue ring at the center. Very distinctive and a vigorous ground cover. 3" tall, spreading to 18" wide. Plant Select 2009. Zone 4.

 

Delosperma 'Lesotho Pink' LESOTHO ICEPLANT

This cold hardy selection is covered with deep pink blooms in spring. 1" tall by 18" wide. Zone 4.

 

Delosperma nubigenum YELLOW ICE PLANT

Yellow flowers. Very hardy. Blooms in May. Red foliage in fall and winter. Zone 4.

 

NEW! Delosperma 'White Nugget' ICEPLANT

Beautiful shiny white flowers in May. Found high in the Drakensberg Mountains. 1" tall x 4" wide. Zone 5.

 

Delphinium grandiflorum DWARF DELPHINIUM

Compact and drought tolerant. Brilliant blue flowers in July. 18" tall.

 

Delphinium 'Magic Fountains Mix' DELPHINIUM

The huge double flowers make this a dramatic accent in the garden. Not as tall as the Pacific Giants and so less likely to be damaged by wind. Colors in shades of blue, purple, pink and white with contrasting center. Full sun. 3' tall. The secret to growing great delphiniums? Compost or manure. They like a rich soil. Luckily they are happy with Colorado's alkaline soil, so if you give them a little extra fertilizer they should be happy.

 

Dianthus callizonus

A small alpine with fringed, lavender-pink flowers. One of the best dianthus for a rock garden. Full sun. Zone 4.

 

Dianthus 'First Love' FIRST LOVE PINKS

Fragrant flowers, start white then change to pink and then dark rose pink. Extremely long blooming, from spring to fall. One of the easiest dianthus to grow, it flourishes from the mountains to the plains. Zone 3.

 

Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch' PINKS

Blue mound with carmine red flowers. Fragrant. 12" tall. Zone 4.

 

Dianthus knappii

A pleasant shade of yellow, very unusual for the genus. 15" tall. Zone 5.

 

Dianthus simulans PINKS

The tiniest leaves, the tiniest flowers--yet a big impact. This is a plant for troughs or in a special spot in the rock garden. Everyone who sees it must touch it.3" tall, spreading very slowly to 10" wide.

 

Diascia integerrima 'Coral Canyon'

A long-blooming perennial. Salmon-pink flowers keep coming all summer long. 15" x 18". Full sun.

 

Dicentra spectabilis BLEEDING HEART, OLD FASHIONED

Old fashioned flower with dangling hearts in the spring. Zone 4.

 

Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba' BLEEDING HEART, WHITE

A pure white version of the old favorite. 2' tall. Zone 4.

 

Digitalis lanata GRECIAN FOXGLOVE

White flowers, brown and gold veins. Prefers part shade. A lovely foxglove, and deer resistant, too. Zone 4.

 

Digitalis lutea SMALL YELLOW FOXGLOVE

Small light yellow flowers bloom throughout the early summer. One of the easiest perennials. Hardy in Westcliffe. 2' Zone 4.

 

Digitalis obscura SPANISH FOXGLOVE

This plant has very skinny leathery foliage. The flowers are an interesting color, amber and pink and gold all melting together. Foliage looks nice in winter. Can take more sun and less water than most foxgloves. Zone 4.

 

Echinacea 'Harvest Moon'

Golden yellow petals surround a golden orange cone. Of all the new colors, this is the most beautiful. The flowers are large, 4" wide, and fragrant, too. 24" tall. Sun to part shade. Zone 4.

 

Echinacea purpurea alba 'White Swan' WHITE CONEFLOWER

A white coneflower with dark orange centers. Like all the coneflowers this one looks best planted only 15" from it's neighbor. Some of the white coneflowers are fragrant, too. 30" tall. Zone 4.

 

Echinacea purpurea 'Bravado' PURPLE CONE FLOWER

Big bright blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds over a very long season. The magenta pink blooms are 4 to 5 inches wide. Excellent in the perennial border. 36" tall. Zone 3.

 

Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Star' PURPLE CONEFLOWER

Deep carmine red petals and dark orange centers make this one of the showiest of the purple coneflowers. 30" tall. Full sun. Zone 4.

 

Echinacea tenneseensis 'Rocky Top' TENNESSEE CONEFLOWER

The ray petals of this species are not drooping like most of the species in this genus, they curve upward in a slightly cupped shaped The flowers always face east looking, we think, for Tennessee. The dark mauve flowers with their black cones are very showy. They begin blooming before any of the Echinacea purpurea cultivars and are still blooming in September. 2' tall. Hardy in Rye for over a decade. Some sources list it as Zone 4,

 

NEW! Echium amoenum RED FEATHERS

Red flower spikes in spring and all through the summer, if deadheaded. The dried flowers possess a high level of anti-oxidants, and are used in tea for relief of colds and flue in its native Iran. Drought tolerant. 16" tall. Zone 3. Plant Select 2010.

 

Eremurus isabellinus 'Ruiter's Hybrids' Desert Candle

Tall scapes covered with flowers in shades of pink, yellow, peach, or cream. They like well-drained soil and are summer dormant to ensure survival in times of drought. Mulch heavily in fall. Blooms in early summer. 5' tall. Zone 5.

 

Eryngium giganteum 'Miss Wilmott's Ghost' SEA HOLLY

The beautiful 'Miss Wilmott's Ghost' is available this year in small quantities. The silvery bracts are very showy in the garden and in dried bouquets. Drought tolerant. Biennial that reseeds. Zone 4.

 

Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' JOE PYE WEED

Strong dark bronze-purple leaves and white flowers August-September. Striking accent. 3' tall. Needs moist rich soil. Part shade to full sun. Zone 4.

 

Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon'

It's not easy to find red-foliaged plants for the xeriscape, but this plant is the perfect choice. 10"-12" tall. Yellow flowers. Milky sap can cause skin irritation. Deer resistant. Mulch with gravel to create the perfect environment for seedlings of this great plant. Zone 4.

 

FERN Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum' JAPANESE PAINTED FERN

Leaves of silver, green and burgundy, this fern is as showy as a flower in a shady garden. Happiest in rich soil and adequate moisture. Loses all it's leaves in winter, but don't worry, it's very cold hardy and will return in late April. 18" Zone 4.

 

FERN Polystichum munitum WESTERN SWORD FERN

Native from Alaska to California and into the Black Hills of South Dakota, this native Western fern is dramatic in the garden. The fronds can get to be 3' long. Showy near a pond or stream bed. Needs rich soil and plenty of water. Evergreen. Zone 5.

 

Gaillardia 'Amber Wheels' BLANKET FLOWER

Yellow petals surround a red center. Very showy native. 18" tall. Does not perform well in heavy clay. This is the time to add compost, rock and sand to your clay soil to create a better environment. Zone 4.

 

Gaillardia aristata BLANKET FLOWER

With its red center and yellow petals, this gaillardia represents summer in the Southwest to all who see it. Drought tolerant. This native is found up to 9000' elevation in Colorado. Although perennial, it is short-lived, remaining in the garden by reseeding. Zone 3.

 

Gaillardia grandiflora 'Golden Goblin' BLANKET FLOWER

Clear yellow from tip to center. Perfect compliment to blue penstemons in the xeriscape. 18" tall. Zone 4.

 

Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Arizona Sun' BLANKET FLOWER

This new seed-grown variety is similar to 'Goblin' but even more compact and longer blooming. It starts blooming earlier in the season and continues until hard frost in the fall. 12" tall. Drought tolerant.

 

Galium odoratum SWEET WOODRUFF

A wonderful ground cover for a shady area; can tolerate moist or dry soils, and blooms profusely in May and June. One of the few groundcovers that succeeds under evergreen trees. Zone 4.

 

Gazania krebsiana 'Tanager'

Blooms in late spring and early summer then again in fall. Bright orange flowers on 2" tall stems grab everyone's attention. Loves gravel mulch where it will happily reseed. Some years it survives here, some not. If you provide the right conditions for it to reseed you'll be more assured of a perennial show. Check it out at the Pueblo Nature Center where it grows in the unwatered cactus garden.

 

Gazania linearis 'Colorado Gold'

Another cold hardy gazania, this one has yellow flowers.

 

NEW! Geranium cinereum 'Laurence Flatman' GRAYLEAF GERANIUM

An excellent plant, compact and showy. The pink flowers are veined in bright purple and are very striking. It likes a gravely soil, can withstand some periods of drought, and looks great in containers, too. Blooms from May until September. Full sun to light shade. 6" tall. Zone 5.

 

Geranium himalayense 'Plenum' (Birch Double)

Double violet flowers all summer; gorgeous red fall foliage. 15" tall. Zone 4.

 

Geranium 'Rozanne'

Perennial Plant of the Year 2008! Largest flowers of any geranium, blooms from June until frost. 20"; tall. Zone 5.

Geranium sanguineum BLOODY CRANESBILL

Very tidy mounds 15" x 18" covered with bright magenta flowers in May-June and then again in Sept. There are many varieties of G.sanguineum, but this unnamed cultivar is one of the best.

 

Geranium sanguineum 'Ankum's Pride' CRANESBILL

Brightest hot pink flowers. Deep green foliage. 8" x 18" Zone 4.

 

Glaucium aurantiacum HORNED POPPY

Orange flowers over silvery leaves. This poppy (the seed pod is horn-shaped) needs full sun. Very drought tolerant. Biennial. 2' tall. Zone 4.

 

Goniolinum tataricum 'Woodcreek' WOODCREEK STATICE

This perennial statice produces a huge dome of white flowers June-July. Zone 4.

 

GRASS Andropogon gerardii BIG BLUE STEM BIG BLUESTEM

Tall grass native to the midwest and into Kansas. Good fall color. Needs irrigation to look its best. 4' tall. Zone 5.

 

GRASS Arrhenatherum bulbosum 'Variegatum' VARIEGATED BULBOUS OAT GRASS

This cool season grass likes the cool nights of the Colorado foothills. If it's too hot it will go dormant, but can be cut back in late summer for another fresh display in fall. Zone 4.

 

GRASS Bouteloua curtipendula SIDEOATS GRAMA

This is a pretty native grass that looks attractive as an accent or edging plant in the xeric garden. Taller than Blue Grama, it's very pretty growing among native wildflowers like Indian Paintbrush and Chocolate Flower. 12" tall.

 

GRASS Bouteloua gracilis BLUE GRAMA GRASS

Blue grama grass is a native to the foothills of southern Colorado. It is a clumping grass and is most useful in natural landscapes and xeric gardens.

 

GRASS Calamagrostis 'Avalanche' FEATHER REED GRASS

A variegated selection of C. 'Karl Foerster' with a wide white stripe in the center of each blade of grass. 4' tall. Zone 4.

 

GRASS Erianthus ravennae HARDY PAMPAS GRASS

One of the most dramatic of the hardy grasses, plumes are held 10' tall over lush green foliage. Good fall color. Zone 5.

 

GRASS Helictotrichon 'Sapphire' BLUE OAT GRASS

This variety has wider leaves and brighter blue foliage than the species. Hardy to 8500'.

 

GRASS Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus' VARIEGATED MAIDEN GRASS

A September-blooming grass that remains interesting into the winter. This grass was able to adapt to my once every 7-10 days watering program in the drought of '02. The variegated leaves, with white vertical stripes on the green leaves, is attractive all summer. 4' tall. Zone 5.

 

GRASS Oryzopsis hymenoides INDIAN RICEGRASS

This native grass is a nice accent in a xeriscape. Airy seed heads look good growing next to yucca and agave.

 

GRASS Phalaris arundinacea picta RIBBON GRASS

A variegated grass that grows in part shade. 2' tall. Nice contrast in a shady corner. Zone 3.

 

GRASS Schizachyrium scoparium LITTLE BLUESTEM

This is another native grass that can withstand drought and cold winters. The foliage color of little bluestem is most attractive in the fall when it becomes Little Redstem. Nice accent or for a wildflower meadow. Zone 4.

 

GRASS Sorgastrum nutans 'Indian Steel' INDIAN GRASS

Clump-forming metallic blue foliage. Blooms in August. Hardy to 8000' 4' tall.

 

GRASS Sporobolus wrightii GIANT SACATON

This is a very ornamental xeric grass. It can be grown without irrigation once established. The roots were used by Indians to make hairbrushes. The leaves reach 3' in height, the airy seed heads almost 6'. Zone 5.

 

Gypsophila paniculata 'Double Snowflake' BABY'S BREATH

Three feet tall and covered with blooms in mid-summer. Good cut flower addition, fresh or dried. Zone 4.

 

Helenium autumnale 'Red Shades' HELEN'S FLOWER

These late summer daisies are vibrant shades of coppery red. Excellent for bouquets. 2'-3' tall. Full sun. Zone 4.

Helianthemum 'Harstwood Ruby' SUNROSE

Small, deep red flowers look like a wild rose, and cover the evergreen foliage in June and July. 10" tall. Zone 5.

 

Helianthemum mutabile 'Double Apricot' SUNROSE

Soft apricot colored double flowers in June and July. This evergreen subshrub is a fine addition to the rock garden or to border a walk or wall. 8" tall. Zone 5.

 

NEW! Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' SUNFLOWER

Lemon-yellow flowers on very tall stems. Long blooming, from July to September. This perennial is an excellent cut flower. Irresistible to butterflies. 6' tall. Works better in short season, high-altitude gardens than H. maximillianii. Zone 5.

 

Helianthus maximillianii NEW MEXICO SUNFL0WER

This drought tolerant plant blooms late September. The tall spikes are covered with bright yellow sunflowers, all up and down the stems. Plant along a fence or wall for great color in the fall. Zone 5.

 

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Summer Nights' FALSE SUNFLOWER

Introduced by North Creek nurseries and they say: "Deep golden yellow flowers with deep mahogony centers top dark red stems and red-tinged foliage. Simply stunning!" I agree, it is one of my favorite late summer flowers. 3' tall. Zone 3.

 

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Tuscan Sun'

Rich yellow flowers with dark gold centers. Long blooming from midsummer on. 20" tall. Zone 4.

 

Helleborus 'Sympathy' HELLEBORE

Single pink flowers with red freckles are more upright than older forms. 16" tall. For part shade. Blooms in March and April. Zone 5.

 

Hemerocallis 'Cosmopolitan' DAYLILY

Small dark rose fragrant blooms on this dwarf re-bloomer. 18" tall. Zone 3.

 

Hemerocallis flava LEMON LILY

This is the earliest daylily to bloom in the garden here, usually in late May. Fragrant flowers. Great color. This old garden favorite has been grown since the 1500s. Tough and cold hardy, tolerant of most soils. 3' tall. Zone 3.

 

Hemerocallis fulva COMMON DAYLILY

Common, indestructible, orange daylily. Smaller flowers than the hybrids but the best for naturalizing. 4' tall. Striking. Zone 3.

 

Hemerocallis hybrida 'Happy Returns' HAPPY RETURNS DAYLILY

Very nice yellow, ever-blooming. 18" tall. Zone 3.

 

Hemerocallis hybrida 'Hyperion' HYPERION DAYLILY

A long-blooming, fragrant, yellow daylily. 3' tall.

 

Hemerocallis hybrida 'Kwanso' TRIPLE ORANGE DAYLILY

The three layers of petals give this daylily an unusual look. Deep orange with red-orange throat. 36" tall. Zone 3.

 

Hemerocallis hybrida 'Lady Di' LADY DI DAYLILY

We originally grew this one from seed and have been propagating it by division for a number of years. Mauve. Many flowers of good substance. 3' tall.

 

Hemerocallis hybrida 'Stella d 'Oro' STELLA D 'ORO DAYLILY

Showy gold flowers on this dwarf daylily. Most famous repeat bloomer of all daylilies. 18" tall. Zone 3.

 

Hemerocallis 'Rosy Returns' DAYLILY

Rosy pink flowers with reddish purple band. Fragrant, everbloomer. 16" tall. Flowers 3.75" across. Zone 3.

 

Herniaria glabra RUPTUREWORT

Tiny leaves grow very close to the earth. It's good between pavers and can take quite a bit of foot traffic. Zone 5.

 

Hesperaloe parviflora RED YUCCA

Red flowers for hummingbirds are carried on tall stems. The plant, with its narrow succulent leaves, looks like a cross between a daylily and a yucca. Does well in Pueblo and Walsenburg, but not so well in Rye. Xeric. 4' tall.

 

Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple' PURPLE PALACE CORAL BELLS

Bronze-purple foliage and creamy white bells. 1991 Perennial Plant of the Year! Great color contrast in sun to part shade. 18" tall. Zone 4.

 

Hosta undulata 'Mediovariegata' HOSTA

Twisted leaves with creamy white centers edged in green. 15" tall x 3' wide. Zone 3.

 

Iberis sempervirens 'Little Gem' CANDYTUFT

An evergreen plant with white flowers in spring. This variety is very compact. 6" tall. Zone 5.

 

Iris pumila (Dwarf Blue) DWARF IRIS

Dwarf bearded iris. Very cold hardy. Blooms in May. 10" tall. Zone 4.

 

Iris pumila (Dwarf Purple)

Dwarf bearded iris. Very cold hardy. Blooms in May. 10" tall. Zone 4.

 

Juncus effuses 'Spiralis' CORKSCREW RUSH

Spirals of grassy foliage. Good near a pond or bog. 10" tall. Zone 4.

 

Knautia macedonica (syn.)Scabiosa rumelica

Wine red, pincushion-type flowers repeat from June to September. Survives in the no-water garden in full sun. 2' tall. This plant should be in every garden, it's such a showy long blooming perennial. Reseeds nearby to make a clump 3' wide after a few years. Zone 5

 

NEW! Kniphofia caulescens RED HOT POKER

The leaves are a beautiful silver-blue color--this is worth growing for the foliage alone. Orange flowers fade to cream late summer through fall. Hummingbirds flock to the flowers. From the Drakenberg Mountains, one of the hardiest of the genus. 3' tall. Zone 5.

 

Lallemantia canescens (Dracocephalum) DRAGON'S HEAD

Bluish-lavender flowers are spectacular in the dry garden. The foliage is low growing and looks nice all year. Even in a drought year this plant is gorgeous. 12" tall.

 

NEW! Lamium maculatum 'Anne Greenaway'

Green leaves with gold edge and a silver stripe down the center. This groundcover really lights up the shady nooks in your garden. Lavender blooms in spring. 6" tall. Zone 4.

 

Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver' DEAD NETTLE

Our old favorite is back! Silver leaves with green margins light up the shade garden. Best colored flowers of any of the lamiums, sort of pink with purple overtones, not magenta, not lavender, but definitely delightful. 6" tall, spreading to 2' wide. Zone 4.

 

Lamium maculatum 'Pink Pewter' DEAD NETTLE

Silvery foliage covered with light pink flowers. Seems to glow in a shady corner. Good as a groundcover and in a shady rock garden. Zone 4.

 

Lamium maculatum 'Shell Pink' DEAD NETTLE

Gray-green leaves with a single white stripe down the middle of each leaf. Pink flowers.

 

Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy' DEAD NETTLE

Like Lamium 'Pink Pewter' only with white flowers. Excellent to light up a dark, shady corner. Zone 4.

 

NEW! Lathyrus latifolius PERENNIAL SWEET PEA

This perennial pea blooms in midsummer and brightens the garden with it's white, pink and rose colored flowers. Even though the common name is "sweet" pea, this one doesn't really have much fragrance. It's a great vine, though, to climb in and around the garden. Full sun or part shade. 5' tall. Zone 4.

 

Lewisia cotyledon 'Sunset Strain'

Native of the Northwest. The flowers, in shades of pink and peach, bloom off and on thru the summer. Needs a rock garden to thrive, prefering well-drained soil with plenty of water when it's blooming, and a dry spot in the winter. 12" tall.

 

Liatris punctata SPOTTED GAYFEATHER

This pretty purple flowered native plant grows in dry areas in Eastern Colorado and the into the foothills. It has a very deep taproot, allowing it to survive when many other plants cannot. 15" tall. Zone 4.

 

Liatris spicata SPIKE GAYFEATHER

Bright lavender colored spike-like booms in mid-summer. It attracts butterflies and makes an excellent cut or dried flower for bouquets. 2' tall. Zone 3.

 

Limonium gmelinii SIBERIAN STATICE

A perennial statice that blooms in late summer. Purple blooms. Nice cut flower, fresh or dried. Drought tolerant. 30" tall. Zone 4.

 

NEW! Linum capitatum (syn. bulgaricum) GOLDEN FLAX

Golden yellow flowers cover plant in spring. 12" tall. Zone 4.

 

NEW! Linum narbonense BLUE FLAX

Heavenly blue flowers, larger than the common blue flax. Blooms first year from seed. 18" tall. Zone 5.

 

Linum perenne nanum 'Blue Saphyr' DWARF BLUE FLAX

A compact version of our native blue flax. Does well in a rock garden or xeriscape. Zone 4.

 

Lupinus polyphyllus 'Gallery Mix' LUPINE

More persnickity than most plants we offer at Perennial Favorites. Still, they're so fabulous in bloom they're worth the extra trouble. They don't seem to like the heat and they need moisture when they're blooming. We've found that they do better in Rye with half a day of shade. This is a compact variety in a mix of pink, blue,

yellow, white, or red. 18" tall. Zone 4.

 

Lychnis chalcedonia MALTESE CROSS

When we first started growing perennials, this was one of our mainstays, and it's nice to have it again this year. Great red flowers attract hummingbirds in June and July. Cut back for a late summer rebloom. 30" tall. Zone 3.

 

Lysimachia nummularia 'Goldilocks' GOLD MONEYWORT

Great as a groundcover, excellent in hanging baskets. The round gold leaves look their best in part to full shade. Good around ponds or water falls. Zone 4.

 

Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina' (syn. Alcea) MALVA ZEBRINA

Pink flowers with dark purple markings. Easy to grow, long blooming. Drought tolerant. Full sun. 3'-4' tall. Zone 5.

 

Marrubium rotundifolium

An eversilver plant for the rock garden or xeriscape. Only 6" tall, it will spread to make a clump 18" wide. Zone 5.

Mirabilis multiflora WILD FOUR O'CLOCK

This Colorado native is one of the most drought tolerant plants you can grow. At maturity it will be 3' wide and 18" tall and covered with hundreds of bright, hot pink flowers. Because it has a huge tap root, it is not easy to move it after it is established: plant it where you want it! Native to rocky, clay soil, we see it near us on road cuts, blooming its heart out every afternoon in July and August. Zone 5.

 

Monarda citriodora LEMON MINT

This monarda is one of the most beautiful. An annual that rarely reseeds, it is worth planting every year for it's graceful flowers that attract hummingbirds. The foliage has a bit of a lemon scent.

 

Monarda 'Coral Reef' BEEBALM

Another good one with powdery mildew resistance. Intense coral pink flowers. Try this with Monarda 'Jacob Cline' in the hummingbird garden. 24" tall. Zone 4.

 

Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline' BEEBALM

a good red with strong resistence to powdery mildew. 3' tall. Zone 4.

 

Myosotis olympica FORGET ME NOT

This alpine forget me not is a true perennial. Sky-blue flowers in June and July. For full sun in the rock garden or to edge a perennial border. 6" tall. Zone 4.

 

Nepeta mussini CATMINT

An ornamental herb that you can tuck in nicely almost anywhere. Gray-green leaves to a height of 10"; lavender flowers are produced June through September. Sun to light shade. A drought tolerant ground cover that appreciates shearing in late June.

 

Nepeta siberica 'Souvenir d'Andre Chaudron' SIBERIAN CATMINT

Long-flowering cultivar, with large purple flowers. We are growing this among the antique roses and it looks outstanding. 18"-24". Zone 5.

 

Nepeta sibthorpii CATMINT

An herbaceous aromatic plant, growing in dry, usually rocky areas of Southern Greece.

 

Nepeta x faassenii 'Six Hills Giant' CATMINT

Another great catmint for the xeriscape garden. Bigger, showier blue flowers look good with the yellow-flowering yarrows, or near Oenothera macrocarpa incana. 2' tall. Zone 5.

 

Nepeta x faassenii 'Walker's Low' CATMINT

This catmint has larger lavender-blue flowers than the common catmint. The leaves are smaller. Overall the effect is quite pleasant. One of the nicest. Zone 5.

 

Nolina microcarpa BEARGRASS

The curly, thin, grass-like leaves are topped by tall flower stalks of numerous tiny pink flowers in summer. 3' tall. Drought tolerant. Hardy to 8,000 ft. Zone 5.

 

Oenothera berlandieri 'Siskyou' PINK EVENING PRIMROSE

This native is covered with pink saucer-shaped flowers; blooms May-June. 12" tall. Drought tolerant. Can be invasive in fertile, moist gardens. Zone 5.

 

Oenothera caespitosa TUFTED EVENING PRIMROSE

White flowers open in the evening to astonish the garden visitor with their beauty. Native. Xeric. 12" tall. Zone 5.

 

Oenothera macrocarpa ssp. fremontii 'Silver Wings' EVENING PRIMROSE

Wavy, slender, lance-shaped, grey-green leaves and large, papery, golden cup-shaped flowers in June and July. Xeric. 6" tall x 12" wide. Zone 4.

 

Oenothera macrocarpa ssp. incana 'Silver Blade' EVENING PRIMROSE

Pretty silver leaves and huge yellow flowers make this an outstanding perennial. Great for hot sunny spots. Blooms from June until September. Zone 4.

 

Origanum hybridum ORNAMENTAL OREGANO

Another ornamental oregano, perhaps a cross between O.dictamnus and O.rotundifolium, with fuzzy leaves, flowers smaller than Kent Beauty, and an eye-catching plant for the rock garden. All of the oreganos we offer are tough and drought tolerant. Zone unknown.

 

Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen' ORNAMENTAL OREGANO

Pink flowers with dark reddish-purple bracts attract people, butterflies, and beneficial insects in late summer. The flowers are small but the overall effect is grand. 24" tall. Drought tolerant. Zone 5.

 

Origanum rotundifolium 'Kent Beauty' KENT BEAUTY OREGANO

One of the best of the ornamental oreganos. The hop-like bracts are light green suffused with pink; the tiny tubular flowers are lavender-pink. Very showy. Winter hardy. Zone 5.

 

Paeonia 'Cora Stubbs' PEONY, CORA STUBBS

Cream-colored center surrounded by raspberry-pink petals. Very fragrant. 30" tall.

 

Paeonia lactiflora 'Kansas' PEONY

Large carmine-red flowers. An APS Gold Medal winner.Sun. 34" tall.

 

Paeonia 'Monsieur Jules Elie' MONSIEUR JULES ELIE PEONY

Double light rose-pink, very fragrant . Early bloomer.

 

Papaver apokrinomenon POPPY

A soft orange-colored poppy for the rock garden. Gray foliage. Very long blooming. 15" tall.

 

Papaver nudicaule 'Champagne Bubbles Mix' ICELAND POPPY

A pretty poppy that does well at high elevations. Loves cool temperatures, and will bloom all summer in the foothills and higher. Zone 3.

 

Papaver orientale 'Brilliant' ORIENTAL POPPY

Deep red bloom with black spots at the base of each petal. Very striking in the landscape. 2'-3' tall. Zone 3.

 

Papaver orientale 'Coral Reef' ORIENTAL POPPY

Coral pink with a contrasting dark center. 2.5' tall.

 

NEW! Papaver orientale 'Harlem' POPPY

Burgundy red flowers with large dark centers. Strong stems hold the flowers upright. 38" tall. Unlike most Oriental poppies, this one blooms in spring and again in September. Zone 3.

 

Papaver orientale 'Prince of Orange' ORIENTAL POPPY

Bright red-orange flowers. Deer resistant. 3' tall. Full sun. Zone 3.

 

Papaver orientale 'Turkenlouis' ORIENTAL POPPY

Fringed red petals, black center. Striking. Zone 3.

 

Papaver rupifragum 'Tangerine Gem' SPANISH POPPY

Soft orange colored double and semi-double flowers. 12" tall. Great for a sunny rock garden. Zone 4.

 

Papaver triniifolium POPPY

The silvery, lacy foliage would be reason enough to grow this poppy, even without the pretty peach-colored flowers and it blooms non-stop all summer. Very drought tolerant, has survived in an abandoned garden without any water from us since 2002. A bienniel that reseeds. 12" tall. Zone 4.

 

Paronychia kapela serpyllifolia NAILWORT

A great groundcover, and excellent between paving stones. Can take moderate foot traffic. Tough as nails. Zone 4.

 

Penstemon angustifolius

This native grows just down the road from Perennial Favorites. Fantastic blue flowers in May. Xeric. Zone 4.

 

Penstemon barbatus 'Rondo' SCARLET BUGLER

A mix of coral red, midnight blue, and light pink flowers, 2' tall; blooms June and July. Winters at high elevations if not planted in winter-water-logged soil.

 

Penstemon eatonii FIRECRACKER PENSTEMON

Great red flowers, another penstemon that hummers will find irresistible. Zone 5.

 

Penstemon glaber

A good blue penstemon that blooms from June to August. One of the easiest to grow and longest lived. 18"-24"tall. Zone 4.

 

Penstemon grandiflorus 'Prairie Jewel'

A very showy penstemon with large lavender, pink, or white flowers. Xeric. 2' tall.

 

Penstemon palmeri PINK WILD SNAPDRAGON

One of the few fragrant penstemons. Soft pink flowers. 3' tall. Xeric.

 

Penstemon pinifolius PINELEAF PENSTEMON

A good penstemon for rock gardens. Fine foliage looks like a miniature pine tree. Orange-red blooms. 8" x 10". Zone 5.

 

Penstemon pinifolius 'Aspen Gold' PENSTEMON, ASPEN GOLD

Our own selection of the best yellow we've seen. Blooms from July to frost. Doesn't flop over, looks good in bloom or out. 10" tall. XERIC!

 

Penstemon rostriflorus

Red flowers in mid to late summer. A good one for migrating hummingbirds. 2' tall. Zone 4.

 

Penstemon strictus ROCKY MTN. PENSTEMON

Tolerates sandy soil. Dark blue flowers form on 18-24 inch stalks from early to midsummer. Evergreen foliage. Zone 4.

 

Penstemon x mexicali 'Red Rocks' RED ROCKS PENSTEMON

Rose-red flowers on 12" tall plant. 1999 Plant Select.

 

Perovskia atriplicifolia RUSSIAN SAGE

Looks more like a giant lavender than sage. Gray-green filigreed leaves. Spikes of soft lavender blue. Blooms July through Sept. 4'-5' tall. Zone 5.

 

Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Longin' RUSSIAN SAGE

The silvery-green leaves of this variety are not as dissected as the species. This small detail makes 'Longin' a very attractive Russian Sage. The form of this variety is more upright and narrow, compared to the common one. Zone 5.

 

Persicaria 'Red Dragon' BORDER JEWEL

The burgundy foliage is marked with silver and green. Very nice foliage plant for the garden or for containers. 2' tall.

 

Phlomis cashmeriana CASHMERE SAGE

Lavender-pink whorls of showy flowers. Great in fresh bouquets as well as dried arrangements. 3' tall. Plant Select. Zone 5.

 

Phlox 'Lemhi Purple' PHLOX

The color of this phlox is unlike any of the other creeping phloxes--it's an intense lilac. Native to the Lemhi Mountains, it came to us by way of Gwen Kelaidis in 1992. Zone 5.

 

Phlox paniculata TALL GARDEN PHLOX

This is an unnamed variety, similar in appearance and fragrance to the phlox my grandma grew fifty years ago. Lavender blooms in July and August. 2.5' tall. Powdery mildew is rarely a problem. Zone 4.

 

Phlox paniculata 'David' TALL GARDEN PHLOX

A huge white phlox that never seems to suffer powdery mildew. Blooms in late summer, August through early September-- one of the best. 3'-4' tall. Zone 4.

 

Phlox paniculata 'Orange Perfection' TALL GARDEN PHLOX

This phlox started blooming in mid-August and still had new flowers opening in October when it was hit with the first hard frost of fall. In a certain light, or at a certain angle, the flowers have a hot pink cast to them, but basically they are a very brilliant orange. Zone 4. 30" tall.

 

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' BLUE CREEPING PHLOX

One of the most vigorous of the creeping phlox.

 

Phlox subulata 'Fort Hill' CREEPING PHLOX

Evergreen mats covered with pink flowers in May. Only 4"-6" tall. Zone 4.

 

Phlox subulata 'Red Wing' CREEPING PHLOX, RED WING

Deepest pink of all the creeping phlox. Zone 4.

 

Platycodon 'Astra Blue' BALLOON FLOWER

Only 6" tall with big blue flowers, it shines in containers. With minimal deadheading it will bloom from June to September. Very showy. Zone 4.

 

Potentilla tonguei CINQUEFOIL

Apricot-colored petals with wine-red center. Blooms late summer. Trailing. Zone 4.

 

Primula denticulata DRUMSTICK PRIMROSE

Flowers in shades of lavender, magenta, and occasionally a pure white accent the early spring garden. This primrose is one of the earliest perennials in our garden, blooming in mid-April, or as soon as the snow melts. For part shade in Colorado. 10" tall. Zone 4.

 

Pulsatilla vulgaris PASQUEFLOWER

Pretty purple flowers, 6-8" tall. Blooms in spring. Zone 3.

 

Ratibida columnifera MEXICAN HAT

This native has yellow petals with a prominent, narrow, dark brown cone in the center. Extremely drought tolerant. Blooms from June to August. 18" tall. Zone 4.

 

Ratibida columnifera (red form) MEXICAN HAT

The variety we offer has mahogany red flowers. The drooping petals and protruding cones are held 2' above finely cut foliage. Xeric. Zone 4.

 

Rosularia muratdaghensis

Once described by Panayoti as "The amazing orange-pink and tawny rosetted plant from Murat Dag in Turkey" this is an easy succulent for Colorado gardeners. Does well in a rock wall, trough, or slope garden. Zone 5.

 

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum' GLORIOSA DAISY

A bright gold daisy with 3" wide flowers. 2' tall. 1999 PPA Plant of the Year.

 

NEW! Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida BLACK-EYED SUSAN

Golden flowers summer to fall. Longer blooming than Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'. 24" tall. Zone 3.

 

Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Colors' BLACK-EYED SUSAN

Rudbeckia hirta is native to Colorado. You can find the wild form growing in the mountains on the way to Lake Isabel. This cultivar comes in shades of rust, brown, mahogany and gold. Very striking in the late summer garden. 2' tall. Treat as an annual, although some will survive the winter and some will reseed. Zone 4.

 

Rudbeckia hirta 'Cherry Brandy'

The first red rudbeckia! Cherry-red flowers from July to frost. Great in the border or a large container. Full sun.

2' tall.

 

Rudbeckia triloba BLACK-EYED SUSAN

Masses of small gold daisies with dark centers. Much more free-flowering than large flowered varieties. Very nice for late summer color. Each plant yields dozens of flower stems for bouquets. 3'-4' tall. Zone 4.

 

Rumex acetosa 'Silver Shield' SORREL

The silver-green leaves seem to glow in the shade. Unlike most silver leaves, these are smooth, not fuzzy, with a little shine to them. Excellent next to dark leaves of Ajuga 'Black Scallop. This plant is edible, but contains oxalic acid so should be consumed in small quantities. Zone 4.

 

Ruta graveolens RUE

The delicate blue leaves of this perennial herb are an invaluable accent in the garden. Drought tolerant. Tiny yellow flowers in mid summer. 2' tall. Deer resistant. Zone 4.

 

Sagina subulata 'Irish Moss' IRISH MOSS

Evergreen mat is a good shade groundcover; Dense foliage looks nice among paving stones. Likes a moist soil. Zone 4.

 

Salvia azurea grandiflora SALVIA

A September blooming salvia with long stems covered in sky blue flowers. Drought and heat tolerant. 3' tall. Zone 5.

 

Salvia darcyi VERMILLION BLUFFS MEXICAN SAGE

Bright red flowers are a hummingbird beacon. Blooms from June to September. 3' tall. Plant Select. Zone 5.

 

Salvia dumetorum

We're growing this from seeds from Bob Nold's dry garden. Needs no supplemental irrigation. Looks much like Salvia nemerosa only 3' tall.

 

NEW! Salvia greggii 'Ultra Violet'

Iridescent deep purple flowers from summer to fall. This accidental cross (thought to be a hummingbird initiated cross between blue flowered Salvia lycioides and rose-pink Salvia greggii) was selected by Lauren Springer and Scott Ogden in their Ft. Collins garden. Winter hardiness is still unknown, but it has survived the last three winters in Ft. Collins. 24" tall.

 

Salvia greggii 'Wild Thing'

Great salvia to attract hummingbirds. Hot pink, almost red, flowers. 18" tall. Zone?

 

Salvia nemerosa 'Blue Hill' SALVIA BLUE HILL

This salvia is a light blue, a very different color from the nemerosa varieties that follow. Zone 4.

 

Salvia nemerosa 'Caradonna'

Purple stems and blue-purple flowers. 18" tall. Xeric.

 

Salvia nemerosa 'May Night' MEADOW SAGE

Deep purple. Blooms May-July. 18� tall. Xeric.

 

Salvia nemorosa 'Sensation Rose'

Bright pink flowers start blooming in May. Will rebloom in fall if it is cut back after the first bloom. 18" tall. What fun to have a nice pink compact form of Salvia nemorosa! Zone 4

 

Santolina incana nana DWARF LAVENDER COTTON

At 8" tall, a great edging plant for the rock garden or xeric garden. Silver leaves remain through the winter. Zone 5.

 

Saponaria ocymoides SOAPWORT

Vigorous, low-growing groundcover; pink blooms in May and June.

 

Saponaria x olivana

A choice saponaria for rock garden or trough. Only 2" tall with numerous 1" pink flowers circling the compact plant in early summer. Zone 4.

 

Satureja montana illyrica BLUE WINTER SAVORY

An evergreen mound with blue flowers in late summer. Excellent rock garden plant. 6" tall. Zone 4.

 

Saxifraga cotyledon

An encrusted saxifrage; the rosettes are very attractive all year round. Bloom in May, white flowers can reach 18" tall. Zone 3.

 

Scabiosa caucasica 'Fama Blue' PINCUSHION FLOWER

Intense violet blue; exquisite form; an especially fine choice if you like to cut flowers for bouquets. Flowers from July to frost. 2' tall. Zone 4.

 

Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue' PINCUSHION FLOWER

Perennial plant of the year for 2000! Very long bloom time; lavender blue flowers. Compact plant. 15" tall. Zone 5.

 

Scabiosa lucida DWARF PINCUSHION

This is a dwarf form only 4" tall. Lavender-blue flowers. Extremely hardy in the rock garden.

 

Scabiosa ochroleuca YELLOW PINCUSHION

Cream-colored flowers on wiry stems dance with the slightest breeze. This plant can seed around a bit more than you might like if you put it in prime garden space. Instead try it in your xeric garden and admire its tenacity. Zone 5.

 

Sedum albo-marginata

A taller sedum with variegated leaves. Pale pink blooms in late summer. 15" tall. Zone 4.

 

Sedum album var. murale RED LEAF STONECROP

We've been growing this sedum for almost twenty years, selecting for red coloration and for the crested shape. Very attractive sedum, not invasive, but not hard to grow either. 3" tall. Zone 4.

 

Sedum corsicum

Blue-purple leaves. Small and compact. Full sun. 2" tall. Zone 5.

 

Sedum forsterianum 'Oracle'

Great rock garden sedum. Gray-green leaves. 4" tall. Zone 3.

 

Sedum globosum OLD MAN'S BONES

Fat, round leaves, about 1/4" long and wide. A shiny green, flushed red in cool weather. Very cute. 2" tall. Zone 4.

 

Sedum hybridum OAK LEAF SEDUM

Yellow flowers on low-growing oak leaf-looking green foliage. Makes a tight, care-free mat.Earliest blooming sedum in April or May. Zone 4.

 

Sedum kamtschaticum 'Variegatum' SEDUM

Green and white variegated version of the above species. Zone 4.

 

Sedum lydium

A sedum from Turkey with white flowers and good drought tolerance. Only an inch tall, it looks good among the rocks, next to steps, or creeping along a wall. Zone 5.

 

Sedum makinoi 'Ogon'

The golden foliage is an excellent accent with other succulents. A low spreading sedum that looks attractive in containers, too. Not very hardy, but great in pots in the summer. Zone 6.

 

Sedum 'Matrona'

A summer-blooming sedum with pink flowers and dark bluish-gray leaves on burgundy red stem. Excellent accent. 18" tall.

 

Sedum pachyclados STONECROP

Tidy rosettes of bluish leaves. Not a rapid spreading groundcover, but a good one for the rock garden. Native to Afghanistan. 4" tall. Zone 4.

 

Sedum pilosum

Small rosettes, only an inch wide. Big pink flowers on 2" tall stems. It's a very unusual look for a sedum, sort of like a semp body with a sedum head...or something. Good in a trough where it will (hopefully) reseed. This is unusual, and we don't have a lot of them, but if you're into the odd and strange, you'll want it. Zone 4 but monocarpic.

 

Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' STONECROP

The golden yellow foliage provides a nice contrast in the garden or in pots and baskets, but it is the fall and winter color that make this plant so amazing! It turns a brilliant golden orange with cool weather in October. Zone 4.

 

Sedum sieboldii OCTOBER PLANT

10"-12" tall; pink blooms in September. Zone 4.

 

Sedum spectabile 'Autumn Joy' AUTUMN JOY SEDUM

Pink flowers age to rust. Late summer classic, looks good in the winter garden. 2' tall. Zone 3.

 

Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood' DRAGON'S BLOOD SEDUM

Green leaves flushed with red. One of the first spurium cultivars and still valuable. Vigorous and very cold hardy. 6" tall. Zone 4.

 

Sedum spurium 'John Creech' JOHN CREECH SEDUM

Very low-growing sedum with pink blooms in June. Don't let the "spurium" fool you, this is nothing like Dragon's Blood sedum or other common S. spurium cultivars. The small, scalloped leaves make this plant the one you want for your garden. Zone 3.

 

Sedum spurium 'Red Carpet' RED CARPET SEDUM

This leaf is red all summer. Dark pink flower in July.

 

NEW! Sedum spurium 'Voodoo'

Deepest red yet in this species. Lovely contrast with other colors in the garden. 6" tall. Zone 3.

 

Sedum 'Xenox' STONECROP

Small scalloped leaves on this compact cultivar emerge mauve and green and mature to a dark burgundy in mid summer. Large clusters of velvet red buds open to reveal rosy flowers in late summer. 10" high. Zone 3.

 

Sempervivum (Hardy Mix) HENS & CHICKS

Green ones, red ones, green with red tips...we have an amazing assortment of these succulent rock garden standards--all named cultivars, but too many to list separately. Great for troughs, too. Zone 4.

 

Sempervivum arachnoideum HENS & CHICKS

Various cobweb types. 6" tall. Zone 4.

 

Seseli gummiferum MOON CARROT

Lacy silvery foliage and pink flowers. New and unusual. 15" tall. Plant Select. Zone 5.

 

Sideritis taurica

Silver felted leaves like lamb's ears. Pale yellow flowers in mid-summer. Xeric. Always in short supply. Zone 5.

 

Solidago canadensis GOLDENROD

This tower of gold can reach 5' tall, although when grown dry it is much shorter. Very showy in late summer, the flowers can draw attention from yards away. It's also a useful plant for dried flower arrangements. Zone 4.

 

Spharalcea 'Desert Sunset'

This New Mexico native is in the hollyhock family. with silver-gray foliage produces numerous flowers in mid to late summer. Each plant varies in color; some are pink or orange, some salmon or violet, all are lovely. Drought tolerant. 3' tall. Zone 5.

 

Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet' LAMBS EARS

Soft fuzzy silver leaves make a great groundcover. No flowers to spoil the effect or send seeds everywhere. 12" tall. Zone 4.

 

Tanacetum albipannosum

Another great white-flowered tansy. The foliage is extremely silvery, and it flourishes in the same hot sunny conditions as Tanacetum niveum. Zone 4.

 

Tanacetum densum var. amani PARTRIDGE FEATHER

Dense silver-white foliage. Makes a good groundcover in a hot sunny spot. Xeric. Zone 4.

 

Tanacetum niveum SILVER TANSY

Silver foliage is covered with small white daisies in early summer. Grows in a mound, 12" x 12". Easy to grow in almost any garden. Prefers full sun. Drought tolerant. Zone 4.

 

Tanacetum vulgare 'Crispum' TANSY, FERN LEAF

This curly-leafed tansy is slow to spread. The foliage is very interesting and if and when it flowers (not often in Rye) the gold buttons are also attractive. Drought tolerant. Zone 4.

 

Tanacetum vulgare 'Isla Gold' TANSY

Golden, fern-like foliage with yellow button flowers in August. Very unusual and great contrast in the garden or for larger containers. The flowers dry well for use in flower crafting. 24" tall. Zone 4.

 

Teucrium chamaedrys GERMANDER

Dwarf evergreen shrubs, excellent for edging an herb garden or in a rock garden for all-season interest. Tiny, shiny, dark green leaves on this upright plant. Pink flowers in summer. Excellent for topiary, too. 12" tall.

 

Teucrium cossonii (aroanium) MAJORCA GERMANDER

This has been my favorite teucrium for a long timeThe leaves are silvery-green and sweetly scented. The lavender flowers are produced over a long period from mid to late summer. Rock garden gem. Very drought tolerant, too. 6" tall. Zone 5.

 

Thermopsis montana GOLDEN BANNER

This native can survive a severe drought, but it won't bloom if it doesn't have moisture in April and early May. 2' tall. Zone 4.

 

Thymus banaticus 'Rapunzel' RAPUNZEL THYME

Fine leaves look good trailing over rocks, a very pretty thyme from Robert Brown. Zone 5.

 

Thymus cilicicus THYME

Very fine and feathery-leaved low growing thyme. Pale pink flowers. 2" tall. Zone 5 or lower. (Originally listed incorrectly by us as Thymus dzevanowskyi.)

 

Thymus 'Juniper' THYME

Needle-like leaves are only an inch tall. Pink blooms in June. Drought tolerant.

 

Thymus necceffi THYME

This thyme belongs in the rock garden; deep pink flowers and dark green leaves are very attractive. An inch or less tall, spreading to 10" wide.

 

NEW! Thymus 'Nutmeg' THYME

Very low growing thyme is perfect between flagstones. Mauve flowers in spring. Spicy nutmeg scent. 1" tall. Zone 5.

 

Thymus praecox 'Coccineus' CREEPING RED THYME

Very low growing variety with reddish purple flowers.

 

Thymus praecox 'Pink Chintz' PINK CHINTZ THYME

Dark green leaves, pretty light pink flowers. Good between pavers.

 

Thymus pseudolanginosus WOOLY THYME

Fuzzy-leafed grayish-colored thyme. A good one to plant between pavers.

 

Thymus 'Reiter' REITER'S THYME

Nice foliage. Dark, evergreen. 2" tall, spreading to at least 18".

 

Thymus 'Runaway' RUNAWAY THYME

One of Robert Brown's thymes. A great groundcover.

 

Thymus 'Soft Landing' SOFT LANDING THYME

Another thyme from Robert Brown, this one spreads quickly to tumble over rocks and cliffs. Too large to fit between paving stones, it's a great plant for stone walls and slope gardens. Zone 4.

 

Thymus 'Spicy Orange' THYME

Fine foliage with orange scent makes this an attractive ground cover. This is a sweeter orange than 'Orange Balsalm.' Soft pink flowers bloom longer than other thymes. Full sun. 3" tall.

 

Thymus x citriodorus 'Doone Valley' DOONE VALLEY THYME

Beautiful ground cover, the small shiny green leaves are splashed with gold. Very fragrant lemon scent when stepped on. This can be used as a culinary herb, too. We were so impressed with this thyme when it survived above Rye in a garden that is only tended one month out of the year! Zone 4.

 

Trifolium purpureum PURPLE CLOVER

Purple leaves edged in green. Great groundcover. Zone 4.

 

Verbascum 'Southern Charm'

Great colors: peaches, pinks, soft yellows, all sorts of pastels with a darker eye. This is a sterile hybrid (I've tried for years to save seeds and germinate them, to no avail), so it won't seed in your garden. Zone 5.

 

Verbena bipinnatifida DAKOTA VERBENA

A drought tolerant native that blooms in early summer in Southern Colorado. Lavender-colored flowers. XERIC.

 

Veronica armena SPEEDWELL

A very different looking veronica, thin, threadlike leaves, 4" tall, mounding. Bright blue flowers in spring and again in late summer. This is more for a rock garden, not really a groundcover. Xeric. Zone 5.

 

Veronica liwanensis TURKISH VERONICA

Tiny, shiny, round leaves. Intense blue flowers. Creeper. Blooms May-June. Zone 4.

 

Veronica macrostachya SPEEDWELL

Silvery-white leaves; many blue flowers on short stems in spring. 8" tall. Xeric.

 

Veronica 'Mars' SPEEDWELL

Our foundling, a cross between Veronica tauricola and Veronica pectinata, the foliage is gray and the flowers are royal blue with a white eye. Very nice low mounding form, long blooming and even repeats in the fall. Destined for greatness in the xeriscape. Zone 4.

 

Veronica pectinata (Blue) WOOLY VERONICA

Gray foliage with lavender-blue flowers.

 

Veronica pectinata (Pink) WOOLY VERONICA

The pink flower is okay, but the foliage is what makes you want this plant. Excellent for a ground cover in a sunny spot. Zone 4.

 

Veronica spicata incana

Silver foliage and deep blue flower spikes; a mid-height veronica for the perennial border. Does well in low-water areas. 18".

 

Veronica spicata 'Red Fox' RED FOX SPEEDWELL

This deer resistant plant has rosy-pink flower spikes in June and again in late summer. Deadhead to promote reblooming. 18" tall. Is quite happy with half a day of shade. Zone 3.

 

Veronica surculosa SPEEDWELL

Blue flowers with a white eye. Another great xeric veronica from Turkey. 2' tall by 2' wide. If you say the name like you're a vampire from Transylvania, it makes gardening even more fun. Zone 5.

 

Veronica tauricola

Gray-green cushion. Blue flowers. Xeric. 4" tall. Repeat after me: You cannot have too many veronicas! Zone 4

 

Veronica x 'Reavis' ('New Century') CRYSTAL RIVER SPEEDWELL

Hybrid between V. liwanensis and V. pectinata. Long blooming. Blue flowers. Good used as a groundcover. Drought tolerant, of course. Zone 4.

 

Vinca minor PERIWINKLE

Low-growing evergreen ground cover smothered with blue flowers in spring. Shade.

Zone 4.

 

Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea' WINE-FLOWERED PERIWINKLE

A periwinkle with unusual deep wine-red flowers. Perhaps not as vigorous at the common blue-flowered periwinkle, but very pretty. Zone 4.

 

Viola corsica CORSICAN PANSY

Long-blooming violet with large purple flowers. Plant Select 2003. Zone 5.

 

Viola koreana 'Syletta' VIOLET

The leaves of this violet look like a cyclamen. Very attractive in a shady garden or a trough in part shade. Not long-lived, but will reseed. Hardy to 6500' at least. Purple flowers. 3" tall. Zone 5.

 

Viola sororia 'Freckles' FRECKLES VIOLET

A perennial violet that blooms in sun to part shade. White flowers with blue freckles on each petal. Easy to grow, spreads like a ground cover but is not too aggressive. Zone 4.

 

Yucca baccata BANANA YUCCA

The leaves are wider than the yucca that grows in Southeastern Colorado. The flowers large and creamy white. Native Americans have used Yucca baccata leaves for weaving and used the roots for soap. The Paiutes dried the fruits for use during the winter. The fruits of Yucca baccata look a little like a banana and are eaten raw, steamed or fried. Zone 5.

 

Zauschneria californica CALIFORNIA FUCHSIA

Fantastic red-orange flowers in late summer. Hummingbirds love this plant. It loves the heat, so plant it in the warmest, sunniest spot you can find. Zone 5.

 

Zauschneria garrettii 'Orange Carpet' HARDY FUSCHIA

Great for hummingbirds. Sun to part shade. Blooms summer to fall. 4" tall. Zone 3.