These tough, tall perennials are eye-catching standouts among shorter plants
One of the many reasons I love the Mountain West is the astonishing issue of perennial that thrive in our landscape . Less humidity , warm days , and cool nights put up the unadulterated condition for many species to thrive . The variety of colors and texture they offer to our gardens wield interest throughout the seasons while supply critical home ground for many pollinators .
perennial do particularly well in our rock garden . I recently showed you howI built my own rock-and-roll garden . As my rock garden has matured , I ’ve try append unexampled kind of plants each class . I look for full - sun plants that typically do n’t command a lot of weewee ; however , for those that need a piddling more water , I use rocks to create planting pockets that support pee near the plant . I have many ground covers in my rock’n’roll garden but want to add together some tall plant . Here are some interesting mintage and varieties I ’m adding this yr .
Nodding sage
Salvia nutans , geographical zone 5–8
This unusual salvia has been garnering much care in the rock music garden at the Gardens on Spring Creek where I work on , so much so that I had to have it ! The plant is native to the Eurasiatic steppe domain , gain it a great improver to Mountain West garden , many of which have a similar steppe climate . Its bombastic leaf form a basal clump about 18 inches marvelous . The collector’s item is graceful flower spikes up to 5 feet improbable with nodding purplish peak that bloom in mid - to - late spring . Nodding sage does dependable in full Sunday with average soil .
‘Twizzle Purple’ penstemon
Penstemon barbatus‘Twizzle Purple ’ , zone 5–8
You will receive different eccentric of penstemons scatter around my garden . ‘ Twizzle Purple ’ was named an All - America Selections winner in 2017 for its purple color and for the fact that it bloom in its first year . Up to 3 feet tall , this penstemon begins flower in late spring and continues right on through the summer . As with other genus Penstemon , hummingbird and other pollinators love it . It takes full to fond sunshine and dry out to average soil .
Standing cypress
Ipomopsis rubra , Zones 6–9
While this biennial is pushing the zones a spot , I am giving it a endeavour in an arena protect by some larger rocks . What a show - stopper ! Standing cypress tree , also called Texas plume or scarlet gilia , has tall spike that make 2 to 5 groundwork tall . These spikes have panicle of bright red , tubular flowers with yellow dots on the interior that draw butterfly stroke and hummingbirds to the garden . This perennial is also cervid resistant . It blooms in June 21 , and deadheading the spike will further new flower empale to emerge , but make certain to let some go to seed so you have it in your garden for years to come . It does unspoilt in full sunlight with teetotal to medium soil .
Shrubby hardy gloxinia
Incarvillea olgae , Zones 6–9
I have one species of hardy gloxinia in my garden and it is doing well , so I decided to lend another . in the beginning from Central Asia , hardy gloxinia adapts well to our climate . This shrubby perennial mystify 3 to 4 base tall , with pinkish , trumpet - shaped flowers throughout summer . It is very winter hardy . It takes full sun to fond shade with dry to average filth and blooms in previous spring through early summertime .
Blackberry lily
Iris domestica , Zones 5–10
As the botanical name suggests , blackberry lily is very standardized to other sword lily you may be familiar with ; both are rhizomatous perennials , and the leaves look the same . That is where the similarities end , however . Bright orange flush with flushed spots look atop defenseless stems in mid - to - later summer , bestow a novel pop of color . These are stick with by pod that open to reveal a blackberry - take care seed bunch — hence the name . I ’ve been want this plant for a few years and bump some this class . Blackberry lily involve full sunlight and medium land .
— Michelle Provaznik is executive film director of the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins , Colorado .
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The bright, almost neon-red flower spikes of standing cypress can grow up to 5 feet tall.Photo: Steve Aitken
Nodding sage is capped with an abundance of dangling, light purple flowers atop straight stems.Photo: Michelle Provaznik
This unusual penstemon blooms with a spray of deep purple flowers.Photo: parkseed.com
The red tubular flowers of standing cypress are beloved by hummingbirds and are deer-resistant to boot.Photo: Steve Aitken
Toward the end of its bloom period, shrubby hardy gloxinia fruits with green bean–like pods.Photo: Denver Botanic Garden
Blackberry lily is a very unusual perennial, with flowers that resemble lilies, foliage that resembles other irises, and seed clusters that look just like blackberries.Photos: Michelle Gervais
