plant pick

‘Rubra’ astrantia
Astrantia major

Looking for some unusual flowers to spruce up your garden? Try ‘Rubra’ astrantia. The flowers last a long time in the garden and in a vase. And not only that, you can dry them to keep a reminder of summer through the winter.

Astrantia usually does best in part shade with moist, not soggy, well-drained soil. In Northern gardens, you can grow it in full sun if you keep the soil moist. A good way to do this is with a 2- to 3-in. layer of mulch that’s one part well-rotted manure mixed into four parts compost. This type of mulch will feed the soil and keep in much-needed moisture.

Deadheading keeps blooms coming for most of the summer. When flowers fade to brown, follow the stem down to where it branches and snip it off.

TYPE Perennial SIZE 18 to 24 in. tall by 12 to 18 in. wide BLOOM Rose-red in late spring to late summer LIGHT Full sun to part shade SOIL Moist, rich, well-drained PESTS None serious, occasional slugs HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 4 to 7; Heat: AHS zones 7 to 1

Click on illustration for plant list.

coral bells = good companions

Coral bells are versatile plants: They thrive in shade gardens and sunny spots alike. Although they’re not usually large plants, their color and texture give them real presence. With good-looking foliage that doesn’t go down with the flowers, coral bells just may be perfect companion plants. Here are a couple of ways to use these great perennials in your garden:

FLOWER POWER — Featuring two long bloomers: Coral bells and spiderwort, this planting takes part sun. The ground cover veronica blooms in spring before the other two get going but has nice-looking foliage all summer.

Click on illustration for plant list.

FUN WITH FOLIAGE — This coral bells combination features plants that will even take full shade. You may not get many blooms from your coral bells there, but its burgundy foliage echoes the burgundy veining in the Japanese painted fern. And the texture contrasts make for a beautiful partnership.

plant pick

Fernleaf bleeding heart
Dicentra hybrids

From midspring to fall, fernleaf bleeding heart’s arching flower stems dangle delicate blooms above bunches of lacy foliage. Most flowers have shades of red or pink, like ‘Luxuriant’, at left, but it’s possible to find white bloomers, like ‘Snowdrift’.

Bleeding heart is easy to care for. Deadheading? Optional. Dividing in spring? Optional. Staking? Unnecessary. In fact, with just a 3-in. layer of compost placed over the roots in spring, and a consistent watering schedule, this hardy plant will be happy! However, it does reseed readily, so if you don’t want a large stand of bleeding heart, pull seedlings in spring. If you plan on letting this perennial set seed, keep in mind that it can hybridize easily. Plant more than one cultivar in your garden, and you may get a surprise mix of flower colors next year.

TYPE Perennial SIZE 1 to 2 ft. tall and 18 in. wide BLOOM Red, pink or white blooms from spring to fall LIGHT Part to full shade SOIL Moist, well-drained PESTS None serious HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 3 to 8; Heat: AHS zones 8 to 1

Learn about other great perennials in Great Plant Combos Made Easy at right!

PHOTO: Courtesy of Walter Gardens, Inc.

plant pick: new for 2009

‘Golden Sunrise’ Lenten rose
Helleborus hybrid

After a long winter, Lenten rose is a welcome sight, sometimes blooming even through snow. ‘Golden Sunrise’ is the first in the Winter Jewels™ series, which has large flowers in true color strains. That means all the flowers will be the same color, instead of a mix, like many other Lenten rose hybrids.

‘Golden Sunrise’ has 2- to 3-in., downward-facing yellow flowers. Each has red in the center. Some have a blush, some are solid and others are spotted like the one at left. All have red veining on the petal backs so you get a colorful view from above, too.

TYPE Perennial SIZE 18 to 22 in. tall and 24 in. wide BLOOM Yellow in late winter to early spring LIGHT Part shade SOIL Moist, well-drained PESTS None serious HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 4 to 9; Heat: Not available

Meet more great new plants for your garden in the latest issue of Garden Gate magazine. Check out the Web extras for this story and more! Click here for all.

plant pick

Tulip
Tulipa hybrids

There are some plants that just stand for a certain season, and nothing says “spring” as loud and clear as tulips!

There’s a tulip out there for everyone. You’ll find nearly any color except blue, and some flowers are streaked with two or three colors. Some are that classic tulip shape, like ‘Barcelona’, in the photo, while others have fringed or ruffled edges, double blooms or elegant, pointed, lily-shaped flowers.

Like most bulbs, tulips like a spot that’s sunny in the spring, but they’re perfectly content under big shade trees that leaf out later. Just make sure they’re in well-drained soil, or the bulbs can rot.

If you garden south of zone 8, buy pre-chilled bulbs or refrigerate your bulbs for four to six weeks before you plant them.

TYPE Bulb SIZE 4 to 24 in. tall by 3 to 5 in. wide BLOOM Wide range of colors from early to late spring LIGHT Sun to part shade SOIL Moist, well-drained PESTS Crown rot HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 3 to 8; Heat: AHS zones 8 to 1

See more spring-bloomers in Garden Gate magazine issue 85, on newsstands now!

gerbera daisy
gerbera jamesonii

Who doesn’t love a daisy? Gerberas produce flowers up to 4 in. in diameter atop single, unbranched stems, making them excellent for cutting. They’re also perfect in containers, as you see here.

Make sure to plant them high, so water won’t collect in the crowns and rot them. Water and then let the soil dry out on the surface before watering again. But don’t let the foliage wilt, or you’ll have fewer flowers. To keep them blooming their best, feed gerberas once a season with slow-release 14-14-14 fertilizer.

Let your eyes be your guide when shopping — gerbera daisies come in a wide variety of colors, but aren’t usually sold as named varieties. You can also start gerberas from seed indoors in fall or spring. Seedlings need warmth, so keep them at 55 to 65 degrees until you move them outside.

TYPE Annual/tender perennial SIZE 18 in. tall and wide BLOOM All colors but blue in summer LIGHT Sun to part shade SOIL Well-drained, fertile PESTS Crown rot HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 8 to 12; Heat: AHS zones 12 to 1

red barrenwort
epimedium xrubrum

If you have shade, you know how hard it is to find plants that will thrive there. Barrenwort is one such plant. Don’t be fooled by its delicate-looking foliage and flowers. This tough plant can handle dry shade and looks good doing it. This slow-spreading perennial ground cover makes a striking scene in spring with sprays of dainty red flowers. Click the photo to see a flower closeup.

As the nights cool down in autumn, the leaves often change to rust orange. And the leaves are nearly evergreen, lasting until heavy snow knocks them to the ground. When the new leaves just start to sprout in spring, cut off the old ones.

TYPE Perennial SIZE 6 to 12 in. tall, spreading BLOOM Red with cream centers in early spring LIGHT Part shade to shade SOIL Moist, humus-rich, well-drained PESTS None serious HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 5 to 9; Heat: AHS zones 9 to 1 SOURCE www.deerresistantplants.com

‘revolution’ hosta
hosta hybrid

Flecks, streaks and marbling are out-of-the-ordinary markings for hostas, so it’s no surprise ‘Revolution’ is popular. This is a vigorous hosta that will come back year after year. (Some hostas with this type of variegation can be short-lived.)

Thick leaves form a nice upright mound with confettilike flecks on a creamy center. The flecks start out pale in spring but grow darker as the season progresses. Placing ‘Revolution’ where it gets morning sun will bring out the best leaf color, but in the South, full shade is your best bet. In spring, the variegation is complemented by pale lavender flowers.

TYPE Perennial SIZE 18 in. tall and 24 in. wide BLOOM Spring LIGHT Part shade (2 to 4 hours of shade) SOIL Well-drained PESTS Slugs, hosta virus X HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 5 to 9; Heat: AHS zones 9 to 1

‘color flash’ astilbe
astilbe xarendsii

Most astilbes are grown for their flowers, but who needs flowers when you can have foliage like this? It starts off bright green in spring, matures to rich burgundy with touches of deep purple in summer and turns gold and sienna in fall. In addition to the foliage, in late spring ‘Color Flash’ produces pale pink flower plumes that stand 20 in. high — great for perennial borders or containers.

Unlike most other astilbes, this one can tolerate slightly dry soils. Of course, when you plant ‘Color Flash’, it’ll need moisture while it gets established. Keep the roots damp and cool with 2 to 3 in. of mulch.

TYPE Perennial SIZE 10 in. tall and 12 to 18 in. wide BLOOM Late spring to early summer LIGHT Part shade (Morning sun, afternoon shade) SOIL Moist, well-drained PESTS None serious HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 4 to 8; Heat: AHS zones 8 to 1

‘duchess of edinburgh’ clematis
clematis hybrid

Here is a situation where more is better — double blooms. ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’ is a clematis with 4- to 6-in.-wide double blooms that open a light shade of green and change to creamy white as they mature. This fast-growing vine has attractive foliage, too, that’s often covered with cream-colored flecks.

Plant this regal clematis in full sun or part shade. If you grow it in full sun, keep the roots cool, either with a thick layer of mulch or by planting perennials nearby to shade the roots. Flower buds are formed on last year’s growth, so just do some light pruning after the flowers fade. You can prune the vine back hard to rejuvenate it, but don’t expect a big flower show next year because you’ll have pruned off many of the flower buds.

TYPE Perennial vine SIZE 8 to 10 ft. tall BLOOM Midspring LIGHT Full sun to part shade SOIL Moist, well-drained PESTS None serious HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 4 to 9; Heat: AHS zones 9 to 1

bridal wreath spirea
spiraea x vanhouttei

Truly an old-fashioned favorite, this shrub has appeared in many a hedge around an old farmhouse. But with loads of white flower clusters in late spring and exceptional toughness, this is still a great choice.

Even when it’s not flowering, small blue-green leaves on arching branches make a great background planting for perennial beds. You can prune or shear this spirea, but it looks best when it has room to spread out into its natural fountainlike shape. However, if you need to rejuvenate an old, ragged plant, you can cut most of the stems back to the ground and let the plant regrow.

Like most members of the rose family, spirea are susceptible to several diseases, however newer cultivars, like ‘Renaissance’, have improved resistance to disease. At 3 to 4 ft. tall, ‘Pink Ice’ is a shorter spirea with pink, cream and green variegation and light pink flowers. These and other cultivars are available from specialty nurseries or mail-order catalogs.

TYPE Shrub SIZE 6 to 8 ft. tall, 8 to 10 ft. wide BLOOM Late spring LIGHT Full sun to part shade SOIL Adapts to most soil types PESTS Occasional powdery mildew HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 3 to 9 Heat: AHS zones 8 to 1

winter aconite
eranthis hyemalis

These bright yellow flowers poke through the soil just when it seems that winter will never end. Even though they look fragile, they’ll tolerate freezing temperatures and snow without trouble. Plant winter aconite tubers in early autumn in alkaline soil. A shady lawn or under shrubs where they can reseed and naturalize is ideal. You can even plant them in perennial or annual borders. The extra water in summer won’t hurt the winter aconite tubers.

Before you plant the tubers, soak them in warm water for 24 hours. They’ll plump up and send out roots faster after you’ve planted them. Winter aconite tubers don’t have an obvious top, but don’t worry about it. Just drop them in the hole and they’ll be fine. Just like grape hyacinth, winter aconite looks best when planted in masses.

TYPE Bulb SIZE 3 to 4 inches tall BLOOM Late winter LIGHT Part shade to shade SOIL Alkaline, moist, well-drained PESTS None serious HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 4 to 7 Heat: AHS zones 7 to 1

serbian bellflower
campanula poscharskyana

Serbian bellflower is a low-growing campanula that grows well in almost any garden soil except poorly drained clay. Tuck it between the stones of a rock wall or rock garden. The roots will reach deep into the wall to get moisture. Serbian bellflower can also be planted along the edge of a flower bed. As long as it has full sun to part shade it’s happy.

True to its name, ‘Blue Waterfall’, above, has profuse blooms that give the illusion of water cascading from the plant. After it’s finished flowering in summer, clip it back by about half and it blooms again in autumn.

TYPE Perennial SIZE 4 to 6 inches tall by 18 to 24 inches wide BLOOM Late spring to fall if deadheaded LIGHT Full sun to part shade SOIL Well-drained PESTS None serious HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 4 to 7 Heat: AHS zones 7 to 1

hosta ‘june’

You’ll never get bored with this beautiful hosta. Leaf centers are chartreuse in spring then change to a creamy yellow by summer. The color varies depending on the amount of light available — you’ll get the best color by growing ‘June’ in morning sun and afternoon shade. And those beautiful leaves are thick, so slugs go looking elsewhere for dinner. With its smaller size, ‘June’ is an excellent choice to grow in containers. And it’s quick to multiply, so you’ll be able to divide it into more plants.

TYPE Perennial SIZE 15 in. tall by 30 in. wide BLOOM White in midsummer
LIGHT 4 to 5 hours of shade SOIL Well drained PESTS Occasional slugs