Perennials for Sun
These types of flowers are hardy to our area. So, you can plant them once and enjoy them for years to come. Perennials generally bloom hardest in one particular season. But, they may overlap into the next season (ex. late spring into summer). Ideally, you should include spring, summer, and fall blooming plants so that you will have color in your garden all season. To help you with this effort, we've organized the flowers below by the season in which they BEGIN blooming...Spring, Summer, or Fall.
Note: See our groundcovers section for perennial groundcovers for sun.
Click Here for a Listing of ALL Perennials By Bloom Time
Spring Blooming Perennials For Sun
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Avens / Geum (Geum chiloense)
Height: 12"-36"
Spread: 12"-18"
Bloom Color: Scarlet, orange, red or yellow
Season of Bloom: Late Spring
Other Notes: Flowers are held above deep green foliage. Easy to grow. Sun or part sun.
Varieties:
Double Bloody Mary (red)--14"
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Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxatilis)
Height: 8"-12"
Spread: 12"
Bloom Color: Yellow
Season of Bloom: Early Spring
Other Notes: Mounded plant is totally covered in flowers when in bloom. Drought tolerant. Prune heavily post bloom.
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Bitter root (Lewisia)
Height: 3" foliage, 12" flowers
Spread: 5"-12"
Bloom Color: Pink, white, orange, or yellow flowers
Season of Bloom: Spring
Other Notes: A rock garden plant—very pretty when in flower. Leaves form a succulent rosette the rest of the season. Plant in WELL DRAINED soil with low fertility.
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Amsonia 'Blue Ice'
Photos Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Blue Star
(Amsonia tabernaemontana)
Height: 15"
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: Navy blue buds open to periwinkle blue, star-shaped blossoms
Season of Bloom: Late Spring
Other Notes: Bright green clumping foliage turns rich yellow in Fall giving you another season of interest. Adds a billowy, fine texture to your border.
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Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
Height: 8"-12"
Spread: 12"
Bloom Color: Masses of PURE white flowers
Season of Bloom: Spring
Other Notes: A wonderful low growing, drought tolerant plant. Leaves are semi-evergreen and provide a low, deep green mound well into winter. Trim lightly after bloom. Sun or part sun.
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Polychroma
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Polychroma Bloom
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Cushion Spurge (Euphorbia sp.)
Height: 18"
Spread: 18"-24
Bloom Color: Chartreuse
Season of Bloom: Spring
Other Notes: Green foliage is interesting even when not in bloom. Tinges red in fall. Milky sap can cause irritation. Sun to Part Sun.
Varieties:
Bonfire
Ascot Rainbow
Polychroma
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Ascot Rainbow Bloom
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Ascot Rainbow Foliage
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Bonfire
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Zing Rose
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
Eastern Star
Spangled Star
Photo Courtesy Willoway Nurseries
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Dianthus / Carnation / Pinks
Height: 12"-18"
Spread: 24"
Bloom Color: White, coral, red, pink hues, burgundy, lavender
Season of Bloom: Spring to Early Summer. Long bloom time.
Other Notes: Foliage is grass-like and can be silver or green. Many types are fragrant.
Varieties:
Firewitch
Zing Rose
Double Midget Mix
Spangled Star
Firewitch
 
Double Midget Mix (magenta and salmon)
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English Daisy (Bellis)
Height:8"
Spread: 12""
Bloom Color: Red, pink or white
Season of Bloom: Late Spring
Other Notes: Blooms well during cool weather.
Variety: Bellissima Mix
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Immortality
Superstition
Edith Wolford
Photo Courtesy Gardenworld, Inc
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Variegata
Devil's Lake
Photo Courtesy Gardenworld, Inc
Mystic's Muse
Photo Courtesy Gardenworld, Inc
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Iris, Bearded / German (Iris germanica)
Height: 15"-24"
Spread: 12"-36"
Bloom Color: Wide variety from white, to lavender, purple, red, peach, yellow
Season of Bloom: Late Spring
Other Notes: Drought tolerant. Sword like leaves remain after flowers fade. Easily divided about every 3 years.
Varieties:
Devil's Lake
Dusky Challenger
Edith Wolford
Immortality
Joyce Terry
Mystic's Muse
Superstition
Variegated
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Caesar's Brother
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Iris, Siberian (Iris siberica)
Height: 18"-4'
Spread: 24"
Bloom Color: Purple, blue, white or yellow flowers
Season of Bloom: Late Spring to Early Summer
Other Notes: Leaves are more slender and grass-like compared to bearded iris. Prefers moist locations. Sun to Part Sun
Varieties:
Caesar's Brother
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Photos Courtesy Plant Select
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Mongolian Bells
(Clematis integrifolia)
Height: 10"-14"
Spread: 12"-15"
Bloom Color: Nodding bells of lavender blue, pink,
or pure white
Season of Bloom: Late Spring to Fall
Other Notes: A cousin of traditional vining clematis,
this compact perennial belongs in a border instead of up
on a trellis. Drought tolerant and hardy to Zone 3.
Grow in full to part sun.
A Colorado Plant Select plant that is sure to become
a favorite of Western gardeners.
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Gallery Series
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Russell Hybrids Mixed
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Lupine (Lupinus)
Height: 18"-4'
Spread: 24"-36"
Bloom Color: Large spikes of pink, purple, red, white, or blue are held above foliage.
Season of Bloom: Late Spring to Early Summer
Other Notes: Provides good late spring color. Sun or part sun.
Variety:
Gallery: Red, White, Blue, Pink
Morello Cherry
Russell Carmine
Russell Mix
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Pasque Flower, (Pulsatilla)
Height: 4"-12"
Spread: 6"-12"
Bloom Color: Purple, blue, white, red or yellow
Season of Bloom: Spring
Other Notes: Flowers have interesting puffy seed heads post-bloom. Sun to Part Sun.
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Sarah Bernhardt
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
Karl Rosenfeld
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Dr Alexander Flemming
Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
Festiva Maxima
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
Coral Charm
Photo Courtesy Gardenworld
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Peony (Paeonia)
Height: 24"-36"
Spread: 24"-36"
Bloom Color: Mostly shades of white, pink, red or white. Single or double.
Season of Bloom: Late Spring
Other Notes: Deep green leaves on a mounded shrub-sized plant are a pretty foil for other flowering perennials. Sun or part sun. Long lived.
Varieties:
Coral Charm
Dr. Alexander Fleming
Edulus Superba
Festiva Maxima
Karl Rosenfeld
Sarah Bernhardt
Tree Peony Types:
NEW FOR 2013
Varieties:
Hoki Sweet Seventeen
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
Hanakisoi Floral Rivalry
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Bergenia 'Winter Glow' (Winterglut)
Winter Color
Photos Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Pig Squeak (Bergenia cordifolia)
Variety: Winter Glow
Height: 8"
Spread: 12"-15"
Bloom Color: Pink
Season of Bloom: Spring
Other Notes: Mostly grown for green thick foliage that turns shades of red in fall. Leaves are semi-evergreen and hold well into the winter. Sun to part sun. May also be grown in shade.
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Poppy, Icelandic
Height: Foliage 12", flowers 18"
Spread: 12"
Bloom Color: Circular crepe-paper type blooms in shades of white, peach, orange, pink and coral
Season of Bloom: Spring to early summer (or longer at higher elevations)
Other Notes: Prefers cooler weather and will stop blooming in heat. Great for higher elevations. Tip: If these die out on you during the summer heat, consider planting them in a bright window well. It keeps them cooler and they bloom all season. AND you'll be able to see blooms from windows in your basement!
Allow some of your flowers to set seed so that you will have fresh starts each year.
Variety: Flamenco is new this year. This pastel mix has a wide color range that is set apart because the edge of the petals have a frosted, picotee appearance that gives them a two-toned appearance.
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Poppy, Oriental (Papaver)
Height: 2'
Spread: 2'
Bloom Color: Deep red with a black center, Coral, or Pink
Season of Bloom: Spring
Other Notes: A real showstopper when in bloom. Foliage dies back in heat so be sure to plant something near it that will cover up the foliage post bloom.
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Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Red Feathers (Echium amoenum)
Height: 12"
Spread: 12"
Bloom Color: Rose-red
Season of Bloom: Late Spring (will re-bloom if deadheaded)
Other Notes: Very drought tolerant. Good for hot dry places. A Colorado Plant Select Plant.
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Sea Thrift (Armeria psuedarmeria)
Height: 15"
Spread: 15"
Bloom Color: Pink or white
Season of Bloom: Late spring and sporadically throughout summer if deadheaded
Other Notes: Good plant for the front of the border. (Zone 5)
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Red Fox
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Speedwell, Upright Types (Veronica spicata)
Height: 12"-24"
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: Shades of white, rose, or blue flower spikes.
Season of Bloom: Begins Late Spring to Early Summer
Other Notes: LONG bloom time—deadheading will allow you get to additional blossoms through August. Butterflies also love this plant.
Varieties:
Royal Candles
Red Fox
Sweet Lullaby
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Sweet Lullaby
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Royal Candles
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Sun Daisy 'Avalanche'
Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Sun Daisy (Osteospermum)
Variety: Avalanche
Height: 8"-12"
Spread: 10"-15"
Bloom Color: Clean, white daisy-like petals
Season of Bloom: Spring to Late Summer
Other Notes: We often sell Sun Daisies as annual plants. Avalanche is a perennial type that offers early blooming in Spring that lasts throughout the Summer. This would be pretty paired perennial Bachelor's Button (Centaurea), Twinspur (Diascia), or Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe). Tolerates all soil types and is hardy to Zone 4.
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Summer Blooming Perennials for Sun
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Baby's Breath, Upright types (Gypsophila paniculata)
Height: 24"-36"
Spread: 24"-36"
Bloom Color: White or Pink
Season of Bloom: Summer (deadheading may prolong bloom into early Fall)
Other Notes: Wonderful fresh cut or dried flower. Good plant to use as a filler to cover up other perennials that go dormant in the summer (poppy, lupine). MUST be planted in well drained soil. Drought Tolerant. Dislikes wet feet in the winter—so plant in a full sun location where snow tends to melt off quickly.
Varieties:
Double Snowflake
Pink Fairy
Note: See our groundcover section for creeping types.
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Bachelor's Button / Mountain Bluet (Centaurea)
Height: 12"-4'
Spread: 18"-36"
Bloom Color: Blue pinwheel shaped flowers
Season of Bloom: Early Summer
Other Notes: A wonderful early summer bloomer that attracts loads of bees. This would be great to plant near fruit trees as it attracts so many of these little pollinators Perennial Bachelor Button is a story of 'Beauty and the Beast' in that it is such a pretty plant during it's bloom time, but the foliage browns out considerably post-bloom. Cut it back hard after first bloom and it will re-bloom in early Fall. Butterfly magnet.
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Fuji Pink
Photos Courtesy of Walters Gardens
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Sentimental Blue
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Balloon Flower
(Platycodon grandiflorus)
Height: 6"-24"
Spread: 12"-18"
Bloom Color: Balloon-shaped buds open to star shaped bells. Pink or blue blooms.
Season of Bloom: Mid-Summer
Other Notes: Depending on variety—may be a low growing type for the front of the border or a mid-sized type that can reach 18"-24".
Varieties:
Fuji Pink (mid-sized)
Sentimental Blue
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Gardenview Scarlet
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Bee Balm (Monarda)
Height: 24"-36"
Spread: 24"-36
Bloom Color: lavender, light and bright pinks, reds, violet or white.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: A good summer blooming perennial that adds height to your garden. Butterfly magnet. Spreads quickly in moist soil but is also drought tolerant when established. Susceptible to powdery mildew.
Varieties:
Panorama Red Shades
Gardenview Scarlet
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Bellflower, Clustered (Campanula glomerata)
Height: 16"-24"
Spread: 15"
Bloom Color: White, pink, or purples are clustered along the stem
Season of Bloom: Early Summer
Other Notes: Very pretty in the garden. Flower stocks are held high above low mounding foliage. Makes a nice cutflower.
Variety:
Superba: New this year! 15"H x 15"W, purple-blue color
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Bellflower, Peachleaf (Campanula persicifolia)
Height: Flower stalks 2-3'
Spread: 15"
Bloom Color: Tall stalks of star-shaped flower clusters in white, blue, or purple.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Flower stalks are held high above low mounding foliage. Has green, strappy leaves. Makes a nice cutflower. Deadhead to prolong bloom. Does not show well in a pot but is a winner in the garden! Drought tolerant once established.
Variety:
Telham Beauty: lavender blue flowers 3'H x 15"W
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Betony 'Hummelo'
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Betony (Stachys byzantina)
Variety: 'Hummelo'
Height: 18"-20"
Spread: 18"
Bloom Color: Lavender
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Related to the well-known 'lamb's ears', this type of Stachys form large rounded clumps of green, long, narrow textured leaves. They add a nice texture to the perennial border even when not in bloom Profuse flowering in a sunny border. Deer and rabbit resistant.
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Denver Daisy
Photo Courtesy Plant Select
Early Bird Gold
Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Height: 18"-4'
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: Goldsturm (the hardiest of the bunch-Zone 3) offers large golden yellow daisies with a deep black center. Hirta types also have a black center but with may vary from plain yellow, yellow w/orange or red or straight red toned petals. (The hirta types are often Zone 5 plants)
Season of Bloom: Late Summer
Other Notes: This is a good perennial for late season color.
Varieties:
Goldsturm (R. fulgida)
Denver Daisy (R. hirta)—A Colorado Plant Select Perennial
Early Bird Gold: 2' x 2' Zone 4
--blooms earlier in the season
Goldsturm
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Goblin
Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Blanket Flower (Gaillardia grandiflorium)
Height: 8"-36"
Spread: 12"-24"
Bloom Color: Varies from yellow w/ red centers to burgundy-red.
Season of Bloom: Summer—long bloom time from June to September.
Other Notes: Flowers are followed by fuzzy seedheads. A Rocky Mountain native. Showy but often short-lived.
Varieties:
Goblin
Dazzler
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Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Buckwheat (Eriogonum wrightii)
Variety: Snow Mesa
Height: 18"-20"
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: White blossoms that turn a fawn color later in the season.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: A Colorado Plant Select perennial.
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Photos Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Height: 18"-28"
Spread: 18"
Bloom Color: Erect flower stems with clusters of small yellow or orange flowers.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Slow to start but prolific once established. Very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Likes warm weather so it is slow to emerge in Spring.
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Fan Scarlet
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens
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Cardinal Flower / Lobelia (Lobelia cardinalis)
Variety: Fan Scarlet
Height: 24"
Spread: 14"
Bloom Color: Scarlet red flowers are a striking contrast to the bronze stems/foliage.
Season of Bloom: Long bloom season from mid-Summer to Fall.
Other Notes: Must have a moist location. Hummingbirds and butterflies LOVE this plant.
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Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Cashmere Sage (Phlomis cashmeriana)
Height: 30"-60"
Spread: 18"-30"
Bloom Color: Lavender pink flowers are followed by ornamental seedheads in Fall and Winter.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Large textured foliage. A Colorado Plant Select perennial.
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Catmint (Nepeta)
Height: 12"-30"
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: Profuse tiny lavender flowers on gray aromatic foliage.
Season of Bloom: Early Summer (with potential to bloom into early Fall)
Other Notes: Shear after first flower for repeat bloom. Drought tolerant and a great magnet for bees and butterflies.
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Magnus
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Coneflower (Echinacea species)
Height: 24"-36"
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: Daisy-like petals of pink, lavender, white, hot pink, yellow, orange, or red.
Season of Bloom: Late Summer
Other Notes: Butterfly magnets. Brown, (sometimes yellow) raised central cones are wonderful for dried bouquets in fall.
Varieties:
Rocky Top Hybrids (24"H x 15"W - pink flowers)
Magnus Superior (40"H x 18"W—deep lavender pink)
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Little Grapette
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
Strawberry Candy
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
Little Business
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Frans Hals
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
Pardon Me
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
Rajah
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Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Height: 12"-4'
Spread: 12"-36"
Bloom Color: A huge variety of lily-type trumpets. Colors range from yellow, orange, pinks, purples, whites to bi-colors.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Dependable bloomers with a drought tolerant nature. However, they bloom best with some moisture. Grass-like foliage is a good filler in the perennial border.
Varieties:
Frans Hals
Little Grapette
Little Business
Mauna Loa
Pardon Me
Rajah
Strawberry Candy
Stella De Oro
Stella De Oro
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Delphinium
Height: Varies...Magic Fountain Series is a dwarf type at 2' tall
Spread: 15"
Bloom Color: Shades of blue, purple, lavender, pink and white
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Elegant flower spikes above clumps of green lobed leaves. Blooms well in full to part sun but dislikes hot temperatures. A WONDERFUL selection for higher altitudes. Stake for protection against wind.
Varieties:
Magic Fountain Lavender
Magic Fountain Cherry Blossom
Magic Fountain Blue/White
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Twilight Prairie Blues
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Prairieblues Starlite
Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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False Indigo / Blue Indigo
(Baptisia australis)
Height: 3'-4'
Spread: 24"-36"
Bloom Color: Blue pea-like flowers on erect stems followed by interesting seed pods.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Foliage is a nice filler for the back of a perennial bed, even when not in bloom. Long lived. Requires well-drained soil—do not plant in clay.
Varieties:
Twilight Prairie Blues (bi-colored flowers of coppery-purple and bright yellow)
Prairieblues Starlite (2-toned soft silvery blue fades to white at the base)
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Flax (Linum perenne)
Height: 18"
Spread: 12-15"
Bloom Color: Sky blue flowers wave on top of fine delicate stems.
Season of Bloom: Early Summer
Other Notes: A lovely wisp of a wildflower that has made its way into many a perennial garden. Cut back after bloom to promote rebloom and discourage excessive seeding. Or leave it to re-seed and spread in your garden.
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Camelot Lavender
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Camelot White
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Foxglove (Digitalis)
Height: 18"-4'
Spread: 24"-36"
Bloom Color: Showy, tubular flowers on erect spikes. Woodland types are in pastel shades with spotted throats. Woodland types are very different from Digitalis obscura (see description below)
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Attracts hummingbirds. In Colorado, the Camelot types are are best grown in a moist location in part sun (any place that DOESN'T get the hottest of the afternoon sun). Woodland types are showy but short-lived. Sunset Foxglove may be grown in full or part sun.
Varieties:
Camelot Lavender
Camelot White
Sunset (D. obscura): 18" x 20" -- This is a a rugged cousin to the Woodland types. It may be grown in full or part sun, sports nodding amber and yellow tubular flowers and willow-like foliage. A Plant Select flower that is drought tolerant.
Sunset
Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Kobold Original
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Gayfeather, Dwarf Type (Liatris spicata)
Variety: Kobold Original
Height: 14"
Spread: 8"-12"
Bloom Color: Lavender/purple bottlebrush type flower.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Kobold Original is a dwarf gayfeather. Wonderful for cutting and to attract butterflies.
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Colorado Gold Gazania
Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Gazania (Gazania linearis)
Variety: Colorado Gold
Height: 8"-12"
Spread: 10"
Bloom Color: 3", yellow, shiny, daisy-like blooms
Season of Bloom: Summer—long bloom time
Other Notes: Neat mounds of deep green foliage. Colorado Plant Select perennial. Drought tolerant once established. (Zone 4)
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Brookside, flower and fall color
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Dark Reiter
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
Crystal Rose
Photo Courtesy Gardenworld
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Geranium, Hardy Garden Types / Cransebill Geraniums
Height: 4"-2 feet
Spread: 12"-24"
Bloom Color: Blue, lavender, pink or white
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Hardy Garden Geraniums are often popular for their ease of care and long bloom period. They are virtually pest-free. Many will provide repeat blooms. Shear plant back to new grow after initial bloom to encourage a second flush of flowers. Geranium sanguineum types (Bloody Cranesbills) offer an added bonus of red-tinged foliage in Fall when cooler temperatures prevail. Best grown in well-drained soil.
Varieties:
Crystal Rose (G. cantabrigiense) -- bright pink flowers with neat and tidy deep green leaves., 12"H x 12"W
Dark Reiter (G. pratense)---unique plum purple foliage with lilac flowers, 8"H x 12"W
Brookside (G. himalayense x. pratense)—Clear blue flowers, with a white eye adorn this long blooming perennial. Leaves turn vivid orange red in fall. 18"-24" tall
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Goldenrod, Dwarf Type (Solidago Canadensis)
Variety: Little Lemon
Height: 12"
Spread: 15"
Bloom Color: Bright lemon yellow
Season of Bloom: Late Summer to Early Fall
Other Notes: Attracts bees and butterflies. Provides late pop of color in the garden. Zone 5
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Gooseneck Loosestrife (Lysimachia)
Height: 3'
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: Arching spikes of creamy white flowers bend like this plant's namesake
Season of Bloom: Late Summer to Fall
Other Notes: Adds height to perennial beds. Prefers moist soil.
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Hibiscus Summerific Summer Storm
Photos Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
Summerific Summer Storm Fall color:
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Hibiscus, Hardy / Rose Mallow (Hibiscus)
Height: 30"-5'
Spread: 24"-4'
Bloom Color: LARGE rose, red, pink or white flowers (often bi-colored)
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Give this perennial some room—it's a big one with more of a shrub-like presence. Enjoys moisture. Typical for this plant to be slow to emerge in spring. It waits for warm temperatures to arrive before emerging.
Varieties:
Summeriffic Summer Storm - Pink flowers with a magenta center and dark wine leaves in full sun, nice fall color 4'-5'H x 5'-6'W.
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Photo Courtesy Valerie Belding
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Himalayan Border Jewel (Persicaria AKA Polygonum)
Height: 4" mat forming leaves and 12" when in bloom
Spread: 24"-36"
Bloom Color: Erect bottlebrush spikes of pink to rose red blooms
Season of Bloom: Late Summer
Other Notes: This is a vigorous spreading plant--great ground cover for slopes. Leaves
turn a very pretty prounounced red in fall.
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Chater's Double Mixed
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Hollyhock (Alcea)
Height: 24"-7' (yes—that reads 7 feet!)
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: White, pink, red, or yellow
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Large, striking, old fashioned flowers. Best at the back of the garden due to height. Foliage is not attractive later in the season, so be sure to plant something in front of your hollyhocks to hide the leaves.
Varieties:
Chater's Double
Fordhook's Giant
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Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Hummingbird carpet / California Fuchsia (Zauschneria)
Height: 12"-30"
Spread: 18"-36"
Bloom Color: Scarlet trumpet shaped flowers
Season of Bloom: Late Summer into Fall
Other Notes: Attracts hummingbirds. Great for late season color. Plant in well-drained soil. A Colorado Plant Select perennial.
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Sunset
Photo Courtesy Plant Select
Agastache foeniculum
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Coronado
Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Hyssop (Agastache)
Height: 18"-36"
Spread: 18""
Bloom Color: Powder blue to coral, peach and apricot
Season of Bloom: Late Summer to Early Fall
Other Notes: There are two shapes/forms to hyssop. Upright powder blue/purple spikes with wider leaves (see Blue Fortune) OR more mounded, airy versions with fine foliage and small coral, peach, or pink blossoms (see Coronado & Sunset). The secondary types are great for hummingbirds. All of them attract butterflies and are fragrant.
Varieties:
Coronado (A. aurantiaca)—A Colorado Plant Select Perennial
Sunset (A. rupestris)
Blue Fortune (Zone 4)
Agastache foeniculum
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Baby Joe
Photo Courtesy Future Plants
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Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium)
Variety: Baby Joe
Height: 24"-30"
Spread: 24"+
Bloom Color: Globe shaped Rose-Lavender Flowers
Season of Bloom: Summer to Early Fall
Other Notes: Good for late season color. Hummingbird and butterfly magnet. Makes a nice cutflower. Good for moist sites.
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Hidcote
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Munstead
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Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)
Height: 18"-36"
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: Typically, hardy types have a lavender blossom. Other varieties come in blue, pink, or white.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Commonly used for its scent—lavender should be sheared lightly after bloom to keep the silvery gray foliage looking nice the rest of the season. Leaves are what we would describe as 'semi-evergreen here'—holding on for a long time into winter.
Varieties:
Munstead (Dwarf type 18"H x 18"W--Zone 5)
Hidcote (violet purple spikes 18"H x 12" W—Zone 5)
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Lily, Asiatic
Height: 18"-3'
Spread: 12"-36" at maturity (more narrow early on)
Bloom Color: Striking and large flowers come in white, orange, scarlet, rose, pink, or yellow.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Plant in full or part sun. Grows well even in poor soil as long as it is well drained. VERY drought tolerant.
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Zebrina
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Mallow / Hollyhock Mallow (Malva sylvestris)
Variety: Zebrina
Height: 24"-48"
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: 2" soft pink flowers with magenta-purple veining in the center
Season of Bloom: Summer to Frost---long Bloom time!
Other Notes: Very tough perennial that is drought tolerant once established. Showy but can be short-lived. Re-seeds readily. (Zone 4)
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Mullein (Verbascum)
Variety: Southern Charm
Height: 2'-3'
Spread: 18"-2'
Bloom Color: Spikes of soft pastel shades of lavender, buff, peach, and rose.
Season of Bloom: Summer—deadhead after first bloom to promote a second flush.
Other Notes: Silvery basal foliage. Must have well-drained soil. Very drought tolerant. Short-lived but will self sow. Zone 5.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Painted Daisy (Tanacetum)
Variety: Robinson's Giant Mix
Height: 18"-30"
Spread: 18"
Bloom Color: 2" daisy-like blossoms in shades of red, hot pink, light pink, or white. They all have yellow centers.
Season of Bloom: Early Summer
Other Notes: Ferny green foliage. Drought tolerant. A good early bloomer that adds height. Attracts butterflies and makes a nice cutflower.
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Elfin Pink
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
Pine Leaf Scarlet |
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Penstemon / Bearded Tongue (Penstemon)
Height: 6"-36"
Spread: 12"-36"
Bloom Color: Tubular flowers mostly in shades of blue, purple and pink. Low-growing pine-leaf types come in scarlet and yellow and the fine foliage is evergreen.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Hummingbirds and butterflies LOVE these plants. They are virtually pest free. Very drought tolerant. Plant in well-drained soil. Some are hardier than other with regard to Zone. See below.
Varieties:
Short
Elfin Pink (P. barbatus) - 12"H x x 12"W. Profusion of bright pink flowers stand out in beds and border.
Pine Leaf Scarlet (P. pinifolius)—15"H x 18"W. Scarlet Flowers, Evergreen Foliage. Zone 4.
Medium
Red Rocks (P. mexicalli)—18"H x 15"W. Rose-pink & White. Colorado Plant Select Perennial. Zone 5.
Husker's Red (P. digitalis)—30"H x 18"W. Striking maroon foliage with red stems. Flowers are creamy white. Zone 3.
Rocky Mountain (P. strictus)—24"H x 36"W. Native with striking purple-blue almost iridescent blossoms. Zone 4.
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Red Rocks
Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Rocky Mountain
Husker Red
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David
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens
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Phlox, Tall Garden (Phlox paniculata)
Height: 24"-36"
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: White, Pinks, Coral, Orange, Purple.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Adds a cottage garden feel to your perennial beds. Susceptible to powdery mildew.
Varieties:
David (Pure white)
Laura (Fuchsia-purple with a white eye)
Orange Perfection (Bright salmon-orange)
(Note: See groundcover section for creeping phlox)
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Orange Perfection
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Laura
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Blue Fama
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Pink Mist
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Pincushion flower, (Scabiosa)
Height: 18"-30"
Spread: 12"-18"
Bloom Color: Blue, Pink or White flowers on wiry stems sway above the foliage.
Season of Bloom: Summer---very long bloom time! Deadhead for best display.
Other Notes: Enjoys a moist location. Great container plant. Butterflies love it!
Varieties:
Blue Fama
Pink Mist
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Potentilla
Variety: 'Melton Fire'
Height: 12" mound of leaves, 18"-24" in flower
Spread: 18"
Bloom Color: Showy and sweet 5 petaled saucers of bi-colored red centers surrounded by apricot
Season of Bloom: Blooms from early to late summer (and into Fall if deadheaded)
Other Notes: Very pretty cottage garden looking perennial with a long bloom time. Deadhead regularly for best show. Foliage is a deep green and reminiscent of strawberry leaves. Easy to grow in well drained soil.
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Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Red Birds In A Tree (Scrophularia macrantha)
Height: 36"-48"
Spread: 18"
Bloom Color: Small red flowers with a white lip
Season of Bloom: Summer to Fall
Other Notes: Great perennial to add height to the garden. Colorado Plant Select perennial. Zone 4.
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Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Red Hot Poker / Torch Lily (Kniphofia)
Height: 18"-4'
Spread: 28"-36"
Bloom Color: Spikes of orange or yellow flowers on leafless stems rise above grass-like foliage.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Very drought tolerant. MUST be planted in well-drained soil.
'Papaya Popsickle'
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Red Valerian / Jupiter's Beard (Centranthus ruber)
Height: 24"-36"
Spread: 18"-24"
Bloom Color: Rose-red blossom on a mounded plant.
Season of Bloom: Early Summer—deadhead for repeat bloom
Other Notes: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. A long-blooming medium sized perennial. Will self seed but seedlings are easy to control.
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Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria)
Variety: 'Blood Red'
Height: 28"-36"
Spread: 24"
Bloom Color: Hot pink
Season of Bloom: Summer—long bloom time
Other Notes: Will grow in sun, part sun or shade. (good choice for dry shade).
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Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Height: 36"-48"
Spread: 18"-36"
Bloom Color: Small lavender blossoms
Season of Bloom: Late Summer to Fall
Other Notes: Silvery foliage. This type has a narrow habit so it is good for smaller gardens (compared with traditional Russian Sage. EXTREMELY drought tolerant.
We offer Russian Sage varieties in both dwarf and standard height varieties.
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Silver Mound
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Sea Foam
Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Sage / Mugwort (Artemisia)
Height: 10"-12"
Spread: 15"- 30"
Bloom Color: Silver foliage (tiny ball shaped silver flowers)
Season of Bloom: Silver foliage adds texture all summer and fall
Other Notes: Great for hot dry places in perennial beds and rock gardens. Also works well as a filler in containers. Combines well with dark colored plants. Mounding habits. Plant in well drained soil
Varieties:
Silver Mound (A. schmidtiana)--10"H x 15"W—fine textured silver foliage
Sea Foam (A. versicolor)—12"H x 15"-30"W--Colorado Plant Select perennial
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May Night
Sensation Rose
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Salvia, Meadow / Meadow Sage
(Salvia nemorosa)
Height: 18"
Spread: 24"
Bloom Color: Purple, pink, white or lavender
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Drought tolerant. Shear after initial bloom for repeat flowering. Attracts bees and hummingbirds.
Varieties:
May Night (18" x 24")
Sensation Rose (dwarf 12" x 12")
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Furman's Red
Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Salvia, Garden / Garden Sage (Salvia greggii)
Variety: Furman's Red
Height: 18"-24"
Spread: 12"
Bloom Color: Red
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Drought tolerant. Long flowering. Attracts bees and hummingbirds. Zone 5b. A Plant Select perennial.
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Crazy Daisy
Silver Princess
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Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum superbum)
Height: 12"-28"
Spread: 12"-24"
Bloom Color: Most commonly white (sometimes yellow) with yellow centers
Season of Bloom: Summer—very long bloom time if they are deadheaded.
Other Notes: Drought tolerant. A clean and bright, cheerful favorite for the perennial border.
Varieties:
Alaska (36"H x 24"W)
Banana Cream (lemon yellow fading to cream, 18"H x 24"W)
Crazy Daisy (fringed and frilly, 28"H x 18"W)
Silver Princess (dwarf type at 12"H x 2'W)
 
Alaska Banana Cream
Photos Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Blue Hobbit
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Sea Holly, dwarf type (Eryngium planum)
Variety: Blue Hobbit
Height: 8"-12"
Spread: 8"-10"
Bloom Color: Unique blue spiny flowers
Season of Bloom: Late Summer to Fall
Other Notes: Drought tolerant. Provide well drained soil.
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T-Rex
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens
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Sedum Autumn Joy Pre-Bloom
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Sedum, Upright Types
Height: 16"-24"
Spread: 12"-24"
Bloom Color: Rose tones
Season of Bloom: Late Summer to Early Fall
Other Notes: A good late season bloomer. Do not deadhead. Seed heads provide winter interest and food for birds. Very pretty as a non-traditonal cutflower.
Varieties:
Autumn Joy (S. spectabile): a mainstay in the perennial border. (24"H x 24"W)
T-Rex: stout, sturdy stems remain upright and are loaded with masses of dusky pink flower heads, leaves are wavy (28"H x 32"W)
Note: See our groundcover section for MANY types of low growing Sedum.
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Winter Seed Heads
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Autumn Joy
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Prairie Lode
Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Sundrops (Calyophus serrulatus)
Variety: Prairie Lode
Height: 6"-8"
Spread: 12"-15"
Bloom Color: Bright orange buds open to yellow blossoms.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Thrives in hot dry conditions. Native. Colorado Plant Select perennial
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Moonbeam
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
Sunfire
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Early Sunrise
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens
Presto
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Tickseed (Coreopsis)
Height: 18"
Spread: 18"
Bloom Color: Yellow
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Some have strappy leaves while others have very fine airy foliage (threadleaf types). All require well drained soil.
Lanceleaf Varieties:
Early Sunrise: golden yellow semi- double flowers
Sunfire: golden yellow with deep burgundy center
Presto: cute little dwarf-- 6"H x 6"W has golden yellow 2" flowers
Threadleaf Types:
(slow to emerge in spring)
Moonbeam: bright sulphur colored flowers
Zagreb: single yellow flowers
Rosea: pretty pink threadleaf type
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Zagreb
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Rosea
Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Coral Canyon
Photo Courtesy Plant Select
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Twinspur (Diascia integerrima)
Variety: Coral Canyon
Height: 15"
Spread: 18"
Bloom Color: Salmon pink blooms on a mounded plant
Season of Bloom: Summer to Fall
Other Notes: Colorado Plant Select perennial.
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Whirling Butterflies (Gaura)
Height: 3'
Spread: 2'
Bloom Color: A North American wildflower with single white or pink flowers that sit on tall stems and 'flit and float' above this plant.
Season of Bloom: Summer
Other Notes: Zone 5.
Varieties:
Blushing Butterflies
Crimson Butterflies
Siskyou Pink
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Goldie
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Moonshine
Summer Pastels (Pink)
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Yarrow (Achillea)
Height:
Dwarf Type: 6"-12"
Tall Types: 2'-3'
Spread: 2'
Bloom Color: Wide variety from yellow, red, pink, white, peach, or buff.
Season of Bloom: Summer to Early Fall
Other Notes: Drought tolerant and virtually pest free.
Varieties:
Goldie (short only 6"-8" tall!)
Moonshine
Summer Pastels Mix
Noblessa (A. ptarmica): a clean double white variety that is short in stature 12"H x 12"W
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Fall Blooming Perennials for Sun
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Wood's Light Blue
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Alert
Photo Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc
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Aster
Height: 8" to 4'
Spread: 16"-28"
Bloom Color: white, pink, rose, lavender or purple
Season of Bloom: Fall
Other Notes: Great late season color. Very pretty when paired with grasses for fall display. Butterfly magnet.
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Mums, Garden (Chrysanthemum)
Height: 15"-36'
Spread: 24"-36"
Bloom Color: Single or double daisylike flowers. Range from copper, lavender, pink, bronze, white, burgundy, rust, and orange.
Season of Bloom: Fall
Other Notes: Consistent moisture and fertilizer give the best flower display. Pinch back buds prior to July 4th for more flowers.
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See also these flowers in Summer bloomers that continue into Fall:
Hyssop, Goldenrod, Gooseneck Loosestrife, Hummingbird Carpet (California Fuchsia),
Joe Pye Weed, Mallow (Hollyhock Mallow), Red Birds in a Tree, Russian Sage, Sea Holly,
Sedum, Turtle's Head, Twinspur, Yarrow.
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