You can’t get any easier to grow than Linaria purpurea. Slender spikes of tiny violet-blue snapdragon-like flowers over narrow, whorled, blue-grey leaves light up many an old garden. Blooms all Summer in full sun or part shade. Fairly drought tolerant once established & it reseeds! To 3’ high & 1’ wide, it looks good in groupings. Native to southeastern Europe.
Read More »Tag Archives: perennial
Lily – Fortnight
Attractive, light yellow iris-like flowers with vivid maroon blotches loom on stiff stalks over neat clumps. Fire resistant. Fortnight lily are evergreen perennials with spreading fans of stiff, leathery sword shaped leaves up to 2 ft in length but only 0.75 in wide. Be aggressive in your pruning of them. The upright clumps of leaves are held in a vertical …
Read More »Pepino Dulce
Pepino Dulce produces fruit that are the size of a large goose egg with a cream-colored rind that usually has beautiful purple stripes. I will give you time to look up the size of a goose egg. It has a sweet, mild flesh that is somewhat melon-like. Used fresh in salads or cooked. Beautiful, glossy ornamental plants require a very long …
Read More »Dianthus
The name Dianthus is from the Greek words dios (“god”) and anthos (“flower”), and was cited by the Greek botanist Theophrastus. The color pink may be named after the flower, coming from the frilled edge of the flowers: the verb “pink” dates from the 14th century and means “to decorate with a perforated or punched pattern”. Ecology: Dianthus species are …
Read More »Coleus
Coleus is a pretty foliage plant , Solenostemon scutellarioides Family: Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee) (Info) Genus: Solenostemon (sol-en-oh-STEM-on) (Info) Species: scutellarioides (skew-tell-ar-ee-OH-ih-deez) (Info) Synonym:Coleus blumei Synonym:Coleus scutellarioides Category: Annuals Tropicals and Tender Perennials Height: 12-18 in. (30-45 cm) 18-24 in. (45-60 cm) Spacing: 9-12 in. (22-30 cm) Hardiness: USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) …
Read More »Chive
Chives are an easy addition to the Sunnyvale garden. It’s great to cut a few stalks with scissors and add them to your baked potatoes or other dishes. You can add them to herb boxes, pots, or in the ground. They are perennials (with adequate care).
Read More »Cuphea cynea
Black eyed Cuphea, Tri-coloured Cuphea, Cuphea cyanea. Cuphea is attractive to bees and hummingbirds. Family: Lythraceae (ly-THRAY-see-ee) (Info) Genus: Cuphea (KYOO-fee-uh) (Info) Species: cyanea (sy-AN-ee-uh) (Info) Category: Shrubs, Tropicals and Tender Perennials Height: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm) Spacing: 36-48 in. (90-120 cm) Hardiness: USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to …
Read More »Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a great winter-flowering plant that loves light shade. You can grow in indoors or out. The red cyclamen is classic for the winter holidays. In the summer, the foliage dies back and it is stressed by reflected heat (so shade is important).
Read More »Star Jasmine
Star Jasmine has a wonderful scent in the evening. Our Star Jasmine plants grow in a 24-inch wide trench on the side of the driveway. They get afternoon sun. They handle drought. They handle no fertilizers. They are 40 years old. I have to keep pruning them to prevent them from growing up the wall. Like all jasmines (Star, Chilean, …
Read More »Bee Balm
Try growing bee balm in view of a window so you won’t miss the acrobatics of hummingbirds that visit in summer. Bee balm also attracts butterflies and bees.
Read More »