The Perennial Optimist - ONCE UPON A CONEFLOWER

Roses for the Landscape

In this article I discuss what I consider some of the best roses for suburban landscapes in zone 6 today. By which I mean primarily modern hybrid shrub roses, polyanthas and floribundas, those bred to withstand challenging conditions and cold winters as well as provide easy-care color. Roses often get a bad rap for all the fuss they can take, depending on the variety.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are cultivars that are much easier to grow than others.

As of May 2023: I replaced several Knockout roses listed here that were becoming diseased with different cultivars, Clair Matin and Celestial Night, this spring. Once they establish and start blooming I’ll post an update about how they’re doing.

At the end of the article I provide a summary profile chart.

Roses in full swing along with spirea and peonies

A Guide to Coneflowers (Echinacea)

*An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail sips from echinacea Glowing Dream* *in my garden*

Most people have heard of one of America’s best-loved native plants, if not by its common name coneflower, then by its genus and herbal remedy name, echinacea. Coneflowers are members of the Asteraceae genus, of which there are ten species along with daisies, sunflowers and asters. The name “echinacea” is derived from the Greek for sea urchin, which refers to their spiny, conical centers.

In this article, I explore echinacea’s considerable contribution to the perennial garden, followed by a plant summary and profile chart. As perhaps the most prolific and ubiquitous perennial in my garden, I’ve named this website after it as well. Can you tell I’m a fan?

Versatile Alliums

If you’re looking for something a little different, this member of the onion family won’t disappoint. There are about thirty cultivars to choose from, all striking. Alliums are easy to grow and pack a lot of punch for a bulb. Though still not very well known, they are steadily gaining in popularity, Once you have them, you’ll wonder how you did without them for so long.

At the end of this article is a summary profile chart.

I must confess that other than chives, the more ornamental alliums were new to me too, until just recently. But wow do I love them now. When the setting sun backlights the white cultivar Mount Everest, it’s as if my garden is full of floating paper lanterns. Beguiling!