The Perennial Optimist - ONCE UPON A CONEFLOWER

Rose of Sharon to Brighten Late Summer

Morning Star in September 2021, after being in bloom for a full month!

Who’s not familiar with rose of Sharon? A staple in older gardens and rural farmsteads, does it still have a place in today’s modern spaces? Yes! Fortunately, thanks to a number of improvements, there’s more to choose from than ever, including dwarf varieties and better flowers.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus or Althaea syriacus) has been gracing American yards and farmsteads for generations. Its very staying power over the years says it all for ease of cultivation, excellent longevity and valued late season color.

Black-Eyed Susans Ignite Summer Days

Who doesn’t adore black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia spp.) for their non-stop flowering and strong constitutions? Most cultivars sport bright shades of yellow and gold but tender varieties come in coral, rust, bicolors and even red. If you’re looking for long-lasting summer color to cheer you up, rudbeckia will do the trick.

Black-eyed (and brown-eyed, and green-eyed) susans are also commonly called coneflowers, a name that can refer to echinacea as well. To avoid confusion I’ll just call it rudbeckia here.

Culver’s Root: An Easy Native for the Summer Border

Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum) Erica on a misty morning

This hard-working, graceful perennial deserves to be better known. Ideal for native and rain gardens, Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum) also does well in average garden soil and full sun in most any setting. It lends a strong vertical accent, doesn’t spread or self-seed, has a long bloom period, and the bees adore it. Best of all it needs almost no care. Easy-peasy!

Starting in June, each 2-foot to 5-foot stem will develop racemes, bud up and begin opening from the bottom up. Fluffy arrow-like pink, white or lavender tufts will billow softly in the breeze atop attractive palmate foliage. This plant doesn’t need staking (when grown in full sun) and it stands up well to storms. Deer may sample it occasionally, but they leave it alone for the most part. Remarkably disease resistant, Culver’s root takes heat and humidity in stride.