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Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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Posted by
momliz 7a VA (
My Page) on
Sun, Jun 2, 13 at 21:58
| I have a pretty big area in the back of the border which is crying out for a honkin' big perennial. I have some heliopsis back there but I'd love something else. Considering Centaurea macrophyla, but I have read it can get invasive. Maybe some Japanese anemone? Vernonia? a Eupatorium, or whatever they are called now. What do you suggest? Does anyone have a big plant that they like? Butterfly/bee friendly a plus... |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| Is this sun or shade? My first thought was Joe Pye Weed. It likes a moist spot, but can take some sun. Pollinators love it. It's great for the back of a bed. Martha |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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I would second the Joe Pye, veronicastrum, rudbeckia subtomentosa, Henry Eilers. If you can give it enough moisture, Queen of the Prairie gets tall, but be aware that it likes to cover real estate. Molinia Skyracer is a big grass. Since I don't know what your
sun/shade situation is you'll have to check out the conditions each of these need. Bugbane (actea), goatsbeard, thalictrum rochebrunianum. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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- Posted by morz8 Z8 Wa coast (My Page) on
Sun, Jun 2, 13 at 23:53
| You could go through these for ideas, I have a couple flagged I'm considering... Just be sure to note the zones for hardiness, and some are included in the section for width, not height if its height you are interested in ;) |
Here is a link that might be useful: PDN - When size matters
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| Hydrangea Paniculata Limelight or Quickfire. They are not fragrant but their blooms last very long in your garden. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| How about Persicaria Polymorpha. Big and bigger all in one. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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miscanthus sacchariflorus, (amur grass)
stipa gigantea, (giant golden oats)
crambe cordifolia (seakale)
Macleaya cordata (plume poppy)
angelica sylvestris purpurea 'Ebony Superior'
arundo donax
tetrapanax papyriferus (rise paper plant)
gunnera manicata
cenolophium denudata - (Baltic Parsley)
Big Bluestem - andropogon?
dahlia imperialis
Lobelia tupa
Eryngium pandanifolium
kitabella vitifolium
abutilon suntense
althea cannabina
verbascum bombyciferum
ostrowskia magnifica
meconopsis regia |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| I LOVE bog sage (Salvia uliginosa)! It's very airy, the most beautiful shade of blue, and attracts butterflys and bees galore. I looks so gorgeous swaying the breeze. It will spread a lot if kept moist, but drier conditions keep it in check. This photo is from my garden. :) |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| Centaurea macrocephala is not invasive, it is a polite clumper. On the other hand, Japanese anemone is a plant straight from hell. Majority of Vernonias will flop, there are several selfsupporting clones here, but none of them is particularly heavy blooming or attractive in colour. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| Can anybody tell me why my photo is not showing? I'm pretty computer literate....and can't figure out why it didn't post! I'm usually just a lurker. LOL |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| It shows a picture with plants against a whitish wall(fence?) for me. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| On the other hand, Japanese anemone is a plant straight from hell. Maybe that is the hell in your neck of the woods. But in my zone 5 this plant is a integral worthwhile fixture of a late summer early fall garden. I find it easy to contain...more than worth the effort to get those wonderful flowers. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| I see that you mention already having some heliopsis but even so I will put forth the suggestion of "Lemon Queen". It can form a huge but well behaved clump that can easily get to a height of 5 feet and the mass of flowers is easily visible from a great distance. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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Another great big plant is a "Cup Plant" Silphium perfoliatum. It get really big and has small sunflower type blooms. Butterflies and polinators love it and the leaves for on opposite sides of the stem making a "Cup" for rainwater and the little birds love to take a drink!
Joann |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| Thanks all for your suggestions! They are great. So now I'm leaning towards the Bog Sage, Salvia uliginosa, hoping that my average moisture soil will help it behave. I think it might be nice between my two clumps of Heliopsis. And I like its open, airy feel. But a Joe Pye weed is tempting, I'll have to see what cultivars are available. I have Cup plant around back and love it! It is a big guy, great coarse texture and those cups formed by the sessile leaves are very nice. As are the flowers. Thanks again... |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| bog sage doesn't come into flower till October some years.....but that flash of blue is always welcome at the yellow end of summer. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| The bog sage is great. Really easy to control. What you don't want you can pull up, and plant in other areas of your garden. I bought one little plant in a 4in. pot 2 years ago and now have 6 this size throughout my yard. both of these were little runners that I pulled up and replanted in this past fall. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| The bog sage is great. Really easy to control. What you don't want you can pull up, and plant in other areas of your garden. I bought one little plant in a 4in. pot 2 years ago and now have 6 this size throughout my yard. both of these were little runners that I pulled up and replanted in this past fall. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| in loose soil it can be a bit of a problem.....but so can a lot of things. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| October? ugh, my research said summer into fall. still think I will try it, though. You're right about the flash of blue, campanula. |
RE: Really BIG perennial suggestions?
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| When I think of big plant I think of Ligularia Marie Britt or Hosta Sum and Substance, or a big Yucca. I do not understand big plants as a perennial that has a lot of one single stem plant. If that is what is needed for the area I guess you need tall plants for the back of a garden. Really Big plant is a statement plant in my mind. |
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