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aachenelf

Some mid-summer stars

Lily Citronella strain

About 4 feet tall.
This is an old lily and probably goes back at least 50 years. The origins seem a bit obscure, so I'm not exactly sure what the parentage might be, but I really like it. The buds are particularly cool IMO. I'm kind of sucker for the Turks-cap type flowers.

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Echinacea Milkshake

My only foo-foo Echinacea. All the others croaked after a couple of years. I think I've had this one for at least 4 years now. Really pretty at dusk and dawn.

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Helenium Mardi Gras

If you don't have this one, run and get one NOW! This is one of the few perennials that really does bloom from summer to early fall without deadheading. It's a fast multiplier too and can easily be divided every couple of years.

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Veronica Sunny Border Blue

Almost 3 feet tall this year! This is another plant which will bloom almost all summer if deadheaded. I need more tall Veronica. Anyone know of a good pink one?

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Kevin

Comments (42)

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    I really like the Helenium Kevin. I have none in our garden. How tall is that stand? Will it be flowering till fall?

  • aachenelf z5 Mpls
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    It's a bit over 2 feet tall and yes - flowers until early fall at least.

  • NHBabs z4b-5a NH
    9 years ago

    That Lily Citronella is gorgeous - the color, the stature and the flower shape are all perfect. Any memories of where you got it?

    I also love Helenium Mardi Gras and its long bloom time, longer than the seed grown plants I have. Nice to know about dividing it.

    I need to go out and take more photos as I've been away for most of the last three weeks, but right now I have day lilies, Penstemon 'Sweet Joanne', clematis (I know that Betty Corning and Avant Garde have been blooming for at least 3 weeks), Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle', Hydrangea paniculata 'Quick Fire', and several reblooming Hydrangea macrophylla.

    Clematis Avant Garde hangs onto the petaloid stamens after the petals fall, and then has ornametal seedheads.
    {{gwi:248201}}From July 11, 2014 Clems etc

    Dayliles with Sambucus/elderbrries
    {{gwi:248202}}From July 11, 2014 Clems etc

    Clematis Betty Corning
    {{gwi:248203}}From July 11, 2014 Clems etc

    Clematis Ville de Lyon
    {{gwi:248204}}From July 11, 2014 Clems etc

  • woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
    9 years ago

    I have tried several times to grow heleniums in my 'hot' area - they just do not like it there! Are lily beetles a problem for you Kevin? I love lilies but have given up on them because of the lily beetles. A few lilies keep popping up but they turn into such a mess that I do not add any more.

    nhbabs - what are the big leaves in the bottom right corner of the picture with the daylilies and elderberries?

  • aachenelf z5 Mpls
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    nhbabs - I probably got that lily from 'The Lily Garden' years and years ago, but in checking their website it doesn't appear they carry it right now. I wonder if McClure and Zimmerman might have it? Sometimes they have a nice lily selection.

    Yes, I really like it too. The color is such a nice,deep gold.

    I like that Clematis Avant Garde and Betty Corning is really nice too. Very un-clematis like.

    woody - To my knowledge lily beetles haven't arrived in MN yet. If they do, I'll probably stop growing lilies.

    Kevin

    McClure and Zimmerman does have that lily - just checked - 3 @$9.95.

    This post was edited by aachenelf on Sun, Jul 20, 14 at 12:00

  • mxk3 z5b_MI
    9 years ago

    Great looking plants - plentiful blooms and very colorful!

  • NHBabs z4b-5a NH
    9 years ago

    Thanks for the lily source, Kevin.

    Woodyoak, the large leaves are edible rhubarb. They were initially planted there because we were working on the house and that was the only bed out of the way, but I have left it there because it provides nice contrast to the finer textured plants near it. The spring flowers are ornamental too. Also, if I were you, I'd try growing Helenium in a sunny but not dry area for better success. Here it is growing wild on a silty river bank below the high water line on the Green River (Canyonlands National Park, UT). There wasn't any growing higher up, all of it was where it would get regular moisture.

  • woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
    9 years ago

    I thought that was probably rhubarb, but I'm always on the lookout for big-leafed plants so was hoping it might be something different and new to me :-) I planted some rhubarb in the front bed this spring, as well as in one of the big driveway pots. Both plants are doing sort of middling-well so far. I've not had luck getting them to grow in the ground here before so that's why I'm trying it in a pot too.

    I keep trying to get the helenium to grow in the 'hot' (referring to color) garden. The color of them would not work well in other areas. The 'hot' garden is also quite hot as it faces almost directly south. The soil is clay and the area is a steep bank, so , while the clay retains moisture, the slope helps it drain so it is quite dry there.

  • green_go (Canada, Ontario, z 5a)
    9 years ago

    Monarda and Shasta daisy:
    {{gwi:248205}}
    {{gwi:248206}}

  • giraffe
    9 years ago

    Love 'em all..........thanks all for sharing. :-)

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    but I'm always on the lookout for big-leafed plants

    There are some wonderful ligularia with large leaves. Here is what I think is "Bottle Rocket" (picture taken today).

    But shadeyplace has a much more spectacular one

    Here is a link that might be useful: Chinese Dragon Ligularia

    This post was edited by rouge21 on Mon, Jul 21, 14 at 10:00

  • woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
    9 years ago

    I've tried ligularia and it didn't like the conditions here!

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    'woody', this is the season for Ligularia...nice and damp thus far.

    As I recall don't you have a moist shady corner on your property? If so I would give another chance to a Ligularia. The yellow spikes or daisies are striking in deep shade.

    (Also my "Silver Heart" Brunnera has huge leaves this season. See the last post in this thread for a picture and dimensions)

    Here is a link that might be useful: Look for the huge

    This post was edited by rouge21 on Mon, Jul 21, 14 at 8:46

  • woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
    9 years ago

    'The wet corner' is where I tried growing the ligularia, and also an area nearby that is not as wet. The wet corner dries out completely in a hot, dry summer (i.e. our normal summers!) so that probably does it in. Those harsh yellow flowers are not an attractive addition to my green-and-white themed shade garden, so I cut them off (in the year or two the plants survived!) If it had white flowers or pale yellow ones, I probably would have made an effort to keep it alive. Kirengeshoma grows there now - it has yellow flowers but they are a nice, soft color that fits in well. Last summer was hot and dry and they barely survived, producing virtually no flowers. They are recovering a bit this year but were probably weakened by the winter too, so I'm not sure what to expect from them this summer in terms of flowers.

  • mnwsgal
    9 years ago

    Woodyoak, do you have crambe? It has a mound of large cabbage like leaves with tiny white flowers on a branching central stem in early summer.
    It is in full sun in my garden and hasn't needed staking. Last fall I divided my single plant to add two more to the border. I leave the stem after it flowers as it adds an airy effect to the border. Have not had any self seeding.

    This was a seedling from a group that no one wanted form a plant sale brought to a plant swap. I took one to try and have been delighted with mine. Have not seen it in anyone else's's garden in our area which is probably why no one else wanted the seedlings.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Crambe cordifolia

  • woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
    9 years ago

    Yep, I have (had?) crambe too. It was not in an ideal place in the front garden and I think it has petered out - I don't remember seeing it flower lately. I should probably check on it and either move it or plant another one. We've been gardening here for 15 years now and in the last two years it has become increasingly obvious that conditions have changed a lot in some parts of the front bed as trees and shrubs are getting bigger. So there are a few things that need moving or being replaced. Crambe is probably one of them. I probably wouldn't give it a prominent place to show the leaves though because, in my experience, they can get very ratty-looking as the season progresses. But the flowers are pretty amazing - will have to give some thought of what to pair it with if I move it or get another one.

  • Ruth_MI
    9 years ago

    rouge - your garden is breathtaking!

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    Too kind 'ruth'. The picture I posted above looks way better than the actual garden!

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    Penstemon 'Sweet Joanne',

    This was a bloom machine for me but it slowly but surely withered away. I would love to see your pictures of this plant.

    'nhbabs', I really like your clematis.

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    'woody' have you considered "Angelica Gigas" as a plant with large leaves?

  • woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
    9 years ago

    rouge - I am wary of unbellifers in general because of seeding and I gather that one is either biennial or short-lived perennial so it must need to seed around a fair bit - I have enough of self-seeder types of plants to cope with already and am trying to cut down on them! From the pictures I've seen of it, in addition to the attraction of large leaves,, it looks like it would fit in the red/purple end of driveway 'hot' bed. But the seeding concern makes me resist temptation :-)

  • greenhearted Z5a IL
    9 years ago

    LOVE that Helenium! *makes mental note*

    Green_go, which monarda is that? Do you cut it back to obtain that cushion shape or is that it's natural habit?

  • NatureHillsNursery
    9 years ago

    I would say that for a âÂÂmid-summer starâ at my house, you canâÂÂt beat Coreopsis. The sunny, yellow blooms just keep going and going. Even when my cat decided to use one as a nap mat (while she nipped at the catnip planted next to it), it still came right back. Sun or shade, water or drought, Coreopsis is a plant that really delivers.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Coreopsis

  • green_go (Canada, Ontario, z 5a)
    9 years ago

    GreenHearted, it is monarda 'Petite Delight'. It is naturally small and tame, does not require any cutting back.

  • greenhearted Z5a IL
    9 years ago

    green_go, I almost ordered that very cultivar this year. I've never grown monarda but I always hear how PM destroys it so I decided against it. Your photo has me regretting that decision!

  • NHBabs z4b-5a NH
    9 years ago

    Rouge, here is Penstemmon 'Sweet Joanne' in late June; it started blooming some time before the middle of the month.
    {{gwi:248207}}From June 26, 2014

    Here she is last week, still blooming after a month, though currently not as fully as earlier. My memory is that she bloomed into September last year without pause.

  • whaas_5a
    9 years ago

    I'm only a dabbler but sure like my Rozanne!

    Nice thread...miss these gallery posts that are now lacking throughout the forums.

    {{gwi:248208}}

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    I love that "SJoanne". I think I will try it again. Thanks nhbabs.

    How large is that swath of "Rozanne"?! Impressive.

    Is that more than one plant?

    Here is a bloom or two of "Rozanne" with "Peppertwist Phlox"

    This post was edited by rouge21 on Sat, Jul 26, 14 at 11:21

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    Kevin, I do like that Veronica "Sunny Border Blue".

    How are your "Royal Candles" doing this season? I am close to pruning back mine as their first flush of flowers is almost spent.

    I bought a new Veronica this season called "Blue Bomb".

  • gazania_gw
    9 years ago

    Lots of lovely summer bloomers here. A favorite of mine is this summer star. Pennisetum Karley Rose.

  • whaas_5a
    9 years ago

    With all the June rain and cooler weather I think they stretched out a bit further than usual. There are two there but one did die right in that small spot to the right. I put a dwarf pine there but that thing didn't perform so there is actually another Roazanne there...just a tiny one.

    Here is another swath. They pretty much bloom like this until early October.

    {{gwi:248209}}

  • lilsprout
    9 years ago

    Rouge...did your phlox come back like that? Mine seems to have "untwisted" and came back solid :(

    Rozanne is one of my all time favorites....blooms nonstop all summer.

  • green_go (Canada, Ontario, z 5a)
    9 years ago

    Some of my mid-summer stars:
    {{gwi:248210}}
    {{gwi:248211}}
    {{gwi:248212}}
    {{gwi:248214}}
    {{gwi:248215}}
    {{gwi:248216}}
    {{gwi:248217}}
    {{gwi:248218}}
    {{gwi:248219}}
    And donâÂÂt think IâÂÂm discriminating against yellows - see? here is yellow:
    {{gwi:248220}}

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    'green go', those are some stunning pics. Thank you.

    Those phlox shots are amazing.

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    'gazania' that is a wonderful picture of Pennisetum Karley Rose. I have always wanted to have enough space to have such a plant.

  • whaas_5a
    9 years ago

    green_go, what is the silvery looking plant in several of the photos?

    All curious what geranium that is.

  • Campanula UK Z8
    9 years ago

    lychnis coronaria alba and one of the sanguineums - maybe Vision Violet or such.

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    Kalimeris, Peppertwist Phlox, Millenium Allium, Coneflowers, Tuscan Sun Heliopsis

  • rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
    9 years ago

    Rouge...did your phlox come back like that? Mine seems to have "untwisted" and came back solid

    'lilsprout', I have 4 PTwist Phlox and it is only one of them that shows extensive revision.

  • green_go (Canada, Ontario, z 5a)
    9 years ago

    whaas,
    Silvery plant is some kind of llychnis - not sure which one since mine was grown from a stray seed.
    At first, it blooms with pure white flowers, but as the summer progresses, it starts to bloom with pinkish flowers:
    {{gwi:248221}}
    {{gwi:248222}}
    {{gwi:248223}}

  • whaas_5a
    9 years ago

    Nice, that would be perfect with a spilled wine weigela or a dwarf blue spruce.

    I looked it up as someone else suggested the name and I found it was short lived and they called it a biennial.

    How has it done for you life wise?

    Reminds me a little of dianthus but I can't keep this damn genus alive. I have very well drained soil too where pines thrive.

  • NHBabs z4b-5a NH
    9 years ago

    If not deadheaded, Lychnis coronaria self-seeds everywhere, including the lawn, but it is relatively easy to pull. It gets a bit messy looking as the flowering stems age and accumulate old blossom sites. It likes full sun and won't grow in the shade of other plants IME. It is a true biennial and I have seen it in screaming magenta (the normal form), white, and blush pink. Nice frosted rosette of leaves the first year.