13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
Many of our spiderworts are looking 'droopy' along with yellowing foliage. The blooming period was 'brief' to say the least. We are in GA; I am thinking of cutting them all the way back and letting them try again?????? So many of them are just 'laying down'?????
Check out some of the milkweeds such as butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, which is orange or occasionally yellow, and there are several kinds of milkweed that bloom in the pink and white range. There are several native asters such as Aster cordifolia that are in the right size range, but will need deadheading to prevent vigorous seeding around. If your soil is moist enough, Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower) and Lobelia siphilitica (Great blue lobelia) may work for you, but neither is happy where it's dry. With adequate moisture, false Solomon's seal, Maianthemum racemosum, may work - I have some in all day sun though in general it prefers some shade. There are many species and hybrids of Monarda (bee balm and horse mint among others) and some of them will be in the right size range, though many will be taller than you want. Many Monarda are vigorous spreaders. The columbine that is native to this area, Aquilegia canadensis, blooms at around 2' here, but the leaves are a much shorter rosette. There are a bunch of daisy-shaped flowers, some of which grow in your size range if you choose the right variety. Look at Echinacea (coneflower) and various perennial sunflowers such as Heliopsis and Helenium (Helen's flower), one of my favorites.
Native plants can include different things depending on who is using the term. Some folks include hybrids and selections of native plants, while others only want the wild type. The hybrids and selections will be more predictable with things like plant height and bloom color and may have larger flowers. Some folks want native to their immediate area; others want the same state, or region, or country, or continent.
You haven't really talked much about your garden style or goals or given a photo or a bed size or even what else is growing there, so I find it's more difficult to make suggestions other than just a scattershot list of plants, and that may be why you haven't gotten more folks' ideas; your question is really broad. Some of the plants I listed above play well with others (as do the Penstemons suggested by docmom) and some seed around or grow runners that help them take over territory, including that of other plants. Some will feed pollinators, some will feed caterpillars, some appeal to hummingbirds, and some have seeds that birds like if the seed heads are left on the plant. Some nurseries and botanical gardens have a plant finder that allows you to plug in your various needs. Here's the one for the Missouri Botanical Garden, and though their native plant designation is limited to MO, many plants will overlap with your area. Here's one from Bluestone Perennials, though it doesn't include native status, though that can be researched for the US at the USDA's Plant Database (and by looking at the map you could probably infer whether it's native in your area north of the border). You can search by scientific name or common name by using the choice under the search box.
Thanks for the extra photos. Sorry, but I can't add anything beyond my first guess, and if no one else has suggestions, I would post it for the whizzes at the Name that Plant forum, being sure to include all 3 photos.
These are two of my favorite plants, and I grow them every year. The OP has a picture of Monarda citriodora ( at least that is what I have known it as) and Kez has Monarda punctata. Here in Michigan the punctata will overwinter and grow back from the roots, but citriodora always needs to be re grown from seed. I plant both to be sure I always have them. They are favorites of all pollinators and easy,easy to grow.
Martha
My Baptisia is small yet, just visible to the left, but I used to have a big one in the same area. Then it is able to hold itself against the oriental poppies I love there. Gold variegated Iris pallida dalmatica would be beautiful at its feet too. Flowers compatible blues with vastly different shape, foliage also glaucous, but with the gold to liven up the picture all through the season. Geranium magnificum would be tall enough to hide the baptisia's bare legs, and it blooms at the same time. Itoh peony Bartzella also catches up with the club, it just starts a few days later. You can see it to the left, on the point of opening its buds.
There's a lot of different types of shastas - some very compact and some that can get really large. They all like lots of sun. Sun loving plants in less sun than they need will get leggy - they get taller than normal, look less dense or full with fewer leaves and will lean towards the sun.
I plant perennials in bud and bloom all the time. Their season of interest and demand at area nurseries tends to coincide with their normal bloom time so very common. As noted above, just keep them well watered. The blooms will open :-)
Thanks so much guys !! I definitely needed to water more, like daily. I was doing a couple times a week and things were looking droopy nut perked right up with daily watering. Also 2 of my blooms are opening !!! I'm a happy and proud garden mama !!!
Oh right Ken - nothing like missing the obvious. Still, I do think this scenario merits further investigation (and defoliation from drifting herbicide is a serious contender, as well as the (over)watering issue (which is, I agree, quite plausible). Does the plant rock at all or does it feel securely anchored in the soil?
Thanks yet again for being so helpful, everyone! I just got home and went outside and tried to weed a bit around it. It looks like at one point there was a clear circular area, but it was overrun with (I think) wild violets? I apologize for my ignorance, I'm new to gardening. Also, I'll do a more thorough job later when I'm not getting soaked :) Anyway, it does seem (to me) to be securely anchored. Here are a few other pictures of what foliage it does have(in case it's not even a lilac at all!) 
Also, there seems to fresh/new growth at the bottom. It's raining here (finally) so I apologize for the rainy wet pictures 
This is my third attempt with Lucifer and it did come back this spring! I have another one that I bought from Seneca Hills Perennials that has come back reliably for many years. I just think this genus north of zone 6b is a very iffy thing unless you dig up the corms for the winter. Something I just am not willing to do.
Oh, sorry. This should have been posted in the "Name that Rose" forum. Going to try there :)