Deb's Perennial Picks

It's always interesting to see which plants appeal to our staff members. We asked BGC Greenhouse Manager, Deb Polansky, for a few of her perennial favorites. Always finding something a bit more unusual but lovely, she has gathered a collection of unique, underused plants that need to find a home in your garden. 

photo source: hoffienursery.com

Calamintha nepeta 'White Cloud' is a long-blooming, drought resistant perennial. It is fragrant, attracts butterflies, and is rabbit resistant. Plant with coneflowers and Russian sage in full sun. 

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photo source: hoffienursery.com

'Lime Zinger' Sedum is from a new series called Sunsparkler. Lime green leaves are outlined in red growing 4-6" tall. Soft pink flowers add interest in the fall. This sun-lover makes a nice groundcover with one plant spreading 16-18 inches. 

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photo source: gardenaway.com

It's the dark purple stems that will catch your eye first in this Wisconsin-born perennial. Heliosis helianthoides 'Prairie Sunset' rises 3-5' tall and blooms in the sun early summer until frost. Also known as false sunflower and ox-eyed daisy, it makes a nice cut flower and attracts butterflies. Plant with ornamental grasses and Liatris spicata. 

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Of course we have to include a climber and Clematis 'Arabella' is quite the darling.  Arabella is actually a non-climbing variety but grows 3-6' tall. It would look lovely sprawling over a retaining wall or within a 3D trellis. It grows well in part sun/part shade and pairs nicely with the chartreuse foliage of the Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aurea'). 

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photo source: greengatefarms.com

On to the shade garden. We'll start with Deb's fern picks: Lady in Red (Athyrium felix-femina), shown above, and Branford Beauty Painted fern (Athyrium). Both grow 3 feet tall and are actually half-sisters sharing one common parent. Branford Beauty has silver and purple foliage similar to a Japanese Painted Fern. Plant among hostas (like 'Dream Queen' below).

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photo source: sandysplants.com

Hosta 'Dream Queen' has blue-green leaves with white and cream variegation. Grows 14-16" tall and 30-32" wide. It's white flowers attract hummingbirds in the fall. 

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photo source: chicagolandgrows.org

All these royal ladies in the shade garden means there must be a prince nearby. Solomon's Seal 'Prince Charming' (Polygonatum) is a, well, charming companion growing 12 inches tall.  It does well in full shade and full sun and is a selection by Brent Harvath, Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, located in Hebron, IL. Plant near a path to see it's fall golden foliage and dark purple berries. 


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We'll close out Deb's picks with a very unusual perennial: Gotemba Golden Japanese Spikenard (Aralia cordata). The zen-like, broad, chartreuse foliage quickly grows to 5 feet each year making quite a presence in the light shade garden. Sprays of white flowers appear in late summer followed by purplish black berries. 'Gotemba' was collected on a small island in the Japanese Sea by Plant Discoverer, Dan Hinkley. Only a couple of these unique Aralia remain here at BGC.