Pasquesi: Garden Info - Favorite Perennials

PERENNIAL FAVORITES

Pasquesi Home and Gardens’ growers have been busy nurturing some of the gardens’ most adored perennials. There are plenty of varieties available that will have gardens bursting with color. Hostas continue to be a favorite, especially for shady gardens. There is an abundance of groundcover plants to choose from, too.

Perennials are easy to maintain, even in difficult garden spots so long as some basic rules are kept:

select "sun-loving" and "shade-loving" plants according to site conditions
transplant new perennials into a well-prepared bed or container with a nutritious growing medium
ensure an adequate supply of water throughout the growing season
feed each new plant with the correct fertilizer

Here are just a few perennials that will provide endless beauty.

Name	Growing Conditions	Comments
Monkshood	Aconitum "Stainless Steel"	Lovely metallic blue flowers with creamy white centers on tall spikes bloom late summer to fall. Grows to 30 to 40 inches. Deeply lobed grayish-green foliage. Flowers last longer in a cool, moist areas. When handling, avoid contact with open cuts, as all plant parts are poisonous. Space 24 to 30 inches apart. Good cut flower. Prefers partial shade.
Hollyhock	Alcea rosea "The Watchman"	Deep maroon flowers bordering on black. Single flowering form with blooms three to five inches across in July to August. Reaches six inches in height, so best used along fences, walls, or towards the back of a border. Usually re-seeds spontaneously. Best in moist, but well drained soil in sun. Space 15 to 18 inches apart.
Columbine "Cameo" Series	Aquilegia flabellata	Columbines are prized for their interesting and colorful flowers with long spurs. The dwarf Cameo series grows to a height of only five inches and is covered with 11/2 inch flowers in spring — a perfect choice for woodlands or open areas with adequate soil moisture. Good choice for containers. Best grown in partial shade with ample moisture. Space 12 to 18 inches apart.
Canna "Pretoria" (Bengal Tiger)	Canna species	A very tender perennial that will flower from July. Originally from India, this unique plant has huge melon-orange blossoms on three to four inch stems. The foliage is zebra striped with bands of creamy yellow and green and is wide and course — very tropical looking. Makes an excellent container plant. Loves full sun and heat.
Corydalis	Corydalis cheilantifolia	Nearly stemless rosette-like plants with delicate, fern-like leaves that resemble Jacob’s ladder foliage. Yellow tubular flowers occur in spring through summer. Petite growth habit reaching 15 inches in height. Corydalis performs best in partial shade and in a well drained, gravely soil. Space one to two inches apart.
Pinks or Carnation	Dianthus "Prairie Pink"	Compact grower (up to 18 inches) with fragrant,. double hot fuchsia-pink flowers contrasted by blue-green foliage. Flowers all season. Site in full sun or partial shade. Deadheading helps prolong flowering. Great as edging or rock garden plants. They make wonderful cut flowers, too
Hosta	"Minuteman"	A new hosta selection that resembles "Patriot". The leaves have heavy substance with dark green centers and a wide, creamy white boarder that is cupped. Pale lavender flowers in late summer. Reaches two inches in height. Space 30 inches apart. A must for every collector.
Yellow Loosestrife	Lysimachia puncata	Offered for the first time in the U.S. last year. A variegated foliage form with a wide gold border changing to cream as the weather warm. New growth is tinged pink in spring. Bright, star shaped yellow flowers with brown centers appear in late spring to early summer. Reaches two inches tall. Best in fertile, moist and sunny area. In drier soils, place in partial shade. Best used where it can spread in broad sweeps. Space 18 to 24 inches apart.
Creeping Jacob’s Ladder	Polemonium reptans "Blue Pearl"	The common name is derived from the arrangement of the fern-like leaflets that resemble a ladder. "Blue Pearl" is a dwarf selection of Jacob’s Ladder reaching 12 inches. Flowers are in light blue tones. Use as a groundcover in area with at least average moisture or more. Best grown in partial shade out of afternoon sun. Space 18 inches apart.
Switch Grass	Panicum species	These native prairie grasses are effective when used as a screen or in masses. Drought and salt tolerant, grasses should be spaced between 24 and 30 inches apart. Two new Panicum virgatum types are available in 1998. "Northwind" has blue-green foliage that turns yellow in autumn. Golden yellow flowers with small heads appear in early September. "Prairie sky" has powdery blue foliage that is this plant’s main highlight. Grows to six inches.

Please note: not all plants will be available at the beginning of the season. Please contact stores to inquire about the availability date of some varieties.

Pasquesi Home & Gardens is Chicagoland's premier resource for gardeners wanting to create a perfect atmosphere. We have a vast selection of plants, many of them rare and unusual. Our qualified, professional staff are ever-willing to share their knowledge with customers needing advice.

Also, Pasquesi Home & Gardens is a complete resource for gardening, home and pet supplies. There are hundreds of beautiful accents for the home and out-of-doors, and Pasquesi Home & Gardens has an unrivaled collection of containers for indoors and outdoors in many different styles, materials and shapes. Both stores carry a wide range of quality garden tools and outdoor furniture.