Catmint (Nepeta)
Zones: 3-9
Bloom Span: Two to three months
Growing Conditions: Very drought tolerant, an excellent substitute for lavender if you cannot get it to grow in your garden as most varieties of gray foliage and flowers that are blue-lavender in color.
Catmint
Care: Nepata is not the same as catnip, which is somewhat weedy in appearance. Cats are, however, sometimes attracted to this plant. It will continually bloom through the summer if deadheaded.
Good Species Choices: Six Hills Giant (Nepeta) and Dropmore (Nepeta x fasseenii). The Dropmore variety does not require deadheading.
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Zones: 3-9
Bloom Span: Two to three months
Growing Conditions: Very drought tolerant, prefers well drained soil and full sun. Stalks can become floppy if it receives too much water.
Care: Although Echinacea grows on tall stalks, it is self supporting and does not require staking. Deadheading extends blooming period.
The plant spreads very slowly, though it can be divided easily. Seed heads can remain throughout the winter and provide tasty treats to birds. The flowers themselves are attractive to birds and butterflies.
Good Species Choices: Fragrant Angel (Echinacea purperea), Magnus (also Echinacea purperea), and Art’s Pride (Echinacea)
Fringed Bleeding Heart (Dicentra Formosa and Dicentra eximia)
Zones: 2-9
Bloom Span: Three or more months
Growing Conditions: Prefers shade and will tolerate most types of soil
Care: The fringed bleeding heart, which is not the same as the common bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis), will repeatedly bloom throughout the majority of the summer. D. Formosa is a native to the western part of the United States, while D. eximia is native to the eastern portion. Therefore, it can handle the humidity found in those states. The fringed bleeding heart does not have the same pronounced heart shaped flower, though it has attractive foliage and the flowers are still quite attractive. Most of varieties self-seed.
Best Species Choices: Both Dicentra Formosa and Dicentra eximinia are great choices, the Alba variety has a pure white flower
Fumewort (Corydalis lutea)
Zones: 4-9
Bloom Span: Four months
Growing Conditions: Prefers partial shade and soil that is well drained. Will easily fill cracks in rocks in the garden or fill up slopes in a woodland garden or along pathways.
Care: Self-sows in any place it can once established. It can, however, take several years for the seed to germinate, which can make it difficult to start your own from seed.
Best Species Choices: Corydalis lutea is generally the only species available.
Article provided by Amit, webmaster of Forklift training and free Forklift certification.
