Tag Archives: Attracts Bees

Firewise Plant: Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

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Plant Name:  Gaillardia varieties
Common name:  Blanket Flower
Plant Type:  Perennial
Plant Height:  8” – 36”
Plant Width:  12” – 24”
Bloom Time:  June – September
Flower Color:  Red, Gold, Burgundy
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained
Water Needs: Low
Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 1-8, Plant 30’+ from House.
Attributes: Drought Tolerant; Deer Resistant; Attracts Birds & Butterflies; Other Pollinators.
Uses:  Good Cut Flower; Container Plant; Borders; Butterfly Gardens;
Note: Deadhead for Continuous Bloom; Keep Some Seed Heads for Birds; Cutting Back Clumps in Late Summer Increases Chance of Winter Survival; Divide Clumps Every 2 – 3 Years in Spring or Early Fall for Plant Vigor; Susceptible to Powdery Mildew, Leafspot, & Leafhoppers.
Native to: Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/Master Gardener

Photo credit: Lazaregagnidze, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Firewise Plant: Hosta Lily

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Plant Name: Hosta species
Common name:  Hosta Lily
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 6” – 36”
Plant Width:  20” – 24”
Bloom Time: July – August
Flower Color:  Purple, Lavender, White, Blue, Pink
Exposure: Shade
Soil Requirements: Rich, Slightly Acidic, Moist Soil.
Water Needs: Moist When Newly Planted; then Somewhat Drought Tolerant.
Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 1:  Plant 30+ feet from Structure.
Attributes: Attractive Foliage in Shades of Green/Bluish-Green/Greenish-White; Fragrant Flowers; Attracts Birds/Butterflies
Uses: Border; Container; Rock Garden; Shade Garden
Note:  Cut Back After Frost
Native to: Asia
Oregon Native:  NO
 USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 8

 

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/Master Gardener

Photo by: Qwertzy2~commonswiki, Wiki Commons

Firewise Plant: Prairie Coneflower

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Plant Name:  Ratibida columnifera
Common name:  Prairie Coneflower or Mexican Hat
Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 18” – 24”
Plant Width:  12” – 24”
Bloom Time: July – October
Flower Color:  Yellow or Red with Distinct Tall Center.
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Dry to Moist Well-Drained; Loamy/Sandy.
Water Needs: Medium
Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 2 – Plant 40’+ from House.
Attributes: Drought Tolerant; Deer Resistant; Long Bloom Season; Nectar for Bees, Butterflies, Insects; Seeds for Birds.
Uses: Sunny Borders; Rock Gardens; Native Plant Gardens; Containers.
Native to: Most of North America, but NOT Oregon
Oregon Native:   NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 9

 

 

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/Master Gardener

Photo courtesy of: Stickpen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Firewise Plant: Heuchera sanguinea 

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Plant Name: Heuchera sanguinea  

Common name:  Coralbells

Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial

Plant Height: 12” – 20”

Plant Width:  12” – 15”

Bloom Time: June – September

Flower Color:  Red, White, Pink; Foliage Dark Green, Maroon, Reddish, or Gold.

Exposure: Light Shade

Soil Requirements: Humusy, Rich, Organic, Well-Drained Soil.

Water Needs: Moist

Fire Resistant:  YES

Attributes: Attractive Foliage in Dark Green, Maroon, Reddish, or Gold; Attracts Hummingbirds; Nectar Source for Bees; Deer Resistant.

Uses: Rock Gardens; Borders; Containers; Edger along Walkways.

Note:  Divide Clumps every 3 – 4 years in spring; Remove Faded Flowers to Encourage More Blooms.

Native to: New Mexico/Arizona to Mexico

Oregon Native:  NO

 USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8

Photo from:

Annie’s Annuals & Perennials https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=5153

Firewise Plant: Lathyrus odoratus

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Plant Name: Lathyrus odoratus

Winter Elegance Mix

Common name:  ‘Winter Elegance’ Sweet Pea

Plant Type: Annual

Plant Height: 8” – 8’

Plant Width:  2’ – 3’

Bloom Time: May – July

Flower Color:  All Colors

Exposure: Full Sun

Soil Requirements: Well-Drained Sandy/Loam

Water Needs: Low – Average; Avoid Overhead Watering.

Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 1 – 10+ feet from Structure.

Attributes: Good Cut Flower; Fragrant; Deer Resistant; Attracts Bees/Butterflies.

Uses: Arbors; Trellis; Beds & Borders; Containers; Cottage Garden.

Note:  Fertilize Regularly During Growing Season with Balanced Liquid Fertilizer; Deadhead to Prolong Bloom; Don’t Plant in Same Area in Consecutive Years.

Native to: Crete, Italy, Sicily

Oregon Native:  NO

 USDA Hardiness Zone:  2 – 11

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member, Jackson Co. Master Gardener

Today in the Garden

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Today in the garden flowers are in AGC member Lynn McDonald’s October garden.

Nasturtiums, Hydrangeas, Salvia and chrysanthemums, Petunias blooming since March, Geraniums, Origanum, Asters, Tithonia, Sweet peas in October (planted in spring), Gaura, Poppies and Bachelor Buttons, Verbena and Autumn Leadwort, Orange Cosmos, Dahlias