Firewise Plant: Prairie Coneflower

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: Lilies

Plant Name: Lilium species
Common name: Lilies
Plant Type: Herbaceous Bulb
Plant Height: 1’ – 4’
Plant Width:12” – 2’
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Autumn
Flower Color: Range of Colors: White/Yellow/Orange/Pink/Red/Purple
Exposure: Blooms in the Sun; Bulbs in the Shade.
Soil Requirements: Good Drainage; Moderately Acidic.
Water Needs: Moderate
Fire Resistant:YES; Zone 1 – Plant 10+ feet from Structure
Attributes: Good Cut Flower; Attracts Large Pollinators; Fragrant.
Uses: Herbaceous Border; Container.
Note: Plant Twice as Deep as the Height of the Bulb.
Native to: Old World; New World
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/Master Gardener

Photos by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC Member

Firewise Plant: Yucca

Yucca recurvifolia

Plant Name:  Yucca species

Common name: Yucca

Plant Type:  Herbaceous & Succulent Perennial

Plant Height:  2’ – 4’

Plant Width:  2’ – 4’

Bloom Time: Spring

Flower Color:  White, Red, Yellow

Exposure: Full Sun

Soil Requirements: Dry, Sandy, Well-Draining.

Water Needs: Low to Medium.

Fire Resistant:  YES:  Zone 1 – Plant 30’+ from House.

Attributes: Swordlike Leaves in Shades of Green; Some Yuccas are Pollinated by Moths; Drought Resistant; Red & Yellow Plants Attract Hummingbirds.

Uses:  Native Plant Gardens; Rock Gardens; Xeric Gardens; Containers; Focal Plant.

Note: Cut off Flower Stalks in Autumn or Late Winter; Use Well-Balanced Nitrogen Fertilizer or Compost Once a Year in Spring.

Native to: Many Parts of North America, but not Pacific Northwest.

Oregon Native:  NO

 USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 10

 

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/Master Gardener

Photo from: Oregon State University Dept of Horticulture:  https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/yucca-recurvifolia

Firewise Plant: Daylily

Plant Name:  Hemerocallis species

Common name:  Daylily

Plant Type: Perennial

Plant Height:  1’ – 4’

Plant Width:  1’ – 3’

Bloom Time:  July – August

Flower Color:  White, Yellow, Pink, Red, Gold, Mixed

Exposure: Full to Part Sun

Soil Requirements: Moist, Well-Drained.

Water Needs: Average to Medium

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

Attributes: Drought Tolerant; Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds.

Uses:  Borders; Mass Planting; Perennials Beds.

Note: Large Flowers Bloom for 1 Day; Blooms are Edible; After Flowering, Remove Spent Blooms & Seedpods to Encourage Re-Bloom.

Native to: Eurasia; China; Japan

Oregon Native:  NO

USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9

Firewise Plant: Red-Hot Pokers

Plant Name: Kniphofia uvaria

Common name:  Torch Lily or Red-Hot Poker

Plant Type: Perennial

Plant Height: 1’ – 4’

Plant Width:  2’ – 3’

Bloom Time: June – August

Flower Color:  Multi Color:  Orange/Yellow/White/Green

Exposure: Full Sun

Soil Requirements: Good Drainage; Sandy Soil; Favors Bog & Marsh Land.

Water Needs: Heavy in Spring & Summer.

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

Attributes: Deer Tolerant; Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinators; Cut Flower.

Uses: Border, Foundation, Container, Rock Garden.

Note:  Spreads by Rhizomes

Native to: South Africa

Oregon Native:  NO

USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 9

Firewise Plant: Blue Flax

Plant Name: Linum perenne

Common name:  Blue Flax

Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial Wildflower

Plant Height: 12” – 20”

Plant Width:  12” – 14”

Bloom Time: May – June

Flower Color:  Light Blue or White

Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade.

Soil Requirements: Well-Drained; Loamy or Sandy.

Water Needs: Medium

Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 1 – Plant 30+ feet from Structure.

Attributes: Showy Flowers; Drought Tolerant; Deer Resistant.

Uses: Mass Plantings; Meadows; Rock Gardens; Border Fronts.

Note: Self-sows; Remove Spent Blossoms for Longer Blooming; Flowers Open for Only One Day.

Native to: Asia, Europe

Oregon Native:  NO

Submit by: Viki Ashford