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: 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: 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

Firewise Plant: Tall Bearded Iris

Plant Name: Iris hybrids
Common name:  Tall Bearded Iris
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 16” – 30”
Plant Width:  14” – 24”
Bloom Time: May – June
Flower Color:  Multi-colored including Bicolor
Exposure: Full Sun
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 1:  Plant 30+ feet from Structure.
Soil Requirements: High Organic Matter; Good Drainage.
Water Needs: Infrequent Watering, but Deeply.
Attributes: Good Cut Flower; Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant.
Uses: Perennial Border; Cutting Garden; Mass Planted in Naturalized Area.
Note:  Lift & Divided Clumps Every 3 – 4 years in Late Summer After Bloom;
Plant at Soil Level or Slightly Covered; Fertilize in Early Spring; Iris Borer is an Insect Pest;
Additional Problems:  Fungal Diseases/Crown Rot/Mosaic Virus.
Native to: Mediterranean Area
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 10

AGC Board Members:

Report by: Viki Ashford, Master Gardener

Photos by: Carlotta Lucas (All photo rights reserved)

Today in the Garden

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

Horticulture Report: Rock Rose

Plant Name:  Helianthemum nummularium

Common name:  Sun Rose or Rock Rose

Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial

Plant Height:  8” – 10”

Plant Width:  12” – 16”

Bloom Time:  June – August

Flower Color:  Red, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Multicolored

Exposure: Full Sun

Soil Requirements: Dry, Alkaline, Rocky, Sandy Soil;

Water Needs: Dry; Low

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

Attributes: Mounding Growth Habit; Drought Tolerant; Evergreen with Grey-Green Foliage; Attracts Bees/Butterflies.

Uses:  Rock Gardens; Edging Plant; Ground cover; Border Front.

Note: Shear Plants after flowering to encourage additional growth; each flower opens for only one day.

Native to: Europe; Asia Minor

Oregon Native:   NO

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 7