Tag Archives: Herbaceous perennials

Firewise Plant: Tall Bearded Iris

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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)

Horticulture Report: Rock Rose

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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

Horticulture Report: Armeria maritima (Sea Thrift)

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Plant Name:  Armeria maritima

Common name:  Sea Thrift
Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  .5’ – 1’
Plant Width:  .5’ – 1’
Bloom Time: April – May
Flower Color:  Pink to White
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Infertile, Well-Drained Soil.
Water Needs: Low
Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 8 = Plant 30’+ from house.
Attributes: Showy Flowers; Drought Tolerant; Deer Tolerant; Attracts Bees; Butterflies.
Uses: Ground Cover; Edging/Border Fronts; Rock Gardens; Containers.
Note:  Deadhead to Encourage More Blooms.
Native to: Northern Hemisphere
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Board Member

Photo by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC Board Member

Horticulture Report: Rock Cress

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Plant Name:  Aubrieta deltoidei
Common name: Rock Cress
Plant Type:  Evergreen Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  .5’ – .75’
Plant Width:  1’ – 2’
Bloom Time:  Late Spring – Early Summer
Flower Color:  Purple-Red
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained;
Water Need:  Low
Fire Resistant: YES; 30’+ from house.
Attributes: Deer Resistant; Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds;
Uses:  Rock Gardens; Front of Border; Containers.
Note: Cut Back After Flowering, Not in Fall; Short Lived; Divide Every 1 – 3 Years;
Native to: Eastern Europe
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 -8

Purple Rock Cress

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Photo Credit: Eli+, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Firewise Plant: Japanese Pachysandra

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Plant Name:  Pachysandra terminalis
Common name: Japanese Pachysandra
Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  6” – 8”
Plant Width:  10”+
Bloom Time:  April – June
Flower Color: White
Exposure: Part Shade to Full Shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, Organically Rich, Well-Draining Soil.
Water Need:  Moderate; Supplemental Irrigation.
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 8 – 30’+ from house.
Attributes: Semi-evergreen; Winter Interest; Deer Resistant; Attracts Bees.
Uses:  Ground Cover; Erosion Control; Cottage Garden.
Note: Spreads by Rhizomes; Avoid Overhead Watering.
Native to: Japan, North Central China
Oregon Native:   NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/ Master Gardener

Photo from: N. Carolina State University, Extension Service https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pachysandra-terminalis/

Horticulture Report: Dead Nettle

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Plant Name:  Lamium species
Common name: Dead Nettle
Plant Type:  Prostrate Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  8” – 12”
Plant Width:  12” – 36”
Bloom Time:  May – June
Flower Color: Pink, White, Purple
Exposure:  Part Shade to Shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, Rich, Humus Rich, Well-Drained Soil.
Water Need:  Medium
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 1-8 – 30’+ from house.
Attributes: Attractive Foliage; Attracts Bees; Variety of Foliage Colors & Textures; Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant.
Uses:  Spiller in Containers; Dead Bulb Foliage Cover; Groundcover.
Note: Trailing Type Growth; Cut Back or Shear to Stimulate New Growth; Roots Where Stems Touch Ground.
Native to: Europe, Western Asia, North Africa
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/ Master Gardener

Photo by: Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons