Firewise Plant: Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

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

Horticulture Report: Agastache foeniculum

Plant Name:  Agastache foeniculum
Common name: Anise Hyssop
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  2’ – 4’
Spread:  1.5’ – 3’
Bloom Time: June – September
Flower Color:  Lavender to Purple
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained
Water Needs:  Dry to Medium
Attributes:  Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant; Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds; Fragrant; Good Nectar Plant for Bees
Note:  Deadhead spent flowers to promote additional bloom.  Spreads by rhizomes & easily self-seeds.
Watch for Rust, Powdery Mildew, & Leaf Spot.
Uses: Herb; Naturalized Gardens; Good Cut or Dried Flower; Back of the Border Gardens.
Native to:  Northern North America
Oregon Native:  Native to Washington, but NOT Oregon
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 -8

Report Submitted by: Viki Ashford

Horticulture Report: Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’
Common Name: montbretia
Type: Perennial Bulb
Height: 2-4 feet
Spread: 1-2 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Scarlet red
Sun: Full sun -Part shade
Water: Medium amount, but regular watering
Maintenance: Medium
Attributes: Showy Flowers, Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds, Deer Resistant,
Use: Cut Garden, Mass plantings, Pool-side planting, Borders, Containers, Contemporary Garden, Cottage Garden, Hummingbird Gardens.
USDA Zone: 5-9

Horticulture Report: Gaillardia aristata

Gaillardia_Gallo_Peach

Plant Name: Gaillardia aristata
Common Name: Gallo Peach Blanket Flower
Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
Height: 12-16 inches
Spread:   12-16 inches
Bloom Time:  Spring to late summer  
Flower Color:  Yellow with peachy gold blush, Yellow-orange center.
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Best in poor sandy soil,  does not like clay soil.  
Water Needs: Water well until established, then water occasionally  
Attributes:   Showy prolific flowers, Long bloomer, Drought tolerant once established, Deer resistant, Attracts Butterflies, Interesting globe seed pods 
Note:   Clip spent flowers to encourage repeat blooms. Cut back in late summer to encourage second blooming in the fall. Divide every 2-3 years.
Uses: Cut flowers, Borders, Perennial garden, Pollinator garden, Native garden, Butterfly Gardens. 
Native to: Patented plant
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-10

Horticulture Report: Mountain Fleece

Plant Name: Persicaria amplexicaulis

mountian-fleece

Persicaria amplexicaulis

Common Name:  Mountain Fleece
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Height: 3-4 feet
Spread: 3-4 feet
Bloom Time: June to October
Flower Color: Crimson red
Exposure: Full sun, Part shade (hot regions)
Soil Requirements: Humus
Water Needs: Medium to wet
Attributes: Showy “bottlebrush” flower, Attracts  Birds & Butterflies, Tolerate deer
Note:  Low Maintenance
Uses: Perennial border, Water Gardens
Native to: China, the Himalayas and Pakistan
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 7

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Horticulture Report: Firepower Nandina

Plant Name: Nandina domesticanadina-firepower
Common Name:  Dwarf Heavenly bamboo
Cultivar: Firepower
Plant type: Evergreen Shrub
Height:   24 inches
Spread:  24  inches
Bloom Time: NonePrized for lime green leaves &  brilliant red fall color.
Exposure:  Full sun
Soil Requirements: rich, humus, well drained, acid soil.
Water Needs: 1st growing season water weekly until established, more in extreme heat.  Once established water deeply, but less frequent.
Attributes: Vibrant Fall Color,  Firewise Plant, Waterwise Plant, disease resistant,  hardy.
Uses: Urban Garden, Woodland Garden, Asian/Zen Garden, Borders, Containers, Mass plantings, Groundcover.
Note:  Firepower Nandina does not produce berries.
USDA Zone: 6-11