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: Lathyrus odoratus

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

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

Horticulture Report: Chives

Plant Name:  Allium schoenoprasum

Common name:  Chives

Plant Type:  Perennial Bulb

Plant Height:  1’ – 1.5’

Plant Width:  1’ – 1.5’

Bloom Time: June – August

Flower Color: Pale Purple

Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade.

Soil Requirements: Average, Medium, Well-Drained.

Water Needs:  Medium

Fire Resistant: YES – Zone 1 – Plant 10’+ from house.

Attributes:  Showy Flower with Fragrant Leaves; Deer/Drought Tolerant; Attracts Butterflies, Bees, Pollinators; Consistent performer

Uses: Herb; Herb/Vegetable Gardens; Rock Gardens; Containers.

Note:  Self seeds unless spent flowers are deadheaded; Harvest Leaves by clipping at base of plant; Root Rot may occur in poorly drained soil. 

Native to: Temperate Northern Hemisphere

Oregon Native:   YES

 USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8

Chives

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Board Member

Photo by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC Board Member

Horticulture Report: Snow-in-Summer

Plant Name:  Cerastium tomentosum
Common name: Snow-in-Summer
Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial Evergreen Groundcover
Plant Height:  6” – 12”
Plant Width:  2’ – 3’
Bloom Time:  Summer
Flower Color:  White
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Dry, Sandy, Well-Draining Soil
Water Need:  Dry
Fire Resistant: YES; Plant 30’+ from house.
Attributes: Fast Growing; Silvery-Gray, Wooly Foliage; Deer Resistant; Showy Flowers; Drought Tolerant
Uses:  Rock Gardens; Border Edging; Cottage Garden; Bulb Cover; Hanging Basket.
Note: Spreads by Runners; Shear off flowers after bloom; Plants are Short-Lived
Native to: Italy; Sicily
Oregon Native:   NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 7

Report by: Viki Ashford

Heron2 CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Cooper’s Hardy Purple Iceplant

Plant Name:  Delosperma cooperi
Common name: Cooper’s Hardy Purple Iceplant
Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial Groundcover Succulent
Plant Height:  1” – 4”
Plant Width:  24” – 30”
Bloom Time:  June – September
Flower Color: Magenta Pink to Purple
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Sharply Draining Soil; Sandy/Gravelly.
Water Need:  Dry
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 1 – 10’+ from house.
Attributes: Showy Flowers, Purplish Red in Winter; Tolerates Drought; Deer Resistant; Attractive to Butterflies; Bee Friendly.
Uses:  Rock Garden; Ground cover; Front of the Border; Containers.
Native to: Southern Africa
Oregon Native: NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 10

 

Report by: Viki Ashford and Carlotta Lucas

Photo Credit: https://www.highcountrygardens.com/perennial-plants/delosperma/delosperma-cooperi-coopers-hardy-ice-plant