Tag Archives: Water-wise Plants

Firewise Plant: Dianthus, Garden Carnation

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Plant Name:  Dianthus species
Common name: Garden Carnation or Pinks
Plant Type:  Annual; Evergreen Perennial; Subshrub; Over 300 Species
Plant Height:  2” – 12”
Plant Width:  6” – 16”
Bloom Time:  May – August
Flower Color: Pink, White, Red, or Yellow
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained Soil
Water Need:  Low
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 1 – 20’+ from House.
Attributes: Grayish-Green Foliage; Deer Resistant; Attracts Butterflies; Good Cut Flower; Sweet Clove Fragrance.
Uses:  Rock Gardens; Cottage Gardens.
Note: Regularly Deadhead for Repeat Bloom; Do Not Mulch in Winter with Compost.
Native to: Asia & Europe
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9

Viki Ashford, AGC Member / Master Gardener

Horticulture Report: Phacelia tanacetifolia

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Plant Name:  Phacelia tanacetifolia
Common name: Lacy Phacelia, Fiddleneck
Plant Type:  Annual
Plant Height: 1’ -3’
Spread: 1.5’
Bloom Time: March – May
Flower Color:  Lavender Blue
Exposure:  Sun
Soil Requirements:  Rocky, Sandy, Dry Soil.
Water Needs:  Medium
Attributes: Value to Bumble, Honey, & Native Bees; Good Insectary Plant; Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant; Attracts Butterflies
Note:  May produce skin irritation.
Uses: Bee & Butterfly Gardens; Cover Crop & Nitrogen Fixer; Water-wise gardens; Mediterranean-style Gardens, Cottage Garden, Container Gardening, Wildflower Gardens, Natural areas, Pollinator gardens
Native to: California & Southwest US
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  1 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo Credit: Zanchetta Fabio (faxstaff) / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)

Horticulture Report: Penstemon strictus (Rocky Mountain Penstemon)

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Plant Name:  Penstemon strictus
Common name: Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Plant Type:  Evergreen Perennial
Plant Height: 1’ – 4’
Spread: 3’
Bloom Time: May – June
Flower Color:  Royal Blue to Purple
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Dry, Light, Well-Drained Soil, but will tolerate Heavy Soil.
Water Needs: Low
Attributes: Supports Native Bees; Attracts Birds & Hummingbirds.
Note:  Spreads by Stolons.
Uses: Native Gardens
Native to: California, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah.
Oregon Native:   NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo Credit: Jerry Friedman / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

Horticulture Report:Rock Rose

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Plant Name: Helianthemum   heliamthemum
Common name: Rock Rose
Plant type: Evergreen, or Semi-evergreen, Shrubby Perennial
Height:   6-12 inches
Spread: 1-3 feet

Bloom Time: May – June
Flower Color: Various – White, Yellow, Red, Pink, Scarlet, Orange.
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Well Drained Rocky to Sandy Soil.

Water Needs: Low
Attributes:  Good in Alpine & Rock Gardens, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Evergreen Good accent plant with texture & form, Gray Foliage & Dark Green Foliage.
Uses: Attracts Butterflies,  Rock gardens, Container, Ground Cover, Xeriscape Gardens.
USDA Zone: 5-8  (check cultivar)

Horticulture Report: Firepower Nandina

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Plant Name: Nandina domesticanadina-firepower
Common Name:  Dwarf Heavenly bamboo
Cultivar: Firepower
Plant type: Evergreen Shrub
Height:   24 inches
Spread:  24  inches
Bloom Time: None–Prized 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