Description:

This  is a groundcover with red tinged dark green leaves and little  bright blue flowers  in May and June.  The foliage remains attractive during the rest of the growing season.  This member of the mint family does not have fragrant foliage.  This plant spreads by runners that root at the nodes.  Why is this plant important in your garden?  The flower nectar is food for ladybugs, green lacewings and other natural enemies of plant pests, such as aphids.

Landscape Use:

Border, Ground Cover, Erosion Control, Woodland Garden

Culture:

Prefers average moisture and protection from winter winds. It is easy to divide in the spring or fall.

Description:

This plant is all about the leaves.  The leaves are red in the spring, taupe in the summer and ruby red in the fall.  It grows in a rounded clump form.

Landscape Use:

Woodland garden, Border, Containers

Culture:

Grows best in well drained soil with average moisture. Apply mulch in the winter to prevent root heaving. The crowns will rise out of the soil as they grow. Either mulch the plant or lift and divide and replant. The crown should be just above the soil, don't completely bury the crowns. Clumps can be divided every 3-4 years in the spring.

Description:

This plant has a mounded growth habit with dusty grey foliage and a spectacular display of  little yellow flowers in May.

Landscape Use:

Mass groupings, Rock garden, Xeriscape garden, Retaining wall, Border

Culture:

Grows best in well drained soil. Excess water and fertilizer encourages soft growth and reduces winter hardiness. Shear off one-third of the plant after blooming to keep it compact. Shear off the flowers after bloom has ended.

Description:

A clump forming perennial with a long summer bloom period, light pink/lavender color flowers and minty scented leaves . We do not know the cultivars growing up here.  The Bee Balm in the Children’s garden is a very light “baby” pink while the Bee Balm in the Columbine garden is dark pinkish purple.  Bee Balm is a native plant distributed throughout the U.S.except CA and FL and other common names are Wild Bergamot and Horsemint (even though horses do not prefer Bee Balm but cattle and wildlife will browse the plant).

Landscape Use:

Herb garden, Butterfly garden, Native plant garden

Culture:

Deadhead flowers to prolong summer bloom. Spreads by rhizome and self seeds. If spreading too much, divide clumps each spring. Plants need good air circulation due to susceptibility to powdery mildew. There are mildew resistant cultivars. M. fistulosa is suitable for a xeriscape area.

Description:

A small growing compact perennial with deep orange 1″ flowers that resemble a single rose and dark green lance shaped foliage. The 5 petaled rose like flowers bloom for up to 2 months and are  available in a variety of colors.  Each flower opens for one day and closes up in cloudy weather.  When the bloom is over the lance shaped foliage stays evergreen for the rest of the season and makes a good ground cover.

Landscape Use:

Rock gardens, Front border, Ground cover

Culture:

Trim plants after flowering to shape and encourage additional growth. Avoid excess winter moisture. Mulch for the winter to prevent desiccation. Prefers soils of low fertility.

Description:

This is a warm season clump form grass that stays small.  The grass spikes start out bright green and then the leaves gradually change to pinkish-orange and then turn a reddish rusty color for the fall.  In late summer, erect flower spikes rise above the leaves that turn a brownish red color for great fall color.

Landscape Use:

Mass groupings, Rock garden, Xeriscape garden, Erosion control

Culture:

Plant in well drained soil. If you notice the flower stems falling over it means too much water and/or too much fertilization. This grass is drought tolerant once established. Cut back in early spring. It is time to divide when the center of the clump dies out.

Description:

Linum perenne features sky blue flowers with 5 petals that open early for one day on top of tall, dark green skinny stems.  It does spread.  This plant just showed up one day, lucky us.

Landscape Use:

Xeriscape garden, Wildflower garden, Mass planting, Rock gardens, Informal gardens

Culture:

Prefers well drained soils and is drought tolerant. Extend bloom period by cutting some stems back by half, midway through the bloom period.

Description:

This is a large aromatic hyssop with numerous pinkish purple tall flower spikes that attract pollinators galore.  It is amazing to watch the hummingbirds, butterflies and bees all clamoring for the nectar.  This is a hybrid of Desert Sunrise and Blue Fortune hyssop.  You can see the bottle brush type flower spike of  Blue Fortune and the tubular type flowers of Desert Sunrise combined on this one plant.  This hybrid was developed by Kelly Grummons, owner of Timberline Gardens in Arvada.

Landscape Use:

Xeriscape garden, Back border, Grouping

Culture:

This plant loves dry conditions once it is established and prefers well drained soils. Pinching back in the spring will keep it more compact. Leave stems standing through the winter and cut back in the spring after you see new growth.

Description:

The numerous tall spikes of lavender blue flowers attract butterflies and bees.  The large green leaves have an anise fragrance and silver undersides.

Landscape Use:

Herb garden, Back border, Butterfly garden

Culture:

Prefers well drained soils and average moisture. Will get lanky in too much shade. Leave stems through the winter and cut back in the spring when you see new growth.

Description:

Sedum selskianum  grows in a mound form.  The leaves start out dark green in the spring.  In June the plant is covered with bright yellow star shaped flowers.  In the fall the leaves gradually turn from dark green to a beautiful red fall color.

Landscape Use:

Border, Rock garden, Xeriscape garden, Grouping for mass effect

Culture:

Well drained soil, drought tolerant. We shear the flowers after they have faded to maintain a neat appearance.