Looking for beautiful, easy growing plants that thrive in Colorado? CNGA’s Featured Perennials for 2007 delivers just that! The Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post run articles on these feature perennials each week, or come back here each week for articles and photos. When you see a plant you like, go to your local independent garden center to make your purchases and receive expert advice. Happy gardening!

Most gardeners are familiar with Purple Coneflower (Echinaceae purpurea). It has become a reliable standard for perennial gardens, admired for its showy flowers and easy to grow attitude. The popularity of this plant has encouraged plant breeders to expand the color palette and the results have been quite... Purple Coneflower Isn’t Just Purple Anymore!

Tired of using the same old stand-bys, and looking for something new and exciting to spice up your containers or flowerbeds? Try adding a tropical flair to your ambiance by planting an ornamental banana. Rowe Red Banana, also known as Musa ‘Rowe Red’ is a new variety of ornamental banana introduced last year by Proven Winners. What makes this new banana so unique is it’s large bright green leaves that seem to be painted with maroon streaks across the upper side of the leaves, while the underside displays beautiful shades... Rowe Red Ornamental Banana (Musa ‘Rowe Red’)

Salvia darcyi was originally found in the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains in Mexico and it has proven to be hardy in my gardens at Heritage Golf Course in Westminster, Colorado since 2001. VERMILLION BLUFFS™ Mexican Sage (Salvia darcyi ‘Pscarl’) has unbeatable spikes of brilliant red flowers from August thru October that hummingbirds can’t resist. During the drought and heat of the... Bring on the ‘Hummers’

What a gem we have in Desert Four-O-Clock, Mirabilis multiflora. Related to the biennial Four-O-Clocks found in every grandmother’s garden, this dryland Four-O-Clock is everything we want in a xeric perennial. Mirabilis is from Latin meaning “marvelous” or “wonderful” and multiflora meaning... Desert Four-O-Clock - Mirabilis multiflora

Of all the blooming plants on the market today there are a few that are absolute ‘must haves’ for any sunny bed or border. Some of the most dramatic of these are the Salvias! Salvias are drought tolerant plants, producing vibrant spires of color in pinks, reds, blues, purples and white, depending on variety, and... Salvia Mystic Spires

Entertaining outdoors is perhaps one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy time with friends and family. In the summer on the Front Range, perhaps the most pleasant time of day to be outdoors is in the evening when the light begins to fad and temperatures become comfortable. Plants can help to create a place... Plants that Glow in the Dark

Red Yucca doesn’t seem to me to convey the wonder of this amazing hardy succulent. The evergreen tuft of leaves is much less spiky than most yuccas, more like a lush dark green tuft of grass. The waxy, tubular 2” flowers are produced for months on end, often from May right through to October, on tall, willowy ... Red Yucca - Hesperaloe parviflora

Lantana will capture your heart and imagination. Its vibrant blooms are born in clusters, with heavily textured foliage and branches that scream of this plants vigor. During the heat of summer when most annuals take a break from blooming... Lantana

Purple Winter Savory is an unusual member of the mint family. It maintains a very short and compact mounding habit, and blooms late in the season when many garden perennials are looking bedraggled from the long hot summer. Purple Winter Savory is native to high elevations in the Mediterranean... Savory in any season

I just love the common name of this perennial plant…Whirling Butterflies. The 1½” across, white 5-petaled flowers are held up on the very ends of the 3’ tall plants, so that when the breeze blows the flowers appear to be dancing... Whirling Butterflies - Gaura lindheimeri

Angelonia (aka Summer Snapdragon) is a HEAT LOVER! This annual is just starting to get the recognition it deserves and if you haven't tried angelonia you are missing out on a great plant for Colorado. Angelonia has a tall, upright habit similar to snapdragons, with a height of 12" - 18". They flower from mid-June until... Angelonia

Colorado’s climate is extremely unique; due to our elevation, and the intensity of the sunlight we receive, plants labeled for full sun might tolerate ‘full sun’ at sea level, but not at our altitude. This makes gardening at our elevation very challenging and rewarding... Caution! Not all sun plant labels are created equal!

The genus Heuchera consists of around 55 species native to North America. These dense clump-forming plants are near-evergreen, adding winter interest to any garden. A dependable plant for partial shade, Heucheras are... Heuchera

Cleome, also known as spider flower, is native to South America. They range in height from 3 to 6 feet. Colorado has a native Cleome (Cleome serrulata) also known as Rocky Mountain Bee Plant. Depending on growing conditions and location it ranges in height from 8 inches to 5 feet. Its flowers are purplish pink and like all Cleome it is a favorite of bees, butterflies and humming birds. Early settlers... Cleome

Everyone seems to know and love the hardy ice plants. Both the yellow and purple ice plants have become such mainstays of Colorado gardens that some would find it hard to believe that they were both virtually unknown to horticulture a few decades ago. You can be the first person on your block to try what may be the... Roll Out The Red Carpet

Sedums are a tough-as-nails perennial that offer many seasons of interest. Coming in many shapes, sizes, colors, and textures, sedums can vary from tall and upright to low growing and spreading. These hardy succulents have thick fleshy leaves making them ideal for... Stonecrop Sedum sp.

Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ is definitely a sparkling jewel. It is this year’s “Best of Show” at the Colorado State University trial garden. Last year it won “Best New Variety”. All over the country it is receiving awards and accolades for its beauty and ease of... Create Some “Sparkle” in your Garden with Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’

Creating floating flower beds is easier than you might think. Before shopping for water plants, it may help to understand the four categories readily available at your local garden center and the benefits they provide to your pond. Let’s start at the surface and work our way down. Floaters float freely on the surface of your pond... Creating floating flower beds

The genus Geum belongs to the rose family and consists of about 40 species. They are widely distributed in the temperate regions of the world. Plants in this genus are commonly known as avens, which was the Roman name for the plant. The Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum var. ciliatum) is a native perennial. The plants have soft fern-like foliage growing to a height of 10 inches and about 4 inches wide. They produce nodding urn-shaped flowers in ... Geum

You may be familiar with the traditional seed Torenias, the Clown Series and the Duchess Series. They have shown good upright garden performance in shade gardens and they can even handle hot shade and do well. You may not be as familiar with the new Hybrid Torenias. They have... Torenia

A drive on nearly any mountain highway offers a spring and summer display of brightly colored “sulphur flowers” along the roadside. One of the prettiest selections of this genus of buckwheat plants is KANNAH CREEK™ Buckwheat, introduced this season by Plant Select®. This durable western native was found... A Grand Plant from Grand Mesa

Everyone knows the lovely and vigorous Missouri Evening Primrose, whose big yellow flowers open every afternoon and fade the next morning. However, the Evening Primrose family also boasts a number of great day-flowering plants, the Sundrops, many of which are native to our ... Super-Duper Sundrops (Calylophus spp.)

In hanging baskets and container gardens, garden walls and deck rail planters, the finishing touch is the cascading leaves of our favorite foliage plants. Their tumbling leaves provide a balancing rest to the visual energy created with the combination of vertical and mounding plants. Most of us are ... Cascades

Admiring the lush and lovely container gardens you’ve just created? But wondering just how long they’ll look as they do now? The following are essentials to growing successful container gardens.
Water—Can’t Say Enough
Container gardens tend to dry out more quickly than gardens planted in the ground. The number one rule is to keep an eye on the moistness of the soil. Invest in a ... Maintaining Container Gardens: Successful Plant Stewardship

One of the prettiest ornamental grasses for the garden is Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium). Ornamental grasses have gained in popularity as garden plants over the past decade and are routinely planted among perennials for a pleasing contrast of form and texture. Northern Sea Oats is ... Rustle and Sway – Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

Petunias have long been among the top sun-loving garden performers. Recent breeding improvements have created more bountiful blossoms, colors, versatility and better garden performance than ever before. Gone are the days of the “garden variety” petunia. Today’s petunias have garden design ... Petunias

Yellowhorn is a striking small tree and is often grown as a large shrub. This attractive specimen is relatively unknown in commerce and not often found in ... A Small But Showy Tree

English herbalist John Gerard described the Loosestrife as a flower that can “appease the strife and unruliness which falleth out among oxen at the plough.” Any plant that can do that is worthy of a place in my garden. Lysimachia ciliata ‘Firecracker’ takes the spotlight with contrasting smoky purple foliage and bright yellow flowers. Flowering from May to June, she’s ... Loosestrife - Lysimachia ciliata, Lysimachia punctata ‘Alexander’

New introductions in the plant world seem to be coming fast and furious and this is one you’re sure to love!The “Calitunia” is an exciting new annual created by crossing petunias and calibrachoas. It has the smaller flowers of the calibrachoa with the prettier foliage of a petunia. It also has the performance characteristics of a ... Calitunia

The process of choosing plants for your flower beds that bloom all season long can be challenging, but with a little pre-planning and some help from your local garden center it can be fun and easy. A good blend of color... Blending the Montage of Plants Together

Ordinary Bearded Iris have a problem...their flowers, while huge and showy, are short-lived, leaving behind only fast-spreading clumps of dull green leaves which take over the whole garden, becoming rattier and rattier as the summer progresses. However, this ... Variegated Dalmatian Iris

Calibrachoa (Kali-bra-co-a) is commonly known as Million Bells or Super bells because of its prolific blossoms that mound and cascade all summer long. My friend Betty planted a few in a whiskey barrel the first year it was introduced and near the end of summer the barrel had turned into what looked like a standing ball of... Calibrachoa

The genus Penstemon, commonly known as beardtongue, has long been a staple in our Rocky Mountain region gardens and a new representative to the scene this summer will be SHADOW MOUNTAIN™ Penstemon (Penstemon ×mexicali ‘Psmyers’.) This latest Plant Select® introduction is a sport of RED ROCKS™... An Irresistible Penstemon to Add to Your Collection

Pulmonarias have surged in popularity with the development of new and improved cultivars by hybridizers. Pulmonaria, native to a range encompassing much of Europe and into Russia is also known by its less... Lungwort (Pulmonarias sp.)

With delicate snapdragon-like flowers, Nemesia brightens any planting with a color assortment that ranges from sassy red and sunny yellow to romantic pink and clear white. The showstopper of the Nemesias is the Sunsatia series, which bring to mind the tropics with their vibrant color combinations. For instance, the yellows, oranges, and pinks of Mango Sunsatia... Nemesia

What color is chartreuse anyway? Is it green or is it yellow? Chartreuse, pronounced (shahr-TROOZ ), is actually 87.5% yellow and 12.5% green. The color was named after the French liqueur produced at the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the Chartreuse Mountains in France. Combining distilled wine alcohol with a secret... The Main Uses of Chartreuse

From biblical times to now, the flat-topped umbrella-like flower clusters and dainty fern-like foliage of Yarrow varieties have been admired for their numerous medicinal purposes and long-lasting vibrant color. Yarrow is deer ... Yarrow (Achillea spp.)

Diascia is available both as an annual and as a perennial. Annual Diascia Flying colors Diascia by Proven Winners is a member of the Diascia family that is grown as a cool season annual. That means it blooms wonderfully in early spring / summer and in late ... Diascia

Hot Wings® Tatarian Maple is a superior small ornamental tree that was discovered right in our home state of Colorado, destined for distribution throughout the country. The natural range of Tatarian maple is from Southeastern Europe into Western Asia. It likely arrived in ... A Tree for All Seasons

Anemone is a genus of approximately 100 species including fibrous and tuberous-rooted species. Anenomes can be found blooming in spring, summer and fall. Most grow well in ordinary garden soil that has been amended with sufficient organic material to provide good drainage ... Windflower

SPRING…SPRING…SPRING. Maybe if I say it enough times, it will soon be so. For me, I still have several weeks to go before SPRING arrives. You see, I live in the foothills at 7500 feet, and the last snow was on June 11th one year. But you lucky gardeners in the Front Range can ... Dianthus Elation

We are so fortunate to live in a state that values Horticulture as much as Colorado, and has a university department of horticulture as strong as CSU. Colorado State University has a yearly trial garden on a beautiful block of University property at the corner of College and Lake ... Best of...Winners