Q&A With Kerry

Question:  What are some perennials that have bold, eye-catching foliage that I can use as focal points? 

Answer:  I am always drawn to big, splashy plants that politely scream for attention.  You may get six weeks of flowers from longer blooming perennials but colorful and dramatic foliage plants strut their stuff for three seasons – more bang for your buck.  Some of my favorite flamboyant sun lovers are variegated yuccas (‘Bright Edge’ or ‘Golden Sword’); Heliopsis ‘Loraine Sunshine’ (stunning silver and green netted leaves); Rodgersia (‘Chocolate Wings’ has breathtaking coppery-bronze foliage. All rodgersias do best in part sun and moist soil); Rheum p. ‘Astrosanguineum (a non-edible ornamental rhubarb that reaches six feet and has huge leaves with reddish-purple undersides); and any of the chocolate-leaved cimicifugas (‘Brunette’, ‘Hillside Black Beauty’, and ‘Black Negligee’.  These do best in part sun).  All of the above are hardy to zone 5.  Shade loving beauties include variegated solomon’s seal (polygonatum ‘Variegatum’); Ligularia ‘Britt Marie Crawford’ (huge, shiny chocolate leaves. It does best in part shade); lungwort (pumonaria ‘Majeste’ and ‘Diana Clare’ have striking silvery-white leaves); Siberian bugloss (Brunnera ‘Variegata’ has bold white and green leaves while ‘Jack Frost’ and ‘Looking Glass’ have silvery leaves); and of course, large hostas such as ‘Sum and Substance’ (gold), ‘Frances Williams’ (gold and blue), and ‘Blue Angel’ (blue).  

Question:  My soil is very sandy.  What plants will do well in these Sahara-like conditions? 

Answer:  Great question!  Why try to transform the Simpsons into the Waltons?  It is much easier to change your approach to the problem. When dealing with extreme soil conditions it is less work, and less expensive, to match rugged plants to a tough area rather than try to dramatically change the natural conditions of the site.  The best plants for your garden will be those that are drought tolerant and can do well in lean soil conditions.  Sandy soil not only loses water quickly, but also nutrients.   Some lean, mean machines for sunny spots include yarrow, sea holly, globe thistle, false blue indigo (baptesia); black-eyed susans, any silver-leaved plants such as silver mound and lamb’s ear, rockcress (arabis), blanket flower (gaillardia), and catmint (nepeta).  Shade seekers include bugle weed (ajuga), hostas, golden dead nettle (lamiastrum); solomon’s seal (polygonatum), and Bishop’s hat (epimedium).  Even though all of the above can handle tougher conditions, they will initially need some hand-holding as their roots become established.  Be kind and water them like the rest of the gang their first season.  After that, start pulling away the garden hose….

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