Would you like flowers on your flowerbed gardens that come back year and following year and bloom all summer long? Marvel at these 4 garden perennials for bloom-time all summer long.
The Becky Shasta Daisy
The 2003 perennial of the year, the Becky Daisy has sturdy stems and numerous, long lasting blossoms. In its infancy, the thick stalks stand straight in the end. No floppy stems. The Shasta Daisy Becky enjoys full sun and isn’t fussy about soil type. It can tolerate some shade, but does provide more blooming in a full sun location. A bit slow to get going in the spring, gardeners have to be patient. Give considerable water in the first year and this plant benefits you with 10 to 15 blooms per plant in the first year. Remember to deadhead by cutting the long stems right down to the bottom of the plant. The Becky Daisy isn’t bothered by pests, but is susceptible to black spot when the weather is wet and cool. Check the leaves frequently and spray with fungicide if necessary.
The Stella D Oro Daylily
This daylily is definitely the longest re-blooming daylily. The Stella starts blooming in June and does not cease until the end of September or until the first hard frost. Because it’s a more compact size, this daylily is perfect to tuck into those bare spots in the flowerbed. There’s not too much that could go wrong when planting the Stella. It will prefer full sun but will tolerate a part sun place. Stella isn’t fussy on land type, but does enjoy it well-drained. This repeat bloomer creates a compact, dense clump of grassy green foliage with upright stems of fragrant, golden-yellow ruffled blossoms. Each flower lasts at least 6 hours every day. Pick off the spent flowers to keep the plant looking tidy. Dividing isn’t necessary for a couple of years. Once the blooms become lean, divide in early spring or fall. Plant the Stella if you’ve got an issue with deer or possess deer damage.
The Scabiosa or Pincushion Flower
With true lavender blue flowers and constant color in the flowerbed garden all summer, the Scabiosa is a winner. The blossom does seem like a pincushion, thus the name. Provided that you keep deadheading the spent blossoms, it is going to keep on blooming, right until frost, from late June through to late September. Although some might discover that the stalks are floppy, (they’re long and slim ) I enjoy how it looks. The leaves are a gray-green and the blossoms lighten as they age and every flower lasts for a lengthy time. By the time September rolls around, I will count 30 blossoms with many more buds left to start. While this perennial does like and grow better in a full sun location, it will tolerate some shade. Make certain that you bring some organic material when planting to ensure a well-drained soil. When snipping the spent blooms, cut the stem directly to the crown of the plant. Don’t just cut the heads off as you’ll be left with headless sticks. Garden pests (bugs) don’t bother this perennial and to the rabbits and deer.
The Geranium Rozanne
The Geranium Rozanne provides long lasting blossoms and its spreading habit makes it a terrific groundcover perennial or a boundary perennial for any garden design. Selected as the continuing of the year for 2008, this perennial groundcover has my vote as a carefree, vigorous grower and pests don’t bother it. Provided that you deadhead the spent blossoms, the blooming keeps coming until the frost arrives. This must be among the longest blooming perennials! In addition to the slightly mounded green foliage appears a deep purple blue flower with a little white centre or eye. You can see the darker colour as the blossoms first emerge. The as the flowers age they become lighter in colour, almost like a soft baby blue. As it develops, this perennial can find a little unruly looking, but I enjoy it. If need be, a fast haircut/trim won’t discourage this continuing from continuing its expansion.
