THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603130707
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBERT STIFFLER, GARDENING COLUMNIST
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
PERENNIALS ARE BACK in style. After a 30-year hiatus, they're back with a bang, primarily because many gardeners want to put a plant in the ground one time and then forget it.
Most perennials fit that requirement.
To make it easy to choose a new perennial each year, The Perennial Plant Association names a ``Perennial of the Year.'' This year it is ``Husker Red Penstemon.''
Not many penstemons have been grown in this area, although they perform well. A penstemon resembles a snapdragon in many ways, but is usually taller. Husker Red is white and red and grows so tall that it usually requires staking.
Another underused but excellent perennial is Amsonia. It not only is a perennial but a native plant, which makes it easy to grow. It was named in 1760 after Dr. Charles Amson, a Virginia physician. With bright blooms of blue in late spring, the foliage turns yellow in late summer and fall. Amsonia orientalis is the variety most preferred, because it has a brighter blue color than other varieties.
Full sun and neglect are all it needs to be happy in your garden. It spreads out, meaning that a plant in an 8-inch pot should be twice that wide in five years.
Yarrow is another perennial that's been upgraded from a weedy St. Anne's lace carrot to a flower of many colors. Today it can be purchased in almost every color of the rainbow and comes back reliably each spring. It does tend to flop and often needs to be staked.
Hostas and ferns are popular perennials for shade. Ferns especially are often overlooked by gardeners. If you have a shady, damp spot, that is exactly what ferns like. Give them a second chance if you've tried before and failed.
Most landscape designers recommend masses of perennials for best effect, using hosta in masses for shade.
For expansive sunny areas, nothing compares to a bed of daylilies. Many new varieties bloom not just once, but all summer long. For contrast against any color perennial, plant silver-gray artemisia.
Masses of perennials should be your first choice for filling large expanses in a landscape. In addition to being colorful, they are nearly always trouble free and easy to plant and maintain. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ROBERT STIFFLER
Bob Villenave grows Campanula glomerata and numerous rare perennials
at Lynnbrier Greenhouse in Chesapeake.
KEYWORDS: WEEDER'S DIGEST by CNB