Plant Name | Bloom | Light | Height/Width | Cold/Heat Zones | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alpine aster Aster alpinus |
Pink or lavender flowers in late spring | Full sun | 6 to 12 in./ 8 to 18 in. |
3 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Tolerates wind and drought; intolerant of wet soil in winter. |
Balloon flower Platycodon grandiflorus |
Blue, pink or white flowers in summer | Full sun to part shade | 6 to 36 in./ 12 to 18 in. |
3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
May need staking in windy areas. Intolerant of wet soil. |
Bergenia Bergenia cordifolia |
Red, pink or white flowers in midspring | Full sun to part shade | 8 to 24 in./ 12 to 24 in. |
3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Tolerates wind and drought. |
Black snakeroot Actaea racemosa |
Tall spikes of white or pale pink flowers in mid- to late summer | Part shade | 4 to 6 ft./ 2 to 4 ft. |
3 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Tolerates high altitudes because it prefers the cool summer temperatures. |
Boltonia Boltonia asteroides |
White or pale pink flowers in late summer into fall | Full sun | 4 to 6 ft./ 2 to 3 ft. |
4 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Tall stems stand strong in stiff winds. |
Brunnera Brunnera macrophylla |
Blue flowers in midspring | Part shade | 12 to 18 in./ 15 to 24 in. |
3 to 7/ 7 to 1 |
Tolerates wind but prefers some protection from hot sun. |
Bugleweed Ajuga reptans |
Spikes of blue, pink or white in midspring | Full sun to part shade | 4 to 6 in./ 10 to 24 in. |
3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Tolerates wind and drought. |
Columbine meadow rue Thalictrum aquilegiifolium |
Fuzzy lavender flowers in early summer | Light shade | 2 to 3 ft./ 2 to 3 ft. |
5 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Tolerates wind but may need extra moisture. |
Garden phlox Phlox paniculata |
Fragrant white, lavender, red or purple flowers in mid- to late summer | Full sun | 12 to 48 in./ 12 to 36 in. |
4 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Tolerant of wind and strong sun, although dark-colored flowers will fade quickly. |
Geum Geum chiloense |
Orange and yellow flowers in early summer | Full sun | 15 to 30 in./ 15 to 18 in. |
4 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Tolerates drought and wind; intolerant of wet soil in winter. |
Lamb’s ear Stachys byzantina |
Purple spikes in early summer, but usually grown for the felted gray leaves | Full sun | 8 to 12 in./ 12 to 18 in. |
4 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Tolerates wind and drought. |
Lungwort Pulmonaria longifolia |
Shades of pink, blue or white flowers in early to midspring | Part shade | 6 to 12 in./ 12 to 24 in. |
3 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Tolerates wind and drought. |
Maltese cross Lychnis chalcedonica |
Bright orange red flowers in summer | Full sun | 36 to 48 in./ 18 to 24 in. |
3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Tolerant of heat but can flop in windy spots. Needs humus in the soil to keep the roots moist. |
Monkshood Aconitum napellus |
Shades of blue, purple or white in mid- to late summer | Part shade | 2 to 4 ft./ 1 to 2 ft. |
3 to 7/ 7 to 1 |
Tolerant of wind, but does best with extra moisture; plant will be shorter in dry conditions. |
Obedient plant Phystostegia virginiana |
Pink or white flowers in mid summer to fall | Full sun | 18 to 48 in./ 24 to 36 in. |
3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Tolerant of drought and wind. Best in poor soil, rich soils grow weak floppy stems. |
Penstemon Penstemon spp. and hybrids |
Violet, purple, red, pink or white flowers in summer | Full sun | 4 to 72 in./ 10 to 36 in. |
3 to 10/ 10 to 1 |
Tolerant of drought. |
Perennial geranium Geranium spp. and hybrids |
Blue, pink or white flowers | Full sun to part shade | 6 to 36 in./ 6 to 36 in. |
3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Tall varieties may flop in windy locations. Tolerates full sun in the cool summer temperatures at high altitudes, needs shade in hotter areas. |
Pink coreopsis Coreopsis rosea |
Pink flowers in summer | Full sun | 12 to 24 in./ 18 to 30 in. |
3 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Tolerates wind, but needs moist, well-drained soil. |
Spiderwort Tradescantia hybrid |
Violet, blue, red or white flowers in late spring or early summer | Full sun to part shade | 15 to 24 in./ 15 to 24 in. |
3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Tolerant of wind and drought. |
Spike blazingstar Liatris spicata |
Spikes of purple in midsummer | Full sun | 18 to 48 in./ 18 to 24 in. |
4 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Tolerates wind and drought, intolerant of wet soil in winter. |