| Good Plants for Hot, Dry Sun |
|---|
| Plant Name |
Height/Width |
Light |
Cold/Heat Zones |
Comments |
Cranesbill
Geranium spp. |
6 to 36 in. tall and 6 to 36 in. wide |
Sun |
4 to 9/
9 to 1 |
Mounding habit covers ripening bulb foliage; flowers in shades of pink, purple, blue and white bloom from midspring to fall; cut back old foliage to 4 in. after flowering |
Speedwell
Veronica spicata |
6 to 18 in. tall and 18 in. wide |
Sun |
3 to 7/
7 to 1 |
Blue, white or pink flower spikes start blooming in midspring; complements mid- and late-spring bulbs; well-fed plants may require staking |
Thyme
Thymus serpyllum |
1 to 2 in. tall and 10 to 12 in. wide |
Sun |
4 to 8/
8 to 1 |
Dense carpet of bright pink flowers begins blooming in early summer; prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soils; fragrant foliage |
Catmint
Nepeta xfaassenii |
12 to 36 in. tall and wide |
Sun |
3 to 8/
12 to 1 |
Lavender-blue flowers bloom from midspring to fall; covers ripening bulb foliage; cut back by half midseason to keep tidy |
Garden phlox
Phlox paniculata |
12 to 48 in. tall and 12 to 36 in. wide |
Sun |
3 to 9/
9 to 1 |
Flowers in many shades of lavender, pink, red and white; mid- to late summer blooming won't overshadow spring bulbs |
Tall sedum
Sedum hybrids |
18 to 24 in. tall and 18 in. wide |
Sun |
3 to 9/
9 to 1 |
Rose flower clusters in late summer attract butterflies; low maintenance, so won't disturb bulbs; drought- and heat-tolerant |
Globe thistle
Echinops ritro |
36 to 40 in. tall and 18 to 24 in. wide |
Sun |
3 to 8/
8 to 1 |
Round blue flowers bloom in summer; deep taproot means it doesn't need dividing so you don't have to disturb bulbs |
Coreopsis
Coreopsis spp. |
9 to 48 in. tall and 12 to 24 in. wide |
Sun |
3 to 7/
7 to 1 |
Bright yellow, white, pink or red flowers attract birds and butterflies; blooms complement late-spring and summer bulbs; pest-resistant and low maintenance |
Basket-of-gold
Aurinia saxatilis |
6 to 12 in. tall and 9 to 12 in. wide |
Sun |
3 to 10/
10 to 1 |
Yellow flowers and silver foliage complement spring bulbs; prefers well-drained, sandy soil; great front of the border or rock garden plant |
Peony
Paeonia spp. |
24 to 48 in. tall and wide |
Sun |
3 to 8/
8 to 1 |
Flowers of various colors and shapes bloom in spring; mounding foliage covers ripening bulb foliage; rarely needs dividing |
| Great Companions for Moist Soil |
|---|
| Plant Name |
Height/Width |
Light |
Cold/Heat Zones |
Comments |
Virginia bluebells
Mertensia virginica |
12 to 24 in. tall and 12 in. wide |
Part to full shade |
3 to 7/
7 to 1 |
Early spring blooms complement bulbs; leaves fade by midsummer; prefers rich soil |
Japanese sweet flag
Acorus gramineus |
12 in. tall and wide |
Sun to part shade |
5 to 11/
12 to 1 |
Bright green, evergreen foliage; tolerates moist to wet soils; slowly naturalizes |
Brunnera
Brunnera macrophylla |
12 to 18 in. tall and wide |
Part to full shade |
3 to 7/
7 to 1 |
Leaves cover ripening bulb foliage; true blue flowers bloom in spring |
Coral bells
Heuchera spp. |
6 to 18 in. tall and 10 to 24 in. wide |
Part shade |
2 to 9/
8 to 1 |
Stalks of delicate red, pink or white flowers bloom in late spring; variety of variegated and purple foliage colors; morning sun and afternoon shade prevent leaves from scorching or bleaching |
Daylily
Hemerocallis hybrids |
8 to 60 in. tall and 12 to 48 in. wide |
Sun |
3 to 9/
9 to 3 |
Flowers in nearly every color; long bloom season, many rebloom |
Toad lily
Tricyrtis spp. |
24 to 36 in. tall and 12 to 24 in. wide |
Part shade |
5 to 9/
9 to 1 |
White, purple or spotted flowers in summer to fall; prefers moist, acid, fertile soil; complements late-blooming bulbs |
Bergenia
Bergenia hybrids |
8 to 24 in. tall and 12 to 24 in. wide |
Part shade |
3 to 10/
9 to 1 |
Pink to purple flowers bloom in spring; shiny, leathery leaves stay clean through summer; leaves turn purple-bronze in fall |
| Good Neighbors that Like Shade |
|---|
| Plant Name |
Height/Width |
Light |
Cold/Heat Zones |
Comments |
Caucasian comfrey
Symphytum caucasicum |
6 to 36 in. tall and wide |
Shade |
3 to 9/
9 to 1 |
Mounding habit covers ripening bulb foliage; flowers in shades of pink, purple, blue and white bloom from midspring to early summer; plant in dry shade; cut back old foliage to 4 in. after flowering |
Columbine
Aquilegia spp. |
12 to 24 in. tall and 12 in. wide |
Part shade to shade |
3 to 9/
8 to 1 |
Bright and pastel flowers bloom in spring; attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; deadhead faded blooms to prevent unwanted seedlings; tolerates poor, dry soils |
Hosta
Hosta hybrids |
4 to 48 in. tall and 10 to 60 in. wide |
Part shade to shade |
3 to 9/
9 to 1 |
Enormous selection of leaf colors, sizes and shapes; white or lavender flowers bloom in summer; plant in moist, well-drained soil; slugs and snails may eat leaves, but won't kill plant |
Bleeding heart
Dicentra spectabilis |
24 to 48 in. tall and 18 to 30 in. wide |
Part shade |
3 to 9/
9 to 1 |
Pink or white flowers hang from arching stems in spring; foliage dies back in summer heat; plant in moist, well-drained soil; pest and disease free |
Sweet woodruff
Galium odoratum |
6 to 12 in. tall and 9 to 12 in. wide |
Part shade to shade |
3 to 9/
9 to 1 |
Tiny white flowers in spring; can be aggressive, but easy to pull; thrives in moist soil |
Lady's mantle
Alchemilla spp. |
4 to 18 in. tall and 12 to 24 in. wide |
Part shade |
4 to 8/
8 to 1 |
Chartreuse to yellow flowers in early summer; mounding leaves cover ripening bulb foliage; tolerates more sun in cooler zones; plant in moist, well-drained soil |
Hellebore
Helleborus spp. |
12 to 36 in. tall and wide |
Part shade to shade |
4 to 8/
8 to 1 |
Blooms in late winter to early spring; flowers in white, pink, yellow, green or burgundy; tolerates dry soil |
Lungwort
Pulmonaria spp. |
6 to 12 in. tall and 15 to 40 in. wide |
Shade |
3 to 8/
8 to 1 |
Mounding habit; rough leaves with silver markings; pink, blue or white flowers in early spring; deadhead faded flowers; plant in moist, well-drained soil |
Periwinkle
Vinca minor |
3 to 6 in. tall and spreads up to 36 in. wide |
Sun to part shade |
4 to 8/
8 to 1 |
Lavender-blue flowers in spring continue sporadically through summer; tolerates full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soils |
Lily-of-the-valley
Convallaria majalis |
8 in. tall and wide |
Shade |
2 to 7/
7 to 1 |
Fragrant, white or pink bell-shaped flowers in late spring; prefers moist, well-drained soil; no serious pests; all parts of plant are poisonous to people and pets |
