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Expert Plant Picks: Western United States

comments (0) December 7th, 2011 in blogs

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Here you'll find great plant selections for the Mountain West, Northwest, Southwest, Northern California, and Southern California.

See picks from other parts of the country...

MOUNTAIN WEST

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Panayoti Kelaides is the senior curator and outreach director at the Denver Botanic Gardens. 

	Gentiana septemfida 'Select'

1. Salvia pachyphylla
Comments: The most long-blooming, trim, and spectacular salvia in my book. 

2. Eremurus stenophyllus
Comments: Foxtail lilies are the punctuation mark of the garden: life (and the garden) would be humdrum without them. This is the easiest and flashiest of them all. 

3. Iris bucharica
Comments: Juno irises are the aristocrats of bulbs. This is everyman's Juno (and an easy doer everywhere). 

4. Pulsatilla vulgaris
Comments: The European pasque flower is easily grown and stunning in flower or seed. A must for every garden. 

5. Tulipa humilis
Comments: This graceful, small tulip has naturalized for me. Its flowers can be rose pink or deep purple red. It is a stunning beauty. 

6. Aquilegia caerulea
Comments: The most graceful, giant-flowered columbine. It has a heavenly lavender fragrance. If I didn't list this I would have my Colorado citizenship revoked. 

7. Gentiana septemfida
Comments: The brilliant blue flowers form masses in my garden all summer. I couldn't live without it! It is everyman's gentian and should be in every garden. 

8. Origanum libanoticum
Comments: Summer for me MEANS oreganos: they shimmer and dangle and wave everywhere in my gardens: I cannot have enough. More! More! 

9. Delosperma lavisiae 'Lesotho Pink'
Comments: This is currently my favorite ice plant (and that says a lot): steel blue mats turn deep purple blue in winter. It is smothered with refulgent magenta flowers from late March to June and sporadically thereafter...superb! 

10. Kniphofia caulescens
Comments:  The foliage is awesome and the flowers to die for: all Kniphofias rule! 

11. Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues'
Comments:  Any form of little bluestem is superb, especially in fall and winter when they turn dusky rose and glow in backlight. My own personal national grass.

 

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Mary Ann Newcomer is a writer and garden designer in Boise, Idaho. 

Pinus strobus 'Pendula'

1. Philadelphus lewisii
Comments: Idaho's state flower. When in full bloom, early June, the river banks are covered with these gorgeous shrubs. 

2. Lavendula intermedia 'Grosso'
Comments: A pollinator magnet, great for the household and the garden. 

3. Solanum lycopersicon
Comments: Pass the salt, please. 

4. Rhus ideaobata 'Latham' or 'Heritage' or 'Fall Gold'
Comments: There is not finer fruit. 

5. Malus (espaliered variety w/6 different cultivars on one trunk)
Comments: Of course I know this is cheating. Six cultivars on one plant. 

6. Pinus strobus 'Pendula'
Comments: White pine, Idaho's state tree, in a most elegant form. 

7. Syringa vulgaris 'Ludwig Spaeth'
Comments: Dear to my heart. 

8. Iris germanica
Comments:  Truly, the goddess of the perennial garden, with a fragrance like grape bubble gum. 

9. Edible greens: mache, lettuce, arugula, spinach, kale, a mix of all.
Comments: They give and give and give. 

10. Helleborus orientalis
Comments: I've discovered these late in life, I adore them. January through June. 

11. Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake' or 'Pee Wee'
Comments: Gives three seasons of interest. Awesome. Even drought tolerant if placed properly. 

 

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Katy Nicolich is the founder of Blue Sky Perennials in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

	Salvia officinalis

1. Lavandula angustifolia
Comments: Everyone needs a little lavender for fragrance and to attract bees and butterflies. 

2. Daylilies
Comments: Huge flowers in mid-summer, easy to grow. 

3. Salvia officinalis
Comments: Essential for the gardener who cooks; a beautiful plant. 

4. Iris (bearded iris)
Comments: Dramatic early summer color; easy to grow. 

5. Daffodils and tulips
Comments: Gardeners plant their hopes and visions in October and they come up with a burst of color in spring. 

6. Roses
Comments: Every garden should have at least one very fragrant rose; ideally near the lavender. 

7. Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
Comments: One of the best ornamental grasses. 

8. Ocimum basilicum 'Genovese Sweet'
Comments: Another essential herb for the gardener who cooks. 

9. Mentha
Comments: A "must have" for a summer glass of iced tea. 

10. Tropaeolum majus
Comments: An edible annual, easy to grow from seed; cheerful flowers. 

11. Agastache rupestris or cana
Comments: Attracts hummingbirds!

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