A Midsummer Garden's Blooms

By Joel M. Lerner
Saturday, July 19, 2008

There's always something blooming in the Washington area -- even on the hottest days of summer.

I saw an astonishing number of plants in flower in the gardens I've visited recently. Here are a few of my favorites. Perhaps they can inspire as you plan for your garden next summer.

· Abelia. The trumpet-shaped blooms on these broadleaf evergreen shrubs exude fragrance all summer in sun to partial shade.

· Roses. Keep them flowering until as late as November with an organic rose fertilizer and Messenger. Use according to labeled instructions.

· Crapemyrtle. Those of all sizes will flower from now into fall.

· Moonbeam coreopsis. This perennial has been flowering for a month and will continue through the heat of summer.

· South American verbena ( V. bonariensis). Another perennial, this plant began flowering last week and could continue until November with mild enough weather.

· Dahlias. They have been in bloom for several weeks and will continue until first frost. Competitive dahlia growers dig tubers and store in winter, though many Washington area gardeners leave them in ground. They generally grow back if planted in well-drained soil, and they will provide five to six months of flowers every year, as long as deer can't get them.

· Hostas. This perennial should also be separated from deer. Hostas grow in clumps; their leaves range in size from minute (two to three inches) to huge (eight to 12 inches). The foliage can be so showy, you almost forget about the flowers -- until now. Hosta flowers just began opening on long spikes above foliage in purple, lavender-pink and white. Hybrids of a species named fragrant hosta ( H. plantaginea) are sweet smelling. When you see a fresh flower opening, give a sniff. Fragrant ones begin blooming in late July to early August.

· Hydrangeas. You should be noticing hydrangeas in bloom now. The most noticeable are big-leaf, or florist, hydrangeas ( H. macrophylla). Color can vary each year -- and even on the same plant. It is dictated by the amount of aluminum in the soil. The more aluminum, generally found in acidic soil, the bluer the flowers. To ensure that flowering is as full as possible next year, don't prune faded flowers from this season. They are better left on the plant through winter to protect flower buds that formed this year. Clip faded flowers and dead wood coming out of winter. It needs no pruning other than that and grows about four feet high and wide at maturity.

· Gooseneck loosestrife ( Lysimachia clethroides). This plant spreads by rhizomes and colonizes areas with good moisture and full sun. The collection of stems can be perceived as a weed, but masses of graceful, nodding, white, "gooseneck"-shaped inflorescence make a showy appearance in the heat of summer. It's also an excellent cut flower that holds for a couple of weeks.

· Gladiolus. This fine summer flower just opened. Its hybrids sport large maroon, white, pink, red or purple flowers. They are root hardy and can be grown as true perennials in our region but should be dug and stored in colder climates. They are a long-lasting cut flower.

· Goblin blanketflower ( Gaillardia X grandiflora"Goblin"). This low-growing perennial is drought-tolerant and brilliantly colored. It's starting to flower now and will continue into fall. It's a good foil for tall, leggy plants, but be careful mixing these bright, large flowers with red petals and yellow tips with other brilliantly colored flowers. Goblin grows and looks best against flowers with more muted tones.

· Purple coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea). The tallest hybrid often planted is Magnus purple coneflower. It is impressive and regal in bloom, but it can blow over in a storm. More compact hybrids are available. This plant is in full bloom now but will fade by late July.

· Black-eyed Susan. This brilliant yellow flower is just beginning to make its show. It will colonize areas as quickly as it can, and it's often the first flower to take hold in seeded wildflower gardens. It's the state flower of Maryland and is one of our most noticeable native plants when in flower.

· Spiked speedwell ( Veronica spicata) has a long blooming period, from early summer to fall. Its blue-spiked flowers can bloom for two months or more, and they make excellent cut flowers. Spiked speedwell is only happy as far south as this region. It should have full eastern sun and protection from the heat of the day.

· Daylily. This plant is quite happy in this climate and is flowering now. Most older varieties don't re-bloom and will be flowering for only a couple of weeks longer. Once all flowers have faded on a scape (flowering stem), prune it at the base for aesthetics. When all flowers have faded on daylilies, it's is a good time to divide them. Repeat-blooming varieties, such as Stella d'oro or black-eyed Stella, will bud up and flower again. Pruning scapes after all flowers have faded will encourage the next generation of flowers. Repeat-blooming daylilies can flower into fall.

· True lilies. There are thousands of lily hybrids. Most will grow as perennials for several years then disappear subtly, a few at a time, until you don't realize they're gone. When it's time to plant more, do it in spring. Get about five to 10 of each type you want. Mass the same colors together, and plant among other perennials. Some are fragrant. One of my favorites for fragrance is the regal lily ( Lilium regale).

· Liatris. This plant is a good way to add native foliage to a garden. Its flowers open in an interesting fashion from the top of the inflorescence to the base the flowering stem. Each stem has 15 to 45 pinkish-purple flowers that open on the ends. After the flower color fades, cut the scapes before they go to seed. The foliage continues to soften walls or steps, until first frost.

· Yarrow ( Achillea). It has been a fairly good season for this ferny foliaged, long-lived perennial. Some opened in May and will continue to flower for eight to 12 weeks. About a dozen of these members of the aster family are considered ornamental. Besides the common gold varieties, Yarrow is also bred in hues of pink to red. It offers a long season of interest. Its finely cut leaf is a nice addition, although it tends to flop after flowering. Cut back unsightly parts of plant for the remainder of the growing season.

Joel M. Lerner is president of Environmental Design in Capitol View Park, Md. E-mail or contact him through his Web site,http://www.gardenlerner.com.