Perennials that Wow the Crowd

Kniphofia 'Echo Mango'

As Spring nears, there’s no better time to showcase the newest stars of the perennial world.  What makes certain plants stand out as they walk down the red carpet and into your garden?  The Perennial Diva Stephenie Cohen gives the play by play as the stars strut their stuff. 

Geranium ‘Blushing Turtle’ walks very slowly onto the carpet. It is definitely not a turtle and turtle’s don’t blush. However, the soft pink one inch flowers are made bolder because the veins are a vivid pink. It dazzles us in spring and makes a comeback as the air cools in September. The lovely  look alike maple leaves enhance the plant and its toothy grin takes on rich fall hues come September. It makes delightful mounds that might look tutlesque, but definitely more exciting. it’s a good choice for the mixed border.

Agastache 'Raspberry Nectar'

Fit to be a nectar for the Gods-Agatasche ‘Raspberry Nectar’ is a flower that attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. they know good nectar when they see it. This is a blooming machine and from summer to fall keeps cranking flowers out. The heavy dense blooms are showy but the plant itself is husky. It can  be the focal point of your mixed border. For those of you needing a thriller for your containers you may have found it. It is considered a zone 7, but if you are Cleopatra, the Queen of zone de nial, try it any ways.

Give me a red hot mamma any day to offer the needed razzle dazzle to the summer garden. It’s Kniphofia ‘Echo Mango’ and its bright  peachy orange spike blends to a lighter color at the bottom. This plant laughs at heat and drought. The sturdy stems hold this tall beauty high above the rest. A great addition to the back of the border. What sets this show off apart is its capability to re-bloom. So it can dance in your garden from May to August.

Centaurea ‘Black Sprite’

Black is always hottie. this plant always wears the equivalent of the little black dress. Centaurea ‘Black Sprite’  may scare or delight you. It likes to perform in full sun where its black spidery blooms and green foliage with a silver cast will simply amaze you. It could become the Lady Gaga of the perennial world.It tolerates heat quite well. This mid border late spring plant will definitely draw comments from the gardening crowd.