July Plant Spotlights
Solidago canadensis ‘Little Miss Sunshine’
(Dwarf Goldenrod)
An ultra-compact goldenrod with all of the pollinator appeal in a 12-18” tall package. Blooms from mid summer to autumn. Companion plant with foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) for spring and summer blooms in pink and yellow.
Chasmanthium latifolium
(Sea Oats)
Attractive bright green grass for part-shade areas. 2-5’ tall and 12-30” wide with draping behavior, produces attractive oat-like seed pods in mid summer through the fall. Mix with more upright selections like Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips' for contrasting color and texture.
(Leatherwood Fern)
20-36” tall evergreen woodland fern species, thrives in partial to full shade, and tolerates dry shade locations and cold snaps through the fall and winter. Companion plant with other low, shade-loving semi-evergreens like Tiarella ‘Brandywine’
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Amethyst’
(Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Relatively compact oakleaf hydrangea cultivar, grows to 5-6’ tall and wide with attractive white to red flowers and beautiful red-purple fall foliage. Mix and match with other medium size part-shade flowering shrubs like Fothergilla gardenii for multi-season flowers.
Magnolia virginiana ‘Sweet Thing’
(Dwarf Sweetbay Magnolia)
Semi-evergreen to evergreen sweetbay magnolia grows to only 6-8’ tall and wide with the same beautiful flowers of the larger straight species. Underplant with low-growing plants like wild geranium for multi-season color and pollinator appeal.