Scabiosa caucasica ‘Fama Blue’

This beautiful Scabiosa almost disappeared from the market once the highly promoted Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’ appeared in nurseries in the past few years. Too bad – because honestly, Scabiosa caucasica is such a superior and reliable perennial compared with its wimpy and mildewy competitor. Here in the coastal California climate ‘Fama’ blooms year ‘round (with deadheading and rich soil). 3” across, rich, dark bluey-lavender flowers bob atop long, erect branching stems to 3’ tall – perfect for cutting. And they’re violet scented too! The low foliage is pretty, lobed and a rich, darkish green. After a year in the ground, you can easily divide them to increase your collection, and that’s especially nice as this plant looks lovely repeated throughout the garden. A tough, reliable “must have” for cottage gardens. USDA Zones 3-10

Wahlenbergia species

I love to recommend this South African native perennial for Summer and Fall bloom, as it is a fabulous performer, long-blooming and easy to grow. For months it explodes into hundreds of upright, cup-shaped, lavender- blue flowers, held atop slender, wavy stems (which sway in the breeze). The low and dense mat of foliage is made up of slim, linear, bluish-green foliage and trails beautifully over a wall, raised bed or container. In rich soil the foliage spreads quickly to at least 3’ in circumference. A toughy! – It’s drought tolerant, but puts on a better show with some summer water. Perfect in front of roses, or combine with Alonsoa meridionalis ‘Apricot’ and Antirrhinum ‘Double Azalea Apricot’. In warmer climates when your Wahlenbergia is finished blooming, cut it back to 3” tall, topdress with compost, and you’ll be rewarded with second act for Fall. Fall sun. Average-low water. Perennial.

Alonsoa meridonalis ‘Apricot’ “Mask Flower”

Hundred of single, soft apricot blooms adorn this long-blooming member of the Snapdragon family. To 3’ tall and 2’ across with slender and upright, multi-branching stems, it forms a solid mass of flowers for 3 months plus! Before blooming, the dark green, oval leaves make a bushy mass that is pretty as well. “Mask Flower” blooms its heart out , and when its spent you can cut it back, to around 6” tall, give it a little compost and it bounces right back and blooms again. If you live in a frost-free climate, this Alonsoa species is a wonderful Winter bloomer too, flowering from Fall ‘til Sprilng. Pretty as a picture when combined with Scabiosa caucasica ‘Fama Blue’, Wahlenbergia species or Trachymene caerulea (annual). Hardy to USDA Zone 9B (25?)

Geranium pyrenacium ‘Bill Wallis’

A total and complete profusion of rich, deep purple flowers practically smother this fast and simple to grow perennial for months at a time. When the flowers are spent, cut it back to the foliage and soon it will burst right back into bloom! The most bloomiferous Geranium species I’ve ever seen, and it readily self-sows so you’ll never be without. So pretty by itself and even better in mixed plantings. ‘Bill Wallis’ puts on its best show with rich soil in part sun (half day sun), though it’s not bad in full sun or bright shade either. The dense mound of foliage (13” across) remains attractive when not in bloom too. To 15” tall, it spills nicely over a pot, edge of bed or thru other perennials. Thrilling when planted with Aquilegia ‘Mellow Yellow’. Sun-shade. Low-Average water. Perennial. USDA Zones 5-11

Agrostemma githago ‘Milas’ and ‘Ocean Pearls’

Ahhhh, the ultimate cottage garden classic! Beautiful 2” single flowers are borne multitudinously atop slender, branching stems and sway charmingly with the slightest breeze. From 2’ to 3-1/2’ tall, the form is vase-shaped and looks romantic just about anywhere in the garden. Absolutely charming in one of my favorite Spring combinations - Agrostemma, Malcomia maritima, Nemophila menzeisii and Platystemon californicus. A well-known self-sower, they’ll return each year – isn’t that nice? And here in our mild climate, they reseed 2 or 3 times a year and even bloom in winter! Rich soil and average water for best show! Full sun. Average water. Annual.

Orlaya grandiflora

Enchanting, large white lace caps on this annual from Crete make this one of our most popular offerings. The 3”-4” tall pure white blooms look like a Scabiosa crashed into a ’Wave’ hydrangea, with its small and delicate inner petals surrounded by the larger outer petals. To 18” tall, multi-stemmed and multi-branching, the flowers float atop very pretty dark green fern-like foliage. If dead-headed, it blooms for months and self-sows readily, so you always have some. Orlaya is one tough cookie and will grow in any soil, though it does look best in rich soil. Here in our mild climate it will self-sow at least 3 times a year, giving you three rounds of bloom, including Winter! Sun-Part sun. Average-dry soil. Annual.

Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black’ aka ‘Ace of Spades’

Truly luscious, deepest crimson, spherical 2” blooms are borne profusely atop long (12” to 24”), branching stems. The blooms are velvety in appearance and strikingly offset with “white pins” – and they’re lightly scented too! If you love cut flowers, Scabiosa atropurpurea is an absolute “must have”, with its long stems and two week vase life. The rich, shiny, green foliage makes an attractive clump. To extend bloom, deadhead regularly or cut back to 6” tall for a second or third round of bloom. Fabulous when combined with the hundreds of lime green bells of Nicotiana langsdorfii or surrounded with frothy white Omphalodes linifolia. Scabiosa atropurpurea is a short lived perennial in USDA Zones 9-11, but hey, it self-sows, giving you fresh plants each year – so who cares? Give this “Pincushion Flower” average water, rich soil and topdress with compost whenever you cut it back for best performance. With so many long stems it can get floppy, so if floppy is not your thing, cut the foliage clump back to 6” before it blooms and you’ll get shorter, more upright stems. Perennial, USDA Zones 9-11, Annual elsewhere.

Viola ‘Etain’

In my opinion, the most desirable of all Violas! It’s reliably perennial and blooms al year ‘round here in magical Sunset Zone17. Elsewhere it blooms late April till frost, and blessings to whomever discovered this heavenly flower, with its enchanting primrose petals, gorgeously edged in lavender. The flowers are 1-1/2” across and sweetly scented too, perfect for posies. To 10” tall and about 10” across, the foliage clump stays dense and neat. For best show, cut back to 3” tall every once in a while, and ply her with compost. She’ll try even harder to impress you! Lovely in a container (minimum 12” across) or along a garden edge, especially when combined with Laurentia axillaris ‘Blue Stars’ or with dark foliaged plants like Alternanthera dentata or Lunaria annua ‘Rosemary Verey’! Viola ‘Etain’ thrives in part sun to full sun in areas with cool summers and/or summertime rain. In areas with hot, dry summers, plant in part sun to bright shade. Average water, hardy to USDA Zone 3.

Nemophilia menziesii “Baby Blue Eyes”

My ultimate “must have” in the Spring garden. Glorious, sky blue (not lavender blue), five petalled, flowers with white eyes are borne in profusion for 6-8 weeks in Spring. Forming a mounded shape, it eventually trails beautifully over the edge of garden bed and becomes covered with blooms. “Baby Blue Eyes” combines so well with all the Spring colors. Here’s some of my favorite choices: Malcomia maritima “Virginia Stock”, Omphalodes linifolia “Venus’ Navelwort”, Papaver ‘Greek Poppy’ and Papaver commutatum, California poppies, “Alba” and “Apricot Chiffon”. Makes an excellent bulb cover and is heart melting when planted in the foreground of yellow, pink or white roses. Self-sows too! Hardy annual. Full sun

Sunflower ‘Giant sungold’

Spectacular cut flowers and totally fun to photograph. ‘Giant Sungold’ Sunflower grows to a big, multi-branching 7’ tall. It bears outrageous 10” across, super-double “teddy bear” blooms. As they appear many at a time on their long, sturdy stems, you can cut some and leave some on the plant to thrill your neighbors. Really, the most striking of Sunflowers! Do grow them in rich composty soil, with average water and stand back! And happy-happy-joy-joy, they self-sow for next season and come true from seed! Birdies love them too!