Alstroemeria ‘The Third Harmonic’

Richly colored and providing an abundance of cut flowers nearly year-round, this sturdy and totally fabulous perennial is always in hot demand. Each flower opens golden yellow with a rich maroon reverse, and fades into deeper hues of orange. The interior of every other petal is marked with black nectar guides to draw the hummers, butterflies, and bees in. Stems are from 2-4’ in height and plants will stay nearly evergreen, going deciduous only under stress of drought or with extreme cold. All of the upper growth can be easily “yanked” from the ground without injuring the roots if it looks like your patch needs refurbishment. With little or no encouragement plants will spread up to 5’ wide over the course of a few years, so be sure to either plant them somewhere where they can expand or keep them in a spacious pot! Tolerant of many soil types, but prefers regular feeding.

Full Sun/Part Shade. Low/Regular water. Perennial
USDA Zones 7-11

Dianthus plumarius ‘Rose de Mai’

This 1820’s heirloom “Pink” is easily one of the most reliable and fragrant in cultivation today and it’s a cinch to see why it has persisted in popularity for as long as it has. One of the earliest to flower, each shell pink bloom is heavily clove scented and the plants bloom for a long period. Spreading to 2’ wide over time, the neat blue-grey foliage stays just 4” tall. Grown in Thomas Jefferson’s garden at Monticello, ‘Rose de Mai’, like most Dianthus, prefers good drainage and alkaline soils, but unlike many varieties, this one has stood the test of propagator Anni J’s no water garden where it thrived for many, many years with not a drop of water and in clay soil to boot! Makes great cut flowers, too! What a winner!

Full Sun. Low/Avg. water. Perennial.
USDA Zones 3-11

Selinum wallichianum

The stateliest Umbellifer in the bunch! Lacey and fernlike, the Spring green leaves of this clump forming hardy perennial create a lush focal point for any garden border. Originally from the Himalayas, specimens have been known to grow as large as 5’x5’ in ideal conditions. Growing well in both clay and sand, the lace cap flowers, typical of its clan, are produced in Summer and are a huge and umbrella-like 8” across. Like most in the Apiaceae family, it has a long taproot and resents transplantation and disturbance, but once established this royal parsley will abide in your garden reliably for a great many years. A super plant for attracting beneficial insects and our own specimens are host to Swallowtail larvae every year. Prefers regular water and a mostly sunny spot.

Full/Part Sun. Moist/Avg.water. Perennial
USDA Zones 6b-10

Tibouchina heteromala
“Purple Glory Bush”

Even by the Bay, where “Princess Flower Trees” are everywhere you look, this Brazilian species stands up and gets noticed. Its tidy, rounded habit and clean form set it apart from the pack and I would grow it for the leaves alone, even if it never flowered. Up to 8” long, each leaf is broad and sturdy and is lined with soft silver hairs. Growing up to 10’ in height and 6-8’ in breadth, it only takes a few years for it to reach its full size and can be kept a bit smaller with harsh yearly pruning. Flowers are a deep, luxuriant blue-purple and are produced in large panicles on red stems from late Summer through frost. Rich soil is best, of course, and though it can take full sun by the Bay, it would do better in part shade inland. Ours froze to the ground in last year's uber-cold January but returned readily from roots after the ground warmed up.

Full Sun/Part Shade. Regular/Avg. water. Perennial.
USDA Zones 9b-11