Salvia
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies
A surefire bet for the early-summer garden, Caradonna salvia shows off delightful violet-blue flower spikes that butterflies love. It grows bet in full sun and well-drained soil, so amend heavy clays with compost to get the most from it. Also, if you remove the flowers as they fade, you can get Caradonna to rebloom.
Stokes’ aster
Stokesia laevis ‘Colorwheel’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 24” Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies
Tough and beautiful: That’s a great way to describe this perennial. In June, it begins to bloom, showing off white flowers that look like a bachelor’s button. As the blooms age, they mature to lavender and then dark purple. An established plant can have multiple colors of bloom on it at the same time. It puts on quite a show!
Veronica ‘Lavender Plume’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 20” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8
Lavender Plume veronica caught our attention in a big way the first time we saw it! The variety bears many wonderful spikes of lavender-blue flowers. What makes it unique is that the blooms are branched, giving it a much fuller appearance than other varieties on the market. It thrives in well-drained soil; give it a little compost if you have a lot of heavy clay.
Veronica prostrata ‘Trehane’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 9” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Groundcover, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant
Here’s another example of a blue-and-gold combination that works beautifully! This groundcover shows off deep blue flowers from late spring to early summer. These blooms rise over a mat of brilliant golden foliage. We have it planted under Rising Sun redbud and the effect is particularly enchanting!
30
LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG
Skullcap
Scutellaria scoridifolia ‘Mongolian Skies’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 8” Width: to 24” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies
Introduced at the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (so you know it’s well adapted to our climate), Mongolian Skies skullcap is a shrubby perennial that forms a mat of deep green foliage topped by spikes of lavender-blue flowers from June to August. It loves a hot, dry spot—so don’t overwater it by giving this plant too much love!
Spiderwort
Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 12” Width: to 12” Zones: 4 - 9
Spiderwort is a fantastic plant with a terrible name! This vigorous perennial (give it room to spread) thrives in a sunny spot and moist to wet soil. It’s perfect for rain gardens! Sweet Kate features cobalt-blue blooms from spring to early summer that contrast wonderfully against the grassy, golden-yellow foliage. Note: If it dries out in summer, the foliage may start to turn brown. Cut it back to the ground and it will shoot up new foliage and more blooms!
Veronica ‘Tidal Pool’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3” Width: to 30” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Groundcover, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant
New for 2012! Looking for a dramatic, weed-smothering groundcover that will put on a huge show in the spring? Look no further. Developed at the Chicago Botanic Garden, this brand-new variety is well-suited to our climate and covers itself in cobalt-blue blooms in early spring. It’s a perfect companion for spring-blooming bulbs and areas you want to carpet with color as the snow melts.
Violet
Vila pedata Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 6” Width: to 6” Zones: 4 - 8
This native violet is unique because instead of offering heart-shaped leaves, it has finely divided, almost ferny foliage. It’s one of the first perennials to bloom in spring, offering lavender-lilac flowers in April and May. Unlike other violets, this one likes well-drained soil and prefers to grow on the dry side: Avoid planting it in wet clay.