Ratibida-Mexican Hat, Prairie Coneflower

Propagating Ratibida or Mexican Hat can be done in the spring, be careful it is slow to emerge its stems out of the ground, by digging up the clump and separating the roots, crowns are often woody, and transplant. It is a member of the Aster family. It will bloom from April until frost if deadheaded but if you decide that you want seedlings, do not deadhead, but it can be invasive in the average garden bed. Ratibida is drought resistant and reaches a height of 2'-3' and its blooms can be brown, maroon, yellow or red and prefers full sun. It is deciduous, deer resistant, attracts butterflies, and the birds enjoy the seeds in fall/winter.

Pyrethrum-Painted Daisy

Propagating Pyrethrum of Painted Daisy can be done in the spring or fall by digging up and dividing the crown similar to the Chrysanthemum to which it is related, but since it flowers in late spring to early summer you might want to divide in the fall and make certain the transplants receive ample amounts of water. As some of you may know pyrethrum is used as an insecticide which does not leave a long lasting residue. The colors of the blooms are either white, pick or red with yellow centers. The plants prefer an alkaline based moist well draining soil in full sun and can grow up to 12"-18" in height. Like most fragrant plants Painted Daisy is deer resistant and is also deciduous.

Justicia-Mexican Hummingbird

Propagating Justicia or Mexican hummingbird can only be accomplished by seed, cuttings, fairly easily, or by layering but only in Zones 9-11, it dies back in Zone 8, but will re-surface in the spring. It is an annual in other zones but can be brought into a greenhouse or home to be wintered over. It is a perennial but can become a small evergreen shrub with some varieties growing upwards of 7', average is 2', in a shady location with a well draining soil. It is not deer resistant but attracts hummingbirds and its blooms rangethe full spectrum. Yellow, white, red, pink, orange, purple and will bloom all summer, but well not tolerate humidity. Fertilize in spring, summer and fall.

Pulmonaria-Lungwort

Propagating Pulmonaria or Lungwort should be attempted in the spring after they flower or in the fall by digging up the rooted rhizomes and transplanting. Lungwort prefers a cool shady spot in the garden bed in a well draining soil and with withstand a short drought period in summer. Depending on the variety they can be deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen so research the variety if you seek a certain affect because the leaf colors also vary, silver blotched to almost black. One thing about some of the blooms as they age they will change color. Pink to blue or visa versa. They also come in raspberry, orange-red, white, coral, cobalt blue and generally they are one of the first perennials to bloom in the spring, April-May, before its leaves out. Honeybees and hummingbirds enjoy their nectar but they are deer resistant

Prunella-Self Heal, Heal All

Propagating Prunella or Self Heal can be done either in the spring or fall by dividing the clumps or by digging up rooted stolons then transplanting. Prunella is a herb in the mint family and was used in Europe to impede bleeding in military settings and can be a vigorous spreader if not contained or allowed to go to seed. It is short in height, up to 12", and blooms in June and its colors are white, pink, or violet. Some varieties may have barbs or thorns so be careful. It will not take summer dry conditions so it needs water in a well draining soil in full sun to mostly shady areas. It is evergreen and deer resistant.

Potentilla neumanniana-Spring Cinquefoil

Propagating Potentilla neumanniana or Spring Cinquefoil should be done in the fall or after blooming by digging up the parent plant and separating the crown roots or by layering if you have optimum soil conditions. Spring cinquefoil is a spice scented evergreen groundcover, height 3"-6", that has yellow blooms in April to May that is deer resistant that will grow in either sand or clay in full sun or partial shade. Great for rock gardens or planted between flagstones but will not take foot traffic.

Polemonium-Jacob’s Ladder

Propagating Polemonium or Jacob’s Ladder should be accomplished in the spring by digging up the clump and dividing the crown with ample roots for replanting. Jacob’s Ladder prefers an acidic moist well draining soil, not wet, in part to full shade otherwise the leaves may burn. Polemonium can range in height from 12"-24", blooms from May until August with yellow, blue or purple flowers, deadhead for prolong blooms, has a tendency to be fragrant, and one variety has variegated leaves, see picture, is deer resistant and will not tolerate heat. It is evergreen in warmer climates, but I’ve read that in colder climates it acts more as an annual so do not be disappointed.

Physostegia-Obedient Plant, False Dragonhead

Propagating Physostegia or Obedient Plant is done in the spring by digging up the clump and separating the crown and roots into transplantable seedlings which should be done every two years. This is an aggressive grower so do not apply fertilize nor plant in a moist location. Its flowers resemble small snapdragons which bloom from July through September and deadheading will prolong the blooming period. Blooms are shades of pink, purple and white. Obedient Plants prefers an acidic soil in full sun, and it is called obedient because its stems can be turned and will remain turned, but it does not like humidity. Obedient Plants attract butterflies and hummingbirds but not deer, are deciduous and can range in height from 2'-4'.

Phlox paniculata-Garden Phlox

Propagating Phlox Paniculata or Garden Phlox, a standard cottage garden plant, can be done either in the fall or spring, by separating 3-5 vigorous shoots before new growth in the spring shows, and transplant preferably into a sandy moist amended soil in full sun because partial shade planting can bring on powdery mildew. When separating the crown throw away the parent plant, every two to three years, which becomes woody because blooms will decrease. Their fragrant blooms will appear in July -August in either orange, red, pink, purple or white and can reach a height of 30"-42". Deadhead for re-bloom. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to its nectar but so are deer. Garden Phlox is deciduous.

Persicaria-Fleece Flower

Propagating Persicaria or Fleece Flower, for some varieties, can be divided either in the spring or fall by transplanting the rooted rhizomes. Without rhizomes, dig up the clump and separate the crown. It’s in the Buckwheat family. There are some varieties that are liked more because of their variegated leaves, similar colorful markings to the Chameleon plant, one is “Red Dragon” which flowers white and is insignificant, except to butterflies and hummers,, and prefers a moist well draining soil in either full sun or partial shade, especially in hot summers. Some suggest Fleece Flower for colorful plantings for hard areas under trees, however the height varies between varieties, which can range from 15" to 48". Fleece Flower is deer resistant, can become invasive, is deciduous, blooms are either white, pink or red, and flowers from May through September.

Stemodia tomentosa-Woolly Stemodia

Propagating Stemodia or Woolly Stemodia is done in the fall because like Periwinkle it sends out stems whose nodes root when they touch the soil, if the soil is to its liking, so just prune off a stem that has rooted and transplant. It is a native of Texas so it is a warm climate perennial which might winter over in Zone 7. Its silver grey foliage is similar to Lamb’s Ear and flowers from April through to frost, with a purple bloom. It is a groundcover that may reach 6" in height but it is not tolerant of foot traffic however it is deer resistant. It flourishes in full sun in a well draining soil and is great for erosion control and is deciduous.

Penstemon-Beardtongue

Propagating Penstemon or Beardtongue is done in the spring by lifting and dividing the clump then transplanting. Beardtongues flower is similar to that of foxgloves and come in a broad color scheme, purple, white, yellow, blue, red, pink, mauve and white and should be deadheaded after blooming for a second bloom period. Beardtongue can be either evergreen or semi-evergreen depending on the zone. Deer like browsing beardtongue but so do honeybees, hummingbirds and butterflies. There are many different varieties, some that are useful in rock gardens because they reach 15" in height and others that reach 48". They bloom in June-July and prefer full sun or half sun, half shade in a well draining soil, no wet feet in the winter, but tolerate humidity.

Pennisetum-Fountain Grass, Pearl Millet

Propagating Pennisetum or Fountain Grass is done in the spring by digging up the clump, dividing the plant and then transplanting. Be aware to cut back the stalks in the fall to 12" above ground, because it can be a prolific self seeder. It is a perennial in Zones 8-10, an annual anywhere else. It will take salt spray and drought, prefers full sun in a well draining soil. It reaches a height of 36" but there is a variety, “Piglet” that grows to 18". It will bloom in late summer and depending upon variety, either silver or burgundy color, to early fall and is deer resistant. Different varieties have different colored leaves, green, cream and purple.

Parthenocissus-Virginia Creeper

Propagating Parthenocissus or Virginia Creeper is simple because it is self layering so just prune off a section that has rooted and transplant. Be aware do not plant around wood because it will raise havoc. Stone is fine. Unfortunately it does well in any type of soil , better if moist, either sun or shade and it is deciduous. Its white flowers are inconspicious in late summer which form blue berries in the fall that birds enjoy and use the plant as shelter. Its leaves turn red in the fall.

Pardancanda-Candy Lily

Propagating Pardancanda or Candy Lily can be done in the spring, they are in the Iris family with Iris like leaves, by dividing the rhizomes. Candy Lily prefers a well draining sandy soil in either full sun or mostly sun, will reach a height of 3', and will tolerate drought. It is an evergreen like Iris, and blooms can last upwards of 3 weeks, from July to frost, and colors run from yellow, red, salmon, pink and white, with polka dots and stripes and is a cross between Blackberry Lily and Iris, but smaller blooms than the former. Differing opinions as to deer resistant or not, I guess depending on how much food is available to the browsers, which reminds me, I was at my lot planting bulbs and woody plants over the weekend and noticed a deer nonchalantly crossing the road above my property. I know they like grape hyacinths. Guess I’ll eventually find out how much of a nuisance they will become.

Panicum virgatum-Switch Grass

Propagating Panicum or Switch Grass should be done in the spring by digging up the rhizomes that spread from the parent plant, but don’t try breaking apart the parent clump because its roots can grow as deep as 10'. Panicum like Miscanthus, above, is being tested for bio mass however it is not as efficient as storing carbon as Miscanthus. Oddly enough it is deer resistant however it is used for grazing for cows and horse but only in the spring or summer, because it loses efficacy in the fall. It is a warm season perennial and doesn’t start growing leaves until the soil warms past 68 degrees. It is used for erosion control and prefers a sandy acidic loam soil, but will tolerate clay, its flowers are insignificant, bloom July-August, reddish in color, but the birds love the seeds and people who raise quail, pheasant, grouse for hunting plant this perennial because it is used as a nesting place for the wildlife. The average height varies from 3'-6' and different varieties has different colored leaves, ranging from burgundy, lavender-blue, blue and green with red stems which give off various hues in the fall and will tolerate full sun to partial shade.

Origanum hopley’s-Wild Marjoram

Propagating Origanum hopley’s or Wild Marjoram should be done every 2-3 years because older plants become woody and since the plant spreads by rhizomes it is one of the simplest perennials to multiply for the garden. This particular Oregano has blueish foliage with deep red flowers that blooms throughout the summer and reaches a height of 24". It is also deer resistant and deciduous that will even thrive in poor soil in full sun and attracts butterflies.

Nierembergia-Cupflower

Propagating Nierembergia or Cupflower can only be done by cutting or seeding or layering and are best suited for Zones 8 and up otherwise it is an annual at least in Zones 3,4 & 5. Depending on soil conditions, a well draining soil in full sun, it can be a great self-seeder. It is a distant relative of the petunia, but comes only in white and purple and reaches a height of 3"-6" and in Phoenix will bloom from March until October. Cutting should be taken in the summer and if planting seeds give yourself 12 weeks before the last frost before transplanting outside. It prefers a moist soil but is drought resistant which is odd. Cupflowers are hummingbird magnets. A better alternative then petunias.

Minuartia verna-Irish Moss, Leadwort

Minuartia or Irish Moss should be propagated in the fall by cutting out a plug from the main clump and replanting. It is an evergreen groundcover that prefers an alkaline soil versus acidic and can be walked on because it only reaches a height of 2"-4". It flowers in May/June and the white and now pink blossoms put on a show. There is also a golden leafed variety. In the U.K. it is found around lead mines, hence nicknamed Leadwort and tolerates humidity and although it will survive in full sun it prefers half sun and half shade. May not be deer resistant.