GardenBed Personality: Jennifer Moore - Wierd, Wonderful and Unusual Perennials (Page 2 of 3)

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Wierd, Wonderful and Unusual Perennials (Page 2 of 3)

This article was provided by Jennifer Moore
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Italian Arum - This spring flowering gem has been known since the 1600's and yet I'm surprised it isn't seen often. This plant's arrow shaped leaves are spotted cream and grey, with the flower appearing in early spring. The leaves die down for the summer, then reappear in the autumn with bright red berries. It is best suited in a moisture retentive location in either sun or part-shade, growing approximately 1 foot tall.

Clematis heracleifolia - Commonly called "Tube Clematis", is a summer flowering, sweet-smelling border perennial. Not a climber like it's cousins, instead it grows flower "tubes" in ringed clusters up the 2 to 4 foot tall stems. Available in a bright blue with purple undertones, this plant is a show stopper when mass planted. After the initial flowering, fluffy seed heads take their place in the glory, looking like soft cottonballs. Needing soil enriched with compost or manure and a sunny location, this plant is one to please.

Crocosmia - Resembling gladioli leaves, the dark green leaves, first appear through the soil from small corms. Then beautiful bright orange-red trumpet-shaped flowers appear mid- to late-summer on 3 foot stems. The fragile-looking flower stems arch over gracefully with their blossoms opening at the base first. Best planted in large clumps, the corms need a sheltered spot in sun or part-shade, with well-drained sandy soil to ensure they pull through the winter. It is the water-logged soil that causes them to perish, not necessarily the cold and frosts. Well worth any effort to brighten a dreary corner.

Joe Pye Weed -This 5 to 6 foot tall perennial grows wild in North American ditches and yet it does well in the perennial border. This plant stands out with it's tall, upright purple stems and purplish foliage. Enhancing this plant even further, the stems are adorned with fluffy mauve-pink flower heads that appear in early autumn. The gardener must remember to plant it well at the back of the border because of it's size or shorter plants in front will be hidden. It requires rich soil and needs to be given a compost or well-rotted manure mulch in the spring.

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