SUN PERENNIALS

Sun Perennials

This group of perennials requires a minimum of 5-6 hours sunshine per day to look their best.

We ship well-grown, established plants. Pot size is 2.06 quart/1.95 liter, unless otherwise noted.

Baptisia (False Indigo)

Baptisia, also known as False Indigo, has attractive blue-green foliage and ornamental seed pods. Wonderful vertical blooms. Mature plants form full, substantial clumps for perennial borders, cottage gardens, or to mingle with native plants in a meadow or prairie type planting.

Baptisia are drought tolerant when established, deer resistant, and attract butterflies. We enjoy them planted with Peonies, since they both bloom in late spring to early summer. These deep-rooted plants are long-lived to provide beauty for many years.

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Colorful Echinacea, also known as Coneflower, is a native perennial that has been wonderfully enriched with new introductions. They now come in a variety of colors and sizes and with more blooming stems. Attracts butterflies and birds. They make long lasting cut flowers. Deer resistant.

Echinacea are easy to grow. Deadhead to encourage rebloom, but toward the end of the season leave a few of the prominent seedheads on the strong stems to add interest to the winter garden. Echinacea prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained soil, but are adaptable to less than ideal conditions and will tolerate drought when established.

Iris (Iris)

Beautiful blooms in late spring to summer with attractive linear foliage.

Iris sibirica (Siberian Iris)

Siberian Iris have gorgeous blooms in late spring to early summer. Elegant yet versatile blooms are perfect for refined settings, mixed borders, and cottage gardens. Slender, graceful, upright foliage is an asset all summer long, then turns golden to rust in fall for a beautiful finish to the season.

How to Grow Siberian Iris

Siberian Iris are easy to grow in most garden soils, but do best in a rich, organic soil with a mildly acidic pH of 6.0-7.0. They prefer ample moisture in spring and 1" of water per week during the rest of the growing season, however they do tolerate summer drought. In their northern range, give them at least 6 hours of sun per day, in hotter, southern sites they can benefit from filtered shade at mid-day. Siberian Iris are deer resistant.

Phlox (Phlox)

Tall Garden Phlox provide large, fragrant heads of tightly packed florets in mid to late summer in a wonderful range of colors. Some older varieties had trouble with powdery mildew on their foliage, especially in a warm, humid climate, however there are now many wonderful varieties with good resistance. To help the plants further resist mildew, plant in an area with good air circulation and organic soil; water deeply at the base of the plants during dry spells. Many new Phlox are available in a variety of sizes and colors that will always ensure a place in the garden for these longtime favorites.

Schizachyrium (Little Bluestem)

Schizachyrium, also known as Little Bluestem, forms graceful clumps that turn gorgeous mauve to purple to copper tones in fall. Summer blooms mature to silvery seed heads that shine in the low autumn sun. Excellent for a sunny mixed border, with other native prairie plants, or in mass with other grasses. Drought resistant.

Sedum (Stonecrop)

Sedums, also known as Stonecrop, have interesting thick, succulent foliage, sturdy abundant blooms, and a variety of foliage colors. Drought tolerant when established, Sedums help to conserve water. Tough and easily grown, with a wide range of forms and colors, Sedums are a valuable addition to the garden. Their blooms attract butterflies and often mature into attractive seedheads to create fall and winter interest, and to provide winter food for birds. Well drained, sunny sites are ideal for Sedums. Smaller growing selections are wonderful additions to containers and troughs.

Attract Butterflies or Hummingbirds

Winged visitors add magic to the garden! Attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators with colorful and nectar rich blossoms. Plant early, mid, and late season bloomers to provide a long season of nectar.

Best Sellers 2017

It is always fun to see what plants other enthusiastic gardeners choose. Some best sellers are new, some are returning favorites, but each has something special to offer in your garden.

Container Planting

Planting, Growing, and Caring for Plants in Containers

Choose a plant that is adaptable to a container. Generally most plants with a moderate to small root system will grow in a pot, some larger growing specimens, such as shade trees, large shrubs, and deep-rooted large perennials are best planted in the ground.

Select a container that corresponds to the size and quantity of plants you have chosen. Use a quality potting mix in a pot with holes to ensure good drainage. Fertilize and water carefully as needed, since containers create a smaller root zone for plants.

In areas with cold winters, consider a plant's hardiness. Some plants will need to be moved to an enclosed area for winter, such as a garage or cold frame, and given minimal water. Some plants will survive in a sturdy planter in a sheltered location, especially if they are rated for a zone or two hardier than the zone where they are being grown. For example, if you are in a zone 5, it is suggested to select plants hardy to zone 4 or colder.

Another option is to enjoy your plants for a season in a container and then approximately 6 weeks before the ground freezes remove them from the pots, plant them in the garden and mulch around their root zones. Look for additional information specifically for your hardiness zone from your nearest arboretum, public gardens, or university extension services.

Good for Cut Flowers

Enjoy fresh cut blooms right from the garden! Experiment and have fun: store-bought blooms need to withstand storage and shipping, but home gardeners can use almost any flower for bouquets.

For the longest lasting cut flowers cut the flowers in the coolest part of the day, place them in water promptly, remove any foliage below the waterline, and keep the water clean by changing it daily or every other day.

Deer Resistant

Deer generally avoid scented, fuzzy, and tough to chew plants, but there are also many other plants that they pass by. Although deer can be unpredictable, we have compiled this list of plants that they usually ignore. For a region specific list, check with your local university extension service, they often provide information about deer resistant plants.

Drought Tolerant

Save time and water with drought tolerant choices. Drought tolerant plants are especially appreciated growing along the outer edges of a garden, beyond the easy reach of a hose. Drought tolerant plants sometimes do need watering when newly planted or during periods of extreme drought, but overall, they need less watering than typical plants.

Fall Color

Plan ahead for great fall color! Leaves that turn bright colors, colorful fruit, late blooming plants, and interesting seedheads all add interest to the garden. We have many great plants to ensure a strong finish to the season!

Fragrance

Fragrance completes a garden, and makes it all the more memorable! Plant near a sitting area or walkway to fully enjoy their lovely scent.

New Listing-Spring

Plants recently added to our offerings. We add plants through the year, some are brand new, some are returning favorites.

New Plants for 2017

Our new selections include many that are exclusive to Song Sparrow or rare and hard to find. We choose new plants for both beauty and good growing traits.

Proven Winners® Perennials

Selected and tested for long lasting color, bountiful blooms or other attractive traits, resistance to disease and insects, and tolerance for heat and humidity. From breeders all around the world.

Grasses

Grasses are a versatile group with selections for sunny or shady areas.

Grasses for sunny spots add lovely arching forms to the flower and shrub border. They range in height from tall, back of the border plants to smaller varieties for the front edge of a planting. They can add fine linear texture, dramatic height, color that changes with the seasons, or decorative seedheads that sway in the slightest breeze. Many of the varieties we offer are selections of native grasses known for their beauty, toughness, and, when established, their drought tolerance. They complement each other when planted in groups, and also are wonderful with Echinacea, Salvia, Veronica, and other sun lovers.

Grasses for shady areas add a flowing, graceful touch to borders and containers. We offer choice varieties of the shade grass Hakonechloa, known as Japanese Forest Grass. Their slim, linear foliage looks great with the broad leaves of shade lovers such as Hosta and Heuchera. They add a finishing touch along the shady side of a shrub border, and look especially lovely growing near the base of Japanese Maples and Tree Peonies. They prefer a loamy, compost-enriched soil. In the northern parts of their range, provide them with mulch in winter.

Leave grasses in the garden for fall and winter interest, cut back in early spring to make room for new growth.