Common sweet basil, ‘Spicy Bush’, ‘Purple Ruffles’

Ocimum basilicum - Sweet Basil, Common Basil

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

white, lavender

12" - 24"

summer

slugs, snails, root rot, grey mold

culinary herb, border, containers

seeds, cuttings


Performance - Basil is an excellent culinary and ornamental annual herb for Kentucky gardens. These plants grow best in full sun in well-drained garden soils. The flowers are of little importance because these plants are grown primarily for their fragrant and flavorful foliage. Basil is sensitive to cold weather and should not be brought outdoors until it is safe from frost. Basil can be brought indoors in the winter for use as an herb.

Comments - Basil is a common herb grown for use in tomato sauces, pesto, meat and vegetarian dishes. It can be used, dried, fresh or frozen.

Varieties -
pesto - 'Genovese', 'Italian Large Leaf', 'Mammouth'
specialty - 'Spicy Bush', 'Cinnamon', 'Mrs. Burns' Lemon', 'Sweet Dani', 'Siam Queen', 'Holy Basil', 'Purple Ruffles'

 

Common evening primrose

Oenothera - Evening Primrose, Sundrops

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

lemon-yellow, pink

10"- 24"

summer

few

border

seed, division after flowering

Performance - Evening primroses are reliable perennials and biennials for Kentucky gardens. These plants should be grown in full sun locations. They are not particular about soil, but do not tolerate a wet location during the winter.

Comments - Blooms may reach a diameter of 4". Plants may spread 2 feet in diameter. Single blooms may open only in the morning or at night.

O. biennis - Common Evening Primrose - This native plant is a common addition to wildflower mixes sold in the state. It is large, up to 6 ft tall, coarse and quite invasive. This is not a good garden plant.
O. fruticosa - Common Sundrops - A good Oenothera for Kentucky gardens. 'Fireworks', 'Golden Sunray', 'Yellow River'
O. missouriensis (O. macrocarpa) - Ozark Sundrops - A good Oenothera for Kentucky gardens.
O. speciosa - Showy Evening Primrose - Good performers, spectacular spring show of flowers, but can be quite invasive. 'Alba', 'Ballerina Hot Pink', 'Siskiyou' (often called O. berlandieri).

Origanum - Oregano

Origanum laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’ – Ornamental Oregano

Ornamental Oregano ‘Herrenhausen’

 

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

lavender

12" - 20"

summer

few

edging, ground cover

cuttings, division

Performance – ‘Herrenhausen’ is a reliable perennial garden flower for Kentucky landscapes. This plant has done very well in trials at the UK Horticulture Research farm from 2001 to 2006. The flowers appear in midsummer and continue for about 6 weeks. The plant is appropriate for most landscape because of its’ moderate to small size.

Origanum marjorana - Sweet Marjoram, Annual Marjoram, Knotted Marjoram

 

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

purple or white

12" - 15"

summer

few

herb garden

seed

Performance - Marjoram is a reliable annual culinary herb in Kentucky gardens. It grows best in full sun with soil that is well drained. This plant has more aroma and flavor when grown in a nutrient rich soil.
Comments - Marjoram is an excellent plant for use in flavoring vinegars, soups, butters, stuffing and fish.  The flavor is strongest when cut just before the flowers open.

Origanum vulgare - Oregano, Wild Marjoram

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

white, purple, pink

24"

summer

root rot, aphids, spider mites, fungal diseases

herb garden

seed, division, cuttings

Performance - Oregano is a reliable perennial culinary and ornamental herb grown in Kentucky gardens. It grows best in full sun and a well drained soil. Plants have a sprawling habit and should be cut back before blooming to promote new growth.  Varieties with golden or variegated leaves should be planted in partial shade to prevent leaf scorch.

Comments - Oregano is the primary herb used in Italian dishes and pizza sauces.  It can be used fresh, dried or frozen.

Ornithagalum umbellatum - Star of Bethlehem, Summer Snowflake

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

white

4"- 8"

spring

few

bedding

bulbs

Performance - Star of Bethlehem is a reliable perennial in Kentucky gardens. This spring flowering bulb is quite easy to grow in shade or sun gardens. Unfortunately, this plant is quite invasive. Many lawns across the state have been invaded with this plant. The narrow, dark green foliage emerges in late March, followed by flowers in late April and early May.

Star of Bethlehem in flower bed

Star of Bethlehem as lawn weed

Osmunda - Flowering Fern

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

brown - insignificant

18"- 30"

summer

few

border, shade garden, water garden

spores

Performance - Osmunda ferns are reliable perennials in Kentucky gardens. These ferns are native to Kentucky and other eastern states where they grow in shady locations in well-drained soils that receive plenty of water throughout the summer. They should be planted in shady, moist gardens in the landscape.

Comments - Do not be surprised if they go dormant by July if you don't water them frequently enough.

O. cinnamomea - Cinnamon Fern -
O. claytonia - Interrupted Fern -
O. regalis - Royal Fern -

 

‘Astra’ Cape Daisy

Osteospermum ecklonis - Cape Daisy

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

white, pink, red, blue 

15"- 30"

spring, summer

aphids

bedding, containers

seed, cuttings

Performance - Osteospermum is a relatively new plant seen in Kentucky. It is a reliable annual in Kentucky gardens, but may not flower all summer because it must have cool temperatures for maximum flowering. Grow cape daisies in full sun, especially in the spring to optimize flowering.

Comments - These striking daisies will be available as pot plants or bedding plants during the spring.

Variety - 'Passion' mix, 'Symphony' series.