Carex – Sedge

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

brown

12" - 30"

summer, fall

few

containers, shade borders, edging, or rock gardens

division

Performance – Sedges are grass-like plants grown for their colored foliage. Some are reliable perennial plants in Kentucky gardens others are used for mixed containers. The plants grow well in the shade or partial shade. Sedges prefer organic soils and plenty of water, some can be grown in water gardens.

‘Coppertop’

‘Toffee Dish’

Comments - Carex is most impressive when planted in a mass which also prohibits weeds from growing. Brown colored flowers will appear in the spring.

Varieties – ‘Coppertop’, ‘Toffee Dish’; Carex morrowii ‘Goldband’ – Variegated Japanese Sedge – A reliable perennial in Kentucky that is used as a ground cover.

 

Bluebeard

Caryopteris x cladonensis - Bluebeard

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

lavender blue

24"- 42"

fall

few

background, perennial borders

stem cuttings


Performance - Caryopteris is a semi-woody shrub that is a reliable addition to the perennial garden in Kentucky. Some years the plants will freeze to the ground and should be cut back to the ground the following spring. It is okay to cut this plant nearly to the ground even after mild winters.

Comments - Bluebeard may grow to 4 to 6 feet across in the landscape, so give it plenty of room when planting.

Varieties - 'Blue Mist', 'Dark Knight', 'Heavenly Blue', 'Longwood Blue'.

Catharanthus roseus - Vinca, Madagascar Periwinkle, Periwinkle, Old-maid

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

rose, pink, white, rose-red, lavender

3"-18"

summer

few

borders, bedding, and ground cover

seed, cuttings


Performance - Vinca is a warm season annual plant that is an outstanding performer in Kentucky gardens. These plants have been rated outstanding in our flower trials at the University of Kentucky for more than 20 years. The plants are heat tolerant and grow well in full sun or partial shade in moist soil. Catharanthus will continue to flower even during heat stress. Because they prefer warm conditions, don't plant them in the garden too early in the spring. They will continue to flower until a heavy frost in the fall.

Comments - It has taken a number of years for Kentucky gardeners and greenhouse operators to appreciate how easy vinca is to grow in the garden. Seedlings are sometime difficult to grow. Plants are now commonly available because specialist propagators make plugs available to Kentucky growers and retailers for garden sales. Flower colors used to be limited, but many new colors are now available. Cultivars vary in height, they can grow prostrate (3" tall and 18"-24" wide) or upright (8"-18" tall). Germinating seeds are sensitive to over watering and cool temperatures.

Varieties - 'Apricot Delight', 'Blue Pearl', 'Cooler' series (Blush, Raspberry Red) 'Heatwave' series, 'Mediterranean' series (Lilac), 'Merlot' mix, 'Pacifica' series (White), 'Stardust' series, 'Victory' series.

Vinca at Pan American Seed Co.

‘Cooler Blush’

Celosia cristata - Cockscomb

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

yellow, gold, orange, pink, red

6"- 40"

summer 

leaf spots, stem rots, spider mites

cut flower, border, edging, bedding and dried flower

seed


Performance - Cockscomb is a unique warm season annual that performs well in Kentucky gardens. Plants grow best in full sun and will tolerate dry soils.

Comments - There are two types of Cockscombs, plumed and crested cockscomb. Both prefer hot areas.  They are excellent as a cut or dried flower. It is a long lasting flower, up to 8 weeks.

Varieties - Crested Cockscomb - 'Amigo' mix, 'Coral Garden' mix, 'Jewel Box' mix, 'Prestige Scarlet'
Plume or Feather Cockscomb - 'Castle' series, 'Geisha' mix, 'Gloria' series, 'Kimono' series, 'New Look', 'Red Glow'
Cut Flowers - 'Bombay' series, 'Century' series, 'Enterprise Dark Pink', 'Flamingo' series (Wheat Celosia, C. spicata)

‘Ice Cream’ series

‘Century Cream’ at Sakata Seed Co.

‘Spikey Pink’, dwarf wheat celosia at Kieft Seeds

‘Kimono Scarlet’

 

‘Boy’ series

Centaurea cyanus- Bachelor's Button, Cornflower, Bluebottle

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

blue, white, rose, pink

12"-36"

early summer

stem rot, wilt and rust

 border, beds, cut

seed

Performance - Cornflower is typically grown as an annual in Kentucky gardens but may be perennial because it can self-sow. It will bloom in early summer and may have intermittent bloom periods up until frost. Be sure to plant in full sun locations. These plants tolerate poor soils and are commonly included in wildflower mixes.

Comments - Even though it is considered an annual, it regularly self seeds, often becoming a problem. To maintain an area of cornflower, it is best to use a short variety. Taller varieties not only need to be staked, but they tend to be more vigorous and can cause problems. These plants are quite a good greenhouse or field-grown cut flower. They flower under long-day conditions.

Varieties - 'Boy' series, 'Florence' series.

Centaurea montana - Mountain Bluet, Perennial Bachelor's Button, Mountain Knapweed

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

blue

12"-24"

midsummer

           few

massed borders

seed or division

Performance - Mountain bluet is a cool season perennial in Kentucky gardens. These plants grow well in full sun, in well drained soils and are fairly drought tolerant.  This plant should be divided every two years to provide maximum growth. Centaurea montana can become invasive.

Comments - Flowers only bloom a few at a time so a mass planting is necessary to have a floral effect. The plant blooms for a few weeks in the midsummer. If cut back after the first bloom a second bloom may occur in the fall.

 

Leadwort

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides - Plumbago, Leadwort

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

bright blue

8"- 12"

summer to late fall

few

ground cover 

division, cuttings


Performance - Plumbago is an outstanding perennial for Kentucky gardens. It can be planted in full sun or partial shade. It cannot tolerate soggy soils or competition from tree roots. The leaves will turn a bronzy-red in the fall.

Comments - To stimulate lush growth, plumbago should be cut back to ground level in the spring.