Pachysandra terminalis - Japanese Pachysandra

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

white, purple

6" - 8"

early spring

leaf blight, root rot

ground cover

division, cuttings

Performance -  Pachysandra is a reliable perennial in Kentucky landscapes. It grows best in dense shade, beneath trees, in soils with good organic content. The dark, semi-evergreen foliage is excellent as a ground cover on slopes or to level the look of uneven ground.

Comments -  Leaf blight and root rot can become serious enough to destroy an entire patch of Pachysandra. Division is the best way to propagate this spreading plant.

Varieties - 'Green Carpet', 'Green Sheen'.

Paeonia - Garden Peony, Chinese Peony

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

pink, white, red

30"- 48"

late spring

botrytis, thrips, leaf spots, root rots, Japanese beetles 

border, cut

division

Performance - Peonys are a common and reliable landscape perennials across the state. Because of their long life and long tradition of use, they may be the most prevalent perennials in Kentucky. These plants are grown in full sun in good soils. It is important not to plant the crown of the plant too deeply. The "eyes" or buds should be just below the soil surface. If planted too deeply the plants won't bloom.

Comments - There are many pest and disease problems associated with Paeonia, but they are worth putting in the garden. There are several flower forms available and many cultivars to choose from. After the plants bloom, the shrub-like habit of the plant remains attractive in the garden.

 

Panicum virgatum - Switch Grass, Panic Grass

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

brown

36"- 60"

late summer

few

border, low maintenance, wild flower area

division

Performance - Switch grass is a native Kentucky grass that is a reliable perennial used as an ornamental in landscapes. These plants are grown in full sun and are easy to grow in most soils.

Comments - Because switch grass is a native, it can be invasive in a site the grass prefers. However, the cultivars may be less invasive than the species.

Varieties - 'Heavy Metal', 'Squaw', 'Warrior'.

 

Iceland Poppy ‘Wonderland’

Oriental Poppy

Papaver - Poppy

Papaver nudicaule - Iceland Poppy

 

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

yellow, orange, pale red, white

10"- 15"

spring

few

border

division, seed

Performance - Iceland poppies are short lived, cool season perennials in Kentucky gardens. The flower colors are spectacular but it is quite difficult to have the plants last more than a few years. The plants deteriorate in summer and the bare spots should be covered by neighboring summer perennials. These plants may be labeled as Papaver croceum.

Varieties - 'Champagne Bubbles', 'Wonderland'.

Papaver orientalis - Oriental Poppy

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

red, pink, white, salmon, lavender

12"- 24"

late spring

few

border, cut

root cuttings, division, seed

Performance - Oriental poppy is a generally reliable perennial in Kentucky gardens. It should be planted in full sun garden sites with well drained soil. Plants grown from seed generally bloom the second year. If the plants are divided, it takes a while for them to recover. Once established the plants do not tolerate disturbance well. The blooms are very showy, but keep in mind that after bloom the foliage will die back and that spot in the garden will be bare.

Varieties - many cultivars are available.

Papaver rhoeas - Corn Poppy, Field Poppy, Flanders Poppy

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

red, pink, white, lavender, yellow, orange

12"- 24"

spring

few

border, natural areas, wildflower

seed

Performance - Corn poppy is an annual plant used in Kentucky landscapes. The seed is often in wildflower mixes used along highways or for natural landscapes. It is not a native wildflower to Kentucky, so may not be a good selection for true wildflower areas. Once planted, the plants will self-sow for a few years, but then disappear as native grasses and other plants offer more competition.

 

Passiflora incarnata - Passion Flower, Maypops

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

lavender, white

5 - 20 ft.

summer

few

fences, border

cuttings, seed

Performance - P. incarnata is the native passion flower and is grown as a reliable perennial vine in Kentucky landscapes. These should be grown in full sun locations on a fence or other support for normal growth. The native passion flower has the typically unique flowers characteristic of passion flowers, but not the unique colors found on the tropical species and cultivars. The tropical species and cultivars generally produce a greater flower performance, but they are not hardy in the state and must be replanted every year.

Pelargonium - Geranium, Ivy Geranium

Pelargonium x hortorum - Geranium, Zonal Geranium, Bedding Geranium

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

red, pink, salmon, white, rose

12" - 30" 

all summer 

bacterial wilt, gray mold, root and stem rots

border, bedding, containers, hanging baskets, house plant

seed, cuttings

Performance - Geranium is grown as an annual in Kentucky gardens and grows best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. This is one of the most popular and well known flowers for patio and porch containers. Although they are relatively drought tolerant, they need regular watering and fertilizing for normal growth.

Comments - Geraniums have been used in homes and gardens for hundreds of years. They flower continuously, they are quite easy to propagate from cuttings and they are relatively pest-free. The typical zonal geranium has been grown from cuttings, but in the 1970s developments were made to produce hybrid geraniums from seed. Seed geraniums were quite popular in the 1980s and early 1990s, but more breeding has led to better cultivars from cuttings and they again dominate the market. Newer cultivars are generally shorter and have better branching characteristics and require less growth regulator applications.

Varieties -
Seed - 'Elite' series, 'Glamour' series, 'Maverick' series, 'Multibloom' series, 'Orbit' series, 'Pinto' series, 'Ringo 2000' series, 'Ripples' series.
Cuttings - Many cultivars are available from many different companies, both patented and non-patented varieties.
Oglevee - http://www.oglevee.com/ - 'Candy' series, 'Patriot' series, 'Melody' series, 'Romance' series and many other cultivars.
FischerUSA - http://www.fischerusa.com - 'Rocky Mountain' series, 'Tango' series and many other cultivars.

‘Multibloom’ geranium

Geranium ‘Bull’s Eye Cherry in Master Gardener trials

Ivy geranium

 Pelargonium peltatum - Ivy Geranium, Hanging Geranium

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

red, pink, salmon, white, rose

12" - 30" 

all summer 

bacterial wilt, gray mold, root and stem rots, spider mites

bedding, containers, hanging baskets

seed, cuttings

Performance - Ivy geraniums are grown as an annual in Kentucky gardens. They grow best in partial sun with moist, well-drained soil. These plants have been one of the most common hanging basket plant for spring sales in Kentucky for a number of years. Unfortunately, they are relatively difficult to maintain through the summer because of our warm summer temperatures. These plants prefer cool, sunny situations and we simply do not have this type of weather during most Kentucky summers.

Comments - Ivy geraniums have been used in gardens for many years. They flower continuously, they are quite easy to propagate from cuttings and they are relatively pest-free.

Varieties –

Seed - 'Tornado' series, 'Summer Shower' series.
Cuttings - Many cultivars are available from many different companies, both patented and non-patented varieties.
Oglevee - http://www.oglevee.com/ - 'Alpine' series, 'Global' series, 'Standard' series, and many other cultivars.
FischerUSA - http://www.fischerusa.com - 'Cascade' series, 'Blizzard' series, and many other cultivars.

More information and photos are available in HortFact 51.12 06 – Geraniums.

Pennisetum - Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides - Fountain Grass

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

silvery brown

12"- 30"

summer, fall

few

border, specimen

division


Performance - Fountain grass is a relatively new and reliable perennial for Kentucky landscapes. These ornamental grasses should be grown in full sun gardens with well-drained soils. New leaves emerge in May and flowers will appear in late June or July. Plants can be divided every 3-4 years.

Comments - Like all ornamental grasses, the dried foliage and flowers are typically removed in late winter or early spring, so the plants offer landscape interest through the winter.

Varieties – 'Hameln' – An excellent cultivar, that is commonly available in the state. 'Little Bunny' - dwarf variety. 'Moudry' - flowers late, with blackish flowers, can be invasive from seed dispersal.

Pennisetum glaucum – Ornamental Millet

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

purple brown

30" – 72”

summer, fall

few

background, specimen

seed


Performance – Ornamental millets are relatively new and reliable annuals for Kentucky landscapes. These ornamental grasses should be grown in full sun gardens with well-drained soils. Purchase small plants so they get established in the landscape; regular fertilizer will aid establishment.

Varieties – ‘Purple Majesty’, ‘Purple Baron’, ‘Jester’.

Pennisetum setaceum ‘Purpureum’ – Annual Fountain Grass

Flower Color

Height

Season

Pests

Uses

Propagation

silvery brown

30" – 36”

summer, fall

few

border, specimen

division

Performance – Purple fountain grass is a relatively new and reliable annual for Kentucky landscapes. These ornamental grasses should be grown in full sun gardens with well-drained soils. 

P. alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’

P. alopecuroides ‘Moudry’

P. glaucum ‘Jester’

P. setaceum ‘Purpureum’