Mallow, Marshmallow, Althaea

The rose dinner plate size perennial draws attention to the garden. The plant is a hybrid from the common mallow or Althaea. The species is indigenous to Africa, which is used as an ornamental plant as well for its use as a medicinal plant. The stems are tall at 3 to 4 feet high putting out onaly a few lateral branches. The stamens are united into a tube, the anthers, kidney-shaped and one-celled. The flowers bloom in late July, August and September. A smaller cultivar, Malva moschata Rosea, has purple pink flowers.

Liatris Blazing-star

Liatris has several common names: Blazing-star, Gay-feather or Button snakeroot. This perennial plant is native to North America, Mexico and the Bahamas. They have linear leaves and stout stems that are 3-6 feet tall growing in clumps. The small fluffy florets are set along tall spikes, flowering from the top down which is unusual for flowering plants. They grow best in good, well drained soil in full sun. Butterflies are attractive to them. The larvae of some butterflies use the plant as food.

Leucanthemum Shasta Daisy

The Shasta daisy originated as a hybrid produced by Luther Burbank, American horticulturist. The plan is a herbaceous perennial plant with daisy appearance of white petal around a yellow disc, similar to the Oxeye daisy but larger. Shasta daisies are characterized by a distinct ordor which some find unpleasant, which makes then unusual.

Campanula Bellflower

Native Campanula

Campanula  (little bell in Latin) or the common name bellflower, takes its name from the bell-shaped flowers.The species include annual, biennial and perennial plants, and very in habit from dwarf artic and alpine species to large temperate grassland and woodland species growing to 6 ft tall. The leaves are alternate and often vary in shape on a single plant, with larger, broader leaves at the base of the stem and smaller narrower leaves higher up. The flowers are produced in panicles and have a five-lobed corolla, mostly blue to purple, sometimes white or pink. The genus includes over 500 species and several subspecies.

 Campanula cespitosa

Cleome or Spider Plant

Because of the spidery-like flowers with long, waving stamen which are held on tall, strong leafy stems, Cleome perennial plant received the name of spider plant. The plants reach a height of 6 feet in good season. They reseed themselves every summer and may reseed in areas where you do not wish them to be such as garden paths.

Gaillardia or Blanket flower or goblin daisy

Gaillardia is a perennial with the common name of blanket flower. The common name was given since the flower looks like the colors of a blanket. The hybrids are popular plants with daisey-like flowers in various combinations of orange, red, and yellow that bloom from summer to frost. The plants grow to 2'-3' and do best in average, well-drained soil in full sun to part sun. They look best in a cottage garden with shasta daisies, Coreopsis, yarrows, coneflower, Liatris, Salvia, hardy Geranium and other drought tolerant perennial plants.

Platycodon grandiflorus or Chinese bellflower

This perennial is in the family Campanulaceae and only member of the genus Platycodon meaning a broad bell in Greek. It is native to East Asia and has big blue flowers with some varieties of white and pink. According to research the root of this species is used as an anti-inflammatory in the treatment of coughs and colds. The plant is hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 3 and requires little care.

Phlox paniculata

The Phlox  is a genus of 67 species of perennial and annual plants found mostly in North America in diverse habiatats from open woodland, prairie and alpine tundra. Some flower in the spring, other in the summer and fall.  There is a variety of color from pale blue, violet, pink, bright red, or white. Also, many of the flowers are fragrant. Some species as the garden phlox grow upright, while others grow short and matlike.

Hostas, A Lily Like Plant

Hostas are one of my favorite shade plants. There are about 23-45 specieces in the family of Asparafgaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. They are native to northeast Asia. Hosta are perennial plants growing from stolons, with broad leaves varying widely in size. There are numerous cultivars that can range from light green to dark green, yellow green and a few have a blue hue. There are variegated plants of whte and green. The white flowers grow on long stalks. Hostas are easy to transplant and I have transplanted hostas to many of the shady areas in my garden. At my last count of hostas, I have over 50 plants.

Althaea, Hibiscus or Rose of Sharon

This flowering shrub that I call Althaea or Rose of Sharon, is beginning to bloom in early July. I have several shrubs in the garden. The photo above is a single light blue flower. Another Althaea or Rose of Sharon shrub in the garden has a double flower although not in bloom as yet. Rose of Sharon is not a precise name for the shurb and is mentioned in the Bible as Chavatzelet HaSharon, a Hebrew name which is translated in English language as Rose of Sharon.. The name may be applied to two different plants, Hypericum calycinum or Hibiscus syriacus. The flowering shrub in my garden looks more like Hibiscus syriacus. The Hibiscus syriacus, a deciduous flowering shrub is native to east Asia, and is generally referred in American English as "Rose of Sharon." In South Korea it is the national flower. The first record of the Rose of Sharon grown in Korea is mentioned in an article produced 1,4000 years ago.

                                                              Double pink Althea

                                                              Double rose Althea

Red Monarda or Bee Balm

Monarda or its common name of bee balm or bergamot is now in full bloom. I prefer the red flowers although I have pink Monarda blooming as well. I planted the red flowering plant to attract hummingbirds. In doing some research on the plant I found that there are roughly 16 species of Monarda perennial. It is found in North America ranging in height from 1 to 3 feet. The genus was named for Nicolas Monardes who wrote a book in 1574 describing plants found in the New World.

Native Americans have used the plant for medicinal purposes. A tea made from the plant was used to treat mouth and throat infections caused by dental caries and gingivitis. It is also recognized as a strong antiseptic and used as a poultice for skin infections and minor wounds.