Veronica spicata ‘Red Fox’

Speedwell

Family: Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family)

    

·        Hardiness Zones:  3-8

·        Height: 15-18 inches

·        Spread: 12-18 inches

·        Bloom Time: June to September

·        Bloom: dense upright spikes of star-shaped, fuchsia-red flowers; long blooming; flowers open from the base upward

·        Light: full sun; tolerates light shade

·        Soil: average, well-drained, loamy

·        Moisture: medium; generally intolerant of drought conditions

·        Use: rock and cottage gardens, foundations, beds, borders, containers, cut flower

·        Care: low maintenance; remove spent flower spikes to encourage additional bloom; may cut back to basal growth after flowering

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problems; root rot may occur in wet, poorly-drained soils

·        Native to: species native to northern Europe and Asia

·        Notes: clump forming foliage of deep green, toothed, lance-shaped leaves (to 2 inches long); blooms attracts bees and butterflies; salt tolerant; deer and rabbit resistant; all parts of plant are toxic if ingested

·        Supplier: The Flower Factory

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Sidewalk Garden G207

                                                                                    

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Spigelia marilandica

Indian Pink; Woodland Pinkroot

Family: Loganiaceae (Logania Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  5-9

·        Height: 1-2 feet

·        Spread: 12-18 inches

·        Bloom Time: June

·        Bloom: one-sided spikes of brilliant red, upward facing, trumpet-shaped flowers (up to 2 inches long), each ending in five yellow lobes; blooms from the bottom upward with flower clusters growing along the last 2 to 3 inches of the stiff 4-sided stem

·        Light: part to full shade

·        Soil: moist, sandy, fertile, acidic

·        Moisture: medium; tolerant of wet and drought conditions

·        Use: shaded beds and borders; woodland, wildflower and rain gardens

·        Care: low maintenance; remove spent flowers to prolong bloom

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problems; does not compete well with aggressive plants

·        Native to: southeastern United States

·        Notes: erect, clump-forming wildflower; 4 to 7 pairs of lance-shaped glossy green leaves arranged opposite one another on wiry stems; attracts pollinators; flowers pollinated by hummingbirds and butterflies; foliage and roots are toxic to most animals and insects (contain alkaloids and calcium oxalate crystals)

·        Supplier: Kopkes Fruit of the Bloom

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Naturalistic Garden H159

 

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Iris cristata

Crested Iris; Dwarf Crested Iris

Family: Iridaceae (Iris Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  3-9

·        Height: 6-9 inches

·        Spread: 6-12 inches

·        Bloom Time: April to May

·        Bloom: pale blue to lavender, upward facing, iris-like flowers to 2.5 inches across, sit atop foliage and appear stemless; prominent white patches with golden crests on the 3 outer petals (falls)

·        Light: part to full shade; can be grown in full sun if soil is kept consistently moist

·        Soil: well-drained, medium moist, humus-rich, acidic

·        Moisture: medium; drought tolerant once established

·        Use: shaded beds and borders; cottage, woodland, wildflower and rock gardens; containers

·        Care: if desired, cut flower stems after blooming; remove dying foliage in autumn; divide clumps of rhizomes every 3 to 4 years

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problems; slugs and snails may be a significant problem in damp conditions

·        Native to: southeastern United States

·        Notes: low-growing vigorous spreader; naturalizes by branching rhizomes; narrow, sword-shaped medium green leaves (to 6 inches) in dense colonies; blooms attract hummingbirds and pollinating insects; deer resistant foliage

·        Supplier: The Flower Factory

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Naturalistic Garden H158

 

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Trillium recurvatum

Prairie Trillium, Wood Lily

Family: Melanthiaceae (Bunchflower Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  4-9

·        Height: 12-18 inches

·        Spread: 9-12 inches

·        Bloom Time: April to May

·        Bloom: solitary flower of 3 maroon petals and 3 green sepals appears to rise directly from 3 broad leaves atop an erect central stem; 1 to 2 inch elliptic petals are erect and clawed; slightly smaller sepals turn downward; matures to fleshy, berry-like fruit

·        Light: part to full shade

·        Soil: rich loam or clay-loam; moist but well-drained

·        Moisture: medium; requires consistent moisture

·        Use: shaded woodland and wildflower gardens, moist shady borders, will naturalize

·        Care: low maintenance; benefits from leaf mulch in fall

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problems; watch for slugs and snails; can be difficult to propagate from seed (5 to 10 years from seed to bloom); does not transplant well

·        Native to: Eastern North America

·        Notes: broadly ovate, hosta-like leaves are 3-6 inches long and medium green mottled with lighter and darker patches; if undisturbed, will spread slowly with stems arising from underground rhizomes; does not transplant well from the wild; foliage usually dies to the ground by mid-summer especially if allowed to dry out

·        Supplier: The Flower Factory

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Naturalistic Garden H157

 

       Content produced through:

       Dane County UWEX Master Gardener Volunteer Program 

 

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       Dane County UWEX Horticulture Program