Garden Pinks, Dianthus gratianopolitanus

Garden Pinks, Dianthus gratianopolitanus

Full Sun, Part Shade
Medium Water

Mature Size: 1’X 2’
Blooming Season: Late spring
Flower Color: Light pink to bright rose pink

Garden Pinks have single flowers on short slender stems with a light clove scent. They form dense cushions of pale blue-gray leaves that make attractive groundcovers even when the plants are not in bloom. The named varieties such as ‘Firewitch’ have darker flower colors and bloom longer than other species, and all are beautiful growing along paths, spilling around boulders and in large pots on the patio.

Threadleaf Coreopsis, Coreopsis verticillata

Threadleaf Coreopsis, Coreopsis verticillata

Full Sun
Medium Water

Mature Size: 24”X 24”
Blooming Season: Summer
Flower Color: Yellow

Coreopsis is a carefree perennial with fine, thread-like foliage and pale, 2-inch wide yellow flowers that cover the plant all summer. Performs best in compost-enriched soil. Add soil sulphur to keep the foliage nicely green. It is relatively late to awaken from its winter dormancy, so be patient! The “Moonbeam” cultivar is one of the most drought-tolerant varieties and bears flowers that are pale yellow.

Red Valerian, Centranthus ruber

Red Valerian, Centranthus ruber

Full Sun, Part Shade
Medium Water

Mature Size: 36”X 36”
Blooming Season: Late Spring-Summer
Flower Color: Red

Red Valerian is a versatile plant, being equally at home in both the xeric garden and traditional perennial border. Not fussy about its growing conditions, the showy rose-red flowers are continuous from late spring through summer. A willing reseeder under favorable conditions, Centranthus ruber prefers well-drained garden soil not clay.

Sundrops, Calylophus species

Sundrops, Calylophus species

Full Sun
Low Water

Mature Size: 18”X 18”
Blooming Season: Spring-Summer
Flower Color: Yellow

This spectacular native wildflower is everblooming with a profusion of large, bright yellow, four-petaled flowers. The narrow gray-green foliage gives the plant a lacy look in the garden. Calylophus thrives in the heat, and grows well in a wide range of soils, as long as they’re well drained. This tough plant is the star of any dryland rock garden or xeriscape. A good shearing before the growing season starts in late spring will keep it looking tidy and loaded with flowers.

Poppy Mallow, Winecups, Callirhoe involucrata

Poppy Mallow, Winecups, Callirhoe involucrata

Full Sun
Low Water

Mature Size: 24”X 24”
Blooming Season: Late Spring-Summer
Flower Color: Red-Pink

The five-petaled flowers of Poppy Mallow (also known as Winecups) are a rich pinkish-red color with a white eye, and cover the plant all summer. The low-spreading stems make this plant useful on slopes or cascading over retaining walls. A valuable plant for hot south or west facing beds. Grows well in a wide range of soil types including clay. Gently reseeds itself and will slowly spread if you let it. Recommended companion plants are Berlandiera lyrata (Chocolate Flower), Nepeta x faassenii (Catmint) and Gray Santolina.