Flowering Plants | 505 Outside

Hummingbird Plant, Epilobium syn zauschneria

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Flowering Plants

Full Sun

Medium Water

Mature Size: 24”X 36”
Blooming Season: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Color: Red

Along the front range in Colorado, gardeners have come to associate fall and the buzz of busy hummingbirds with the blazing scarlet Zauschnerias. Hummingbird Plant puts on an extravagant display of red-orange flowers. It thrives planted in front of hot south and west-facing walls and walks, in areas that might fry less heat-loving plants. Plant in well-drained soil; not too much clay. Hummingbird Plant appreciates regular watering the first year or two, particularly during dry winters, to help get it established.

Desert Mule’s Ears, Wyethia scabra

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Flowering Plants

Full Sun

Rainwater Only

Mature Size: 2’X 3’
Blooming Season: Spring into summer
Flower Color: Yellow

The rather odd name of this dryland perennial sunflower refers to its sand papery stiff leaves held upright on slender white stems; this eye-catching long-lived sunflower has vanilla-scented showy yellow flowers and large dark brown seed heads with seeds sought after by songbirds. Desert Mule’s Ears prefer lean, unamended soil at planting time and very little water once they are well rooted.

Partridge Feather, Tanacetum densum-amani

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Flowering Plants

Full Sun, Part Shade

Low Water

Mature Size: 12”X 12”
Blooming Season: Early Summer
Flower Color: Yellow

Partridge Feather’s incredible silver-white leaves attract the attention of everyone; you can’t help but pet the soft foliage. The plant forms a dense carpet of foliage topped with clusters of yellow button flowers in early summer. It thrives in the sunniest, hottest spot you can find. Needs well-drained soil.

Desert Globemallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Flowering Plants

Full Sun

Rainwater Only

Mature Size: 2’X 2’
Blooming Season: Spring and late summer
Flower Color: Pink, lavender and coral

There are at least a dozen species of Globemallow native in the arid West, and Desert Globemallow is one of the finest as it produces a strong show of colorful flowers against the backdrop of pale green leaves. It is one of the earliest and longest blooming in spring and after a rest may bloom again with late summer rains. It will self-sow in gravelly or sandy soil.

Autumn Joy Sedum, Sedum telephium

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Flowering Plants

Full Sun, Part Shade

Low Water

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

Once you have gone through the fall with Autumn Joy in your garden, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Not what you typically think of as a Sedum, this tall upright variety blooms with large flower heads that start pink and age gracefully to a rich bronze. Nice as a dried everlasting flower.

Soapwort, Saponaria oxymoides

by 505 Outside | Aug 2, 2018 | Flowering Plants

Full Sun, Part Shade

Medium Water

Mature Size: 9”X 24”
Blooming Season: Summer
Flower Color: Pink

Soapwort’s bright pink flowers make it a terrific border plant in a flower garden as well as a beautiful flowering ground cover. A vigorous grower, it readily reseeds itself and will spread rapidly in a favorable situation. (Be sure the neighboring plants are large, robust growers so they don’t get smothered!) Prompt shearing as the flowers fade keeps it tidy and prevents reseeding.