This year I didn't plant any annuals so I don't have much color in my early fall garden. Agastache Blue Fortune has been blooming since July and continues tirelessly. Perovskia Russian Sage has also been a blooming machine since July--a chaotic, airy masses of silver stems and pale lavender flowers. I think this is a great accent plant behind denser foliage and blooms. In the photo below, the Russian Sage isn't very well placed in a narrow section of the border. Next year I plan to move it beside my helenium. Hopefully this should be a good combo both blooming at the same time. By adding annuals, daylilies and coreopsis or gallardia in the front it should give me a long period of bloom.
This is the third season for my helenium. I like it better every year. Of course you can't see it in this photo, but when I took the picture it was litteraly dancing in the wind. Almost like butterflies with golden wings, swaying and bobbing with each gust. It was a joy just to stand and watch it.
I'm so pleased with the helenium, next year I want to order two of the newer hybrids. Below are photos of Mardi Gras and Double Trouble. Both have "stiff skirts" and more petals. I love the autumn colors on Marti Gars.
Helenium Mardi Gras (Bluestone Perennials Photo)
Helenium Double Trouble (Bluestone Perennials Photo)These are tallish plants 3-4 feet. They would probably be more well behaved with staking or caging. I didn't do either with mine and it has spread in an arc taking up quite a bit of space.
43 comments:
I think the Russian sage would look great next to the helenium - does it transplant easily?
I think your Russian sage looks pretty awesome! It will go great next to the helenium. I grow that last one you have pictured. I love it! I've been growing mine about 5 years now. I wanted to tell you these are SO easy to propagate from cuttings. I take mine in June and they usually bloom the same year. Try it out (much cheaper). Email me your address when you get the chance and hopefully by next week I'll get some cleome seeds out to you.
Love that helenium. I need something else in my garden that blooms this late, and that sounds and looks like a plant I must have!
Very pretty! We put some Russian Sage in our nursery bed this year, to let it grow while we decide where it should actually go. It's been blooming well, but looks pretty stupid sitting there all by itself!
Hi Phillip. I transplanted 2 Russian Sage into my gravel garden last April (before they showed signs of breaking dormancy). They didn't miss a beat. That was the first time I'd moved them so I wasn't sure. No problems. BTW, they were in their second year.
Marnie
Hi Flydragon, I agree. Late color is great and these are very attractive. Let me know if you get some and how you like them.
Marnie
Hi Tina. You have Double Trouble? I haven't actually seen one growing locally, but I fell in love with the photos.
Thanks for the tip on propagating helenium. That way I can add a few of the ones I like best.
Thanks for the offer of cleome, I have some plants already so there will be plenty of seed. I offered to share some with someone yesterday and probably didn't make my self very clear.
Marnie
Beautiful! I love the colors of the Mardi Gras!
Hi Dog Geek, I agree, RS needs other plants to show it to the best advantage.
Marnie
Beadedtail, I think it is my favorite too. Love the colors. Can't wait to try some next year.
Marnie
The helenium & russian sage would be gorgeous paired together ~ yellow and blue are such a great color combination. Can't wait to see it.
I have Russian Sage in a place where it doesn't show off.It's been there for 2 yrs. I didn't know if it would transplant well.I'm glad that I read this.
Together yes. I need to try helium. Planted my first Russian Sage this spring and if it looks like your after two year I think I got a winner!
Marnie, your Russian sage looks great. I think I will try some yellow helenuim in front of mine. What a beautiful color combo. I loved the picture of the helenium dancing in the wind.
Hi, Marnie--Not much new to add here--I loved your photos and I think the Russian sage and helenium would be an inspired combination. I'm actually really impressed with your photo of the Russian sage--I can't get it in focus because the camera wants to focus on the heavier stuff behind it--problem with point-and-shoot, no doubt (or maybe the point-and-shoot operator?). I can't wait to see the combination next year!
Hi Marnie - that Mardi Gras is sure a popular plant - I've seen it on several blogs this year. And I love the Russian Sage - just planted my first one. Wish me luck!
It's always fun to take stock of what you have or need in the garden. And I need some of your Russian sage. ;~)
Beautiful..I can enjoy them, but I don't know anything about them. But I plan to learn..
I like all three of the plants you've shared! Any plant that blooms at this time of year is a keeper. I do have a few spots for them all!
Gail
Your Russian sage has a nice shape, a slightly spreading vase. Mine flops too much, and some pieces stick out at odd angles. I should probably try a different type. I even cut it back early this year to see if that would help, but it still did not develop an attractive shape.
Marnie, this is the 2nd post I have seen about the now blooming 'russian sage'. Mine was done blooming weeks ago so I am assuming this is a different kind-but what do I look for? Paired with the helenium and then annuals or daylilies in front would give you color all summer and up until frost. It will be interesting to follow next year.
My Russian Sage was devoured by the grasshoppers this year...next year...the chicken patrol will be raiding their territory, the only bad thing about being the only one in your neighborhood with tall prairie grasses...I got their share of the bugs...but, I also got their share of the songbirds. I am also hearing quail-song too, so I guess it's a tradeoff!
sharon
Hi Kathleen, I'm glad you agree about putting the two together. It seems like they would look well but you don't know til you try.
Marnie
Hi Balisha. I moved mine really early in the spring before it broke dormancy. Good luck moving yours.
Marnie
Troutbirder, I think you'll be pleased. Just about everyone seems to like RS.
Marnie
Hi Morning Glories. I hope we both like the combination after we get everything moved;)
Marnie
Hi Beckie. I can't even guess why your Russian Sage quit blooming so early. I know there are different varieties so some may have a shorter bloom time. Somewhere I heard that if you deadhead it right away after it quits, it 'may' bloom again. I assumed that advise was for people in warmer zones with longer growing seasons.
Marnie
Hi Sharon, I have pheasants some years, but I've never heard quail here. I'd trade a few Russian Sages for quail;)
I've thought about chickens but they can tear up a garden pretty fast so I've never gotten any. Then too, keeping fresh water to livestock thru an IL/Iowa winter is challenging;) And then there's the coyotes.
Marnie
I'm always looking for more fall-blooming plants. I don't have any helenium, and I don't know why...another plant to add to my wish list!
My Russian sage has grown and grown this year; it is a great backdrop for other plantings--I think you'll like it with other shorter plants in front. I even take the grass shears to mine sometimes when it gets out of control, and it comes back better than ever!
Sorry I didn't make it here yesterday. I depend now on my blogroll on my sidebar to show me when a new post is up, but I've discovered some posts don't show up for awhile.
Golden colors...signs that Autumn is here!
Hi Rose. Like you, I'm depending on my blogroll and I don't know if it is completely dependable. I don't like to miss the photos and tips from my favorites, especially now when I'm afraid garden posts will grow more infrequent.
Marnie
Nature Girl, yes it is the beginning of the golden season here too. We have lots of maple in the area that change to unimaginable shades of gold and orange.
Marnie
Hi Marnie, you are on the right track with that combo I think also. I have Mardi Gras and have been sprinkling the seed heads to get more that way, but no luck so far. I just bought a dark red helenium called Coppelia that has the same flower form as Mardi Gras. I am on the lookout for any and all heleniums, they are the longest bloomer in my garden.
Frances
new url
http://fairegarden.wordpress.com/
You have so many beautiful blooms! I love the first photo. It looks a little wild, but graceful at the same time. I'd love to have it blooming in my front yard.
Hi Frances, I found you hiding at that new url;)
Tina says they are easy to propagate from cuttings. If you don't have any luck with seeds, try Tina's method.
I agree, they are definitely worth making room for. I'll check out Coppelia the red you mentioned. I think I will like that one too.
Marnie
Hi DP, my fault it has the gone wild look about it. I could have tied/ caged it, but it has lots of room so I got lazy. Next year I'll make it behave or I'll have so much planted in front of it you can't see the stems;)
Marnie
I love the wild look too, sort of a Cossack effect. The helenium are lovely too. Once again, I have the hots for something that will probably not grow in FL (sigh).
Hi Walk2Write, I know what you mean--zone envy. I feel the same way when I see beautiful caladiums, crepe myrtle, tropical blooms, etc that I can't grow here on the frozen tundra;)
You know what we need to do, get a summer and a winter house. One north one south. Yes!
Marnie
I just love Russian Sage. It should really make a nice accent to your Helenium. Purple & yellow are my favorite plant combos.
I had moved my Russian Sage about a month ago .. a mature one that was not really willing to leave its spot .. but I am glad to say it has taken to its new location and a BIG YES !! to Helenium .. I have a couple of new varieties and I love them too ... great pictures !
In your third Picture up from the bottom.. I would call that Ratibida pinnata here in Minnesota anyway. It is a wildflower native to Minnesota and other states too of course. I have lots of it here and there from a few scrawny plants I planted along the driveway..it re-seeds really well! Helenium...we can only grow the old ones, our winters are way to cold. I am glad you can have them in your area the new varieties are beautiful. And the Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a wonderful plant, we call it a sub shrub up here because it dies back totally to the ground in the winter. But it booms its heart out in the late summer! :)
I'm so gonna' love following you!
Many thanks for the help in this question.
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