It is that time of year — garden barbecues, iced tea, casual poolside parties and long, hot days that buzz with the pulsing rhythms of cicadas and fade into twilight punctuated with all the flashing lights of fireflies.
July’s zenith is indicated with luxurious, vigorous growth in the garden. I make notice of plants that may require dividing so that I’ve got more room in mixed borders to try new perennials and annuals next year. And as I walk around shifting my garden areas, I also evaluate plant mixes, taking note of when things blossom, because I am usually looking to set plants that blossom at the exact same time or that look great together, like ‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop and fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides).
Hot colors are fun to work with. Below are a few methods to use yellow, orange and red to shake up the heat on your own landscape.
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Choose the proper plants for dry, hot conditions. Our summers are getting hotter, and water usage is a real problem in many parts of the nation. Here in the Northeast, we have seen extended periods of dry weather, which can seriously impact landscape plantings; it is too early to tell whether we are in for another round of drought.
Native blanketflower (Gaillardia spp, zones 3 to 9) is a good choice for a meadow or combined border in sunlight. It prefers well-drained, sandy soil and dry conditions, and makes a good cut flower. I love the common name, and I love the choice of colors available in garden centers.
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Another great plant for a dry location is tickseed, also commonly called threadleaf because of its thin foliage. Here is the cultivar ‘Moonbeam’ (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’, zones 3 to 9), which I use a great deal for its longevity; it remains in flower for a long time and is the type of plant to place by sidewalks, patios and drives that maintain heat.
The briefer (12 to 18 inches) C. ‘Zagreb’ will provide you a solid yellow blossom. A new cultivar known as ‘Sunset Strip’ has yellow flowers with vivid orange-red stripes.
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Brighten up the edible garden. My vegetable garden is full of flowers, because I would like some colour accenting all the basil, tomatoes and lettuce, along with the flowers will help draw pollinators and butterflies, too.
Calendula is easily grown from seed and self-sows readily — this is semidouble C. ‘Flashback’ (Calendula officianalis) from Renee’s Garden. It is a shade of orange. I utilize the petals to garnish salads and cut the blossoms for festive bouquets, adding white shasta daisies and zinnias.
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Accent outbuildings with daring colors. If you are fortunate enough to have a drop or an outbuilding like this reddish Vermont barn, then a tall yellow perennial will definitely enhance its visual appeal.
False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides, sets 3 to 9) is a U.S. native that is generally trouble free. It is a tall perennial; H. ‘Summer Sun’ has big double yellow blossoms and grows up to 36 inches tall.
My current favorite is H. ‘Summer Nights’, that’s dark mahogany stems, grows to 48 inches and does not need staking.
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Add top actors that dial up the heat. I love daisies for their simplicity and charm, and one of my favourite yellows is this black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta, zones 3 to 9), a native that is well worth looking for. It is lesser called the ubiquitous ‘Goldsturm’ (R. fulgida ‘Goldsturm’), but equally provide gold yellow petals on strong stalks.
Here I’ve cooled down the effect of this yellow with a white daisy, the award-winning ‘Becky’ (Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’), a 2003 Perennial Plant of the Year.
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Another hot-hued native not widely grown is that the brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba, zones 4 to 8), sometimes called the three-leaved coneflower, which grows in fields and along roadsides from the central Midwest but does admirably well in the Northeast as well.
What’s notable about this plant is its spray of stalks, which exhibit a profusion of 3-inch blooms nearly all summer. Leave up the stalks into fall and the plant will self-sow — it is a nice choice for a naturalized meadow.
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Following is a close-up of the blossoms with their dark brown seed heads creating a nice mix with Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Torch’), which will be bright orange.
Can I mention I love orange? Each spring I propagate Tithonia from the greenhouse and also make sure I have enough to spread around to provide me lush colour. The yearly plants will blossom until frost if deadheaded regularly, plus they create a good cut flower.
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Heleniums are a must for the July garden. Commonly called sneezeweed (however they do not make you sneeze), they are also called the dog-toothed daisy, as their beam petals are serrated and uneven.
In sexy, exposed garden sites, these perennials play well with ornamental grasses and are long blooming and very low care. This is H. ‘Moerheim Beauty’ (zones 4 to 8), which offers copper-red or vermillion colors touched with yellow and orange.
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Harmonize plantings with outdoor seating. This homeowner clearly had fun painting her Adirondack chairs to coordinate with the colors of her garden. Scarlet ‘Jacob Cline’ bee balm (Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’, zone 4) is a good red for creating a lively focal point. It grows up to 36 inches tall and is highly mildew resistant. (Most types of bee balm are prone to powdery mildew, so read the plant tags carefully.)
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I love how this red chair and side table create a visual statement and make a welcoming entrance. The vivid colors are cooled by white, black, chartreuse and green plants, along with a neutral shade.
Chartreuse plants like the gold creeping Jenny from the urn look particularly well when paired with orange, red and even yellow, take a second look at your entrance area and add some zing.
Remember to add a slow-release mulch to potted plants this month and reduce salvia ‘May Night‘ for repeat blooms.