5 Plants I Love and 1 That Needs to Go
Plants I Love
As gardeners, we’re always on the lookout for finding the right plant for the right place. I am always looking for plants I love. Gardening is all about experimenting, learning, and trying to find out what works best in your particular space.
The plants I’m about to show you have not only thrived in my garden, but they’re also very easy to grow. As for the one I’m not so keen on, I’ll share my reasons, and maybe this can save you a little bit of gardening frustration.
If you prefer Reading Instead of Video
I’ve summarized the list of plants I love below if you like reading more than watching videos. If you have plants that you want to add to the list, just leave a comment. Thanks for being here.
Carthusian Pink
This plant is named after the Carthusian order of monks founded in 1084. The monks originally came from France, and each monk was required to care for a small garden, and this plant was one of the plants they cultivated.
Carthusian Pink is a really unique plant with bright magenta-colored flowers on very strong stems, and the flowers resemble Sweet William, blooming from summer until September. The plant forms grass-like mounds with thin, long leaves. I grew this particular plant from seed. It’s a perennial that grows in zones 4 through 8, requires full sun, and needs good air circulation.
It belongs in the category of ‘Plants I Love’.
Heliopsis ‘Burning Hearts’
The second plant I wanted to share is a Heliopsis, specifically the variety ‘Burning Hearts.’ This is an amazing new variety that has dark foliage contrasted by gold and burgundy flowers.
It is a gorgeous plant. I grew this from seed, and they bloomed in the first season. This plant is a perennial that grows in zones 3 through 9. It requires full sun and will bloom from summer until fall. It’s great at attracting bees and butterflies, and it’s also heat and drought-tolerant.
It belongs in the category of ‘Plants I Love’.
Zinnia ‘Queenie Lemon Peach’
The third plant that I wanted to share is my absolute favorite Zinnia so far: the ‘Queenie Lemon Peach’ Zinnia. This is an annual that is super easy to grow from seed. It has raspberry pink centers and lemon-yellow petals. Like all Zinnias, it requires full sun.
This specific variety is an All-American Selections regional winner. It blooms all summer until frost and grows on tall and sturdy stems. Again, like most Zinnias, it’s heat and drought-tolerant. I started the seeds indoors, but the great thing about Zinnias is you can also directly sow them into your garden. So if you don’t have space for a seed-starting station, Zinnias are the perfect plant, and this Queenie Lemon Peach Zinnia is a beauty.
It belongs in the category of ‘Plants I Love’.
Verbena bonariensis
The fourth plant I want to talk about is Tall Verbena, or Verbena bonariensis. It’s a plant I have trouble pronouncing, but it is a great plant for the garden.
This plant is considered invasive in California, Oregon, Texas, and Georgia, but in my cold climate here in Southeast Michigan, it’s perfect for attracting butterflies to your garden.
Verbena has clusters of small purple flowers floating on long, airy stems. It’s native to Brazil and Argentina and was first grown as a garden ornamental in 1726. It attracts pollinators and butterflies like no other.
It belongs in the category of ‘Plants I Love’.
Penstemon ‘Midnight Masquerade’
The fifth plant that I’d like to share is a Penstemon, specifically the variety ‘Midnight Masquerade.’ I typically don’t buy patented plants, but this one offers a full season of interest.
It starts in May and June with rich lavender-purple flowers that have a white center. It’s got fantastic dark purple foliage that looks great even after the blooms fade, and even the seed pods are cool. When this plant was blooming, it attracted a wide range of pollinators.
It requires full sun to mostly sunny positions. It’s a perennial that grows in zones 3 through 8. It belongs in the category of ‘Plants I Love’.
Monarda Fistulosa
That brings us to the plant that has given me a little bit of buyer’s remorse, Monarda Fistulosa, a native bee balm. This is a plant that I wanted to love. It’s a bee magnet and great for a pollinator garden. The problem is that once we got the first rain, it flopped completely over, and now that summer has progressed, it’s covered with powdery mildew.
I know I can fix the flopping by staking it properly, but the propensity for this plant to get covered with powdery mildew is something I’m not sure how to control. I’ll be waiting to see how it finishes the season before deciding whether to keep it or replace it with another pollinator-friendly plant.
It belongs in the category of ‘Plants I Want to Love but Don’t’.
What Are Your Favorite Garden Plants?
Finding the right plant for your garden is exciting and challenging. Sharing the plants that work great in my garden can be helpful to fellow gardeners.
Don’t forget to download the PDF with details about the plants discussed today, and leave some comments below about your favorite plants and what grows great for you.
That’s it for this blog post, friends. Happy gardening!
