More perennial possibilities for growers

Editor’s Note: This article is the second of a two-part series of columns by Linda Langelo.
    
    Here are more perennial possibilities that will liven up your landscape. Some of these perennials are widely used in the landscape. Here, I offer the popular cultivated variety and the underused cultivated variety. These perennials provide nectar for pollinators, are long flowering, noninvasive or sterile, drought tolerant and are low maintenance.  Low maintenance means low or xeric water requirements once established, no fertilization required and few pests or pest-free. My suggestions on any of these would be to use them in mass to cover areas of your landscape which are difficult to keep well-watered. With this selection, drought tolerance cannot be overstated.
    — Perovskia atriplicifolia cv. ‘Blue Spires’ needs to be placed in a well-drained soil. This is a plant with no insect or disease issues. It needs to be in full sun. If you place it in too much shade the stems will flop over. This plant will bring you a long summer of blossoms of dark blue flower spikes from July through September.
    — Perovskia atriplicifolia cv. ‘Lisslitt,’ commonly sold under the trade name of Lacey Blue, is shorter than most, only growing up to 2 feet tall. This plant needs well-drained soil. It will flop over if placed in too much shade. It will bloom a lavender blossom from June to frost. This plant is free of insects and disease issues.
    — Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’ commonly sold under the trade name of May Night. This plant features deep violet blue flowers on stems rising to 18-24 inches tall.  It was selected by Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year in 1997. It grows in well-drained soils. It grows best in moist humusy soils that are well-drained and grows well in gravelly, sandy soils. It does tolerate drought. Usually, this plant is free of insects and disease. They can attract aphids and white fly. There is a susceptibility to rust and powdery mildew. Sometimes, they can be sterile and other times they may produce seed.

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