Return to Plants

Summer

Blue Brazilian Sage (Salvia guaranitica) - One of many beautiful salvias found in the gardens, Blue Brazilian Sage blooms from late spring until early fall, perfect timing for our summer hummingbirds that love the sweet nectar these blue flowers produce. A nice planting can be found in the Courtyard perennial border. Blue Brazilian Sage prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil and is hardy to zone 7.
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) - This vine is slow to establish, but once its roots take hold, watch out! This hydrangea is featured climbing up the Gatehouse wall in the Courtyard. Late in the spring the dark green leaves and the snow-white, lace-cap blooms create a wall of their own. Lean in a little closer and you will notice the flower's sweet fragrance. The climbing hydrangea is equally appealing in the winter with its cinnamon brown stems snaking across the wall's surface. Older bark begins to exfoliate after three years. Hardy in zones 4 to 7…not as vigorous in the south.
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) - Every northern gardener who visits The Elizabethan Gardens wants to know what this plant is and whether or not they can grow it. Crape myrtles are only hardy to zone 7 (questionably zone 6), but gardeners from the north still carry them home to experiment. Crape myrtles are available in a variety of sizes from 5 feet to over 30 feet in height. Flowers appear early in July, and are typically white, pink, or lavender. We use a pruning technique called pollarding to give our crape myrtles a very formal, rounded appearance. This technique was used in the sixteenth century in order to increase the production of many shoots for cooking fires. 
Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) - This native coneflower is found in our Courtyard Perennial Border. The cutleaf coneflower needs plenty of room to grow; it's a rampant spreader! It grows to 4 feet in full to part sun, and provides cheery yellow flowers for several weeks in the summer. We receive an encore in fall by cutting back the spent flowers after the first flush of blooms. Hardy in zones 3 to 9.
Daylily (Hemerocallis species) - The daylilies that line our Great Lawn begin popping open in July. While each individual flower only lasts for a day (hence the name), the overall display lasts for several weeks. These low-maintenance plants are a great choice for the beginning gardener. Daylily growers have created an unlimited palette of plants to choose from. Daylilies can be early-, mid-, or late season bloomers depending on type. The flowers are available in many forms and just about any color except blue. There are even evergreen daylilies that provide foliage year-round. Hardy in zones 3 to 9.
Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) - Gardenias are found along the trails leading visitors through The Gardens. It is a 4 foot evergreen shrub with a tendency to blend in with its surroundings until the snow white flowers begin to appear in May and June. At that time, the fragrance fills the air with sweetness. Gardenias prefer full sun to partial shade, and need protection from winter winds and cold temperatures. Hardy in zones 7b to 10.
Lacecap and Hortensia Big Leaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla ) - Lacecap and Hortensia (sometimes called mophead) hydrangeas make up a large portion of the summer flowering shrubs in The Gardens. Our acidic soils push most of the flower colors toward blue and purple, but some cultivars do remain pink. Staff and visitors both enjoy the beauty of the hydrangeas. They are lovely when blooms first appear in June, then amazing to watch as the colors change and deepen with maturity. Big leaf hydrangeas grow up to 6 feet in height, and are hardy in zones 6 to 9.
Oak Leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) - The oak leaf hydrangeas are found throughout The Gardens. Visitors will find an especially nice specimen on our Rhododendron Path. As the name implies, this hydrangea's leaves resemble an oak leaf. The panicles of flowers appear in June, and can be up to a foot long and almost half as wide! Over time, the white blooms fade to a rosy pink then to brown. Oak leaf hydrangeas can grow to 6 to 8 feet, and are hardy in zones 5 to 9.
Pentas (Pentas graffiti) - This colorful annual is a staple each year for our sunny beds and is usually planted in multiple locations, including the Courtyard and the Sunken Garden. Beautiful enough on its own, it adds even more color to the gardens by virtue of the butterflies it attracts! Pentas come in a variety of colors and are easy to grow in hot, sunny beds with well-drained soil.
Rain Lily (Zephranthes candida) - Rain lilies open up after an early summer rainstorm, but gardeners can coax them to bloom by giving them a good watering with the hose. The bright colored lilies are tough plants, adaptable to most soils. In between rainstorms (or waterings) the blue-green clumps of foliage resemble liriope. Our rain lilies can be found near the 'Powis Castle' Artemesia growing in the Front Entrance Border. Hardy in zones 8 to 10.
Willowleaf Sunflower (Helianthus salicifolius) - There are several species of perennial sunflowers available, and all are easy to grow. Their only requirements are a lot of sun and ample room to spread. The bright yellow flowers are a nice addition to any border. Our sunflowers are growing at the Front Entrance with bright yellow-leafed Canna 'Bengal Tiger' and purple-leafed Aster 'Lady in Black'…very nice! The willowleaf sunflower is hardy in zones 5 to 9.