Regional Picks: Plant This, Not That – Midwest

Overused:‘Karl Foerster ’

feather reed skunk

( Calamagrostis×acutifolia

‘ Karl Foerster ’ )

1.‘Heavy Metal’ Switchgrass

Name:Panicum virgatum‘Heavy Metal’

USDA Hardiness Zones:5 to 9

Size:4 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide-eyed

Conditions : Full sun to fond shade ; well - drain soil

Oh , Karl , you were my first ( ornamental - grass ) love . I ’m not alone , apparently , because your savourless green color and wheatlike blossom have appeared in traffic - island garden across the Midwest . But I ’ve grown up , seen the world , and found many smoke that you just ca n’t top . I ’ve become specially fond of ‘ Heavy Metal ’ switchgrass . Its dreamy , metal blue color ; nebular pinkish flowers ; and fantabulous clopping chassis demand a place in the garden . locate it in full Lord’s Day for the best maturation and shape . It mold a thick clump that should be foreshorten back in later winter or early spring .

pic : doreenwynja.com

Overused : Linden

( Tilia cordata )

2. Fastigiate European Hornbeam

Name:Carpinus betulus‘Fastigiata’

Zones:4 to 8

Size:30 to 40 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet full

Most city and suburban nurseryman need a small tree with a narrow spread , but too often , fledged height and width are not consider until the tree is grow into their bedroom windows . Unlike the linden , fastigiate European hornbeam offer a narrow-minded use in spring chicken . It will age into a teardrop shape that ’s not as wide and pyramidal as the linden , allowing it to be used in small yard and as a street tree diagram . While the linden ’s declivity color is often disappointing , this hornbeam has a more reliable , strong xanthous surrender color . It also does not have the messy blossom of the linden tree .

Photo : millettephotomedia.com

Overused : opprobrious - eyed Susan

( Rudbeckia fulgidacvs . )

3. Big Sky™ Sunrise Coneflower

Name:Echinacea‘Sunrise’

Zones:4 to 9

Size:2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide-eyed

atmospheric condition : Full sun ; well - drained soil

While black - eyed Susan remain an old - fashioned favorite , this new coneflower offer soft , subtler flowers . Big Sky ™ Sunrise is an elegant , more refined option to black - eyed Susan , with citron yellowish petals and green centers . It is a hardy , honest plant that does good in full Lord’s Day . Big Sky ™ Sunrise will blossom from June through August and seems to be quite the butterfly stroke magnet . Also , with long , strong stems and cleaner leafage than black - eyed Susan , it makes a dandy cut flower .

Krista Reilly , a 10 - year fleeceable - industry veteran , lives , gardens , and obsesses over plants in the city and suburbs of Chicago , Illinois .

Photos , except where noted : Michelle Gervais

‘Heavy Metal’ Switchgrass

Photo: doreenwynja.com

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Regional Picks: Plant This With That—Midwest

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