 main problem is wet feet and it may likely rot away in heavy clay like soils. When happy with location and soil it will grow quickly and provide you with many beautiful flowers during the summer. I have this one in my garden and it does well in Maine so it is winter hardy.
How would you like a perennial that flowers in the summer and has decorative seedpods in the fall? My answer is yes and the plant is called Iris Foetidissima or Stinging Iris. The flowers come in the spring and are yellow or purple in color. This is followed by a seedpod that splits open in the fall to reveal beautiful scarlet or orange seeds. The plant will grow to 18 to 24 inches tall and spread 18 inches wide. If you do not harvest the beautiful seedpod it will remain decorative throughout the winter. The long stems make it easy to use in dried flower arrangements. They will grow most anywhere including in a dry shade area under tall trees. In the fall pick some of the pods and break apart the seeds to plant in your garden to start new plants. Your soil should be rich in compost and animal manure when planting. Keep wet until the ground freezes over and spread a little mulch around the plants or on top of the seeds.
The first perennial I grew is called Coral Bells and I still love its delicate flowers on long stems. The tiny flowers resemble a bell and the hummingbirds love it. The foliage stays low in a mound 6 to 8 inches tall but the flower stems grow to 18 to 24 inches tall. The flowers appear in late spring and last for 6 to 8 weeks on the plant and 2 weeks or more in a vase of water. Coral Bells love a cool spot in your garden. They will thrive in full sun to partial shade and make a great woodsy plant. They will not do well in heavy soil so be sure to mix large quantities of compost and manure when planting. The foliage is heart-shaped, evergreen and beautiful, a real plus. The plant has few insect or disease problems and is trouble free. Coral Bells make the perfect perennial for the beginner or expert gardener. The flower colors are red, pink and white, a must.
Liatris-Blazing Star white
July and August are months that are sit back and enjoy the garden and this is possible if you did all your spring work as needed but some times it difficult. The perennial Liatris "Blazing Star" white is a very useful plant that comes into bloom 'without 'your help or care. It's actually a bulb that will spread rapidly if you have good soil and feed the regularly. Each bulb can make five new bulbs in just 3 years. The Liatris is often confused with the Loosestrife plant that chokes our wetlands every summer. This plant is safe to grow in your garden and not evasive. The Liatris is a rugged winter hardy plant that will do well in full sun to partial shade. The flowers develop on long thick stems that are covered with hundreds of buds that open slowly from top to bottom over several weeks. The flowers make the stem appear as if they are covered with a soft cottony material. The plant will attract butterflies all the time its in bloom and it makes a wonderful cut flower. Plant the bulbs or a starter plant in the spring is recommended. The richer your soil the better and larger the flower spikes will be.
When spring arrives the one plant that announces to me: "that spring is here" "that spring is here" is the "Bleeding Heart". If you're looking for elegance in your perennial garden, a plant that is spectacular, look no further than the "Bleeding Heart". This plant is necessary for the shady garden but it will do well with half a day of sun. The foliage softens such shade plants as hosta and daylilies making a beautiful combination. The flowers appear on long curved stems that contain 12 or more flowers each. The bloom resembles a tiny heart that breaks open at the bottom to reveal a tear like petal. The pink variety has a white tear. The plant grows 2 to 3 feet tall and flourishes best in a rich fertile soil and lives longer especially in cool climates. The Bleeding Heart forms a clump that expands quickly and the clump can be divided after the third season. Y