 The plant will spread 1 to 3 feet wide and if you want the best show of color plant them in a grouping of 3 to 5 plants. This plant does not need staking and will thrive with neglect. When the weather gets dry the plant may brown up a bit along the edges of the leaves but it will return like new next year.
Selecting plants for the rock garden or the front of a perennial border can be a real challenge. Here is a long blooming perennial that will flower most of the summer usually in shades of orange, pink, red, yellow and white. The Potentilla has evergreen foliage and a flower that resembles a strawberry flower with five-petals. The plant has a mounding habit growing 1 to 2 feet tall that is usually covered with flowers all summer. Its cousin the shrub type Potentilla is more popular but the red flowering perennial type is a real standout when in bloom. Potentilla loves a soil that has been condition with compost and animal manure. Plant in sunny to partial shade location and if the climate has cool weather during the summer it will thrive. If your climate has hot summer weather be sure to plant in partial shade during the heat of the day. After the first heavy flowering in early summer cut the plant back and it will flower all over again. No major insect or disease problems. Fertilize monthly for the best color with a granular fertilizer.
Summer is a season of exciting flowers with unusual color and one of the best is the Red Hot Poker or Torch Lily. This very hardy perennial grows 3 to 4 feet tall and the flower looks like it is glowing. The flower color ranges from cream, orange, red and yellow and some times the bloom has all these colors on one flower. The flowers start in early summer and last until fall. They grow best in full sun but will tolerate some shade. They also love a rich soil containing a lot of compost and manure and is well drained. Plants do not like to be moved but if you must make sure it is in the early spring. There is no serious insects or diseases problem with this beautiful flower. The 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 ar