grance and Texture
Lavender (Lavendula spp.) and Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) produce spikes of flowers in the spring, summer or fall. Lavender has fragrant pink, purple or white flowers, while Russian sage blooms in purple-blue. Both plants will continue to grow new flowers throughout the season. They both require a full-sun exposure. Lavender grows to a height of 1 to 3 feet and is good for fresh-cut flowers that can be dried for use in potpourri. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Russian sage produces good fresh-cut flowers and grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9.
Hybrid tea and floribunda roses (Rosa spp. and hybrids) produce excellent cut flowers and most will continue to provide new flowers from spring to first frost. In mild-winter climates, they often continue to produce flowers year-round. The flowers can be single-form with fewer than 12 petals, semi-double or fully double with up to 60 petals. Flower colors can be various shades of gray, orange, pink, purple, tan or coffee, red or yellow and many are two-toned or have multiple colors. They require at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Hybrid teas produce larger flowers with one flower per stem while floribundas usually produce multiple flowers or sprays on each stem. They are generally hardy in USDA zones 2 to 10 and grow to 2 1/2 to 6 feet tall depending on the hybrid or species.
- University of California: Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Top Plants for Sonoma County: Sidalcea spp.
- Cornell University: Growing Guide: Prairie Mallow
- Cornell University: Growing Guide: Dame’s Rocket
- University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Tulare-Kings Co: Companion Plants for Roses
- Plant Lust: Hesperis Matronalis “Violet”
- Invasive Plant Atlas: Dames Rocket
- Cornell University: Growing Guide: African Daisy
- San Marcos Growers: Arctotis Sun Spot Orange [“Archley”] PP14,667 – Orange African Daisy
- Plant Lust: Arctotis Gumbletonii
- Cornell University: Growing Guide: Aster, New England
- University of California: Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Perennials: Top Perennials for Sonoma County
- Plant Lust: Michaelmas Daisy
- Cornell University: Growing Guide: Lavender
- University of California: Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Top Plants for Sonoma County: Lavendula spp.
- University of California: Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Top Plants for Sonoma County: Perovskia Atriplicifolia
- University of Georgia: The Trial Gardens at UGA: 2009 Trial Results: Perovskia Atriplicifolia “Taiga”
- Plant Lust: Perovskia atriplicifolia “Filigran”
- Fine Gardening: Genus Rosa (Rose)
- Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society: Types of Roses
- Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society: Fabulous Floribunda Roses
- Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images