Prairie oasis

Favourite perennials

Those with an * require a sheltered microclimate. Depending on the weather, Sara waters perennial borders deeply (60 centimetres) once every 10 to 14 days.

Sun

• Yarrow (Achillea 'Credo') 1 m tall x 45 cm wide
• 'Variegata' rock cress (Arabis caucasica 'Variegata') 20 cm x 30 cm
• Stemless carline thistle (Carlina acaulis ssp. simplex) 10 cm x 15 cm
• Tube clematis (Clematis heracleifolia) 1 m x 1 m
• Roman wormwood (Corydalis sempervirens) 35 cm x 30 cm
• Shooting stars (Dodecatheon meadia) 30 cm x 30 cm
• Draba spp. 5 to 10 cm x 10 cm
• Mountain avens (Dryas octopetala) 5 to 10 cm x 5 to 10 cm
• Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum) 2 m x 60 cm
• Filipendula ulmaria 'Aurea' 1 m x 60 cm
• F. u. 'Variegata' 1 m x 60 cm
• Crested gentian (Gentiana septemfida) 15 to 20 cm x 30 cm
• Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) 1 to 1.25 m x 30 cm
• I. spuria 1 m x 30 cm
• Blue flag iris (I. versicolor) 60 to 100 cm x 30 cm
• Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus 'Plenum') 60 cm x 30 cm
• Chinese rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) 2.5 m x 2 m
• Moss campion (Silene acaulis) 3 cm x 20 cm
• Comb speedwell (Veronica pectinata) 5 cm x 20 cm
• Adam's needle (Yucca glauca) 1 m x 60 cm

Shade

• Purple bugbane (Actaea simplex Atropurpurea Group syn. Cimicifuga racemosa) 1.2 to 1.6 m x 1 m
• 'Brunette' purple bugbane (see above) 1.2 to 1.6 m x 1 m
• American maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) 30 to 60 cm x 30 to 45 cm
• Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense) 15 to 30 cm x 30 to 45 cm
• European ginger (A. europaeum) 15 cm x 30 cm
• Masterwort (Astrantia major) 45 cm x 30 cm*
• 'Pictum' japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum') 45 cm x 30 cm
• Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) 30 to 45 cm x 45 to 60 cm*
• Callianthemum spp. 10 cm x 20 cm
• Barrenwort (Epimedium spp.) 30 to 60 cm x 30 cm*
• Bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) 30 to 60 cm x 30 to 45 cm
• Hepatica transsilvanica 15 cm x 30 cm
• 'Variegatum' Fragrant Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum') 60 cm x 100 cm
• Dusty miller primrose (Primula auricula) 20 cm x 20 cm
• Cortusa primrose (P. cortusoides) 20 cm x 25 cm
• Cowslip (P. veris) 25 cm x 25 cm
• Lungwort (Pulmonaria mollis) 20 to 30 cm x 20 cm
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) 15 cm x 30 cm*
• Meadow rue (Thalictrum kiusianum) 10 cm x 30 cm
• Foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia) 30 cm x 40 cm*

Sun or shade

• Pheasant's eye (Adonis vernalis) 30 to 45 cm x 30 cm
• 'Chocolate chip' carpet bugleweed (Ajuga reptans 'Chocolate Chip') 15 cm x 50 to 75 cm
• Alpine lady's mantle (Alchemilla alpina) 15 cm x 25 cm
• Fan columbine (Aquilegia flabellata) 15 to 30 cm x 30 cm
• Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) 25 cm x 45 cm
• Dragon's head (Dracocephalum spp.) 30 to 45 cm x 35 to 45 cm
• 'Cheddar' globeflower (Trollius 'Cheddar') 60 cm x 30 cm
• Bird's foot violet (Viola pedata) 30 to 50 cm x 30 to 50 cm

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