Ground Cover and Perennials

■ Lobelia Cardinalis- Cardinal Flower (Lobeliaceae. Lobelia family)

In the late summer, from August to October, foot high spikes of scarlet red flowers  will provide flashes of color in the garden and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. This native perennial grows best in shady to partially sunny, acid soils.   These plants are often found near cypress swamps and require moist soil. They are good companion plants with ferns. Plants are disappearing from native habitat and do not transplant well.  Plants from seeds can be transplanted when young. 

■ Thelypteris kunthii- Autumn Fern, Wood Fern, and Shield Fern (Polypodiaceae. Polypody family)

   Autumn fern     Wood fern        Shield fern

Shield ferns are indigenous to the gulf coast and lower south. Light green fronds and  a delicate texture make these 24"-36" plants a good choice for a natural area in the garden. They thrive in moist soils and are a natural looking ground cover when used in large masses. They can take morning sun, but are best in shady areas. In our project they are used as a border and with under story trees, but another use in the home garden would be to plant with bulbs. When plants die back the ferns will begin to grow and hide dying foliage from the bulb. Shield ferns spread by rhizomes and volunteers can be prolific, but not invasive.  Not widely available, ask to dig from a neighbor's garden.

■ Eupatorium coelestinum-Ageratum or Mist Flower (Compositae. Daisy family)

This native wildflower can be found from Texas to New Jersey in moist woods, meadows and stream banks.  It resembles cultivated argeratum, but is taller.  The flowers are light blue/violet and will bloom July to October and will attract butterflies.  It is self seeding. Our plants will be installed in the fall..

■ Liatris elegans-Gay Feather or Blazing Star (Compositae. Daisy family)

These grass like plants grow to about 2’ and produce a tall purple or white spiked, feathery flower in the spring and summer.  Best grown in sunlight with well drained soil, they are easy to grow and look good planted with rudbeckia. Our plants were propagated in the City greenhouses at Daphne High School.

■ Gingers

■ Rudbeckia- ‘Goldsturm’- Black eyed Susan (Compositae. Daisy family)

These perennial wildflowers are native to warm, moist pine woods and plains from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.  They can be found by the side of the road and in fields, meadows and local gardens, thriving in hot and humid summers and in full sun. A very useful border plant. The plant is low to the ground, but from July to September, a tall, architectural stem with a large flower emerges 18”-36”, with some varieties as tall as 6'.  It is related to Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan). There are approximately 25 North American species of Rudbeckia maxima.  Rudbeckia fulgida sullivantii 'Goldsturm' was chosen for our project. Goldsturm is a lower growing (three foot tall), easy to find in local nurseries and is pest free. It is considered the best black-eyed Susan for the South and will grow true from seed.

■ Echinacea- Cone Flower (Compositae-Daisy family)

Easy to grow, native perennial wildflowers that can tolerate sun and drought.  Blooms summer into fall and attracts butterflies. Some varieties can grow to 4’ tall, all produce a daisy like flower with petals that seem to fall back, away from the cone like center. Some say the native Americans used the stiff cone as a hair comb. Our plants have an orange tone in them.

■ Lantana (Verbenaceae-Verbena family)

"Ham and Eggs" Lantana

These low growing shrubs are native from Central America to Texas and are considered by some to be an escaped ornamental. The plant has a distinctive odor when touched or cut and develops fleshy berries that attract birds and wildlife. Yellow, lavender and red are available and the plants can grow in ordinary soil and full sun.  They are drought resistant when established.  The ‘ham and eggs’ lantana (yellow and pink flower) is found locally in many Olde Towne gardens and also in ditches is very hardy and should be pruned hard in February to prevent woodiness.  These plants are tough!

■ Neomarica gracilis-Walking Iris (Iridaceae. Iris family)

This plant is a native of Brazil and has become popular in the gulf coast where it makes a good, clumping form ground cover. Plants will grow to about 15" in full sunlight or partial shade. Flowers are white with blue markings and appear at the end of long, flat, sword like scapes.  When the scapes touch the ground they root and a new plant will form. Our plants were dug from a local garden.

■Tradescantia x Andersoniana -Spiderwort (Commelinaceae. Spiderwort family)

Planted for project  Naturalized on site

A native in the Southern coastal states to New York and South Dakota. They provide spring and summer flowers that are blue violet. They can be divided and will grow in clumps or single plants.  They will grow in sun or partial shade. Flowers will open in the morning and close around noon.  Plants chosen for our project are (find name). The foliage is more yellow green than plants commonly found naturalized in our gardens and lawns in Daphne.  Dig up volunteers from your lawn and transplant into your flower beds or containers for color. Cut foliage back after blooming for a neater clump.

 Zingiber Zerumbet-Pine Cone Lily, Shampoo Plant

This native of India and Southeast Asia has found a place in older local gardens.  The plant is valued for its graceful mass of dark green foliage and the green “pinecones” produced in the summer, which turn bright red through the fall. Small creamy yellow flowers will grow out of the cones.  The cone, when squeezed, produces a fragrant, lanolin like liquid reported to work like shampoo. The cones make an interesting addition to cut flowers.