PEREN N I AL FOCUS
continued from page 8 Since this Allium has a fibrous root structure, it is easily divisible in early spring or fall. This lovely perennial partners well with short Goldenrods such as Solidago ‘Little Lemon’ that will be a bit taller and bloom slightly later, thus extending the food season for pollinators. I have planted mine in front of a Dwarf Pink Rose and next to a Yellow Sedge. The color echoes that of the flowers of Agastache ‘Golden Jubilee’. At the Des Moines Botanical Garden, a mass of it is planted in front of one of the tall Liatris but it would also look great in front of the shorter Liatris ‘Kobold’. This virtually no-maintenance perennial takes center stage during the summer when many gardeners are reluctant to venture out. However, its breath-taking beauty may entice them into the garden in spite of the heat.
‘Millenium’ with Liatris at the Des Moines Botanical Garden, late July.
Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance writer, and lecturer whose specialties are perennial gardens and four season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD). Bobbie’s new book, Garden Renovation: Transform Your Yard into the Garden of Your Dreams, was published in November 2017 by Timber Press.
10 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association