Regional Picks: Perennial Hole Fillers – Mountain West

1. Shrubby Penstemon

Name:Penstemon fruticosus

USDA Hardiness Zones:4 to 9

Size:16 column inch tall and wide

Conditions : Full sun to partial shade ; well - drained soil

Shrubby penstemon fill empty garden spots with its many bell - shaped prime , which bloom in rose wine - purple and lavender between May and August and attract bumblebee and hummingbird . It looks especially nice cascading over rocks . Shrubby penstemon is native to the foothill and drop of the West , from Wyoming and Montana to the Cascade Mountains of Washington and Oregon . Trim its branch wind in former outflow to defend a shaggy-haired shape .

2. ‘Blue Zinger’ Sedge

Name:Carex flacca‘Blue Zinger’

Zones:5 to 8

Size:8 to 12 in marvelous and 1 to 2 feet wide-cut

condition : Partial to full tincture ; well - drain land

strike alone or in groups , this deer - resistant plant has narrow , blue - green leaves , which add color and texture to spaces among taller perennials and shrubs . An improvement over the species , ‘ Blue Zinger ’ sedge work more clumps and has light blue foliation than other sedges . It prefers moist soils but tolerates ironic conditions once established in shade .

3. Silver-Edged Horehound

Name:Marrubium rotundifolium

Zones:5 to 9

Size:10 inches marvelous and 18 inches wide

Conditions : Full sun ; lean , sandy dirt

This fast - develop , drought - tolerant , firewise ground natural covering is aboriginal to Turkey ’s high and wry elevations , so it ’s pure for satiate in holes in the xeric gardens of the Mountain West . The flowers of silvery - border horehound do n’t hold a candle to its attractive lenient - felted foliage . circular green leaves have a muddled white back and edges , which contrast nicely with blue- or silvery - leave grasses and perennials . Be forewarned , though : This plant melts in high humidity .

4. ‘Terracotta’ Yarrow

Name:Achillea millefolium‘Terracotta’

Zones:3 to 9

Size:2 to 3 feet marvellous and encompassing

condition : Full sun ; lean , fast - draining soil

‘ Terracotta ’ yarrow is a delightful summertime makeweight with a long bloom meter , and it allow a dramatic demarcation to neighboring plant . Its silvery foliation is top with big , monotonous flower bunch in pale lily-livered , Salmon River - peach , or burn down orange — often in combination — make this one of the most interesting yarrows . ‘ Terracotta ’ is fire resistant and thrives under hot , dry conditions . Hummingbirds and butterflies know its flowers , but deer typically allow for it alone . The blossoms retain their people of color well and make excellent cut or dry flowers . bump off flower heads as soon as they fade to encourage more blooms .

Teresa O’Connor is coauthor ofGrocery Gardeningand lives in Boise , Idaho .

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Terracotta Yarrow

Photo: Joshua McCullough/phytophoto.com

Regional Picks: Perennial Hole Fillers - Midwest

Regional Picks: Perennial Hole Fillers - Northwest

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Shrubby Penstemon

Photo: Joshua McCullough/phytophoto.com

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