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Sunny Garden Perennials These perennials are suited to Wyoming, but need regular watering, so use them in traditionally tended gardens.
‘01 Plant Select Intensely fragrant clustered flowers change from white to deep rose (the opposite of fading!) while blooming from spring to frost (with dead heading). This selection is perennial and so much more graceful than a sweet William because the flower clusters are not in tight stiff helmets. 15-18” height allows cut flower use while the 12” wide clump forming basal foliage is pleasing in the winter garden. Zone 3 rated, Casper Mountain tested! Height: 15-18" Width: 12" Zone 3
For 4-6 weeks from late summer through early fall enjoy plentiful lavender-blue or clear pink yellow-centered Butterfly attracting flowers on compact plants. Mildew and rust resistant foliage is dark green and attractive all season. These are excellent in containers as well as when ground planted in Sun.
8-12”Height by 15”Width
Zone 3
Light yellow flat cluster flowers top 24” tall stems over furry silver basal foliage. The nearly white foliage is quite an accent in a traditional flower bed. This yarrow is not as xeric as most others and is intolerant of soggy soil in tight clay. Upright stemmed clumps develop 18-24” Width at maturity. Plant in Full Sun. Height: 24" Width: 18-24"
Zone 3
Plant Select® 2004 Lovely trailing herb 18-24 inches wide by 10-15 inches tall. Lavender and chartreuse bi-color lantern-shaped bracts form throughout the summer months drying to brown in fall. Best suited to raised beds, rock gardens or containers. Plant in well-drained garden loam, clay or sandy soil. We tried this 2 years ago and it even over-wintered in bigger pots, an eye catcher for all who saw it! Oh and the smell of oregano! Attracts bees to help pollinate your garden. Full sun to part shade. Avoid too much reflected heat.
Zone 4b
Plant Select 1999! Raspberry- rose flowers in early summer are carried over a trim mat of fury leaves with a Height and Width of 12”. This cousin of the familiar foxglove is perennial, hails from Spain and is adaptable to various soil types. Height: 12" Width: 12"
Zone 4 Echinacea: The Coneflowers Echinacea—Developed from Tall Grass Prairie and Mixed Grass Prairie native species, the Coneflowers grow best in Sun in Semi-dry to Semi-moist but never soggy soil. With their background in prairie settings, mulch on the root zone or the soil-shading effect of other plants like grass does in a meadow will provide the right conditions for them to thrive. The genus Edhinacea was named 2003 GreatPlants Perennial of the Year! Turn to the coneflowers for more color, form and bloom time than you could ever hope to get from a Shasta daisy. All have cut flower potential, butterfly attraction and winter food for small songbirds if you leave flower stalks with seed heads standing in the winter garden. Full Sun to Part Sun Shape: Upright clustered stems
Start your coneflower season off with this prairie native’s large 3” diameter, pale pink flowers blooming for a month in early summer. At 4’Height by 2’Width they can anchor the back of a border or stand tall among a cluster of Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass. The conspicuous black central cones will hold until late autumn to please any visiting pine siskins or other little songbirds. 4’Height by 2’Width
Zone 4
Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa) This one is yellow and a summer blooming native from the Ozarks. Our grower reports Zone 3 hardiness so his seed source must be from an especially selected area. Height: 2-4’ by Width: 2’
Zone 3
Recent crosses of the various native Echinacea have led to the development of some vibrant new blossom colors, and heights. Some even have wonderfully fragrant blooms. As a group though they do not break dormancy as quickly in the spring as some of their ancestors. The selections that follow will probably not arrive from our grower as soon as most of our plants. We believe that their beauty makes them worth the wait.
Crane’s Bill Geraniums These hardy perennials remind us of mountain meadows and woodland edge gardens. With average garden watering and draining soils they are long-lived joys in Sunny to Partial Sun beds and borders.
2002 Great Plants Perennial of the Year! Bowl-shaped, magenta flowers cover the plants in late spring and early summer, shearing may reward you with a later rebloom. Deeply cut foliage is mounding in habit turning blood red in autumn. Height: 12-15” Width: 12-18” Zone 3
If you have used saponaria ocymoides as a rockery or semi-dry garden groundcover it is time to look to the genus again! This large flowered hybrid cross of pumila and caespitosa forms attractive circular mounds of green foliage covered by cool, clear pink flowers in June. Attracts and feeds butterflies early in the garden season. Height: 2-3” Width: 12” Plant in Sun in well drained soil. Height: 2-3 " Width: 12"
Zone 4
If you love Pincushion flowers in the garden for butterflies and in vases for you but tire of losing them over winter try this GreatPlants 2004 Release! The original plants were collected by Great Plants Members on a mountain north of Hotot, Inner Mongolia in 1997. Rigorous selection since then has made this large, purple-blue full pincushion flower on substantial1’ Height stems above textured deep green mounded 1’ Width foliage ready to come to western gardens, rockeries, and true alpine gardens. Don’t over-water on tight soil. Height: 1' Width: 1" Zone 3 Daylily (Hemerocallis) Wide, straplike leaves, large trumpet flowers in a range of colors, great planted en mass or as clusters to hide maturing daffodil foliage, relatively low water needs except when flowering. Most blooms when planted in Sun to part Sun but forms attractive foliage in less light. Fall foliage color is usually a clear yellow. What’s not to love about daylilies?
Heavily ruffled petals on 5” lavender flowers with deep purple edges and eye-zone with a contrasting yellow throat. Early summer to mid-season reblooming tetrapoloid. Height: 2' maturing to Width : 2'
Zone 3
This is the most continuously blooming variety that we have seen. Its season starts early and the 18” tall dwarf just keeps going with 3” fragrant light yellow (NO gold) flowers. Maturity will widen one plant to an 18-24” cluster. While daylilies are drought tolerant and survive lower watering, they will not bloom well without supplemental watering from blossom set through blooming. For most blooms plant in full sun but partial sun is also tolerated.
Zone 3
Daylily Suggestions: Plant daffodils and other spring bulbs inside daylily clusters allowing the bulb foliage to mature unobtrusively while developing spring flowers for next year. This combination gives two bloom seasons in one space and also adds a pleasing fall display when the strap-like leaves of the become a sea of golden yellow.
Found years ago at an abandoned sunny farmstead on the Nebraska prairie, this plant is open-blooming in habit with large violet-blue flowers with lavender-rose falls without beards but bearing a bright yellow spot. At 36-40” height they are almost as tall as Siberian Iris and with similar sword-like foliage, but with flower form more reminiscent of Japanese Iris. The plants mature into 18” width clumps with true Zone 4 hardiness. Height: 36-40" Width: 18"
Zone 4
Really perennials, Gauras--also called Whirling Butterflies--have been tested in semi-protected neighborhoods in Casper and have wintered well for several years. The white blooms of the southern U.S. prairie native species look like a flock of little butterflies carried in loose sprays above a dense mound of dark green foliage for a total 2- 3’ height and 18-24” width. ‘Siskiyou Pink’ matures shorter at 18-24” tall and 15” wide but what a knockout with red stems, petioles and flower buds! The blooms are a rich rose pink. Both varieties make good cut flowers. Because they bloom all summer we expect the plants to not live for as many years as perennials with a more discrete flowering season. In the meantime they are charmers! Plant in sun to filtered shade providing relatively low water in semi-shade and a bit more regular watering especially when in bud and bloom when planted in the sun. Zone 5
Cheyenne Dianthus (Dianthus ‘Cheyenne’) This is a pink fragrant, double,hardylong-bloomingmini-carnation developed at the Cheyenne Horticulture Field Station. Survives in semi-dry mineral soil, thrives in emended soil with moderate watering. Plant in Sun to Partial Sunfor butterflies and hummingbirds if you don’t pick them all for yourself! Height: 1’ Width" 1’
Zone 4 Sun to partial sun
Ginger’s Kiss Dianthus (Dianthus gratiopolitanus ‘Ginger’s Kiss) Long blooming, two-toned pink flowers over fine, blue foliage stands up well in moist or dry garden soil and are also suitable for rock garden, dish, trough or border use. Height: 5" Width: 8" Zone 4 Sun
Arkansas Bluestar(Amsonia hubrichtii) 2009 GreatPlants Perennial Plant of the Year! In spring upright stems emerge, grow to 3’ and become covered in fine threadlike dark green leaves forming an airy, fine textured mound of foliage. In later May and into June elongate panicles of palest blue long slender star flowers cover the plant. For fall the foliage turns golden yellow, brightest when planted in full sun. For a dependable long-lived addition to your landscape plant in emended well-drained soils in Full to Partial Sun. Allow several years for your plant to grow into an attractive3’Height by 2-3’Width that is very effective planted en mass or as a specimen. Height: 3' Width: 2-3’
Zone 4
Petite Delight’ Bee Balm (Monarda ‘Petite Delight’) Whenever a plant is developed on the Canadian Plains of Manitoba at the Ag Canada Morden Research Station we look forward to trying it here. Freely summer-flowering 2”wide lavender-rose Hummingbird and Butterfly attracting blooms on 15-24”H by 18-24”W clumps. Plant in sun to partial sun. Hieght:15-24” Width: 18-24” Zone 3
Tequila Sunrise Coreopsis (Coreopsis ‘Tequila Sunrise’) Coreopsis, the Golden Darlings of the Summer Garden! 18-24” tall golden-yellow classic coreopsis daisy-like blooms are carried above 12-15” Width clumps of Dark olive-green foliage variegated with cream and yellow. If you think that is striking wait until fall when the foliage turns deep rich mahogany to really accent a Full Sun garden. Deadhead to encourage reblooming. Height: 18-24" Width 12-15"
Zone 4
First Love Dianthus (Dianthus ‘First Love’) Plant Select® 2001 Intensely fragrant rounded cluster flowers change from white to deep rose rather than starting dark and fading and attract butterflies, hummingbirds and gardeners with floral shears (great cut flower!). Flower stalks are 15-18” tall above 12” diameter clumps of moderately fine foliage. The overall effect is akin to Sweet Williams but perennial and much more graceful even maintaining a nice mounded foliar presence in winter. Full sun. Average flower garden watering.
Zone 3
Echinacea angustifolia Blooms in pink to creamy white with drooping petals around the central cone in July and August. The roots of this native species are recommended by herbalists for enhanced respiratory system immunity. While many growers are careless when differentiating between E. angustifolia and E. pallida ours assures us that these are grown from seed of the correct species collected in South Dakota. Height: 18-36” Width:18-24”
Zone 3
This is a prolific bloomer of huge, 5”, very fragrant bicolor flowers of light orange with a rose halo around an orange cone on 48” tall stalks in 18-24”wide clusters of stems. Height: 48" Width: 18-24"
Zone 4
Sturdy, basal branching plants produce a profusion of flower stems, each of which carries a large, bright lemon-yellow 3-4” fragrant, drooping petaled bloom. Height: 30” Width: 18”
Zone 4
This is vibrant rose-red with an unusually deep red cone and fragrance! Flower petals are wide and overlap with a slight downward curve. Height: 30” Width: 18”
Zone 4
This is a new dwarf (12" tall) with vivid magenta-purple fragrant flowers with overlapping petals, a black-red cone, black stems and blue-green foliage on 10"-12" wide plants. Height: 12" Width: 10-12"
Zone 3
Zone 4
Joe Pye Weed has a striking cousin in this creamy white cluster-flowered late summer-early fall bloomer. The bronze-purple foliage looks like chocolate in Part Sun-Part Shade and grows to 3-4’ Height, (shorter when grown dry) by 2-3’ Width.Ruth’s personal backyard garden includes a cluster of dry grown Chocolate Mist Flower. Height: 3-4" Width: 2-3'
Zone 4
Plant Select® 2001 A real eye catcher! It’s vivid green foliage is topped with glowing orange-scarlet flowers from July to frost! Hummingbirds will be drawn to tubular flowers. Cascading in growth habit it stands 4-6”H andspreads 18-24”W so place it to the front of the garden bed and watch the show. A bit of afternoon shade makes this plant thrive and bloom the most. Natively found on the far west side of Wyoming
Zone 4
Many experienced gardeners are familiar with the green-leaved form of this plant for partial shade beds. This large, violet flowered form with reddish-purple foliage adds another level of interest and is tolerant of more summer sun. Flower spikes are 24” tall. Dead head for repeat blooming. The cluster-stemmed plant will form clumps up to 18” width. Do not over-water in heavy soils. Plant in sun to partial shade. Height: 24" Width: 18"
Zone 4
Light to dark pink flowers in summer, apple-scented foliage all season-long that turns red in fall. This one forms larger pleasing mounds. Height: 18” Width: 15-18”
Zone 3
A Scottish selection that is a real ground hugging form, 6”H by 18”Wdark foliaged and blooming in bright cerise-pink. A Royal Horticultural Society Award of Merit! Height: 6” Width: 18”
Zone 4
These1’H by 1’Wmounds of semi-evergreen plants bloom in delicate pink with a deeper central flush in summer. They have potential for mid-height ground cover use and for gardens that tend a little more to formality than some of their more rambunctious cousins. Zone 4/5 rated but tough site tested for several years. Height: 1’ Width:1’ Zone 4/5
Perennial Plant Association Plant of 2008! Very large violet blue, white centered flowers from e. summer to frost top mounds of slightly marbled deep green foliage. This Blooms of Bressingham selection is special because the flowers are larger, the blue deeper and the plant more heat tolerant than similar varieties. More added perks: reddish-brown fall foliage color, rejuvenation by shearing to 3” and butterfly attraction. Add compost to the soil for best performance. Height: 20” Width: 24”
Zone 5
Plant Select 2002 Delicate pinkflowers are borne from early summer to autumn on reddish stems with gray-green foliage. The 18”H by 12”W perennial from the Alps is such a charmer in a moderately watered garden with Morning Sun. Even the silvery curling seed heads are attractive in autumn. Height: 18" Width: 12"
Zone 4
Do you need to naturalize an area, add interest to a lightly watered prairie or fill out a “woodland’s edge” garden? This June- August purple spiked bloomer standing 18” Height by 15-18” Width is the one for you! Plant in Sun. Height: 18” Width: 15-18”
Zone 4
‘Max Frei’ Soapwort (Saponaria x lempergii ‘Max Frei’) This is a gem for a rockery or the foreground in of a perennial border. Bright pink 1” flowers cover the 8” Tall by 12-18” Wide circles of butterfly attraction and cut flower creation all summer. This species is showy! Sun in well drained soil. Height: 8" Width: 12-18"
Zone 4
Wichita Mountains Goldenrod (Solidago ‘Wichita Mountains’) Great Plants ’05 This outstanding, long standing specimen with tall rods of bright gold blooming in late summer will cheer you every time you look at their blooms in your prairie planting. Butterflies will stay in your late summer garden and the bees that we need to pollinate our garden crops will have a good source of pollen for winter food in the hive.
Zone 3
Hemerocallis ‘Elegant Candy’ Daylily Very fragrant, rounded ruffled 4.5” pink flowers with a soft red eye zone around a lime green throat. This tetrapoloid is an early to mid-season rebloomer. Height: 2’ Width: 2’
We have always liked the Butterfly attracting ruby-red tall Knautia in the back of the border and for cutting but the plants tended to revert to paler pink blooms in subsequent years totally changing the look of the bed. This cultivar with 16” Height flower stalks above dark green12” Wide basal foliage stays true to color. Plant in Sun to Part Shade Rated Zone 5 but our experience has been Casper hardy without winter protection. Grow on the dry side or with good drainage if well watered. Height: 16" Width: 12" Zone 5
We loved the gentle beauty of this soft two-toned pink upright catmint in semi-dry partial sun especially when planted amongst Cranesbill Geraniums for a woodland Garden look. Then it went on to thrive in soils (clay) and exposures we had thought would be too trying. So we are offering it again! Height: 1-2' Width: 1-2' clumps
Zone 4 The best gardens seem to have an element of serendipity and the happiest Wyoming gardeners allow themselves to be pleasantly surprised by chance pairings: a fuchsia blossom beside a plant with chartreuse foliage, volunteer groundcover helping a new bed to get established. Given our intense sun, wind, and alkaline soil it is easier to be successful at English Cottage, Mediterranean, and Western Prairie Styles than it is with more formal French or Italianate Gardens. Gravel mulched rock gardens are also a good choice. Create garden windbreaks with shrubs, fences, durable perennials, and grasses so that your "Sunny Garden" perennials can thrive through the intensity of summer. Many are tall grass prairie derived and are accustomed to natural shelter from the brunt of wind and continual beating of summer sun. Just match plants by water need and sun level. That is the way to long life and vigor in the garden. Plan the basics now and if need be tweak it next year. Perennials are forgiving!
Throughout this site, the following are used as guidelines for watering established plants:
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‘First Love’ Dianthus (Dianthus ‘First Love’)
Moonshine
Spanish Peaks Foxglove (Digitalis thapsi)
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
Bloody Crane’s Bill (Geranium sanguineum)
Oliviana Soapwort(Saponaria x oliviana)
‘Mongolian Mist’ Pincushion Flower
‘Fontanelle’ Iris(Iris spuria ‘Fontanelle’)
Summer Sky Coneflower
'After Midnight'
Chocolate Mist Flower (Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’) 
Orange
Carpet Hummingbird Trumpet (Zauschneria garretti ‘Orange Carpet’)
‘Purple Rain’ Jacob’s Ladder
Adratic Geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum)
Shepherd’s Warning’ Geranium
Geranium cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’
Geranium ‘Rozanne’
Alpine Willowherb (Epilobium fleischeri)
‘Mars Midget’ Knautia
These truly xeric plants can live with our 12 inches of natural precipitation and only need a winter watering during a multi-year drought but they will thrive with a monthly watering. Overwatering will kill some of these.
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