Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Plant of the Month-June 09


I've finally figured out how to make selecting the Plant of the Month an easy chore for me. It used to be that there were SO many good plants that I just could not choose, but now I have a plan. From now on it is going to be the plant that has been in bloom the longest, is the brightest (or a close equal), an easy to grow plant, and one that has more than one variety. There is only plant that fits the bill in my garden for June, and it is coreopsis. The one pictured above is Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise', but there are many varieties you can grow. Here at Tiger Gardens I also grow Coreopsis auriculata 'Nana' (an early bloomer and splendid plant), and Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' (it is just now coming into bloom). I only recently added 'Sunrise'. I like the sunny yellow of all the coreopsis.

I haven't met a coreopsis I did not like and have been most overjoyed with them all this spring. All of my coreopsis grow in part shade-yet they still bloom, and bloom well. They require no special soil or fussing over and just give and give.
Runners up for June's Plant of the Month were: daylilies (just now beginning to bloom), veronica (the must have garden plant in my garden), and hollyhocks (just now coming in to bloom).

Funny, this time last year the bee balm and yarrow were really blooming and looked outstanding. I could not choose between the two so I let the readers choose. This year both are much later and only now beginning to bloom.

What would be your best June plant? And what is your zone? I am in a Zone 6/7 garden.

in the garden....

26 comments:

  1. I agree with you about the coreopsis. My Yarrow has just started to bloom but, like you, the Bee Balm is slow. It has expanded, however! I have plenty to spread around.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good morning, I would say my plant of the month would be Kalimeris pinnatifida, Japanese Aster. It is blooming starting the beginning of this month and will go through frost. Long time bloomer!

    ReplyDelete
  3. My vote is coreopsis as well Tina. I love them! Right now my favorite is the new Autumn Blush I bought. So far they are really happy here in my part of Texas--zone 7!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, I still see many irises about. Love the coreopsis.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Coreopsis is a cutie pie of a flowering plant...what is your secret to the Moonbeam? It dies over the winter, I was wondering if drainage was a issue?

    My plant of the month...daylilies. They will be blooming for a while longer.

    Gail

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love coreopsis, and one just jumped on my cart the other day when I was buying mulch. Heh! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm not sure how well I like coreopsis....I have some. My plant for June is the White Hibiscus I have posted today.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Tina! In my garden, it is Silene armeria or Sweet William catchfly. It's making the perennial bed all pink, again. Your coreopsis is bright and cheerful!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hmmm I'm going to have to get Coreopsis - I don't have any. I guess my plant of the month would have to be Salvia. I'm just getting familiar with them but don't they bloom for a long time?
    Tina, I have to tell you I just LOVE my Heuchera Snow Angel's bloom. It just keeps getting brighter and bigger. So unusual for a Heuchera bloom! Thanks for showing it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oops!!! Oh my gosh what was I thinking - all of my Campanulas are blooming!!! And I know they bloom most of the summer and are so showy!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Good morning Tina. In my garden the verticillata are the only ones that are long lived. I love their airy look and tough attitude;) The verticillata bloom all summer here.

    My yarrow is just starting to bloom too. Definitely a long bloomer.

    I appreciate plants that have a long bloom period but it's always the ones with the shortest flowering time that I lose my heart too. This month it would be peonies and roses too of course.
    Marnie

    ReplyDelete
  12. Coreopsis is a good pick for June. My yarrow and purple coneflowers are putting on a show though! The daylilies are blasting color in the front yard, I can see where June could be a difficult month to pick from!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would have to say our plant of the month would be Daylilies, but they are nearing the end of their flush. That being said the best performer is definitely the black and blue salvia. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. This year it would have to be the butterfly bush for me! They were not fully bloomed this time last year. I assume the rains and super warm temps brought them to us sooner. They are so pretty right now, even more open then the pics over the weekend! They are calling in the butterflies and I finally spotted my first Monarch of the year on them yesterday!

    ReplyDelete
  15. They are so pretty but in my garden it would be the Lupine. With all different colored ones and some of the spikes being 24-30 inches tall and 4-5 inches around they are stunning. I brought some in the house and had to keep getting a bigger and bigger vase as the vases would fall over from all the weight.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Well if I can only pick one it would have to be the 'Blue Eyed Grass'. It has such nice little blooms. It is a little shy when it comes to opening its blooms though. They seem to only even open in the early afternoon. As for my zone I have heard conflicting things. Some say I am zone 5 and some say I am zone 6a. I go with 6a because it sounds better :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I planted Mrs. Bradshaw Geum this year for the first time and so far it's been a show stopper in my June garden. Love it! -Jackie

    ReplyDelete
  18. BTW -- Peonies are my all time favorite, but their bloom time is just so short. -Jackie

    ReplyDelete
  19. I do love coreopsis, mine looks like it's getting buds. I think right now it's got to be Red Valerian. It's the brightest and longest blooming flower going on right now. I'm sure my mind will change in a week or so though :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Tina. You are always very thoughtful about your choices, this month is no exception. In my garden (zone 5) it would have to be either Centranthus Rubra or any of my Penstemons. They've all been putting on quite a show. Monarda is no where near ready to bloom (at least last time I looked).

    ReplyDelete
  21. The coreopsis is a great choice since it's such an easy flower to grow. Then why don't I have any in my garden? Maybe it's the common name that scares me away--tickseed. I know, it's silly, but just the thought of growing more of those little bloodsuckers. Gives me the shivers! Really, though, I agree with you, Tina. Here, I would have to say the hydrangea Endless Summer is my choice. It's such a flamboyant thing, putting most of my other plants to shame.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Tina,
    Here in my zone 8/9 I will have to go with my Jasmine. It has been in bloom for a month. I do have other plants blooming but the Jasmine has been the longest. My roses, lantana, black, blue salvia, lilies have blooms. A hard choice.
    I like your coreopsis--would like to try some here.

    ReplyDelete
  23. HI all! Guess I can't say good morning since it is afternoon already! Our power went out for over 2 hours and even though the electricity came back on, the Internet did not. I've been out all day so a bit late this morning. Behind is the word of the day.

    I must say this month's comments have been extremely helpful with all the choices for plants of the month! It is most interesting to hear of them all and note the great blooming plants in June gardens all across the country and even world. Thanks!

    Please forgive me for not responding to all comments, know I do read them and appreciate them all. I will only be answering questions due to the lateness of the day.

    Gail, Yes, I think drainage is good. My moonbeam are in raised beds or on the edge of trenched beds. It just keeps getting bigger each year.

    Linda, So glad you like it! I just divided my one plant and got 10 new ones! I've prepared a post for some date as yet to be determined. It is a nice plant.

    Gotta go....ttyl

    ReplyDelete
  24. Coreopsis is a wonderful choice for plant of the month. I have 'Jethro Tull' an he has been blooming since last month. I would have to say Drumstick Alliums would be my plant pick for June. I'm in Zone 7b. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your coreopsis is a good choice, and I like the criteria you've chosen. My coreopsis have yet to bloom, so probably using the criteria you've mentioned I'd have to choose my nepeta. Of course, it will be blooming all summer:) Almost forgot--I'm in zone 5A, almost 5b.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love coreopsis! The yellows are always so cheerful!

    ReplyDelete

ALL SPAM WILL BE PROMPTLY FRIED. PLEASE DO NOT LIFT PHOTOS OR WORDS. THANKS!