Ligularia – although there are many common names for these dramatic and handsome beauties, in Calgary the usual term is the generic ligularia. They are fabulous perennials, occurring naturally from Europe across to Japan.
Ligularia stenocephala ‘The Rocket’ belongs to the plant family COMPOSIT and Genus Ligularia. This genus was classified into the Compositae by count Alexandre de Cassioni in his early 19th century work, Dictionarie de Sciences Naturelles. It is today groued into the Asteraceae. The species is native to northern China, Japan and Taiwan. This is the only widely cultivated variety.

- Ligularia ‘The Rocket’ is a stately plant with very tall, 5 to 6′ golden yellow flower spikes that rise up high over large, serrated green foliage.
- The long narrow yellow spires open up with blooms from bottom to top.
- All plants need light to allow the photosynthesis process of converting carbon dioxide to growth sugars to take place.
- Some plants need more sun-light than others.
- Ligularia stenocephala ‘The Rocket’ does not attract these beautiful hummingbird, sunbird or nectar feeding varieties of garden birds.
- Almost all plants grown in gardens need to be fed using fertilzer in order to see them at their best.
- It performs at its best when planted in cool, wet areas.
- Ligularia stenocephala ‘The Rocket’ can survive very cold winters with annual averages as low as -30 Fahrenheit.
- This plant likes soils that are bog.
- This species likes partial to full shade. It does well in moist soils.
- Ligularia stenocephala ‘The Rocket’ is a perennial.
- A robust perennial essential to the mixed border and back of perennial beds. Attractive massed in a woodland setting. Linear planting creates a striking seasonal hedge-like mass.
- Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system.
- Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.
- Prune old flower heads to encourage more blossoms.

Lamium is a short, rapid growing plant in the mint family. Also referred to as spotted deadnettle, lamium will grow in shady locations that do not commonly support other plant life. Members of the Lamium that are grown in the garden are usually done so for their beautiful foliage. The Lamium genus are hardy perennials and contains many members most of which are weeds.

Characteristics of Dead Nettle (Lamium)

- Nettle is a well behaved ground cover and is not considered a serious garden thug.
- It is easily edged in the spring and is not likely to become a weed.
- Dead nettles are ground cover perennials with leaves that are marked in silver. The flowers – yellow or pink – appear next to the leaves.
- It flowers in late spring or early summer.
- This is one hardy plant, surviving nicely down into USDA zone 2.
- Dead Nettles are deer resistant. A good plant to use for naturalizing, massing or as a ground cover.

Planting Conditions for Dead Nettle (Lamium)

- Very hot conditions can lighten up the colouring so this plant is best considered a part-shade or shade groundcover in a decent soil.
- Try planting under shrubs to brighten up unused garden spaces.
- Place the plants no deeper than they were growing in the containers.
- Set the plants 9 to 12 inches apart.
- Water well until soil is completely moist.
- Control the spread in the spring with a sharp shovel to edge it.
- Easily propagated by division in the spring or by tip cuttings.

Caring for Dead Nettle

- They should be fertilized in the spring.
- Once the flowering season is over they should be cut back.
- Shear this plant after the first bloom to promote compact growth.
- Apply a light application of organic fertilizer on top of the soil in early spring.
- Water well.

Sedum, also known as stonecrop, is a popular, well-known perennial garden plant. The succulent leaves, sturdy stems and massive flower heads have earned the plant a spot on many landscapers’ “must have” lists. Besides their physical attributes, sedums are drought tolerant and can withstand many adverse growing conditions, which also makes them ideal landscape perennials. Sedum ‘Black Jack’ is sure to match the tough and easy-to-grow reputation of most sedum cultivars and offers characteristics unparalleled by other sedums.

Characteristics of Sedum : Black Jack

- The Sedum ‘Black Jack’, ‘Sedum ‘Black Jack’ PPAF, is a recent discovery at Walters Garden in Michigan.
- The stems and foliage are darker than most sedum in its family. It has 2′ tall clumps of purple stems with black to purple foliage.
- With a plant height and width of 24″, its 8″ pink flower heads bloom in September, making a wonderful contrast with its foliage.
- It makes a wonderful border plant.
- Many are attractive even in winter when their foliage dies and is left standing.
- They’re favorites of butterflies and useful bees.
- The tall types are outstanding for cutting and drying.
- The characteristic dark purple foliage will take on a lighter coloration when plants are produced at lower light levels.
- During midsummer, large, broccoli-like flower heads form, containing numerous flower buds.
- By late summer, the flower buds swell and begin to show a pink coloration. As the buds open, the color intensifies, revealing an impressive color display of bright pink, 8-inch flower clusters.

Planting Conditions for Sedum : Black jack

- Plant in full sun to part sun with other Sedum or Salvia.
- Prune in spring when new growth appears; divide plants every three or four years.
- Sweet or Sour Soil ?:
Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0)
Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0)
- This good-natured, easy-to-grow plant is very drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.
- For the best performance, plant ‘Black Jack’ in a well-drained media, preferably a nursery-type (bark-based) mix rather than traditional greenhouse (peat-vermiculite) media.
- Black Jack is a light to moderate feeder.
- Black Jack requires a below-average amount of irrigation.

- Sunset Hyssop is an open herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth.
- The leaves are fine-textured with a gray-green color. In the summertime, sunset hyssop is covered in trumpet shaped flowers, each with shades of orange, pink and purple.
- Sunset hyssop is a surefire way to attract hummingbirds to your garden. The vibrant pink, purple and orange blossoms definitely catch your eye, adding pizazz to any yard. It is able to grow in many zones and soil conditions.
- It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.
- This perennial will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season.

Growing Tips For Sunset Hyssop

- Plant in a sunny location. It can tolerate part shade if needed.
- In the first season, they should be watered regularly to establish the root system. The soil should be well drained as sunset hyssop does not tolerate soil that is constantly wet. After it is established, it is very drought tolerant.
- During spring, you can divide established plants.
- Sow seeds directly in the garden once temperatures are above 55 degrees. Space transplants 12-18″ apart.

Maintenance/Pruning For Sunset Hyssop

- Cut sunset hyssop almost to the ground at the beginning of spring. This will promote stronger and more vigorous growth. Deadhead spent flowers to extend blooming season.
- In colder regions, mulch with pea gravel during the winter. Do not use wood mulches; these tend to keep the soil below very moist, which this plant cannot tolerate.

Soil Conditions needed for Sunset Hyssop

Sunset hyssop prefers a hot, sunny spot in well-drained, mineral-rich, humus-poor soil. Cut the fine-textured, somewhat brittle stems down close to the ground at the beginning of the growing season, even if much of the wood remains live, as it does in warmer zones. This radical pruning promotes sturdier, more vigorous growth.
Sunset hyssop is short-lived in damp, cool climates and resents moist winter soil. Otherwise it appears to adapt to most garden situations as long as it has full sun. Its warm colors and full, bushy texture combine well with late-season grasses such as Mexican feather grass and the taller big sacaton, two other lovely Southwest natives. Late- blooming, similarly drought- tolerant plants such as blue mist spirea, Russian sage, and Maximilian sunflower also make good companions. This recently discovered treasure offers lively color and delicious fragrance, while bringing wildlife into our late-season gardens.

There are some problems that are associated with Sunset Hyssop like : Mildew, rust, and downy mildew.