Re: Late summer flowers
Nan:
There are quite a few late-blooming perennial salvias that provide a
nice splash of late-summer color and I'm expecting Richard Dufrense to
chime in with more salvia expertise. Mine blooming now ('til frost):
S. X "Indigo Spires" (blueish-purple)
S. greggii (various colors). There are some nice reds that especially
drive hummingbirds wild.
S. involucrata (rose-pink)
S. guaranitica (deep blueish-purple)
S. forskaholi...(sp?) Forskahl's sage.
As for yellows, there are a variety of late-summer and fall-blooming
rudbeckias: My R. hirta "Indian Summer," and "Herbstonne" are in
full-bloom now. "Indian Summer" blooms strong until frost with big,
bright yellow daisies. It's a short-lived perennial or biennial.
Also, I have some perennial sunflowers like "Maximillian" that bloom
very late. And don't for get the goldenrods (Soldago).
Reds: I love the California fuschias (Zauschneria spp.), which are big
hummingbird magnets and bloom re, reddish-orange and pink, depending on
the species, selection or hybrid. They all bloom late-summer until frost
and need very little care.
Also, you might investigate some of the late-blooming asters. I have a
very tall one with crimson flowers. Can't remember the species, but it's
called "September Ruby" and is a popular variety.
A plant that I know will work for you in San Diego is Kniphofia (Red Hot
Poker), which now is available in many beautiful shades of orange,
yellow and red. Great cut flower, too. Same with the sedum "Autumn Joy"
which blooms late (pinkish-orange) and changes to a cinamon brown when
dry. Of course there are many chrysanthemum species that provide fall
color.
I'm in a very different zone, but still in California, so hope this
helps. Also, don't forget to leave some of your old spring and summer
bloomers to dry out and provide some interesting colors and textures
when died back. It beats looking at bare dirt until the rains come and
the extra seeds provide food for birds.
Paul Harrar
Nevada City, CA, USA
Sunset Zone 7
2,700 ft.
