|
Ratibida pinnata New 2½” long, bright golden petals droop gracefully from large central cones atop tall, 4-6’high, sturdy stems, July-September. Foliage is restricted to the lower half of the stem so that the large, distinctive flowers resembles pennants fluttering at the ends of long sticks. Native to prairies and meadows of the upper Midwestern USA where it has developed the essential life saving skills of drought and cold tolerance. Makes an easy to grow, large, long blooming and beautiful statement at the back of the hot sunny border. Zone 4.
Rheum alexandrae New A unique Asian Rhubarb from Tibet, W. China with magnificent, palm-sized, yellow bracts that overlap one another as they encircling the stems working their way towards the top. Completely unlike the usual loose, open panicles of more commonly seen rhubarb. Leaves are relatively small, glossy green and laced with cream-white veins. Grows to 4’ high or higher. Sun to part or heavier shade with consistently moist soil, similar to conditions required by Ligularia, Darmera, etc. Rare. Zone 5.
Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum New Green leaves with prominent red veins and stems form an impressive clump. Flowers appear from a central stem and soar to towering heights. Takes a few years to reach its mature ornamental size. Big and bold and born for specimen use. Best in part shade with consistent moisture. 4' high. Zone 4.
Rodgersia Native to China and Japan, Rodgersia are large plants with large compound leaves. All are moisture and part, to full shade lovers, and will look their best only when these conditions are met. Ideal sites are bogs, pond or brook sides and water gardens. Flowers are white or light to dark pink and occur in astilbe-like panicles in early summer. 3-4ft. tall and, in time, 5ft. wide. Bold and spectacular when in favored locations. Zone 5.    
pinnata ‘Elegans’ Impressive large, dark green, compound leaves with 6-9 oval-shaped leaflets forming a surface up to 1' across. In spring, Darth Vader-dark, flat-creeping rhizomes send up long, mostly leafless petoles at the top of which the foliage unfurls, creating a lush, dense canopy, 3-3½' high. Large, open flower panicles open above the foliage in summer, starting soft pink and lightening to white. These are water loving plants that will only reach their full ornamental impact when grown in rich, moist soil in sun to light shade. Spectacular in large drift at pond side or in other consistently wet places. Overall height including the flowers is 4' high.
pinnata ‘Fireworks’ Leaves emerge deep burgundy and fade to dark green with red edges, and clear, deep pink flowers in summer. 1 1/2ft. tall. Zone 5. Forms an impressive clump with large, compound, beautifully colored foliage that, by itself, would make this plant desirable. Best in part shade with consistent moisture. One of the best for brining size and contrasting texture to the moist, shady garden.
tabularis (see under Astilboides tabularis)
Rudbeckia (Coneflower)    
Rubeckia fulgida ‘Early Bird Gold’ Very similar in every respect to R. 'Goldsturm' except that it blooms much earlier in the season,(early July), and continues for a few weeks after the valiant 'Goldsturm' has given up the effort. 24ins. high. Zone 4.
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (Black-eyed Susan) Gold daisies in late summer, 2', 1999 PPA Perennial Plant of the Year. Zone 4.
Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Little Goldstar’ A dwarf cultivar,12” high by 20” wide with deep green foliage that remains clean throughout the summer, and golden yellow, brown-eyed daisies that bloom from mid-summer on into autumn. It’s a tidy, well behaved plant suitable for many garden uses such as at the front of mixed borders, in smaller areas, in containers and in prairie style gardens. Looks great in large groups. It’s compact yet vigorous habit, clean foliage and continual flowering make this a choice addition to any garden. Best in full sun, with good drainage, quite drought tolerant once established. Zone 3.
|
|
Rudbeckia hirta ‘Cherry Brandy’ (Gloriosa Daisy) Masses of cherry-red flowers bloom all summer on this outstanding performer. Grows 24ins. tall. Shows good heat and drought tolerance and adds an interesting look to mixed containers. In the border it combines nicely with blue grasses such as Schizachyrium ‘The Blues’ and Amsonia hubrichtii.
Rudbeckia hirta ‘Prairie Sun’ (Gloriosa Daisy) Huge, 5in. across flowers with light green central cones and golden yellow petals tipped primrose yellow on 30in. stems, excellent for cutting. Plants put on an unrivaled flower display, sending up wave after wave of large, sunny daisies that laugh at the worst heat and drought that summer throws at them. I especially like their combination of green cones and bright, canary yellow petals that offer a change from the more usual, golden/orange, brown centered types. All R. hirta are essentially self-seeding annuals that bloom non-stop all season, never failing to reseed themselves for a bumper crop the following year. Very drought tolerant. Zone 4.
|
|
Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’ A unique Rudbeckia with bright yellow petals rolled into long, narrow tubes radiating around a prominent central brown cone, 4-5’ tall. Blooms August and September. A distinctive late season bloomer that’s easy to satisfy with a place in full sun, with average to rich, well-drained soil. Long-lived and trouble free. Zone 4.
Rudbeckia triloba R. triloba gets 4’ tall and is a blooming engine easily producing thousands of 2", golden yellow flowers with prominent black cones from mid summer till fall. Easy anywhere in full sun with average soil. Thrives almost everywhere from wet to very dry, with full sun. Short lived but self seeds with a vengence so that once you plant it you'll always have new plants to replace old ones. Thrives in our bone dry, baking hot gravel parking lot. Zone 4.
Rudbeckia triloba ‘Prairie Glow’ New We've always been fans of R. triloba for its long bloom and indestructible constitution so we're really excited about 'Prairie Glow' which, like R. triloba, blooms profusely from mid summer till fall, but with larger, orange flowers with yellow tipped petals, instead of all yellow flowers. 4' tall. Does well in moist or dry, fertile or poor soil. A naturalizing self seeding biennial or short-lived perennial. Zone 4.
Ruellia humilis (Wild Petunia) A neat, mounding habit 1½ft. tall and wide and a display of light lavender, petunia-like flowers for many weeks tin late summer. Plants have a voracious root system that defies drought. Seeds around a bit and unwanted volunteers should be removed when young, before the roots get a purchase on the site. Full sun. Zone 4.
|
