A plant community is a group of plants each requiring similar growing conditions to thrive in a garden. One example is mixing the flowering perennials Achilla ‘Walter Funcke,’ Salvia ‘Amethyst,’ and Coreopsis ‘Golden Showers’ with ornamental grass, Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster.’
These plants fit well in a sustainable perennial garden that has full sun, well draining soil, at the same time able to withstand the northern Midwest climate. Each plant is drought tolerant after established and requires infrequent dividing. This plant grouping is a reliable choice for gardeners who want a small low maintenance garden. Here is a short gardener’s guide to growing these plants together.
Achillea ‘Walter Funcke’
Achillea x hybrida ‘Walter Funcke’ has a casual mounding appearance. It blooms from middle of June into July, spanning the summer by adding burnt orange color.
A. ‘Walter Funcke’ grows 30 inches tall and spreads 16 – 20 inches before needing division. This cultivar has the achillea’s familiar gray green fern like foliage and flat-topped rounded flower form.
Coreopsis Verticillata ‘Golden Showers’
Coreopsis verticillata is commonly called threadleaf coreopsis. The narrow medium green leaves help to create a light lacy appearance.
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Showers’ attains 20-26 inches tall and spreads 18-26 inches wide. This plant creates a casual upright habit with dense bushy low growing clumps. . The daisy-shaped flowers are sunshade yellow and clustered at the top of the plant, blooming early July through early September.
Another threadleaf coreopsis, called C. ‘Moonbeam,’ won perennial plant winner in 1992. The flower is a paler yellow and would be less intense in this plant combination.
Salvia Nemorosa ‘Amethyst’
Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’ has violet blue stalk like flowers blooming early June through September. They will complement the yellow coreopsis and orange achillea. This perennial salvia grows 2 ½ feet high and is hardy to zones 5.
A popular Salvia nemorosa is ‘May Night,’ which has a deep purple color. It was named Perennial Plant of the Year in 1997.
Calamagrostis Acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’
Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ is an ornamental cool season grass. This indicates that it grows most in spring and in fall. Maintenance planning should include cutting back in very early spring (middle of March) to 5 inches tall.
The flowers bloom late June through late July having a loose appearance while maintaining the very narrow plant structure. The purple tinged spikes age to a soft tan by mid August. C. ‘Karl Foerster’ grows 55 – 72 inches high and 16 – 20 inches wide in 5 years.
Foliage is green and very vertical by April, already 20 inches tall. The Perennial Plant Association named it winner in 2001.
More Plant Community Ideas
Another sustainable plant grouping idea uses larger flowering plants and a different ornamental grass. Gardeners will find more ideas in Roy Diblik’s Small Perennial Gardens on planting communities able to grow well in northern Midwest gardens.
Each year Perennial Plant Association chooses its yearly winner for the ability to grow in a wide range of climates, have multiple season interest and require low maintenance. The list of perennial plant winners is another resource to use when creating sustainable garden ideas.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
Chris Eirschele - Chris writes on plants grown and gardens explored; she is a member of the Garden Writers Association.
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