ALMetro360 July 2018

Twelve Must Plant Pollinator- Friendly Flowers B Y M ELINDA M YERS F ILL YOUR GARDEN WITH COLORFUL ANNUALS YOU AND THE POLLINATORS CAN ENJOY ALL SEASON LONG . L OOK FOR OUTSTANDING VARIETIES CHOSEN BY A LL - A MERICA S ELECTIONS (AAS), A NON - PROFIT PLANT TRIALING ORGANIZATION , TO BRIGHTEN YOUR GARDEN , ATTRACT POLLINATORS AND OUTPERFORM OTHER VARIETIES ON THE MARKET . ttract hummingbirds and second looks from passersby with the vibrant bright orange flowers of Canna South Pacific. This com- pact variety can be started from seed and was selected as a 2018 AAS winner for its vigorous, full and uniform growth habit. Whether it’s spikes of lavender, pink, white or red your garden and container need, you’ll find them in the Salvia Jewel series. Watch the butterflies and hummingbirds stop by for a sip of nectar and the finches feast upon the seeds later in the season. Add more vertical interest and pollinator appeal in the garden and large planters with Asian Garden Celosia. The bright pink blooms hold their color all season long atop sturdy stems 31 to 40 inches tall. Include a few Cupheas, also known as Mexican Heather in con- tainers, borders and mass plantings. FloriGlory Diana has more and larger flowers than its counterparts. The season long bloom of intense magenta flowers made this a winner. Incorporate beauty even in challenging locations with EnduraS- cape Pink Bicolor Verbena. As the name implies it is tough as nails, tolerating drought, heat and temperatures in the low teens. Use this spreader in large containers and baskets where you can appre- ciate the soft pink blooms with their darker center. Wow visitors and lure pollinators to your garden and containers with Vinca Mega Bloom Orchid Halo. The bright purple blooms with a white eye stand up to heat and humidity without succumb- ing to disease. Grow winning varieties of a traditional favorite, zinnia. These low maintenance sun-loving annuals can be started from seed di- rectly in the garden. Add vibrant color to the garden with Queeny Lime, Zowie! Yellow Flame and Magellan Coral. Include smaller scale beauty with Profusion and Zahara varieties. Gardeners and pollinators love purple coneflowers (Echinacea). Two colorful winning varieties, Cheyenne Spirit and PowWow Wild Berry will fill your garden with color for seasons to come. Cheyenne Spirit coneflower produces a mix of purple, pink, red and orange flowers along side lighter yellows, creams and white. This compact plant stands tall in wind and rain and is drought tol- erant once established. PowWow Wild Berry coneflower lives up to its name. The vivid deep rose-purple flowers retain their beautiful color all season long. You’ll enjoy continual bloom without deadheading or grooming. Add more perennial beauty with Twizzle Purple Penstemon. The spikes of vibrant purple blooms are favorites of hummingbirds and other pollinators. Include them in containers for added height or high-impact color anywhere in the landscape. 22 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com INSIDE OUT............................................................................................................................. Echinacea PowWowWild Berry is a perennial that provides continual bloom without deadheading or grooming. Photo by All-America Selections A