From late April through early October, the sun rules at Higher Ground. Here we feature a selection of plants that not only can beat the heat, but contribute a fiery presence of their own. An odd, almost prehistoric-looking plant, Russellia equisetiformis calls to mind fireworks going off in a clump of ornamental grass. Or possibly a horse's tail decorated with small tubular Xmas ornaments. At any rate, this is a superb perennial for sun to partial shade and good drainage in zone 8b and warmer locations.
Flowers appear in bursts throughout the warm months.
Needs excellent drainage. It prefers partial shade, but our slowly spreading clump performs well in moist but well-drained soil and nearly full sun. Cannas have a long and colorful history in gardens throughout the U.S. and have recently had a resurgence in popularity due to variegated-leaf hybrids like 'Bengal Tiger'. Our bargain basement rhizomes flowered in their first summer following spring planting. Flowers can be had in shades of yellow, red, orange and pink and in a height range from 3-10 feet.