Queen of the Prairie they call it. Filipendula rubra 'Venusta.' It reached full bloom on July 1 and, though I can't say its blossoms are my favorite color--I generally dislike pink, especially pink of this intensity--it makes a statement and marks the beginning of high summer in my garden.
In a couple of weeks the pinks will fade to a subtle coppery color, much more appropriate to the surrounding plantings, as the tall yellow perennials come into bloom--Rudbeckia maxima, Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstsonne', Silphium perfoliatum, Silphium lanciniatum, Silphium terebinthinaceum, Inula racemosa 'Sonnenspeer'.
Much more to my liking ... Pontederia cordata, pickerelweed, in the pond.
I'm jealous of all your Rudbeckia maxima, which is one of my favorite plants (also R. nitida). Have you tried Persicaria amplexicaulis with wine-colored flowers (like 'Firedance')? It might take the edge off the pink Filipendula. A few plants cover a lot of space and it blooms until frost.
ReplyDeleteI tried it in the garden but it can't survive in my growing conditions. I'm very fond of that plant and have it in front of the house, where it's in a much more well drained position. I like your suggestion, and maybe I'll see if conditions have changed in the main garden after several years of growing perennials in the heavy, wet clay.
ReplyDeleteI love the soft pink. I wish I could grow them but don't have the space or enough moisture.
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