Are Salvias Perennial? Plus 6 Salvia Alternatives

Foam Flower

Foam Flower is a perennial plant with delicate, frothy spikes of white or pinkish blooms and deeply lobed, attractive foliage resembling foamy. It is a beautiful and beneficial plant with numerous advantages in landscaping projects. This herbaceous perennial belongs to the Saxifragaceae family and is admired for its delicate bloom spikes and attractive foliage. One of the primary benefits of incorporating it into landscaping is its captivating appearance. Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia), the Allegheny, is a gorgeous spring wildflower with feathery white spires that look lovely in sun-dappled gardens. With time, its foliage will form colonies with an excellent ground cover in shady spots. Where Foam Flower Can Be Found  It is native to wooded areas in eastern North America. This perennial can be found on seeps and stream banks, by creeks, in clearings, and under maple, hemlock, and white cedar trees. Along the eastern coast, it starts blooming in mid-March and continues to blossom through April. It owes its name to the sprays of tiny white to pinkish blooms that cover its three- to four-inch-long racemes. These delicate blossoms float around the tips of their long, graceful stems, which rise one to three feet above mounds of low-growing leaves. After it fades, the plant's foliage stays lush and glossy. The plant's bright green leaves grow up to four inches wide and usually have three to five lobes. The leaves' shape, color, and pattern can vary depending on the cultivar. They may stay evergreen in warmer climates, but their leaves and rosettes often turn red and bronze in the fall when temperatures cool down. Foam Flower Loves Shade Tiarella cordifolia brings soft, gentle intrigue to shady spots in your landscape. These blooms work beautifully in ornamental, wildflower, and woodland gardens beside ferns and blooms like Solomon's seal, dwarf crested iris, and bluebells. It adds a magical quality to small and mass plantings, grows under trees, and suits spacious pots and planters well. It also makes a lovely border or ground cover. It can be propagated by dividing and replanting the roots in late fall or starting from seed indoors, around ten weeks before the last spring freeze. Once the frost has parted, you can plant the seedling outside. It lures bees and other pollinators to your landscape, making them a valuable addition. Some small mammals eat its seeds for nourishment. Foam Flower Adds Whimsical Charm To Your Garden  Planting foam flowers will add whimsical charm to your springtime garden. Once established in your landscape, you can enjoy their showy blooms for years.

Blue Vervain

The sky-blue flowers bloom throughout the summer, adding color to any outdoor space. Its slender, lance-shaped leaves and overall graceful growth habit enhance its visual appeal. As a result, it can be used as a focal point in flowerbeds or as an attractive backdrop for other plants, creating a captivating display in gardens. Blue Vervain Reaches Up To 5 Feet Tall Blue Vervain has rough hairs and branching, and four-angled stems of the tall, leggy perennial wildflower known as blue vervains give them an exquisite look. They typically bloom each year from June to October. The first to bloom are those at the flower's base. The flowers open and ascend the stems with pointy tips and coarsely serrated edges. They resemble candelabras (chandeliers) because of all the flower spikes that form on top. They grow up to five feet tall. Blue Vervain Adds Structure and Texture It features a bushy growth habit and dense foliage, making it ideal for adding structure to your yard. Its bushy appearance makes yards look fuller. The lance-shaped leaves come from their stems in alternating patterns, creating a textural contrast with other plants. The tiny, brightly colored blossoms enhance the aesthetic and architectural appeal of gardens and landscaping. Blue Vervain blooms boast a variety of colors, ranging from blue to deep purple to light lavender. On rare occasions, the flowers are white. The blooms have five joined petals at the base that create a small tube and are around 1/4 inch wide. A little stem supports the thin, lance-oblong leaves that grow up to seven inches long and one inch wide. These leaves have a pointy tip, coarsely serrated margins, and a broad base. The slightly hairy stems can be either green or reddish. Blue Vervain Has Purple & Blue Blooms They have bright blue-purple flowers containing a lot of nectar and pollen, which attract butterflies and other pollinators, such as bees and hummingbirds. Both the Verbena moth and the Common Buckeye butterfly lay their eggs on blue vervains. These plants usually attract the most pollinators during late summer and fall. Because few other plants bloom simultaneously, they attract many late-flying pollinators, which is good for the environment because it increases biodiversity.

Annual Phlox

Annual Phlox blooms in spring, summer, and fall, making this perennial so popular. It also has a long blooming season in the fall and stays blooming for weeks. This delightful flowering plant brings robust color and charm to any landscaping project. As an annual plant, it completes its life cycle within a single growing season, but its attributes make it a popular choice for gardeners year after year. Let's explore why this annual is a fantastic addition to your landscape. Annual Phlox is a long-blooming and easy-to-grow plant known for its diverse and colorful blooms. With cheerful shades of lavender, pink, white, and red, these plants are among the favorites for all types of gardens and landscaping situations. These flowers are native to North America and commonly found in Texas, California, Alabama, Arkansas, and as far north as Minnesota. The Annual Phlox Blooms In 3 Seasons Their blooming season starts in spring and continues until the hot summer; however, they bloom again in fall. If you opt for a pollinator garden, they are ideal companion plantings that attract early pollinators with their sweet scent and vibrant blooms. By choosing them, you can support biodiversity and the local ecosystem. Whether you are an experienced flower farmer or have found a new passion for planting vibrant blooms in your garden, order your annual phlox plants from TN Nursery. Add these plants to your garden to enhance its aesthetic appeal and enjoy the beautiful, sweet scent in the air. Features of Annual Phlox The annual phlox plant has a subtle, sweet scent similar to honey or melon. The fragrance and vibrant blooms attract early pollinators to feed on nectar and collect pollen, ultimately supporting the ecosystem's health. Under ideal conditions, the plant can grow 6 to 18 inches tall. Annual Phlox Loves Well Draining Soil The plants can thrive in most garden soil but bloom best in well-drained soil and full sun with moderate watering required. Make sure to plant it in a large pot with a drainage hole. The plants are known for their reputation for being easy to grow and care for, making them an ideal option for new and experienced gardeners. You can buy starter phlox plants for sale from TN Nursery and plant them in your beautiful garden. The plants also support companion planting, which means you can plant them alongside other sun-loving plants such as Yarrow, Bee Balm, and Orange Daylily to enhance your garden’s appearance.