KY Garden Flowers - Lavatera to Lilium

*Lavatera*	*Leucanthemum*	*Ligularia*
*Lemna*	*Liatris*	*Lilium*

Lavatera thuringlaca - Tree Mallow

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
rose-pink	4' - 5'	summer	Japanese beetle	rear of border	seed

Performance - Tree mallow is usually grown as an annual in Kentucky gardens, but some years it will make it through the winter, especially in the western end of the state. These plants grow best in full sun with average soil conditions. This plant is similar to hibiscus in appearance and flowers well all summer.

Comments - Lavatera is less tolerant to our summer conditions than many other perennials and quite suseptible to Japanese beetles.

Lemna minor - Common Duckweed

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
green - insignificant	less than 1"	summer	few	water gardens	division

Performance - Duckweed is a floating aquatic plant that often occurs in water gardens in Kentucky. The pairs of tiny floating leaves, about 1/4" long, will be scattered or cover the water surface. This plant is an annual in water gardens, but often is shipped with other plants that you may purchase.

Shasta daisy ‘Broadway Lights’

Leucanthemum x superbum - Shasta Daisy (Chrysanthemum x superbum)

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
white	12"- 36"	summer	leaf spots, stem rots, leaf miners	cut flower, borders	seeds, division

Performance - Shasta daisy is a traditional perennial that is relatively reliable in Kentucky gardens. This perennial is best grown in full sun to partial shade. During the winter the soil needs to be well drained or damage to the roots will occur, stunting or killing the plant. Division is recommended every 2 - 3 years to retain its vigorous nature.

Comments - There are many varieties that are available on the market ranging in flower size, height, length of stems for cut flowers, and double or single flowers. Double flowering cultivars are best grown in partial shade in Kentucky.

Varieties - 'Alaska', 'Becky', ‘Broadway Lights’, 'Marconi', 'Mount Shasta', 'Polaris', 'Snowcap', 'Snow Lady', ‘Thomas Killen’.

More information and photos are available in HortFact 50.11 06 – Mums and Daisies.

Liatris - Blazing Star, Liatris, Gayfeather

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
lavender, purple, white	24"- 48"	summer	few	border, cut, wildflower gardens	seed, tuberous roots

Performance -


Liatris ‘Kobold’	Liatris ‘Floristan White’

Blazing star is an excellent and reliable perennial for Kentucky gardens. These plants should be grown in full sun locations. They tolerate most soils, just as they do in the native Kentucky landscape.

Comments - Blazing stars are highly attractive to butterflies, so they should be part of butterfly gardens.

Varieties –

Liatris aspera - Rough Gayfeather - Plant rough gayfeather in well-drained, moisture-retentive soil. 'September Glory' and 'White Spire'.

L. pycnostachya - Cattail Gayfeather, Kansas Gayfeather - 'Alba' and 'Alexander' get high marks for performance. Erect pubescent stems are very leafy. Flower spike may be 15 to 18 inches long.

L. spicata - Spike Gayfeather - The best garden species and the commonly sold cut flower. 'Floristan Violet', 'Floristan White', 'Kobold'.

Liatris squarrulosa - Blazing Star - Another Kentucky native with a unique flower form.

Ligularia - Ligularia, Goldenray

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
yellowish orange, yellow	3' - 4'	summer	few	specimen plant along water	division

Performance - Ligularia grows best in moist, wet soils such as bogs, streams, and ponds with filtered sunlight. Because these conditions are uncommon in Kentucky landscapes, this plant is usually quite difficult to maintain. They deteriorate in summer drought and hot weather.

Comments - If there is not an area suitable for this striking plant due to poor moisture retention in the soil, dig a hole and line with black plastic and fill in with organic amended soil mix. This will allow moisture to be retained within the area of the plant.

Ligularia dentata - Bigleaf Goldenray, Ragwort

L. stenocephala 'The Rocket' - Rocket Ligularia

Lilium - Garden Lily

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
white, orange, scarlet, pink, rose, yellow	18"- 60"	early summer to mid summer	aphids and basal bulb rot	border, cut flower	division, bulbils, scales

Performance - Garden lilies are reliable perennials in Kentucky flower gardens. They grow best in full sun to partial shade in fertile soil. The roots need to be heavily mulched to keep the bulb cool during hot summer months. Excellent soil drainage is extremely important; the bulbs will rot in wet soils. The beautiful large flowers are an outstanding addition to the summer garden. Taller varieties will need to be supported as they develop.

Comments – The bulbs should be planted in the fall. The stems make good cut flowers, but do not remove too much of the leafy stem. The leaves are required to produce enough food for next year’s bulb and flowers.

Varieties - There are many species and cultivars that can be grown in Kentucky.
Asiatic hybrids -
Martagon hybrids -
Candidum hybrids -
American hybrids -
Oriental hybrids -
and others

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