KY Garden Flowers - Macleya to Myriophyllum

*Macleaya*	*Matthiola*	*Mentha*	*Miscanthus*	*Muscari*
*Malva*	*Melampodium*	*Mertensia*	*Monarda*	*Myriophyllum*

Macleaya cordata -Plume Poppy

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
white	6-10 ft.	summer	few	border, mass planting, natural area	division, seed

Performance - Plume poppy is a large showy perennial in Kentucky gardens. It is hard to recommend because it spreads like crazy. Because it is difficult to contain, careful thought should be given before this plant is added to the garden. May be best used in a wild area such as a roadside. Tolerates shade

Comments - It abundantly self sows and spreads with large rhizomes. High fertility soils and shade will accelerate the invasion process. Plume poppy is also known as Bocconia cordata.

Malva alcea 'Fastigiata' - Hollyhock Mallow

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
pink	36"- 48"	summer	mites, Japanese beetles	border	seed, division, cuttings in the spring

Performance - Hollyhock mallow is a reliable perennial in Kentucky gardens and plant blooms for an extended period. Blooms are 2" in diameter. Plants prefer a well-drained soil in a full sun location.

Comments - This plant is often a short-lived perennial, but it reseeds readily. Because of self-sowing, this plant may become a problem in the garden.

Stock cultivars at Pan American Seed Co.

Matthiola incana - Stock, Gillyflower

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
white, pink, rose, red, lavender, blue	12"- 40"	fall, winter, spring	aphids	borders, cut	seed

Performance - Stock is a cool season annual flower that is uncommon in Kentucky gardens. It performs well in spring and fall but it is not commonly available. Plants prefer well-drained soils in a full sun location.

Comments - The main use for stock has been as a cut flower, even though landscape sized varieties are available. Flowers are uniquely fragrant and long lasting as a cut flower.

Varieties - 'Cinderella' series, 'Harmony' series, 'Midget' series, 'Vintage' series; cut flowers - 'Cheerful' series, 'Column' series, 'Vegmo' series.

‘Showstar’

Melampodium paludosum - Melampodium

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
yellow	15"- 24"	summer	few	borders, beds, mass	seed

Performance - Melampodium is a relatively new, heat tolerant annual flower for Kentucky gardens. This plant is heat and drought tolerant and easy to grow. The small golden daisy flowers occur throughout the summer. Melampodium prefers well drained garden soils and a full sun location.

Comments - Melampodium has a tendency to self sow. If you use it in your garden, expect to see new plants in June as the seed, from previous years, germinates.

Varieties - 'Derby', 'Medallion', 'Million Gold', 'Showstar'.

Mentha - Mints

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
white or pink	18" - 30"	summer	rusts, anthracnose, spider mites, aphids	herb	cuttings, division

Performance - Mints are reliable perennials in Kentucky gardens and known to be an aggressive plant that can become invasive. It is best to submerge a container under the soil to contain mints in small gardens. If your garden has an open area where it can spread, cut back frequently to promote a busy nature.

Comments - Mints are aromatic and flavorful for soups, drinks, salads, and garnishes. The leaves are especially good as a garnish because they do not wilt easily.

Mentha x piperita - Peppermint -
Mentha spicata - Spearmint -
Mentha suaveolens - Apple Mint - Apple mint grows best in full sun to partial shade in moist soils. Even though there are many pests which favor Apple mint, it is a strong plant and they usually do not become a problem.

Mertensia virginica - Virginia Bluebells, Cowslip

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
bluish purple	12"- 24"	early spring	few	shaded rock gardens, perennial border	division in spring

Performance - Bluebells are a reliable perennial in Kentucky gardens and native to the region. They should be grown in shaded areas where the soil is cool and has high organic matter.

Comments - Bluebells should not be planted in masses because the leaves die back by summer, leaving a void in the garden. They should be planted with mixed perennials or annuals where they can cover the areas where they have died back.

Maiden grass ‘Morning Light’

Miscanthus sinensis - Maiden Grass, Eulalia Grass

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
silvery brown	3 - 10 ft.	fall	few	background, specimen	division

Performance - Miscanthus is a reliable and outstanding perennial ornamental grass for Kentucky gardens and landscapes. The size and distinctive winter effect in the landscape are the key features. Plants should be grown in well drained soils in full sun locations.

Comments - The summer foliage and winter display are more contemporary, these plants were not used in traditional Kentucky landscapes. It is best to plant ornamental grasses in the spring. Remove the dead leaves and flower shoots in spring, before new shoots appear.

Varieties - 'Arabesque', 'Gracillimus', 'Morning Light', 'Purpurescens', 'Silver Feather', 'Strictus', 'Variegatus', 'Yaku-Jima', 'Zebrinus'

Monarda didyma - Beebalm, Oswego Tea, Monarda, Bergamot, Horsemint, Red Balm

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
scarlet-red, pink, white, lavender	24"- 48"	summer	powdery mildew, rusts	naturalized areas, perennial beds	seeds, cuttings division

Performance - Beebalm is a reliable and traditional perennial plant for Kentucky gardens and grows best in full sun with excellent moisture. Beebalm has an invasive nature and should be planted in a naturalized area. If planted in a perennial bed division is needed every 3 years to avoid rampant spread. Planting in shady areas will promote spreading. Remove spent flowers to promote further blooms.

Comments - Monarda has a wonderful fragrance which attracts hummingbirds and bees. Powdery mildew is often a problem when the clumps become too large, when air circulation is reduced, or when the soil is too dry. Planting in moist soils and division will reduce the chances of powdery mildew.

Varieties - 'Alba', 'Cambridge Scarlet', 'Cherokee', 'Marshall's Delight', 'Raspberry Wine', 'Violet Queen'.


Beebalm ‘Marshall’s Delight’	Monarda fistulosa – a Kentucky native

Muscari armeniacum - Common Grape Hyacinth

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
blue, white	6" - 10"	spring	few	edging, borders, naturalized areas	bulbs, division

Performance - Grape hyacinth is a reliable perennial spring flowering bulb for Kentucky gardens and landscapes. Bulbs should be planted in the fall in well drained garden soils in full sun or partial shade. Each year leaves will emerge in the fall and remain green throughout the winter. The blue or white miniature hyacinth-like spikes will emerge in late April.

Comments - Grape hyacinths should be planted in a garden bed rather than in the lawn. The first mowing of the lawn will occur before flowering is complete, so the floral display would be ruined.

Varieties - 'Blue Spike' and 'Heavenly Blue'.


M. armeniacum	Double flowered ‘Blue Spike’	Grape hyacinths along highway 31E in Glasgow KY.

Myriophyllum aquaticum - Parrot's Feather, Milfoil

Flower Color	Height	Season	Pests	Uses	Propagation
insignificant	12" - 36"	summer	few	water gardens	division

Performance - Parrot's feather is a distinctive water garden plant with finely divided, fern-like leaves. It grows in freely in water gardens in sunny locations; it does not have to be placed in a pot. The stems are primarily submerged, but the growing point of some stems will emerge from the water. It will freeze in a Kentucky water garden, so it is considered an annual here.

Comments - Note that the leaves out of the water are larger and frillier than those under the water. If the plants are not growing too well and the stems are quite red, add some water soluble fertilizer to the water to feed these plants and increase their growth.

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