Planting
Perennials, trees and shrubs should be planted in spring to early summer, as soon as the soil can be worked, not in late summer to fall. Since the season is so short the gardener should choose perennials and leave annuals to be placed in hanging baskets and containers (window boxes, tubs). Adding organic matter to light-colored soil helps to improve soil and hold in more heat (topsoil, manure). Plants may need cover (frost caps) for the first part of the season until there is little danger of a frost. Mulch plants with shredded pieces of bark or a soil that can be worked back into the ground in early spring. Make sure to remove all mulch in early spring to allow the soil to heat up. Plants already established in containers at home or in a greenhouse should be acclimated gradually to outdoor exposure. Reduce watering and expose plants to increasingly longer outdoor conditions.
Full Sun
- Achillea filipendula - Yarrow
- Alcea rosea – Hollyhock
- Anaphalis – Pearly Everlasting
- Campanula glom. – Clustered Bellflower
- Campanula medium – Canterbury Bells
- Centaurea montana – Bachelor Button
- Cerastium tomentosum - Snow in Summer
- Delphinium elatum – Larkspur
- Dianthus barb. – Sweet William
- Dicentra spect. – Bleeding Heart
- Digitalis purp. – Foxglove
- Gaillardia ari. - Blanket Flower
- Iris ger. - Bearded Iris
- Iris sib. - Siberian Iris
- Leucanthemum - Shasta Daisy
- Liatris - Gayfeather
- Lilium tig. - Tiger Lily
- Lilium per. - Flax
- Lupinus poly. - Lupine
- Lychnis chal. - Maltese Cross
- Myosotis alp. - Forget-Me-Not
- Narcissus ssp. - Daffodil
- Paeonia off. - Peony
- Papaver nud. - Poppy
- Papaver ori. - Oriental Poppy
- Penstemon str. - Rocky Mtn
- Phlox pan. - Tall Garden Phlox
- Ranuculus asi. - Buttercup
- Sedum acre - Stonecrop
- Sedum alb. - Wh. Stonecrop
- Sedum hyb. - Evergreen Sedum
- Sedum - Dragon/Red/Carpet
- Sempervivum - Hens & Chicks
- Stachys byzantina - Lamb’s Ear
- Tanacetum vul. - Feverfew
- Trollius euro. - Globeflower
- Veronica - Speedwell
Shade to Part Shade
- Aconitum - Monkshood
- Aegopodium - Snow-on-the-Mtn
- Alchemilla - Lady’s Mantle
- Aquilegia- Columbine
- Aruncus - Goat’s Beard
- Astilbe - Garden Spirea
- Brunnera - False Forget-Me-Not
- Convallaria - Lily-of-the-Valley
- Epimedium - Barrenwort
- Euonymus - Spurge
- Fern - Royal & Ostrich
- Geranium - Cranesbill
- Heuchera - Coral Bells
- Hosta - Plantain Lily
- Monarda - Beebalm
- Polemonium - Jacob’s Ladder
- Primula - Primrose
- Pulmonaria - Lungwort
- Tiarella - Foam Flower
Herbs for High Altitude
- Basil
- Catmint
- Chervil
- Chives
- Dandelion
- Dill
- Echinacea
- Fennel
- Horseradish
- Marjoram
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Sage (Salvia officinalis)
- Summer savory
- Tarragon
- Thyme
- Yarrow