There are about 100 species of hairless or softly hairy annuals and perennial, some becoming woody at the bases, in this genus. They occur on drier prairies and in woodland in Northern and Central America and Mexico. Most have slender, upright stems and produce opposite leaves, which may be either simple and smooth edged, pinnate, or palmate (either palmately lobed or divided, 3 palmate). Daisy like, pink or golden yellow, some bi-colored flowers are borne on long stalks, they are good for cut flowers (generally produced over a very long period in summer), and are attractive to bees. Grow in an annual, herbaceous, or mixed border. Some cultivars, though perennials, are grown as annuals, most flower freely in their first year from seed.

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Support taller cultivars. Divide perennials in late winter or early spring. They dislike heavy clay but are tolerant of coastal region, poor, stony soil.

Prone to bacterial spot, rust, botrytis flower blight, aster yellows, powdery mildew, downy mildew, fungal spots, slugs and snails.

C. ‘Moonbeam’ – C. verticillata ‘Moonbeam’ – This upright perennial grows 18″ tall and wide. It produces 3 pinnate leaves, to 2 ½” long, with linear, thread like, deep green leaflets. From early summer to autumn it bears lemon-yellow flowers, to 3/4″ across.

Zones 3-8

There are about 100 species of hairless or softly hairy annuals and perennial, some becoming woody at the bases, in this genus. They occur on drier prairies and in woodland in Northern and Central America and Mexico. Most have slender, upright stems and produce opposite leaves, which may be either simple and smooth edged, pinnate, or palmate (either palmately lobed or divided, 3 palmate). Daisy like, pink or golden yellow, some bi-colored flowers are borne on long stalks, they are good for cut flowers (generally produced over a very long period in summer), and are attractive to bees. Grow in an annual, herbaceous, or mixed border. Some cultivars, though perennials, are grown as annuals, most flower freely in their first year from seed.

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Support taller cultivars. Divide perennials in late winter or early spring. They dislike heavy clay but are tolerant of coastal region, poor, stony soil.

Prone to bacterial spot, rust, botrytis flower blight, aster yellows, powdery mildew, downy mildew, fungal spots, slugs and snails.

C. grandiflora ‘Baby Sun’

Zones 5-9

There are about 100 species of hairless or softly hairy annuals and perennial, some becoming woody at the bases, in this genus. They occur on drier prairies and in woodland in Northern and Central America and Mexico. Most have slender, upright stems and produce opposite leaves, which may be either simple and smooth edged, pinnate, or palmate (either palmately lobed or divided, 3 palmate). Daisy like, pink or golden yellow, some bi-colored flowers are borne on long stalks, they are good for cut flowers (generally produced over a very long period in summer), and are attractive to bees. Grow in an annual, herbaceous, or mixed border. Some cultivars, though perennials, are grown as annuals, most flower freely in their first year from seed.

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Support taller cultivars. Divide perennials in late winter or early spring. They dislike heavy clay but are tolerant of coastal region, poor, stony soil.

Prone to bacterial spot, rust, botrytis flower blight, aster yellows, powdery mildew, downy mildew, fungal spots, slugs and snails.

C. rosea ‘Heavens Gate’ –

Zones 4-8

There are 67-70 species of evergreen or herbaceous, low growing or cushion forming to erect perennial, as well as a few annuals and shrubs that range from a couple inches tall to 5′ feet tall.  They occur mostly in North America (one from Siberia).  They are grown for their showy, fragrant flowers, borne mainly in terminal corymbs or panicle like cymes, sometimes singly.  The flowers are salverform, occasionally funnel shaped, each with a narrow, tubular base opening to 5 flat, ovate petal lobes, sometimes in a star shaped arrangement.  It produces simple, smooth edged, linear to ovate, light to dark green, leaves, often held in opposite pairs, the upper leaves sometimes alternate.  Mat and cushion forming species, from dry, rocky habitats, flower in spring or early summer, grow in a rock garden, in a dry wall, or as edging.  Woodland species are mainly trailing, and usually flower in spring, grow in shady sites.  The taller phlox are mostly from moist riverside habitats, and produce large corymbs of flowers, usually in mid summer into fall, which are good for cutting.  Annuals, from dry rocky slopes and coastal sands, flowers from late spring to autumn, and useful for bedding.

Grow in any moist, fertile, well drained soil, in full sun or light shade.

Prone to powdery mildew, stem canker, rust, southern blight, stem nematodes, Cercospora leaf spots, Septoria leaf spots, leaf miners, caterpillars, red spider mites, eelworm, and dot moth.

P. paniculata ‘Junior Dancer’

Zones 4-8

There are 67-70 species of evergreen or herbaceous, low growing or cushion forming to erect perennial, as well as a few annuals and shrubs that range from a couple inches tall to 5′ feet tall.  They occur mostly in North America (one from Siberia).  They are grown for their showy, fragrant flowers, borne mainly in terminal corymbs or panicle like cymes, sometimes singly.  The flowers are salverform, occasionally funnel shaped, each with a narrow, tubular base opening to 5 flat, ovate petal lobes, sometimes in a star shaped arrangement.  It produces simple, smooth edged, linear to ovate, light to dark green, leaves, often held in opposite pairs, the upper leaves sometimes alternate.  Mat and cushion forming species, from dry, rocky habitats, flower in spring or early summer, grow in a rock garden, in a dry wall, or as edging.  Woodland species are mainly trailing, and usually flower in spring, grow in shady sites.  The taller phlox are mostly from moist riverside habitats, and produce large corymbs of flowers, usually in mid summer into fall, which are good for cutting.  Annuals, from dry rocky slopes and coastal sands, flowers from late spring to autumn, and useful for bedding.

Grow in any moist, fertile, well drained soil, in full sun or light shade.

Prone to powdery mildew, stem canker, rust, southern blight, stem nematodes, Cercospora leaf spots, Septoria leaf spots, leaf miners, caterpillars, red spider mites, eelworm, and dot moth.

P. paniculata ‘Falme Purple’

Zones 4-8

perennial

M. sylvestris ‘Zebrina’ – Cheeses – Tall Mallow – High Mallow –

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Provide support, especially in rich soils. Perennials are often short lived, but will self seed.

zone 4-8

There are 26 species of vigorous, clump forming annual and perennials in this genus. They occur in rocky alpine slopes and moist meadows, grassland, and wasteland in Europe and temperate Asia. They have alternate, smooth edged, deeply pinnatifid, toothed, scalloped, or lobed leaflets, and solitary daisy-like terminal flowers, which are usually white, sometime yellow with yellow centers. Grow alpine species in a scree bed or rock garden, taller perennials in a wild garden. Some hybrids and cultivars are useful in a herbaceous border and for cut flowers.

Grow these undemanding plants in moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Alpine species need sharply drained soil in full sun. Many of the taller plants need support. Divide perennials in early spring or late summer.

Prone to aphids, slugs, earwigs, chrysanthemum nematode, and leaf spots.

L. x superbum – Chrysanthemum maximum of gardens – C. x superbum – Shasta Daisy – This robust, clump forming perennials is a cross between L. lacustre and L. maximum grows 24-36″ tall and wide. It produces inversely lance shaped, toothed, glossy, almost fleshy, dark green basal leaves, to 12″ long, and shorter, lance shaped, stalkless stem leaves. From early summer to early autumn it bears solitary, single or double white flowers, 3-5″ across, with pale golden centers. Good for cutting.

‘Wirral Supreme’ – grows 30″ tall and bears dense, double flowers, with anemone centers.

Zones 5-8

There is a sole species of deciduous shrub in this genus.  Found in thickets and woodland in China and Japan.  It has alternate, bright green, roughly diamond shaped leaves with serrated edges up to 2 ½” long.  It bears saucer or cup shaped yellow flowers up to 2 ½” across.  Kerrias are grown for their foliage and flowers, and are suitable for a shrub border or an open position in a woodland garden.

Grow in fertile, moderately moist, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade.  Divide in autumn.

Prone to Coral spot, fireblight, leaf blight, twig blight and canker.

Kerria japonica ‘Phenthoa’

Zones 4-8