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. rosea ‘Heavens Gate’ –

Zones 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

perennial – Grow in well drained, reasonably fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. Divide in early spring or after flowering. Keep soil moist in winter.

zones 4-9

There are about 20 species of annuals, biennials, perennials and subshrubs, in this genus. They occur in moist places and prairies in North America. They have alternate, simple, rosetted, lance shaped to elliptic or spoon shaped, pinnatifid, mainly basal leaves, and airy racemes or panicles of short-lived, flat, irregularly star shaped, pink or white flowers, usually 4 petalled. They are graceful plants in a border.

Grow in light, fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun, but drought and partial shade is tolerated. Cut to ground after flowering.

Prone to rust, Cercospora leaf spots, Septoria leaf spots, downy mildew and powdery mildew.

G. biennis – This subshrubby, hairy annual or biennial from Texas and Louisiana grows 6′ feet tall and 4′ feet wide. It produces stem leaves to 5″ long and basal leaves to 16″ long, both are narrowly elliptic with irregular edges. In summer it bears racemes, 4-20″ long, of white flowers, to 1 ½” across, fading to reddish pink. Stems and foliage are flushed coral-red in late summer.

Zones 6-9

There are about 30 species of annuals, perennials, and biennials, in this genus. They occur in open, sunny habitats on prairies and Hillsides in the USA, with two species from South America. They bear smooth edged, toothed, lobed or pinnatifid, hairy leaves, produced in basal rosettes and alternately up the stem. On long stems it bears single or double, daisy like in red, orange, or yellow petals from summer until first frost as much as 6″ wide. The numerous cultivars are bushy, leafy plants with brightly colored flowers. They are effective in a sunny border and also good for cutting.

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun, poor soil is tolerated. Deadhead regularly. In colder climates cut perennials back to about 6″ in late summer to encourage new basal growth, which usually overwinters well. Divide perennials in spring. Stake if necessary. They tolerate extreme heat, cold, dryness, and strong winds.

Prone to downy mildew, rust, powdery mildew, white smut, bacterial leaf spots, Septoria leaf spot, and slugs and snails.

Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Kobold’ – Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Goblin’ – This bushy, often short lived perennials is a cross between G. aristat and G. pulchella grows 12″ tall and 18-36″ wide. It produces inversely lance shaped, smooth edged or slightly lobed, sometimes pinnatifid, hairy gray to mid green leaves, to 12″ long. From early summer to early autumn it bears flowers 3-5 ½” across, with rich red, yellow tipped petals and red centers

Zones 3-8

There are about 30 species of annuals, perennials, and biennials, in this genus. They occur in open, sunny habitats on prairies and Hillsides in the USA, with two species from South America. They bear smooth edged, toothed, lobed or pinnatifid, hairy leaves, produced in basal rosettes and alternately up the stem. On long stems it bears single or double, daisy like in red, orange, or yellow petals from summer until first frost as much as 6″ wide. The numerous cultivars are bushy, leafy plants with brightly colored flowers. They are effective in a sunny border and also good for cutting.

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun, poor soil is tolerated. Deadhead regularly. In colder climates cut perennials back to about 6″ in late summer to encourage new basal growth, which usually overwinters well. Divide perennials in spring. Stake if necessary. They tolerate extreme heat, cold, dryness, and strong winds.

Prone to downy mildew, rust, powdery mildew, white smut, bacterial leaf spots, Septoria leaf spot, and slugs and snails.

 Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ – Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Burgundy’ – This bushy, often short lived perennials is a cross between G. aristat and G. pulchella grows 20-24″ tall and 18-36″ wide. It produces inversely lance shaped, smooth edged or slightly lobed, sometimes pinnatifid, hairy gray to mid green leaves, to 12″ long. From early summer to early autumn it bears flowers 3-5 ½” across, with maroon flowers

Zones 3-8

There are about 30 species of annuals, perennials, and biennials, in this genus. They occur in open, sunny habitats on prairies and Hillsides in the USA, with two species from South America. They bear smooth edged, toothed, lobed or pinnatifid, hairy leaves, produced in basal rosettes and alternately up the stem. On long stems it bears single or double, daisy like in red, orange, or yellow petals from summer until first frost as much as 6″ wide. The numerous cultivars are bushy, leafy plants with brightly colored flowers. They are effective in a sunny border and also good for cutting.

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun, poor soil is tolerated. Deadhead regularly. In colder climates cut perennials back to about 6″ in late summer to encourage new basal growth, which usually overwinters well. Divide perennials in spring. Stake if necessary. They tolerate extreme heat, cold, dryness, and strong winds.

Prone to downy mildew, rust, powdery mildew, white smut, bacterial leaf spots, Septoria leaf spot, and slugs and snails.

G. aristata – This erect but often spreading perennial found from Western British Columbia, Saskatchewan to Western Arizona, New Mexico grows 24-30″ tall and 18-24″ wide, and may be short lived especially in damp conditions. It produces aromatic, inversely lance shaped, smooth or toothed edge, shallowly lobed or pinnatifid, grayish green, downy leaves, to 8″ long. From summer to autumn it bears single flowers, to 4″ across, with yellow petals, sometimes tinged red at the bases, and reddish orange centers.

Zones 3-8

There are about 8 vigorous, deciduous trees in this genus. They occur in valley bottoms and watercourses in North America and Mexico, with one species in Southeastern Europe, and one species in Southeastern Asia.   They are grown for their imposing stature and open habit, their large, alternate, palmately lobed leaves, which turn golden brown in autumn, and their flaking bark. The flowers are inconspicuous, but spherical clusters of fruits hang from the shoots throughout winter. They are best as street tree or for large gardens or parks. They thrive in urban conditions, with great tolerance for compacted soil and air pollution, but if planted close to buildings, their vigorous roots may damage drains.   Contact with the basal tufts of hair on the fruits may irritate the skin and respiratory system.

Grow in fertile, well drained, soil in full sun but best in alluvial soils with a consistent water source.

Prone to Anthracnose, blight, powdery mildew, canker stain, branch canker, mushroom root rot, borers, weevils, Japanese beetles, caterpillars, mites, and scale insects.

 P. racemosa – California Sycamore – California Plane – Western Sycamore – Aliso – This vigorous, broadly columnar, deciduous, tree from the mountains of Southern California and Mexico grows 80-100′ feet tall and at least 70′ feet wide. It has flaking gray bark and deeply 5 lobed, occasionally 3 lobe, dark green leaves, to 6-12″ long, with downy undersides. Green, later brown fruit clusters, 1″ across, are produces in groups of 2-7, and persist during autumn and winter. Tolerant of much heat and wind.

Zones 6-8

There are about 8 vigorous, deciduous trees in this genus. They occur in valley bottoms and watercourses in North America and Mexico, with one species in Southeastern Europe, and one species in Southeastern Asia.   They are grown for their imposing stature and open habit, their large, alternate, palmately lobed leaves, which turn golden brown in autumn, and their flaking bark. The flowers are inconspicuous, but spherical clusters of fruits hang from the shoots throughout winter. They are best as street tree or for large gardens or parks. They thrive in urban conditions, with great tolerance for compacted soil and air pollution, but if planted close to buildings, their vigorous roots may damage drains.   Contact with the basal tufts of hair on the fruits may irritate the skin and respiratory system.

Grow in fertile, well drained, soil in full sun but best in alluvial soils with a consistent water source.

Prone to Anthracnose, blight, powdery mildew, canker stain, branch canker, mushroom root rot, borers, weevils, Japanese beetles, caterpillars, mites, and scale insects.

P. orientalis – Oriental Sycamore – Oriental Plane – Chinar – Chennar – This vigorous, spreading, deciduous tree found from Southeastern Europe to Western Asia grows 100 feet tall and wide or more. It has flaking gray, brown, and cream bark, and deeply 5 to 7 lobed, glossy green leaves, to 10″ long. Green, later brown fruit clusters to 1″ across, are borne in groups of up to 6, and persist during autumn and winter.

Zones 3-8