Emily Ellingson, Curator & Native Plants Collections Manager at University of Kentucky came to the Potting Shed to speak about the beautiful ecological communities of Kentucky. The following are some of her choices among Michler-grown crops to use in your garden.
Tilia americana (Basswood or American Linden)Height: 50 - 80 feet
Spread: 30 - 50 feet
Bloom Time: June
Bloom Description: Pale yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Shade tree, showy fragrant flowers and fruit
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Tolerate: Drought, Clay Soil
Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles' (Summersweet)
Height: 4 - 5 feet
Spread: 2 - 3 feet
Bloom Time: July to August
Bloom Description: Creamy white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: rain garden, fall color, showy fragrant flowers
Attracts: Butterflies
Tolerate: Heavy Shade, Erosion, Clay Soil, Wet Soil
Hydrangea arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea)
Height: 3 - 5 feet
Spread: 3 - 5 feet
Bloom Time: June to September
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize, rain garden, showy flowers
Tolerate: Rabbit, erosion, clay soil, dry soil, wet soil, shallow-rocky soil, Black Walnut
Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern)
Height: 2 - 3 feet
Spread: 2 - 3 feet
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize, rain garden
Tolerate: Rabbit, heavy shade, wet soil
Adiantum pedatum (Northern Maiden Hair)
Height: 1 - 2.5 feet
Spread: 1 - 1.5 feet
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Tolerate: Heavy Shade
Asarum canadense (Wild Ginger)
Height: 0.5 - 1 feet
Spread: 1 - 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Description: Purplish brown
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Ground cover, naturalize, rain garden
Tolerate: Deer, heavy shade, erosion, wet soil
Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High' (Purple Coneflower)
Height: 1 - 2 feet
Spread: 1 - 2 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Clear pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Birds, butterflies
Tolerate: Deer, drought, clay Soil, dry soil, shallow-rocky soil
Elymus hystrix (Bottlebrush Grass)
Height: 2.5 - 3 feet
Spread: 1 - 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: September to October
Bloom Description: Green maturing to brown
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize, showy seeds, good for floral arrangements
Attracts: Birds
Tolerate: Drought, heavy shade, erosion, dry soil, Black Walnut, air pollution
Hibiscus moscheutos 'Blue River II'
Height: 4 - 5 feet
Spread: 2.5 - 3 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Showy flowers, rain garden
Attracts: Butterflies
Tolerate: Deer, wet soil
Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb’ (Threadleaf Coreopsis)
Height: 1 - 1.5 feet
Spread: 1.5 - 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Showy flowers
Tolerate: Deer, drought, dry soil, shallow-rocky soil