Every gardener knows that keeping the garden in bloom from spring to summer takes careful planning. Knowing what plants grow in your zone, your town, and your neighborhood is essential to grow with success. Microclimates are real. Soil texture is real. Aspects of sun and shade are real – so knowing what you have, and planning your plants and garden to complement your growing conditions will set you up for success.
In this post, enjoy familiar perennials from gardens around Bloomington, Indiana. They’re popular flower garden favorites in residential gardens, on the Indiana University campus, and in parks like Switchyard. Keep in mind that these 9-happy flowering plants enjoy full sun to part shade. There are also plenty more sun lovers (and shade loving plants), so keep coming back to visit the Midwest Section to learn more about home gardens, horticulture, and ecology of Bloomington’s Zone 6. This post here focuses on zone 6 spring flowering trees and shrubs.
1. Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower
Daisy family (Asteraceae)
Echinacea purpurea at Switchyard Park, Bloomington, Indiana in late June. About: Echinacea (Coneflower) is a North American native with stiff, course stems and leaves and daisy-type flowers. This perennial enjoys full sun and average soil. It is also drought and heat tolerant. You can plant in part shade, but plant becomes leggy so pinch back. There are many varieties + colors to choose from. Height ranges from 1-4 feet. Zones: 3-9.
2. Philadelphus coronarius – Mockorange
Hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceae)
Philadelphus coronarius (Mockorange). Upland Brewery in early May. This is a fragrant, white flowering shrub in the Hydrangea family. Philadelphus is drought and wind tolerant. Exposure: full sun to part shade. Size: 10-12′ wide x 10-12′ tall. Soil: prefers moist, well-drained soil but tolerates a variety of soil types. Bloom time: May, June.
3. Gaillardia grandiflora – Blanket Flower
Daisy family (Asteraceae)
Gaillardia grandiflora (Blanket Flower). Bloomington, June. This is an easy to grow but short lived perennial. Size: 20″wide x 24″ tall. This garden favorite puts out large showy blossoms in shades of reds and yellows throughout the warm season months. Family: Asteraceae
4. Dasiphora fruticosa – Shrubby Cinquefoil
Rose family (Rosaceae)
Dasiphora fruticosa. (Shrubby Cinquefoil). Bloomington, June. This yellow flowering shrub grows 3- 4 feet tall and wide. Likes full sun and is drought tolerant. Bloom time: June, July, August. Family: Rosaseae
5. Heliopsis helianthoides – Ox-Eye Sunflower
Daisy family (Asteraceae)
Heliopsis helianthoides (Ox-eye sunflower). Switchyard Park, June. Oxeye is hardy and easily grown as a showy garden perennial in dry sites and is a good choice for clay soil. A common perennial with stiff, branched stems and sunflower-like heads; Size: 1-2′ wide x 3-5′ tall. Exposure: full sun to part shade. Family: Asteraceae
6. Erigeron spp. – Fleabane
Daisy family (Asteraceae)
Erigeron (Fleabane). Bloomington, June. Family: Asteraceae
7. Coreopsis verticillata – Threadleaf Tickseed
Daisy family (Asteraceae)
Coreopsis verticillata (Threadleaf Tickseed). Switchyard Park, June. Size: 1-1.5′ wide x 1.5 -2.5′ tall. This perennial is both long blooming and long lived. Exposure: full sun to part shade. Drought tolerant and easy to grow. Slowly spreading clump of upright stems. Family: Asteraceae
8. Rudbeckia hirta – Black-Eyed Susan
Daisy family (Asteraceae)
Rudbedkia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan). Switchyard Park, June. Prolific bloom production from early to mid-summer to fall. Also, makes a good cut flower. Can be grown in both dry and moist soils. An upright, rhizomatous, clump-forming, free-blooming coneflower which typically grows to 3′ tall, often forming colonies in the wild. Exposure: full sun to part shade. Family: Asteraceae. Zones: 3-9
9. Leucanthemum superbum – Shasta Daisy
Daisy family (Asteraceae)
Leucanthemum superbum (Shasta daisy). Bloomington, June. There are many Shasta daisy cultivars ranging from 1 -4 foot tall. These perennials prefer full sun (6+ hours). If you don’t want to stake floppy stems, try Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Becky’ (Becky Shasta Daisy). This perennial produces large 3-4 inch white flowers with golden centers on rigid, 36-42 inch stems. Bloom time: early summer through fall. Family: Asteraceae
Happy Gardening!
Nicole
