PERENNIAL & GRASS SOLUTIONS
We have strayed away from trees and shrubs for this month’s featured plant palette to introduce a few colorful yet hardy options:  perennials and grasses.  Some sites face difficult conditions that are ever-present and tough to overcome; however, with the right perennials and grasses, you can confront drought or rainy seasons, rabbit damage, and even salt situations in the soil from snow removal.

DESCHAMPSIA (aka HAIR GRASS)
This grass is available in many heights, ranging from 2’ to 5’ tall.  In addition, Hair Grass is adaptable to many environments; varieties can grow well in both sun and part shade, and they can thrive in either dry or very wet (even boggy) soils.  After the winter we’ve been through and the exorbitant amount of rabbit damage experienced, it is also important to note that Hair Grass is rabbit resistant!  In some cases, Hair Grass has also proven to be salt tolerant.  This grass has green foliage during the growing season with cloudy panicles which bloom in July in a variety of colors such as bronze, yellow, gold, and light green.  D. caespitosa (pictured) and ‘Bronzeschleier’ are a couple popular options.

HEUCHERA (CORAL BELLS)
This perennial has been around awhile but has recently become quite popular as new hybrids and varieties are developed every season.  While Coral Bells do have small, intricate flowers during the early summer, the main catch is the vast array of foliage colors from greens, purples, chocolates, and butterscotches.  Most sizes range from 12” – 18” tall and wide, and once established they can be divided every three years.  Heuchera is shade tolerant and can also thrive in sunny locations if provided with moisture.  This plant is also salt tolerant which helped it receive a superior performance rating from the Chicago Botanic Garden.  The pictured varieties are ‘Palace Purple’ and ‘Caramel’.

PERENNIAL GERANIUM (CRANESBILL)
Perennial Geranium—not to be confused with the annual—has proven itself in an array of environments.  These perennials prefer full sun and like it hot, hot, hot!  Once established, they form mounds which can reach sizes ranging from 10” – 20” tall and wide with bright blooms in late spring and throughout summer.  Cranesbill is available in bloom colors anywhere from white to deep pink to bright blue; some varieties, such as ‘Album’ and ‘Biokovo’, have foliage which will achieve a red fall color.   In addition, this perennial is rabbit resistant.  The pictured varieties are ‘Biokovo’ and ‘Johnson’s Blue’, and both have received an excellent performance rating from the Chicago Botanic Garden.