Cait's Garden

I bragged on Centranthus ruber ‘Pretty Betsy’  a couple years back, but this plant reminds me every year how fabulous it is. I really can’t understand why it is so difficult to find this in the store. It should be sold everywhere along with coneflowers and tall phlox.  I got mine years ago through mail order, although I have seen it once or twice since in the stores. The particulars: Hardy to Zone 4, 3 feet tall and wide, lovely branching form with bluish-green oblong leaves, cherry red flowers from May through August (which are more plentiful if you deadhead regularly), good for cut flowers. It is supposed to spread by seed, but I haven’t been that lucky yet. As you can see, it is blooming now. About the only thing it doesn’t have is scent. And the bees don’t like it for some reason. (Perhaps it makes them sleepy?) But overall, wow, one of the most reliable, knockout gorgeous plants I own.