Cait's Garden

There are many staples of the Zone 5 garden for midsummer beauty, but perhaps none are more stunning when combined than Phlox, Coneflower, and Liatris (aka Blazing Star, aka Gayfeather…because it’s just that awesome of a flower to have three names!). Whatever your color combo of choice, this trio of winners will combine to make a stunning display of color and interesting textures in the hottest part of the summer. They are also reliable performers year after year. A few caveats…”disease-resistant” phlox often aren’t, so don’t go by what the label promises. Experiment for yourself, and be proactive with anti-fungals if you see a problem. Also, the new hybrid coneflowers sometimes do not perform as well year-on-year as the old-fashioned pink and purple. And finally, I’ve found that purple liatris is much sturdier than white liatris, which tends to flop. But whatever your color palette, you are sure to be pleased with the results when you plant this threesome in your garden.