Western all-stars

Coreopsis

C. verticillata 'Moonbeam'. Summer-fall. Pale yellow flowers; good tolerance for drought and neglect. Best in Northwest. ZONES: 1-24.

C. v. 'Zagreb'. Summer-fall. Golden yellow flowers. Good in Southern California. ZONES: 1-24.

Corydalis

C. lutea. Summer. Yellow flowers best in woodland settings, especially near water. ZONES: 2-9, 14-24.

Daylily

Hemerocallis 'Black-eyed Stella'. Summer. Yellow with red eye. ZONES: 1-24, H1-H2.

H. 'Pardon Me'. Summer. Red. ZONES: 1-24, H1-H2.

H. Starburst series. Summer. Many colors. ZONES: 1-24, H1-H2.

H. 'Stella de Oro'. Summer. Yellow. ZONES: 1-24, H1-H2.

Gaura

G. lindheimeri. Spring-fall or most of year in mild-winter climates. White or pink flowers. From Texas. ZONES: 2B-24.

Pincushion Flower

Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue'. July-October or nearly all year in mild climates. Deadheading important. ZONES: 2-11, 14-24.

S. c. 'Pink Mist'. Same as 'Butterfly Blue'. ZONES: 2-11, 14-24.

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'. Summer. Pinkish purple flowers with orange-brown centers. Birds like the seeds. ZONES: A2-A3, 1-24.

E. p. 'White Swan'. Summer. White with orange-yellow centers. Birds like the seeds. ZONES: A2-A3, 1-24.

Russian Sage

Perovskia. July-fall. Blue flowers. Can be an aggressive spreader in California; better in Northwest and mountains. ZONES: 2-24.

Sage

Salvia confertiflora. Fall-winter in mild areas. Dark orange flowers have reddish brown velvet on stems and calyx tubes. Favored by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. ZONES: 16-17, 22-24.

S. nemorosa 'Ostfriesland'. Summer-fall if deadheaded. Violet blue flowers with pink to purple bracts. Favored by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. ZONES: 2-10, 14-24.

S. x sylvestris 'Blue Hill'. Spring-fall if deadheaded. ZONES: 2-10, 14-24.

S. x s. 'May Night'. Favored by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. ZONES: 2-10, 14-24.

Shasta Daisy

Chrysanthemum maximum 'Esther Read'. Summer, with rebloom if cut back after first round. White double. ZONES: A1-A3, 1-24.

C. m. 'Ryan's White'. Summer, with rebloom if cut back after first round. White single. ZONES: A1-A3, 1-24.

C. m. 'Snow Lady'. Summer-fall; nearly continuous. 10 inches tall with white flowers. ZONES: A1-A3, 1-24.

 

Sneezeweed

Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty'. Summer-fall. Coppery red flowers with brown centers. ZONES: A1-A3, 1-24.

H. autumnale. Summer-fall. Yellow flowers. ZONES: 1-24.

Speedwell

Veronica hybrid 'Sunny Border Blue'. Late spring through first frost with deadheading. ZONES: 1-9, 14-21.

Summer Phlox

Phlox paniculata 'Bright Eyes'. Dome-shaped flower clusters (rose pink with darker eye) through summer. ZONES: 1-14, 18-21.

Verbena

Verbena 'Homestead Purple'. Late spring-fall. Spreading. ZONES: 2-24.

V. Tapien hybrids. Late spring-fall. Spreading, many colors. ZONES: 4-9, 12-24, H1-H2.

V. lilacina 'De La Mina'. Spring-fall or nearly all year in mild-winter climates. Purple flowers. ZONES: 12-24.

Yarrow

Achillea 'Moonshine'. June-September. Deep lemon yellow. ZONES: A1-A3, 1-24.

Achillea filipendulina 'Coronation Gold'. June-September. ZONES: A1-A3, 1-24.

A. millefolium. June-September. Flowers come in rose, pink, lavender, salmon, yellow, and red. ZONES: A1-A3, 1-24.