STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM AUGUST 2019 53
Iris sibirica “Caesar’s Brother” is our favorite water-loving perennial.
These irises perform well in summer sun or partial shade but will
thrive best around ponds or water features where they stabilize
the soil from erosion. In late May, their elegant purple blooms
will appear atop slender, green foliage and peak blooming will
continue into June. A great plant for rain gardens!
Sarah Riley, Bowood Farms.
The “Lion King” Japanese Iris is absolutely fabulous! Nothing less could
describe the incredible show this Japanese Iris puts on. Planted in
ideally moist conditions, these majestic plants grow to a tall, stately
height of 4 feet and will be covered with gigantic 7 to 8 inch flowers
that are fully double with standards and fall much larger than the
species. Japanese Iris is naturally at home next to ponds or streams
where they benefit from the moist soil.
Ann Lapides, Sugar Creek Nursery.A sought after perennial by many customers, the hardy
hibiscus plant has so many wonderful qualities. First, it performs
wonderfully in wet or waterlogged soils, yet it is also drought
tolerant. It can handle a range of sunlight conditions, from
part shade to full sun. Its versatility helps it thrive in those
hard to grow spots. Hardy hibiscus produces stunning
dinner-plate sized blooms all summer long and although
perennial to this area, the exotic flowers can add a touch of
the tropics to the Midwest garden. The list goes on, but one
notable feature is that the young leaves, flowers and shoots
are edible and can be used in a variety of culinary applications!
Hillary Fitz, Greenscape Gardens.
Water Snowball is one of the
absolute best choices for
attracting Monarch butterflies
to the garden! This water plant
produces clusters of fragrant
white blooms all summer
through fall.
The team at Chalily Ponds &
Gardens.The Baldcypress tree has a good
growth habit and its red bark
creates nice winter interest. It's
an amazingly adaptable plant,
tolerating both dry conditions
and even some standing water.
Its tolerance for wet areas makes
it a great tree for planting in or
around a pond. Justin Verbryck,
Frisella Nursery.