[ List of Shade-Loving Perenials ] [ List of Sun-Loving Perenials ]
Low Maintenance Perennials:
- Criteria for selection:
- Ornamental appeal and interest.
- Plants inherently resistant to diseases and insect infestations.
- Plant require minimal maintenance (i.e. staking, dead-heading or shearing, frequent division)
- Plants with low fertility requirements.
- Plants that are inherently drought tolerant.
- Plants that are non-invasive.
- Winter hardy plants.
- Long lived plants.
- Gardening philosophy utilizes an IPM, organic approach to maintenance. Soils are a fertile loam in nature supplemented generously with shredded leaf compost where desirable. Underlying subsoil are extremely well-drained (Hoosic Gravelly Loam).
- Initial design and planting of the garden was the inspiration of Bob Hebb who was a protégé of Donald Wyman at the Arnold Arboretum. Coined the phase "low maintenance perennials", and authored the book by the same name.
- Interesting collected wild Asian perennials acquired by Cary Arboretum (NYBG) staff in late 1970s through SABE program (Sino-American Botanical Exchange) under auspices of US National Arboretum, NYBG, Arnold Arboretum. Also acquired many "exotics" through botanical seed exchange program with over 200 like institutions.
Plants Not On the List:
- Won't find many popular perennials because of above criterion.
- Examples:
- Hostas (moisture requirements, potential for slug damage)
- Daylilies (deer browsing)
- Peonies (Botrytis and other fungal or primarily fungal pathogens)
- Astilbes and Chrysanthemums (water and fertility needs)
- Iris (borers, short blooming period, frequent division)
- Roses (water, fertility, and chemical needs, hardiness, longevity)
Perennials That Should Be Included On The List:
- Most ornamental grasses as they generally meet the above criteria.
- Several native and cultivated ferns and pteridophytes.
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