TELCS
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perennials for summer & autumn coursework
Unlike shrubs, perennials generally do not have woody structures. Generally here means that there are always exceptions. Some perennials may develop woody bases with age, and this helps protect them from predators or winter cold. Instead of being defined by their woodiness, perennials are classified as herbaceous plants with tender stems vulnerable to frosts. Encyclopedia Britannica defines an herbaceous perennial as a plant species that dies back to the ground over winter. While that is indeed the case for many perennials, when/where did this definition come from? Most likely from a place of harsher winters than California's Mediterranean climate.
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Many perennials in California, particularly from our Bay Area, Central Coast, and Southern California regions, experience mild winters with few frosts - a phenomenon becoming more apparent with climate change. Therefore, some herbaceous perennials that might die back in other regions will instead retain their leaves and structures in California. We can find a very good example in daylilies, or scientifically, Hemerocallis. Daylilies are indeed herbaceous perennials, but they can be subcategorized as both evergreen and deciduous varieties. Evergreen varieties will retain their leaves all year, whereas others will go semi- or fully deciduous over winter. How disappointing would it be for a designer who relied upon the winter greenery found instead they specified a variety that dies back to the ground? Watch out for Salvia, commonly known as sages, because this genus covers shrubs, perennials, and even biennials and annuals (only lasting two years or just a season, respectively). Why is this important?
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As landscape designers, we rely upon our plant selections to help tell the story of our designs. We use trees as roofs and shrubs as walls, for example. Perennials create a nuanced air of elegance, reinforce design styles, may provide a punch of color and texture, or support benefits in the home and kitchen, but they can completely disappear over the winter, too. How does the designer's composition hold up during this downtime? Will the perennials only add value for a very short time, such as during a two-week bloom period in spring? These and other questions will need to be considered when choosing perennials.
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Perennials for the summer or autumn garden may produce flowers, fruit, or even unique seed structures late into the seasons. Their details need to be explored by designers, as often exploited in wonderous ways by Swedish designer Piet Oudolf, or historically by English garden designer Gertrude Jekyll. When taking a plant identification class, pay close attention to the seasonal timing of leaf and flower color but also fruit and texture. Even in their winter dormancy, their structures may provide interesting forms to enjoy through the seasons.
The following list is fluid, meaning it will change as new information is made available, including new species and status on campus. We welcome any updates, corrections, or comments to continue to make this page useful to students at West Valley College.
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If a scientific name is linked, please feel free to find additional information via this website.
scientific name
Achillea millefolium 'Paprika'
Achillea tomentosa
Agastache rupestris
Alchemilla mollis
Alstroemieria aurea
Anemone x hybrida
Anigozanthos
Argyranthemum frutescens
Artemisia 'Powis Castle'
Asarum caudatum
Asclepias speciosa
Asparagus densiflorus 'Myers'
Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri'
Aster x frikartii
Canna 'Tropicanna'
Centranthus ruber
Cerastium tomentosum
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Chondropetalum tectorum
Crocosmia hybrids
Delphinium elatum
Dianella tasmanica
Dietes bicolor
Dymondia margaretae
Echinacea purpurea
Epilobium canum (Zauschneria canum)
Erigeron glaucus
Erigeron karvinskianus 'Profusion'
Eriogonum umbellatum
Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'
Felicia amelloides
Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpurescens'
Gaura lindheimeri
Gazania hybrids
Gunnera tinctoria
Heuchera hybrids
Hosta hybrids
Iris ensata
Iris (Pacific Coast hybrids)
Kniphofia hybrids
Leucanthemum x superbum
Liriope muscari
Lithodora diffusa
Lomandra longifolia
Lupinus Russell Hybrids
Myosotis scorpioides
Nepeta x faassenii
Ophiopogon japonicus
Osteospermum fruticosum
Penstemon hybrids
Persicaria amplexicaulis
Phormium tenax
Salvia leucantha
Salvia uliginosa
Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue'
Silene coronaria (Lychnis coronaria)
Solidago velutina subsp. californica
Stachys byzantina
Strelitzia reginae
Tulbaghia violacea 'Variegata'
Watsonia pillansii
Zantedeschia aethiopica
common name
bear's breech
common yarrow
Paprika common yarrow
wooly yarrow
lily-of-the-Nile
licorice mint hyssop
lady's mantle
Peruvian lily
Japanese anemone
kangaroo paw
marguerite
Powis Castle wormwood
wild ginger
showy milkweed
Myers asparagus
Sprenger asparagus
aster
false spirea
Tropicanna canna
Jupiter's beard
snow-in-summer
dwarf plumbago
cape rush
large-flower tickseed
coppertip
candle delphinium
flax lily
fortnight lily
butterfly flag
common foxglove
silver carpet
purple coneflower
California fuchsia
seaside fleabane
Santa Barbara daisy
sulphur flower
wallflower
blue marguerite
common bronze fennel
gaura
African daisy
cranesbill
dinosaur food
coral bells
plantain lily
Japanese iris
Pacific Coast Hybrid iris
rush
red-hot poker
Shasta daisy
sea lavender
big blue lily turf
lithodora
spiny headed mat rush
lupine
forget-me-not
catmint
mondo grass
trailing African daisy
border penstemon
Russian sage
knotweed
New Zealand flax
Matilija poppy
gloriosa daisy
Mexican sage
bog sage
pincushion flower
crown-pink
goldenrod
lamb's ears
bird of paradise
society garlic
variegated society garlic
tall verbena
Beatrice watsonia
calla
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