Tufted hairgrass Tardiflora

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. The spiky flower centers are an irresistible attraction for butterflies. They last 7–10 days in a vase. After removing the petals, the stems with the central disks can be dried or used in fresh bouquets as an interesting element. White Swan blooms with milky white flowers and brownish-orange centers. The petals are not spread entirely horizontally; they bend slightly downwards.

An original wild perennial with a large distribution area from Europe to Siberia. Suitable for natural and wild plantings. It grows in meadows and dry grassy places. A very adaptable and undemanding plant, it grows in clumps and spreads by runners. By cutting back after the first flowering, we encourage a set of new flowers. For bouquets, we harvest when the florets are fully open. It lasts 10 days in a vase. Summer Pastels is characterized by a changeable and soft range of colors from white and vanilla to salmon, brick red, and bronze.

Feather grass flowers capture attention in beds and bouquets with their lightness and delicacy. All feather grasses love full sun and dry, stony, well-drained soil. To look most natural in beds, it is good to plant them in loose groups of several pieces together with other drought-loving perennials and bulbs. Only then do their stems and inflorescences, set in motion by the slightest breath of wind, truly stand out. Stipa 'Ponny Tails' is a species native to the steppes of Mexico, Texas, and Patagonia. Airy, dense clumps of hair-like delicate leaves resemble horsehair. The leaves are green, turning up to straw-colored towards the flowers. In a suitable location, it also self-seeds.

Lady's mantle naturally grows on mountain pastures and meadows and in mixed forests. It is ornamental in both leaf and flower. The leaves have fine hairs giving the plant a velvety character. It is a perennial sought after by ancient alchemists for the drops of dew that appear in the pleated leaves. Valuable for florists for its multitude of tiny greenish-yellow flowers. Important in flower beds for its ground-covering character. Lasts 10 days in a vase.

Tufted hairgrass is an undemanding native grass that remains green even in winter. In nature, it grows in meadows and forest clearings. It forms a compact tuft of leaves, from which grow fine, thin stems with transparent clouds of flowers. It adapts even to more difficult conditions, such as dry shade or compacted soil, and can handle waterlogging. Goldschleier has very tiny spikelets in light yellow panicles. The inflorescence forms a fluffy light yellow cloud above the tuft of leaves.

Tufted hairgrass is an undemanding native grass that remains green even in winter. In nature, it grows in meadows and forest clearings. It forms a neat clump of leaves, from which grow delicate thin stems with transparent clouds of flowers. It adapts even to more difficult conditions, such as dry shade or compacted soil, and can handle waterlogging too. The flowers of the 'Schottland' cultivar are brown at the beginning of flowering, later turning gold. The leaf clumps grow up to 60 centimeters, the flower stems up to 120.

A beautiful lower grass valuable for its early sprouting and the long endurance of leaves well into winter. The flowers are rather inconspicuous, beige, and appear in the green clumps only later in summer and autumn. The leaf color is bright green. A great combination with species such as calamint, gaura, or oregano.

Gaura is a clump-forming perennial native to Texas and Louisiana. Here, it behaves more like a short-lived perennial. It combines beautifully with grasses and adds lightness and airiness to flower beds. It is an excellent food source for insects. Tiny flowers resembling small butterflies bloom tirelessly from June until the first frosts. For bouquets, harvest as soon as the first two or three flowers open on the stem. Siskiyou Pink is a beautiful variety with pink-red flowers on slightly arching stems. It is less hardy than the white-flowering varieties. The red-spotted leaves are also interesting.

Gaura is a clump-forming perennial originally from Texas and Louisiana. Here it behaves more like a short-lived perennial. It combines beautifully with grasses and adds lightness and airiness to flowerbeds. It is excellent pasture for insects. Tiny flowers similar to small butterflies bloom tirelessly from June until the first frosts. Harvest for bouquets immediately as soon as the first two to three flowers open on the stem. Whirling Butterflies blooms with pure white flowers that gradually acquire a pink tinge. Buds are also usually pinkish. Characterized by compact growth and blooms profusely.

Perovskia are sparsely branched subshrubs, originating from areas ranging from Afghanistan to Tibet. They grow in open, sunny, rocky, and stony habitats. Their white-felted shoots and grayish aromatic leaves are striking. They fit well in sunny flower beds with other drought-loving perennials, where they create interesting structures even in the winter months. Little Spire is a smaller cultivar suitable even for pots with a soil volume of 7 liters or more.

Fountain grasses originate from East Asia, where they grow in meadows and light forests. They form hemispherical clumps of narrow leaves which, like the flowers, color up in the autumn. They are suitable for the vase and for drying. The 'Hameln' cultivar is one of the most reliable bloomers in cooler regions. The inflorescences initially have a soft pink tinge, then change color to yellow-brown or reddish-brown.

An undemanding and modest perennial that blooms with a large number of tiny flowers. It blooms for a record-breaking length of time throughout late summer and autumn. It forms smaller, compact, airy bushes that emit a minty-spicy fragrance. The thyme-like flowers attract bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. It will look good among roses as well as in natural-style steppe beds, perhaps with lower grasses.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. It blooms in late summer and captivates with long drooping petals. The spiky flower centers are an irresistible attraction for butterflies. It lasts 7–10 days in a vase. After removing the petals, the stems with the central discs can be dried or used in fresh bouquets as an interesting element. Hulla Dancer has white petals with a pink tinge.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. It blooms in late summer and captivates with long drooping petals. The spiky flower centers are an irresistible attraction for butterflies. It lasts 7–10 days in a vase. After removing the petals, the stems with the central discs can be dried or used in fresh bouquets as an interesting element.

An undemanding native grass that creates a dense green growth. As early as May, long stems sprout with delicate, heart-shaped spikelets in the shape of small hearts. Their movement in the slightest breath of wind is very effective. It tends to be beautiful until August or September. It is good to trim it after flowering. It is perfectly usable for drying.

Tufted hairgrass is an undemanding native grass that remains green even in winter. In nature, it grows in meadows and forest clearings. It forms a neat clump of leaves, from which grow delicate thin stems with transparent clouds of flowers. It adapts even to more difficult conditions, such as dry shade or compacted soil, and can handle waterlogging too. The Czech cultivar 'Pálava' is valuable for its extra-long flowering time from July to October. Unlike other cultivars, its flowers are sterile and do not create any seedlings. It is stated that it resists drought best of all tufted hairgrasses.

Rudbeckia, also known as coneflowers, originates from North America; they are robust and abundantly blooming perennials of late summer and autumn. They are suitable for prairie plantings with tall grasses as well as for cottage gardens. The central disks look very effective even after flowering and decorate perennial beds throughout the winter. Harvest for the vase as soon as they bloom. Vase life is 7 to 10 days. We can also use the dry central disks. Goldsturm is a reliable and long-proven cultivar. It has bright golden-yellow flowers with dark centers.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. It blooms in summer with dark purple-pink flowers. The spiky flower centers are an irresistible attraction for butterflies. They last 7–10 days in a vase. After removing the petals, the stems with the central disks can be dried or used in fresh bouquets as an interesting element. Magnus features distinctive deep pink flowers with an orange-brown center.

This species of knotweed originates from the Himalayas and China, where it grows in scrub and on mountain meadows along streams at high altitudes. It forms sturdy clumps of fresh green, pointed leaves. Above them, upright, narrow, candle-like inflorescences composed of individual tiny flowers appear from summer onwards. It is a very popular perennial, recently bred into many cultivars and used in Western Europe in larger park and garden landscaping. It excels with a long flowering period in late summer and good durability in a vase. It was voted Perennial of the Season 2023 by the Czech Perennials Association. The white variety Alba stands out particularly well against a darker background and has long-lasting flowers.

Knautia macedonica is a profusely and long-blooming undemanding perennial. Its wild form originates from the Balkans, where it grows on meadows and in scrublands. In flower beds, it charms with slender high stems that carry pastel wine and pink flowers. It is suitable for naturally designed sunny to semi-shady beds and meadow bouquets.

A delicate, drought-resistant steppe grass grown for its unusual inflorescences. The horizontally positioned spikelets look like small flags and resemble a buzzing swarm of mosquitoes. Mosquito grass fits well in natural gardens with other drought-loving plants. It will grow very well even in a larger pot. It lasts up to 14 days in a vase.

A native wild perennial with a large distribution range from Europe to Siberia. Suitable for natural and wild plantings. It grows in meadows and dry grassy places. A very adaptable and undemanding plant, it grows in clumps and spreads via runners. Cutting back after the first bloom encourages a new set of flowers. Harvest for bouquets when the tiny flowers are fully open. It lasts 10 days in a vase. Terracotta features ochre, shades of orange and yellow, and gray-green foliage.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can liven up and brighten late summer and autumn beds. They stand out against the darker background of shrub groups and will also be grateful for their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Association chose autumn Anemones as the perennial of the season for 2022. They last 7 days in a vase. Whirlwind is a historical variety bred in 1887 in the USA. It has a semi-double pure white flower, often with inner twisted petals, and compact, strictly upright growth. The flowers are very durable.

An undemanding and modest perennial that blooms with a large number of tiny flowers. It blooms for a record-breaking length of time throughout late summer and autumn. It forms smaller, compact, airy bushes that release a minty-spicy scent. The thyme-like flowers attract bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. It will look good among roses as well as in naturalistic steppe beds, perhaps with lower grasses. This calamint is generally more vigorous. It differs from other calamints with felted leaves by its record flowering length, stiff and shiny leaves, and also a larger number of flowers that do not form seeds and are therefore maximally durable. Sometimes sold under the cultivar name 'Triumphator'.

A perennial grass native to North American prairies. Switchgrass is very adaptable and long-lived. It adds clear structure to flower beds and simultaneously functions as a softening element. This is especially true after veil-like flowers appear above the clumps of leaves. The cultivar Squaw attracts attention at first glance with wine-red colored leaves and brown-pink flowers.

Like Lavender, Hyssop is considered a low woody subshrub. It works well in similar planting schemes, with roses or even in steppe-style gravel beds. It can be used in the kitchen and as a medicinal plant. A huge attraction for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. Sweet pink flowers.

Brunnera is a long-lived perennial originally from the mountain meadows and forests of the Caucasus. It is interesting not only when in bloom. The leaves are large, heart-shaped, and light green. They form a contrasting background for the delicate and tiny flowers that appear above the carpet of leaves from April to May. It sprouts early and dies back late, making it a valuable groundcover perennial.

This Phlomis grows wild in Central and Southeastern Europe; here it is among the critically endangered species. The stems are purple and bear rough, heart-shaped leaves. The flowers are pink-purple; the dry capsules with seeds are also decorative. It creates a distinct decorative element even in winter. Particularly impressive is the combination with soft, loose plantings of grasses and perennials, into which Phlomis introduces a strict graphic accent.

Moor grass forms low hemispherical clumps of narrow leaves, from which strikingly tall flower stems grow at the beginning of summer. They can grow up to 180 cm and during autumn, like the leaves, they change color to gorgeous golden-yellow shades. The Karl Foerster cultivar excels with firm upright growth.