Yellow Fever

There is nothing quite so spectacular in the summertime as a garden full of bright flowing yellow blooms. It’s as if the sun itself leaned over and kissed your yard. Below are six plants that will create a bright festive garden that birds and butterflies will love.

Lysimachia nummularia (Creeping Jenny) Use as a ground cover for your Yellow Fever Garden, as this plant is very low growing. Mainly planted for its spreading foliage, it will bloom small yellow flowers in late spring to early summer. Creeping Jenny prefers a sunny location and is a member of the primrose family. This is exceptionally easy to grow.

Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan) A member of the Aster/Daisy family, this bright roadside attraction will get 2-3 feet high. It’s a favorite for butterflies. Grow in full sun, although it is a very adaptable plant. This is a good plant to do for cut flower arrangements, and it will have a full bloom time with proper deadheading. You may propagate this flower via seed.

Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) The common sunflower will be best suited for full sun gardens. It is a favourite of both birds and butterflies. If growth is slow, you may add manure for a boost in nutrients. Be sure to offer support to these tall plants, as they will topple over when the heads get full. It’s a warm-season annual, but with their seed heads they will self-sow if allowed. I’d use these as the background to your garden, a come-hither sign to neighbors and passersby. You have plenty of different sunflowers to choose from, as there are 70-80 different species.

Bidens aristosa (Bearded Beggarticks, Bur Marigolds, Tickseed) This perennial grows 1-5 feet and will prefer sun and moderately moist soil. The blooms will arrive late summer and early fall to give your garden that bit of late-season boost. A showy plant that compliments sunflowers, these blooms are around 2 inches in diameter. Plant them in batches for a full bushy array.

Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf Coreopsis) Growing 1-2 feet, this perennial is a beauty. It likes full sun or partial shade and will bloom in late spring. This plant needs frequent deadheading to ensure a long and showy bloom season. It also can be propagated by seed, or by division in the spring or fall seasons.

Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod) A tall (up to 6 feet) perennial, the goldenrod will produce multiple flower heads. This Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½fuzzy’ showy plant will be a favorite in your sun garden. It is shade intolerant, so be sure to place in full sun. The soil itself doesn’t matter, as this plant is very adaptable to conditions. Honeybees love goldenrod for its nectar. Although you may propagate this by seed, division is your best bet.