Botanical family: Asteraceae

Lasianthaea fruticosa

Leucanthemum sp.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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One of the most popular wild flowers, this widely naturalized Eurasian plant has flower heads with a yellow center and white rays. This is one of the toughest perennial wildflowers. First spring after germination the season before, bloom is extremely early and very profuse. One of the first wild perennials to bloom in any meadow.

Liatris sp.

Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system. Once established, Liatris is fairly drought tolerant.

Ligularia sp.

Ligularia is a perennial for moist soils. It has large leaves and spikes of yellow, daisylike flowers. Most cultivars of leopard plant have shiny green leaves variegated with irregular creamy white or yellow markings. It is sometimes used as a dramatic ground cover along ponds or stream edges, and as an accent plant in moist, shady locations.

Leopard plant was formerly classified in the genus Ligularia, and has been known under many names, including Ligularia tussilaginea, L. kaempferi, L. japonica, Senecio kaempferi, Tussilago japonicum, and Farfugium grande.

Matricaria recutita, Matricaria chamomilla

Matricaria recutita is an evergreen small shrub, typically growing 2-5 ft tall and spreading outwardly by underground rhizomes. It requires full sun or semi-shade, and moderate watering. In the warmer months, white, off-white and sometimes yellow flowers appear, producing a sweet, fragrant scent. This plant is both ethnomedicinal and inviting to butterflies, moths, bees and hummingbirds.

Matricaria recutita is easy to grow and maintain. It is best grown from seed, which should be sown at a depth of ¼ inch and kept moist and warm for optimal germination. Once seedlings emerge, water when soil is dry and fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every 6-8 weeks. To encourage a fuller, bushier growth habit, prune the shrub lightly in the spring. This shrub does not tolerate cold well and can become damaged if temperatures dip below freezing, so it is best suited for USDA zones 9-11. To protect the plant from frost, place a pot indoors or wrap the foliage, roots and stem in a blanket. In colder regions where the ground freezes, Matricaria recutita should be planted in a pot and overwintered indoors, ensuring that the soil remains dampened but not overly saturated.

Metalasia sp.

The honey-scented flowers vary in color from common white to pink or purple.

In a garden setting, it can be used as a filler to provide flowering and greyish interest throughout the year. It's a low maintenance and water-wise shrub that can do with an occasional pruning.

Montanoa atriplicifolia

A rare Winter-blooming Tree Daisy that offers up masses of fragrant, 2-3" white daisy flowers from October thru February. Hailing from Mexico down to South America, this cloud forest tree is more of a shrubby vine in lower elevations. Lightly toothed, 3-5" green leaves that provide a verdant backdrop for the shower of Winter flowers, so profuse they entirely envelope the plant! Some say they smell like vanilla, some say cupcakes - either way, yum! Flowers are followed by multi-faceted, lime-green seedpods that are nearly as decorative as the blooms. Plant in sun to light shade in fertile well-drained soil. It will appreciate regular watering, less in the Winter as temperatures cool. Cut back after flowering to encourage healthy new growth. Mulch roots to protect from frost.

Montanoa bipinnatifida

This is an erect evergreen shrub with thick stems which grow from the base to 12 feet tall with equal spread. The hairy leaves are deeply lobed. During the fall and winter, white chrysanthemum-like flowers bloom giving off a scent reminiscent of chocolate or freshly baked cookies. The flowers are followed by decorative, chartreuse seed heads. The genus name commemorates the eighteenth century Mexican politician and amateur botanist, Luis Montana and is one of the very few in the family Asteraceae that consists of trees and shrubs. Plant in full sun or semi-shade and water regularly. It is reported to be hardy at least to upper 20's F.

Montanoa grandiflora

This is an erect evergreen shrub with thick stems which grow from the base to 12 feet tall with equal spread. The hairy leaves are deeply lobed. During the fall and winter, white chrysanthemum-like flowers bloom giving off a scent reminiscent of chocolate or freshly baked cookies. The flowers are followed by decorative, chartreuse seed heads. Plant in full sun or semi-shade and water regularly.

Montanoa hibiscifolia