Rudbeckia Triloba

Three-lobed Coneflower with hundreds of small deep gold flowers with brown centers bloom for almost three months. This plant is very resistant to drought, heat and pests. Butterflies and other pollinators like the nectar and songbirds eat the seed, which forms as flowers age. We have it displayed in a container and it is extremely eye catching. Its airy growth habit with blue-green leaves and yellow (Brown-eyed Susan) flower blowing in the wind make it one of the prettier Rudbeckia's.

GoldDust Mecardonia

Want an easy groundcover for full Oklahoma sun that is self-cleaning, no deadheading necessary, and is covered with yellow nemesia-like flowers from May through October. Proven Winners has found it for you - GoldDust Mecardonia. The small dark green leaves provide a good contrast to the bright little yellow flowers. It is also excellent in containers. You can see it in our boulder garden - it will jump right out at you growing between two large boulders.

Kopper King Hibiscus

It is a compact, vigorous, sturdy, rounded, somewhat shrubby, woody-based hibiscus cultivar which typically grows to 3-4 feet tall. Features copper-red foliage and dinner plate sized, 5-petaled, hollyhock-like flowers 10 to 12 inches in diameter. These are among the largest flowers produced by any perennial which is hardy to this region. Flowers are light pink with red veining and a bright red central eye. You can find this plant in our Fountain Garden where it is protected from wind to minimize risk of wind burn.

Crape myrtle

Pink Velour

Rhapsody in Pink

Nothing can compare in mid summer months to the heat loving crape myrtle, especially the 'Whit' cultivar crape myrtle series. Lagerstroemia indica is the scientific name for the crape myrtle and Dr Carl Whitcomb has created eight different varieties. Three of his famous cultivars can be seen at the Linnaeus garden - Pink Velour, Red Rocket, and Rhapsody in Pink. Most crape myrtles are hardy through zone 7, but Dr Whitcomb's creations are hardy through zone 6 (Tulsa zone is 6b), and all have high mildew resistance.

Pink Velour was picked as a "2003 Oklahoma Proven" plant, which proves its hardiness for Oklahoma weather. It has distinct dark wine foliage which peaks in spring and then explodes with shrill pink flowers in mid-summer.

Red Rocket

Red Rocket has cherry red flowers and is the fastest growing "Whit" red and may have more repeat blooms then the famous Dynamite Crape Myrtle which was chosen as a "2002 Arkansas Select Plant".

Rhapsody in Pink has a distinctly unique landscape appearance with soft pink flowers against nearly purple foliage.

They are deciduous plants and can be grown as large shrubs or gently pruned into multi-stemmed tree-form plants. The crape myrtle has become a mainstay in mild-climate landscapes because of its ease of production and cultivation, long-lasting mid-summer bloom, range of plant habits from miniature potted plant to large tree, and diversity of landscape uses.

Pocomoke Crape Myrtle

This miniature hybrid crape myrtle is a tough little charmer that grows only 20 inches tall and 30 inches wide. Plant this rosy-flowered little beauty in any hot, sunny area to give your garden a southern accent. Its unique habit is perfect for bonsai, ground cover, containers and wherever a mass of low-growing summer color is needed in full sun. Check it out in the Linnaeus Pavilion Garden.

Cranberry Punch Hardy Hibiscus

This herbaceous hibiscus has 4 - 5" oxblood red flowers with very dark green foliage with red veins and grows as a dense mound 24 to 30" under Central Oklahoma conditions. It is drought tolerant but supplemental watering increases flowering under stressful conditions. Flowers best in full sun. You can't miss the showy display in our pavilion garden. It blooms all season long until late fall and then dies back to the ground until the next spring. What a great surprise in spring to see its rebirth and by the beginning of June those wonderful flower buds appear.

Glowing Embers and Endless Summer Hydrangea

Glowing Embers

The popularity of these big, bold plants has grown within the last few years since the new varieties are more hardy and mildew resistant. Hydrangeas should be sited in moist, rich garden soil in partial sun to fairly deep shade. Hydrangeas can be categorized into 4 different types: Mophead, lacecap, Oakleaf and panicle. Both Glowing Embers and Endless Summer are Mophead hydrangeas and can be viewed in our entry garden.

Glowing Embers - This gorgeous ornamental shrub with large, lush crimson flowers is truly and eye catcher. It has a compact habit with coarse, deep green glossy foliage with a pretty red tinge. It is a very easy plant to grow as it is disease and pest-resistant. The flowers start out with a white eye and then fully color to solid crimson red blooms. Blossoms are large, 10-12" across and dry well for winter enjoyment. The bloom season is from early summer through late fall.

Endless Summer

Endless Summer has a height of 3 - 5' and is the first macrophylla type to bloom on both old and new wood for large, colorful flower mops all season long. It is remarkably hardy and more mildew resistant than other varieties. The bloom color is blue but will turn pink in alkaline soils and sometimes both blue and pink blooms can be seen on the same plant.

Robert Poore Phlox

The name phlox is derived from the Greek word for flame. 'Robert Poore' is a garden phlox cultivar that typically grows in an upright clump to 3-4' tall. Fragrant, tubular flowers with long corolla tubes and five flat petal-like lobes are violet-pink. Individual flowers are densely arranged in large, terminal, pyramidal clusters in summer atop stiff, upright stems which seldom need staking. It is a good fresh cut flower and is a staple of the perennial border. Mixes well with other perennials and provides long summer bloom. Regardless of flower color, garden phlox is attractive to hummingbirds and is a good selection for inclusion in a bird garden. This plant is located in the boulder garden right next to the steps leading down to the barn.

Purple Loosestrife

Purple loosestrife is an erect perennial herb in the loosestrife family, with a square, woody stem and opposite or whorled leaves. Leaves are lance-shaped, stalk-less, and heart-shaped or rounded at the base. Loosestrife plants grow from four to ten feet high, depending upon conditions, and produce a showy display of magenta-colored flower spikes throughout much of the summer. Flowers have five to seven petals. Mature plants can have from 30 to 50 stems arising from a single rootstock.

In the wild this plant is widely recognized as an invasive species that is difficult to control. However, horticultural species such as ours are sterile and can be used in your garden.

This plant can be found near the pond on the lower path.

Rose of Sharon

The 10' tall shrub is not actually a rose but is in the Mallow Family and is sometimes called "Shrub Althea". Carl Linnaeus classified Hibiscus syriacus in the 18th century based on a herbarium specimen from Syria to which the species apparently had been imported long ago, since its origins are from India and East Asia. Rose of Sharon comes in many colors - especially white, lilac, and pink. It occurs as a single flower, or as a hybridized double. Blooms first occur in late spring and continue through early fall, making Rose of Sharon one of the few summer-blooming shrubs. Individual blossoms open in early morning, close at night, and usually last less than three days. Regardless of the flower's color, there is almost always an intensely maroon central spot formed by a concentration of pigment at the bases of five large petals. The almost-triangular serrated leaf of Rose of Sharon is semi-glossy dark green and about 3" long. The foliage is also deciduous and goes into a very long resting period and is one of the last shrubs to green up in spring.

Red Hummingbird Sage

This easy maintenance perennial attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is drought tolerant. Its long flowering period lasts from May through frost. Some pinching and pruning may be necessary throughout the long growing season to keep a steady display of flowers. This salvia requires low humidity, excellent drainage, at least half a day of sun and loamy soil.

Known for its toughness and long flowering period, Salvia Greggii makes a valuable addition to any sunny border. You can check it out in our pavilion garden next to the pond.

Angelonia Angelface Pink

This Angelonia is part of a great new series for Proven Winners. This annual is bred for flower performance as well as a great upright branching growth habit. Angelonias in containers make full blooming specimen plants that are great for the patio and yard. Planted in the landscape, Angelface will WOW gardeners. They will flower well into the fall season. The flower stems are great for making vase arrangements providing enjoyment for 10 days or more.

Cleome Senorita Rosalita

Clusters of bright, lavender pink flowers sit on top of three to five feet tall branches with magnificent dark green leaves. This plant blooms with abandon from late spring through fall. It requires full sun with good drainage and attracts the birds and butterflies. Come see this display in our boulder garden.

Snow Queen Hibiscus

Green foliage is dramatically splashed with bright white which provides a striking contrast to the large red flowers. A festival of color as a patio container. You can find this gem in our entry right by Mr. Linnaeus himself.

Pee Wee Oakleaf Hydrangea

Do you love Oakleaf Hydrangea's but don't have a space in your yard to accommodate their large size? Well, Pee Wee Oakleaf Hydrangea works beautifully in a small space. It blooms all summer and has deep burgundy colored leaves in the late fall. It will get to be about 4 feet high and wide. You can find it in our entry garden.