Out in the Cold
The tricks of the cold-climate-gardening trade have become welcome rituals for serious gardeners like Karen Panter, Ph.D., extension horticulture specialist, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Wyoming. The single most important "trick": Choose plants meant to stand up to winter's low temperatures. Below, Panter's list of perennials, annuals and wildflowers offers proven choices from the University of Wyoming demonstration garden and her own garden in Laramie.
PERENNIALS
Allium neopolitanum - Naples onion, ornamental onion
Ornamental onions perform beautifully, blooming from late spring through early summer, with sweet-scented, white, loosely formed flowers. Brent and Becky's Bulbs
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' - a "brown-eyed" Susan
A short-lived perennial that produces bright yellow blooms from mid to late summer. The plants can grow up to 3 feet tall and will attract various butterflies and honeybees. Fieldstone Gardens
Thymus praecox pseudolanuginosus - woolly thyme
A low-growing perennial named for its woolly, gray leaves. This lightly scented herb is low-maintenance and great for filling in spaces among rocks and pathways. Canning Perennials
Gazania linearis 'Colorado Gold'
This hardy variety will display bright yellow flowers all summer. Plant is approximately 3 inches high by 10 inches wide. High Country Gardens
Perovskia atriplicifolia - Russian sage
Medium to tall, with long spikes of silvery-blue flowers that bloom in the summer, accenting silver-gray foliage. Bluestone Perennials
Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Tiny Rubies' - Tiny Rubies dianthus
A compact pink with dark green foliage and tiny, fragrant pink flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. Canning Perennials
ANNUALS
Dianthus barbatus - Sweet William
12 to 24 inches tall, a short-lived perennial that produces clusters of flowers from early to midsummer. Flowers come in shades of red, pink, white and bicolors. T's Flowers and Things
Cleome hasslerana -Spider Flower
An easily grown, exotic-looking background plant, tall and graceful with bright green leaves. Blooms from summer to fall, with new flowers constantly forming. Seeds can be purchased at Comstock.
Viola x wittrockiana - Pansies
A compact and hardy annual, with dark green foliage and brightly-colored flowers that bloom in spring and fall. Seeds can be purchased at Gardenguides.com.
Lobelia erinus
Both compact and trailing varieties, with flowers that bloom along the length of the stems in blue, white or crimson. Seeds can be purchased at Gardenguides.com.
Brassica oleracea - Flowering kale
Impressive heads up to 12 inches across, with lacy leaves and bright red or white centers. Seeds can be purchased at Comstock.com
Senecio cineraria - Dusty miller (there are several species with this common name)
Mainly grown for its finely divided silver-white foliage, but it does produce small daisy like flowers. Seeds can be purchased at Comstock.com
WILDFLOWERS
Eriogonum umbellatum - Sulfur flower
A bright addition, with clusters of showy yellow flowers that bloom in early summer. Forestfarm.com
Artemisia frigida - fringed sage
A sprawling, mat like shrub with fragrant, gray foliage and tiny yellow flowers. Goodwin Creek Gardens
Aquilegia caerulea - Columbine
A hardy perennial that blooms in many sizes and colors in late spring to early summer. Forestfarm.com
Penstemon strictus - Rocky Mountain penstemon
Fast growing and hardy, with long spikes of deep blue flowers that bloom in early summer. Blue Stone Perennials
Achillea millefolium - Yarrow
Reaching a height of 1 to 2 feet, yarrow is a fast-growing, aromatic herb with feathery leaves and clusters of yellow, purple or white flowers. Richters Herb Specialists
Anemone multifida - windflower
A delicate wildflower, with hairy leaves and stems that produce small, upturned, colorful blooms from spring to midsummer.
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