Perennial flowers are a mainstay of most landscape settings. They add color, extend the bloom times, and can be low maintenance. Perennial flowers also improve the quality of the soil and act as food sources for pollinators and insects. The availability, selection and reliability of perennial flowers is the direct result of several very high-quality growers in our area. For this week’s column, Brad Gillie, a representative of Hoffie Nursery, has agreed to answer a few questions. Hoffie Nursery is a local, wholesale only grower whose plants are sold under the name ‘Perennial Quality.’
Brad, can you please tell us a bit about your personal and professional interests in gardening?
I started at Hoffie in 2023 with no horticulture background or education. Since I started working at Hoffie I have discovered that I really enjoy being out in the garden whether I’m putting a new plant in the ground, watering or pulling weeds. I have found a new hobby and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of taking care of my home garden. My professional interests in gardening come in many different forms like attending trade shows or different events throughout the year. I enjoy it when I get to take pictures of plants for customers and of course being able to walk through the greenhouses and hoop houses during the growing season. Being able to help in different areas of the Nursery operation like making deliveries during the season allows me to meet our customers in person and see how their business operates. Always learning new things is important to me both personally and professionally.
Is there one perennial flower that you view as a must have in the garden?
I would lean towards Echinacea (Coneflower) as a must have in the garden. They are native plants to North America and are a favorite of pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. Echinacea are hardy in USDA zones 3-9 and are easy to grow which makes them a great choice for beginner gardeners. Echinacea flowers bloom in a variety of different colors, including pink, purple, white, yellow, even some red and orange varieties too.
Unfortunately, as most of us have heard, our butterfly population is in decline. What types of plants tend to support our butterfly population?
There are many perennial plants that help support our butterfly population. Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) is the first one that comes to mind. Some other perennials that support the butterfly population are Asters that provide vital late-season nectar for migrating monarchs and other species. Echinacea purpurea (Coneflower) attracts a wide variety of butterflies. Liatris spicata (Blazing Star) are high-nectar, deer resistant and native. Monarda fistulosa (Bee Balm) is another perennial that attracts many pollinators.
Herb gardening is becoming more and more popular. Do you have any recommendations to gardeners who would like to grow a few herbs this year?
Herbs are easy to grow and the key to success is making sure you have good sunlight, soil and the right container. I would recommend growing a few different herbs in containers on your patio, porch or deck near the house giving you quick access to harvest the herbs for use in your kitchen.
There are many different types of perennial flowers. They can be grouped by their life cycle. What are the differences between annual, biennial and perennial plants?
Annual plants complete their life cycle in just one year. They germinate, grow, flower, produce seeds and die all within a single growing season. Annuals will need to be replanted each year which gives gardeners a chance to mix it up year to year. Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two years. In the first year they typically focus on growing leaves, stems and roots but they don’t flower. In the second year, biennials flower, produce seeds, and then die after completing their cycle. Perennial plants can live for multiple years. Perennial plants typically bloom for a specific period during the growing season, but unlike annuals, they return year after year without the need for replanting.
Color from perennial plants often comes through the flower petals. Some plants, though, offer spectacular color through their leaves. What do you consider to be a few plants with brightly colored foliage?
When it comes to brightly colored foliage, I think of Heuchera (Coral Bells) weather it’s Heuchera v. ‘Citronelle,’ Heuchera ‘Georgia Peach’ or Heuchera ‘Electric Plum’ to name a few. A few others I would consider if looking for brightly colored foliage would be Hakonechloa m. ‘All Gold’, Sedum r. ‘Angelina’ and Athyrium n. ‘Pictum’ (Japanese Painted Fern).
Thanks, Brad. How might our readers be able to find out where to purchase the plants grown by Hoffie Nursery?
As you mentioned at the start Hoffie Nursery is a wholesale only perennial plant nursery. Here is a link for readers to see where they can purchase plants grown by Hoffie Nursery.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc.,a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
