Tough Plants That Thrive in Full Sun and Wind

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaPlant Health CareUncategorized
Written By Peter Morris

If you have a rooftop garden that is fully exposed to the elements - this article is for you!Over the years we have observed how these particular species are tough as nails ! They can handle the full summer sun and windy rooftop conditions.  Will absolutely thrive in these conditions and come back every year. 

AGASTACHE AURANTIACA (Giant Hyssop)

agastache flowers in full bloom with purple and white spikes

A vibrant display of agastache perennials in a summer garden, featuring striking purple and white flower spikes

 There are several species that work well in these conditions.  Available in a variety of colors and sizes.  Some can grow 4' tall and 5' wide - so chose the one that fits best to your garden space. 

the common purple blue variety tends to get BIG !

Close-up of a rosemary plant in bloom, showcasing its delicate purple flowers and fragrant green foliage

Rosemary flowering plant with soft purple blooms

dwarf white and purple fit well in most gardens

Orange Agastache is a magnet for pollinators and color-loving gardeners.

Orange Agastache is a magnet for pollinators and color-loving gardeners.

who doesn't like orange red variegations !

CROCOSMIA MASONIORUM (Montbretia)

Crocosmia, a striking red perennial perfect for sunny city gardens.

Crocosmia, a striking red perennial perfect for sunny city gardens.

 This perennial has arching, sword-shaped dark green leaves that are pleated lengthways. In late summer, orange-red flowers on wiry stems appear that last for several weeks. Plant in large containers in a multipurpose compost in a predominant location. 

crocosmia !

LAVANDULA PEDUNCULATA (French Lavender)

Spanish lavender brings scent and elegance to every garden corner.

Spanish lavender brings scent and elegance to every garden corner.

 A wonderful evergreen shrub that has aromatic, grey-green foliage, where small, scented violet flowers with purple-pink tops appear in late spring to summer. Best planted in a pot of gritty soil-based compost, where it will grow up to 80cm in height.It prefers to dry out a bit so it's best to hand water it or place it under automatic irrigation that runs infrequently. 

vive La France !

PEROVSKIA ‘Blue Spire’

Russian sage in full bloom, perfect for sunny gardens in NYC.

Russian sage in full bloom, perfect for sunny gardens in NYC.

 A deciduous subshrub that produces upright white stems of small, aromatic grey-green leaves. In late summer spikes of blue-purple flowers appear. This 3' tall plant grows well in soil-based compost. 

Russian sage can get big over time and may need an occasional splitting from the base

ROSA (Rose)

Elegant climbing roses with creamy blooms brighten urban fences and arbors.

Elegant climbing roses with creamy blooms brighten urban fences and arbors.

 Rosa ‘Iceberg’ is a floribunda bush rose that has glossy, green leaves - from which cupped, fully double, white flowers appear. Grow it in a large pot full of enriched multipurpose compost, where it will grow up to 4' tall. 

Rosa floribunda 'Iceberg'

Bright magenta Rosa rugosa flower surrounded by textured leaves.

Bright magenta Rosa rugosa flower surrounded by textured leaves.

 Rosa rugosa is the original beach rose that loves sandy soil, full sun and plenty of wind! 

Rosa rugosa comes in dark pink (above), pale pink, and creamy white

ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (Rosemary)

Close-up of a rosemary plant in bloom, showcasing its delicate purple flowers and fragrant green foliage.

Close-up of a rosemary plant in bloom, showcasing its delicate purple flowers and fragrant green foliage.

 An evergreen shrub whose leaves are used as a herb. It has aromatic, need-like, dark green leaves, where small, blue flowers appear in spring. This 2' tall shrub prefers growing in a large container full of gritty soil-based compost.Give it a bit of frost protection - like being mulched, and certainly plant it in its preferred spot - south facing during winter. 

rosemary !

SALVIA GREGGII (Autumn Sage) ‘Navajo Series’

Hot Lips Salvia showing off its signature two-toned pink blooms.

Hot Lips Salvia showing off its signature two-toned pink blooms.

 A hardy herbaceous perennial plant native to a long, narrow area from southwest Texas, through the Chihuahuan Desert and into Mexico. 

salvia greggii - THE butterfly magnet !

SEMPERVIVUM ARACHNOIDEUM (Cobweb Houseleek)

Cobweb houseleek, a unique alpine succulent perfect for sunny dry gardens.

Cobweb houseleek, a unique alpine succulent perfect for sunny dry gardens.

 This small perennial, only growing up to 6" in height, has small rosettes of fleshy, green leaves. Covered in fine, white webbing it produces reddish-pink blooms in summer. Can be grown in small containers full of multipurpose compost. 

love these !

STACHYS BYZANTINA (Lamb's ear)

Lamb’s ear plant with soft, fuzzy silver-green leaves.

Lamb’s ear plant with soft, fuzzy silver-green leaves.

 Also called woolly hedge nettle, this is a species of flowering plant in the mint family.  Native to Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. 

fuzzy as fuzzy can be ! also has pretty lavender flowers on spikes !!!

At Plant Specialists, our Landscape Design team has used many of these tough plants in gardens.  They are a magnificent addition and a significant point of conversation.

Call us - put some toughness in your garden !

PLANT SPECIALISTSGREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

   Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBAAll photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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