Flopping Plants Have You Down?
As we are approaching mid-Summer and the taller herbaceous are approaching full size (5-10’), gardeners often experience issues with plants flopping over…like with my Rudbeckia lacinata (Cutleaf coneflower) in one of my back garden beds. While there are a variety of causes for this (not enough sun, too much water, soil that is too rich, plants spaced too far apart, etc.), one solution is to add structural plants around those plants that are prone to flopping. In my front bed, cutleaf coneflower has almost always ended up flopping over by the end of July. To help prevent this, in addition to using the “Chelsea Chop” in mid May, I’ve added in a variety of more upright plants surrounding it…Hibiscus coccineus (Red hibiscus), Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass), Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) and Solidago speciosa (Showy goldenrod). Instead of flopping, the cutleaf coneflower stems that want to fall to the ground are gently resting on the surrounding more stiffly upright stems and leaves. When considering your next plant purchase or design, besides considering the flowers and texture of a plant, also consider the structural benefit plants can provide .
