PEREN N I AL FOCUS
BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb Calamintha nepeta subsp nepeta Calamint, Echinacea pallida Pale Coneflower, Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake Master and Allium ‘SummerBeauty’ as seen at Lurie Gardens at Millenium Park in Chicago.
CALAMINTHA NEPETA SUBSP. NEPETA CALAMINT, LESSER CALAMINT
Most landscapers and landscape designers are familiar with Nepeta (Catmint) and its lavender-blue flowers but few know Calamintha. I probably wouldn’t be familiar with it either, but in the past five to ten years, I have encountered it in numerous plantings while on garden tours. I think that is why it was voted as the Perennial Plant of the Year for 2021. In addition, perennials chosen for this honor are suitable for a wide range of growing climates, require low maintenance, have multiple-season interest and are relatively pest/ disease-free. Like a cloud of confetti, tiny white flowers (sometimes touched with pale blue) appear from early summer to fall. Undemanding and dependable, Calamint provides the perfect foil for other summer bloomers and foliage. This full-
8 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
sun perennial has a low mounding or bushy habit, ideal for the front of the border, rock gardens, and more. It also works well as a weaver with ornamental grasses. continued on page 10
