While you could say this is getting back to basics, new hybrids of old favorites are anything but basic. Here are some easy-care performers that may fit your garden needs.

Salvia

Salvia, also called Sage, is a staple item for every sunny garden. It asks little more than sunshine and a little drink every once in a while in return for producing a bountiful mass of colorful flower spires from late spring into early summer. It forms an upright clump of aromatic, rugose green foliage that looks nice all season long and is not enjoyed by rabbits or deer.

At the time I am posting this, we have 10 different Salvia in stock on our benches including those pictured. However, plants are coming and going and you may need to discover a substitute variety.

Salvias combine well with: Fescue grasses, Huechera, Baptisia, Nepeta, Lavender, Echinacea, Schizachyrium Little Bluestem grasses, to name a few.

Salvia ‘Sensation Deep Blue’

Salvia ‘Snow Kiss’

Salvia ‘Caradona’

Salvia ‘Bumbleberry’

Salvia ‘Blue Hill’

Salvia ‘Bumblesky’

German Iris

Bearded irises are easy to grow provided you plant them in a sunny site with well-drained soil. Do not apply mulch. Mulches (and deep planting) encourage the rhizomes to develop rot, so let your soil remain bare. Space plants at least 12 inches apart to prevent the need for frequent dividing.

Irises need full sun to thrive and a well-drained soil. Although irises like moisture, they also need good drainage to prevent rot problems. Water them when the top 2 inches of the soil feels dry. These plants have a good tolerance for drought once established.

In the spring, apply an organic, slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer around your irises. Too much nitrogen will encourage foliage at the expense of blooms.

Iris ‘Savannah Sunset’

Iris ‘Swingtown’

Iris ‘That’s All Folks’

Tall Garden Phlox

These perennials are a favorite of gardeners around the world and a staple of North American native gardens. Be sure to locate these plants in full sun for the best flowering performance. A favorite of pollinators. Combine with: Allium, Echinacea, Perovskia, and Autumn Sedum to name a few.