Fairy Snow White Balloon Flower is an interesting clump forming perennial so named because the buds puff up like balloons before they open. This compact Platycodon produces white bell-shaped blossoms with delicately contrasting blue veins in mid through late summer. Captured in Santa Monica, California.
Mexican bush sage, or Salvia leucantha, is an evergreen shrubby perennial that’s prized for its dense, arching spikes and ability to produce an attractive late summer bloom of showy flowers. The plant feels soft and hairy to the touch, and the bi-color blooms include white corollas and purple calyces. Captured in Santa Monica, California.
Orange lily (Lilium bulbiferum) a perennial; and Bird-of-paradise, one of the world’s best-known plants, bring out bright orange hues to the flowering gardens.
Lily of the Nile, with Latin name Agapanthus (African Lily), is a marvelous perennial that blooms from spring to summer, producing magnificent floral-scapes. The flowers are funnel-shaped and typically blue, purple, or white in color; the clusters are borne on long stalks. Found these in Santa Monica, California.
Tree mallow (Lavatera maritima) is a perennial semi-evergreen shrub that produces pale lavender flowers throughout the spring, summer and fall. It prefers a dry Mediterranean climate. Captured this flower in Santa Monica, California.
Lantana are fragrant natives of tropical regions in the Americas and Africa. These broadleaf evergreen shrubs are drought-hardy in landscapes and cold-hardy to slightly below freezing, so they can be grown as perennials in Florida and other warm regions. Found these flowers in Santa Monica, California.
Aloe Arborescens commonly known as the Candelabra plant is an evergreen perennial succulent. Flowers are arranged in a type of inflorescence called a raceme. The racemes are not branched but two to several can sprout from each rosette. Flowers are cylindrical in shape and are a vibrant red-orange color. Found this in Santa Monica, California.
The cheerful Shasta daisy is a classic perennial. It looks similar to the familiar roadside daisy but has larger and more robust blooms. Here are some daisies from Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
Photos by Ravi 