PLANT OF THE WEEK Prince's Plume

Botanical name: Stanleya pinnata
Attributes: A tall, upright perennial (2 to 4 feet) that thrives only where it is hot and dry in summer. The flowers are arranged in spectacular plumes. Prince's plume is a choice Great Plains/Western wildflower for water-wise gardens and for use in poor soil locations.
Bloom time: Late spring through midsummer
Bloom color: Yellow
Culture: Plant prince's plume in full sun and well-drained soil. In the humid Midwest it should be planted in a raised bed in soil amended with gravel. It has performed beyond expectations at Powell Gardens, thriving in heat and drought with no extra water or fertilizer. As a plant that originated on the plains, it needs no staking in wind.
Landscaping tips: Plant prince's plume in hot, dry sites with poor soil where ordinary landscape plants would fail. It does not work in irrigated sites mixed with lush perennials. It is an excellent choice for a rock garden. Companion plants include hardy cacti, dianthus (pinks), ornamental onions, penstemons, moss and sand phlox, santolina, thymes and verbenas.
Cost: Small 3-inch potted plants usually cost about $4 to $5.
Source: Powell Gardens (www.powellgardens.org)