Outdoor perennials

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Large-flowered Mullein ( Verbascum densiflorum ) - it is one of the open-space perennials

The concept of open space perennials goes back to the principle of living areas for perennials, which was developed under Richard Hansen in Weihenstephan / Freising (Bavaria). This principle assigns each perennial its optimal location in the garden, based on the conditions at the natural site. There are eight areas of life:

  • Wood / forest
  • Wooded edge
  • Open space
  • Rock garden
  • Alpinum
  • Bed
  • Water edge
  • water

These areas can be adjusted depending on the type and composition of the soil, the degree of moisture and the like. a. subdivide again; there are, for example, dry open spaces ( dry grass , fallow land , steppe-like meadow areas) and moist open spaces ( wet meadows ).

Characterization of the perennials

In horticulture, the perennials that, in contrast to forest perennials and woody perennials , prefer free locations exposed to the sun, are referred to as open area perennials . They do not tolerate competitive pressure and no shade from taller trees; at best they can thrive next to low-growing dwarf and semi-shrubs.

In contrast to the magnificent perennials (also known as bed perennials), these plants were only slightly or not at all cultivated; they are mostly pure species or special selections. There are seldom varieties that originate from targeted crossing processes.

Many of the open-space perennials love warmth, and often even tolerate heat. As protection against excessive heat, they often have gray-silver leaves or a bluish wax coating (particularly pronounced cuticula ) over the leaves. Aromatically scented leaves (e.g. lavender, Lavandula angustifolia ) are another characteristic of drought-tolerant open-space perennials. The essential oils are located in glandular hairs on the leaf surface and thus form a protection against moisture loss through excessive evaporation. A dense, sometimes woolly-soft hair on the leaf surface (e.g. Woll-Ziest, Stachys byzantina ) serves as an insulating layer.

The perennials considered horticultural as open space perennials include:

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