PITTSBURGH -- They're easy to grow, hard to kill and require little maintenance -- sustainable plants can make even the most challenged green thumb conveniently green.
Workers at Phipps Conservatory have compiled a list of easy-to-grow, hardy plants that may save gardeners money as part of "Project Green Heart."
Phipps Director of Horticulture, Marjorie Radebaugh, said one of the top sustainable plants for 2009 is the Rozanne Cranesbill, a geranium with big blue flowers.
"Once it is established, it should be drought tolerant…Deer resistant too," Radebaugh said.
Sneezeweed is another suggested plant, which Radebaugh said doesn't really live up to its name.
"Now it won't bloom until later in the season. But it will have orange daisy-like flowers which are attractive to butterflies and it is also deer and rabbit resistant," said Radebaugh.
Shade lovers should plant Lungwort. With silvery leaves and delicate early spring flowers in pinks and blues, the plant is also deer resistant.
Barrenwort is another shade-loving perennial. Dainty purple, yellow, pink or white flowers pop during the spring.
If you have a large space to fill in a garden, the Project Green Heart list suggests the Bottlebrush Buckeye, a plant native to Pennsylvania.
"You can see the flower spike just starting right now. It gets a big upright spike. So it will be covered with those," Radebaugh said.
Another large plant on the list is Hinoki Falsecypress which has shiny dark green foliage in fan shaped sprays.
Palibin Lilac is good for smaller gardens. The plant has a spicy smell and is resistant to mildew.
Japanese Holly has lustrous green leaves year round and will grow to be 8 feet tall.
Witchhazel has brilliant yellow to orange flowers, which are long-lasting.
Rounding out the conservatory's list is the Paperbark Maple. Its dark green summer leaves turn orange in fall and the tree has beautiful bark.
Radebaugh said the most difficult thing about choosing any of these plants will be deciding which ones to buy.
"I'm always putting new things in. There's always space for one more," Radebaugh said.
For more information about sustainable plants and the conservatory's Project Green Heart, visit
phipps.conservatory.org.
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