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Perennials, K...L

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Kosteletzkya virginica : MALVACEAE, (Seashore Mallow). Lovely plant with abundant 3" medium pink flowers produced all summer on plants growing 4-6' tall. Grows well in ordinary garden soil that does not dry out completely. Sun. Coastal marshes, NY to FL to LA. Zones 6-10. (Image / JPEG / 500x416 pixels / 27KB)

Lamiastrum galeobdolon 'Variegatum': LAMIACEAE, (Variegated Yellow Archangel). Groundcover for dense, dry shade. Silver variegated, rounded leaves on trailing plants, rooting at the nodes. Yellow mint flowers in late spring. Western Europe to Iran. Zones 5-9.

Laurentia fluviatilis : LOBELIACEAE, (Prostrate Laurentia). Ground-hugging perennial with tiny leaves and small blue flowers in spring. Height less than 1 inch. Native of southern Australia and New Zealand. Zones 7-11.

Ledebouria socialis (Scilla violacea) : LILIACEAE, (Spotted Squill). Bulbous perennial from South Africa with succulent, spotted leaves and spikes of white flowers. Hardy here. Zones 8b-11.

Leonotis dysophylla (L. menthaefolia) : LAMIACEAE, (Mint-leaved Lion's Ear). Bushy perennial from S. Africa with small, serrated leaves. Balls of fuzzy orange flowers are strung along the stems of 2' tall plants in summer and fall. Not hardy here at 22°F. Probably Zones 9-11.

Leonotis Leonurus, (Lion's Ear). 4-6' tender shrub with fuzzy orange flowers and hairy, linear leaves. South Africa. Hardy here, thus Zones 8b-11. (Image / JPEG / 570x491 pixels / 56KB)

Leonotis nepetaefolia, (Annual Lion's Ear). Reseeding annual with large, pubescent, ovate leaves. Spiny balls of orange flowers spaced along the 5-6' stems in summer and fall.

Leonotis 'Staircase', (Tall Annual Lion's Ear). Reseeding annual with spiny balls of dayglo orange flowers, the stem piercing the center of each ball. Grows 8 feet tall in full sun. Leaves and flowers also larger than L. nepetaefolia. If you have the space, this is the one to grow.

Lespedeza Thunbergii: FABACEAE, (Bush Lespedeza). Purple-pink pea flowers in axillary racemes along arching stems, one flush in early summer, and another as fall approaches. Grows ultimately to 5' tall and at least as wide. Most who see it in full bloom are immensely impressed. Hardy here; dieback shrub treated as a herbaceous perennial. Japan and China. Zones 5-9. (Image / JPEG / 705x472 pixels / 57.4KB)

"I saw a beautiful plant [of Lespedeza thunbergii] at the Parc Floral, Orleans, France sited by water that provided a reflective surface and acted to enhance the floral beauty. This same body of water was traversed by a small arching bridge which from the opposite side provided the perfect frame for photographing the plant. This plant will stick in my mind forever. After my initial introduction, I knew the plant must find a home in the Dirr garden." -Michael A. Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants.

Liatris cylindracea : ASTERACEAE, (Dwarf Blazingstar). 2-foot Liatris. Exuberant bloom in early summer (purple). Ontario to Arkansas. Zones 4-8.

Liatris microcephala, (Little-Headed Liatris). Small purple flowers, but lots of them, cover this 2' perennial in early summer. Southeastern U.S. Zones 6-10.

Liatris pycnostachya, (Kansas Gay-Feather). Similar to L. spicata, but is taller (to 5'), with a longer inflorescence, and requires a moister soil. Zones 5-9. (Image / JPEG / 420x372 pixels / 37KB)

Liatris spicata, (Blazing Star). Most common Liatris in cultivation. Grows 4' or so, with purple flowers on a long spike on an unbranched leafy plant. Interesting in that the flowers open from the top down. Takes average soil, and can stand some drought. Hardy and trouble-free. Zones 5-9.

Liatris spicata 'Floristan White' is the white flowered form of the species. Zones 5-8(9).

Lilium Catesbaei : LILIACEAE, (Red Pine Lily, Leopard Lily). A native of bogs which nevertheless grows rather happily in moist garden soil. Gorgeous red, spotted lilies in late summer on 2' stems. Partial shade and moist soil should be provided. Our plants from MS; native from NC to FL and LA. Zones 7-10. (Image / JPEG / 419x297 pixels / 32KB)

Lilium formosanum phillipinense, (Philippine Lily). Majestic, hardy plants with many large, fragrant, white trumpets on 6-7' plants. Blooms in early August (!). Great foliage like Liriope in milder winters. Will self-seed if not deadheaded. Zones 7-9. (Image / JPEG / 468x413 pixels / 37KB)

Lilium lancifolium, (Orange Tiger Lily). 6' leafy stems with trumpets of orange, spotted with black. Goes dormant soon after its midsummer flowering. Hummingbirds love this plant. Spent flowering stalks provide a resting perch for weary humminbgbirds in late summer. China, Korea, and Japan. Zones 5-9. (Image / JPEG / 414x385 pixels / 48KB)

Lindernia floribunda (Ilysanthes floribunda) : SCROPHULARIACEAE. Mat-forming groundcover covered with small bluish purple flowers late spring to fall. Likes plenty of moisture when grown in full sun; shade tolerant; height 4 inches max. Excellent foil for larger perennials or shrubs. Texas(?). Zones 7-11. (Image / JPEG / 667x469 pixels / 63.1KB)

Liriope 'Silver Dragon'. Leaves striped lengthwise with white. Spreading groundcover for partial to full shade. Zones 6-11.

Lobelia cardinalis : LOBELIACEAE, (Cardinal Flower). The premier hummingbird plant. Tall (6') beauty with the brightest red flowers on long spikes from midsummer to frost. Needs moist soil in sun or shade. Usually hardy, but the best plants are 1-year seedlings. Eastern North America. Zones 3-9. (Image / JPEG / 407x540 pixels / 44KB)

Lychnis x Haageana, (Campion). Color mix of red and orange. Two inch, toothed blooms on one foot plants. Well drained soils in sun or partial shade. Hybrid origin: L. coronata x L. fulgens. Zones 5-8.

Lysimachia ciliatum 'Purple Leaf' : PRIMULACEAE, (Purple Leaf Loosestrife). Red-purple foliage is the outstanding attribute here, but the terminal spikes of 1" yellow flowers in midsummer are showy and contrast well with the leaves. Height about 2½'; hardy; moist soil and partial shade are best. (Image / JPEG / 540x387 pixels / 42KB)

Lysimachia congestiflora (L. procumbens) has balls of yellow flowers and a creeping habit. Everblooming, with a peak in late spring. Has been hardy here for several years. Zones 7-11.

Lysimachia congestiflora 'Variegata' (L. procumbens 'Variegata') Yellow-variegated creeper for sun to partial shade. Has been hardy here for several years. Zones 7-11. (Image / JPEG / 518x604 pixels / 61.8KB)

Lythrum virgatum 'Morden's Gleam' : LYTHRACEAE, (Lythrum). 4-5' bushes of pink summer color. Moist soil in sun or partial shade. Zones 3-8. Not for Great Lakes states.

Lythrum virgatum 'Robert'. Compact Lythrum, growing only 2' tall. Bright pink spikes in summer. Moist soil. Zones 3-8.