Deciduous Perennial
(usually grown as an annual near you)
Clumping, erect in the Lamiaceae Family
A compact Ball Horticultural introduction with fragrant, coppery-bronze foliage and coral-pink flower spikes from early summer to fall; hardy only to Zone 7a, so it's grown as an annual in Chicago.
Summerlong Coral is a Ball Horticultural (Darwin Perennials) introduction, patented as 'Balsumlora,' with airy spikes of lightly scented coral-pink tubular flowers held above fine, fragrant foliage that emerges coppery-bronze before turning green. It forms a compact, mounded clump and blooms from early summer into early fall, drawing bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Though sold as a perennial, it is only reliably winter-hardy to Zone 7a, so it is best grown as an annual in colder climates like the Chicago area.
Pros
Compact, fine-textured mound with coral-pink flowers from early summer into fall
Fragrant foliage that emerges coppery-bronze, turning green
Strong bee, butterfly, and hummingbird appeal; excellent for cutting
Deer and rabbit resistant, drought tolerant once established
Cons
Only hardy to Zone 7a — not winter-hardy in the Chicago area, so grown as an annual here
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Plant Data
Mature Size
16 - 22 inches
tall. 16 - 22 inches
wide.
Growth Rate
Medium
Sun Exposure
Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance
Dry - Medium
Zones
7a - 10b
(Usually hardy to 0° F)
Tags
Annual in Chicago, Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Extended Bloom Time, Fall interest, Fragrant, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Grown as Annuals, Herb, Medium, Mounded, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Tender Perennial, Well-Drained Soil
We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
Estimated Recipe Cost
The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.
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About Ordering From The Plant Club
To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!
No Pricing or Availability Right Now
We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region.
It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!