The Perennial Plant Association is "dedicated to the improvement of the herbaceous perennial plant industry."

Every year the PPA names one perennial plant that industry experts have judged to be "outstanding" and easy to grow. The chosen plant is suitable for a wide range of climate types, does not require lots of maintenance, has multi-seasonal interest and is easy for growers to propagate.

This year PPA has picked "Feuerhexe" (Firewitch) (Dianthus gratianopolitanus).

"Feuerhexe" is a cheddar pink that grows best in full sun in most areas, but in our area it's best to plant it in light shade because of our hot summers and intense sun. Native to the Mediterranean and Asia Minor regions, it prefers well-drained soil that's neutral or a bit alkaline.

It's hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9. "Feuerhexe" doesn't like to be mulched with deep layers of organic mulch.

Why did "Feuerhexe" get the honors for 2006?

It has bright pink flowers with an inviting clovelike carnation scent. These blooms contrast nicely with the gray-green evergreen foliage. It flowers in mid-spring and can be cut back after flowering to promote flowering again in late summer or early fall.

The plant itself grows 3 to 4 inches tall, but the flowers reach 6 to 8 inches. The plant forms a 6- to 12-inch wide mat and works well in rock gardens, wall crevices and along border edges. "Feuerhexe" is easy to propagate by cutting or layering.

Daylilies are a special group of herbaceous perennials that are becoming popular. The All-American Daylily Selection Council was formed to evaluate the burgeoning number of daylilies offered to gardeners. The council uses rigorous testing to evaluate the thousands of registered cultivars for their performance in gardens.

Since 1994, the AADSC has selected the best plants as its "All-American Daylily Winners." These cultivars can be relied upon to look good, thrive in U.S. gardens, provide lots of impact, and not need much maintenance.

The AADSC's 2006 winners are "Buttered Popcorn," a landscape daylily with large, vibrant gold flowers and "Persian Market," an exhibition daylily with gorgeous salmon-pink flowers.

"Buttered Popcorn" has a plant with abundant foliage that reaches 24 to 30 inches tall, while the blooms are produced on stems (called scapes) that reach 28 to 33 inches. The plant resembles the ubiquitous "Stella de Oro" in that it keeps blooming. As a landscape daylily, "Buttered Popcorn" is sturdy and provides at least 90 days of bloom. It's also heat-tolerant, cold-tolerant, sun-loving and easy to grow.

"Persian Market" is more for the daylily connoisseur who wants a gorgeous daylily for the border garden or a container. The large (6 to 7 inches across) salmon-pink blooms have a rosy halo and are produced on 25- to 30-inch scapes about 6 inches above the foliage. "Persian Market" also is hardy, sturdy, and blooms for about three months.

You really can't go wrong with any of these perennials that have been singled out for attention this year. Look for them at your local nursery or in your favorite mail-order catalogs.

* Marianne C. Ophardt is a horticulturist for the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Office in Benton County.