All too often I find myself misinterpreting plant height information for a certain plant or an entire genus. Astilbe for instance, can have both a dense foliage mound and a dense flower display which can rise 1 to 2 feet or more above the foliage (see Astilbe 'Amethyst'). To properly plan a perennial garden I believe this information would be helpful.

I’d like to add two custom data points:
Foliage mound height:
Bloom height: (Other terms are commonly used for certain genus, ex. Hosta-scape height. I propose “Bloom height” as a correct generic term only for the sake of consistency. If scape or other term is better suited please add to the discussion).

Add to the following genera:
Astilbe
Hosta
Ligularia
Acanthus

For certain plants such as Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans), while having a relatively large difference in bloom to foliage mound height, I don’t see much benefit in including, but please post if you disagree. I’m sure there are numerous other genera to which this can apply so please add your suggestions.

I can add these to just the four databases you mentioned, but I wonder if it wouldn't be appropriate to add it to the Primary Plant Details? Then if they don't apply to a certain plant they are ignored.

That makes much more sense Dave.

Let's leave this overnight so others can see it and have a chance for further discussion before we make it happen.

I too have the problem of wondering if the height of a plant is the foliage only, or includes the bloom also. I would like to see this added.

A little late to this party, but I agree with Lynn. I'd like to see this as well.

I've added both to the Primary Plant Details, right under "Plant Height".

Thank you so much Dave. This will work great.

Oh, great! Gotta go look.

Thanks Dave, it's working nicely.

Evan, could you post links for some of the plants you've added that information to?

Ligularia 'The Rocket', Astilbe 'Amethyst', Astilbe 'Alive and Kicking', Dwarf Chinese Astilbe (Astilbe rubra 'Pumila').

So, am I correct in assuming that you are including the mound height in the inflorescence height? Just thinking that it could get confusing.

No, these are separate size ranges. For instance Astilbe 'Amethyst'.

Instead of a plant height of 12 to 36 inches we have:
Foliage Mound Height: 12 to 24 inches
Inflorescence Height: 30 to 36 inches

I realize these are fuzzy numbers, but we see the bloom rises approximately 12 to 18 inches above the foliage.

We might have "simpler" Foliage mound and Inflorescence heights for plants like Hosta which are in the Hosta Registry, say 12 and 24 inches respectively.

Is there one that is particularly confusing Woofie?

Edit: Maybe it would be better if I also filled in the Plant height?

No particular one that is confusing at this point, but I'm just thinking that it COULD get confusing. But your idea to include the overall plant height should take care of that! Well, either make things clearer or totally confuse everyone!

Arg!!!! I am not getting this.


@eclayne can you fix my plant data box? Not sure I did it right. 'Bright Star yucca'

It's all set Susan. The only thing I changed was deleting the plant height. Weeping Yucca (Yucca gloriosa var. tristis Walberton's® Bright Star)

This is a great example too. The foliage grows to about 2 to 3 feet, while the inflorescence grows to 5 feet. Also, thanks for adding the patent number which assisted in identifying Bright Star as the Trade Name and Yucca gloriosa var. recurvifolia as the botanical name.

Thank you eclayne! I love this plant, it is at the top of my want list.