Just like the standard and the teacup poodle, we like some of our plants big and we like some of them small. Explore these beauties that come in contrasting sizes.

By Abby Lapides

This article was first published in the Gateway Gardener.

Just like the standard and the teacup poodle, we like some of our plants big and we like some of them small. Explore these beauties that come in contrasting sizes.

With its whopping 7” diameter flowers ‘Betsy’ Shasta daisy’s flowers are the largest of all daisies! White petals surround sunny yellow centers on plants that reach up to 2’ tall. While ‘Betsy’ stuns with its mammoth flowers and form, ‘Carpet Angel Daisy’ wows but on a smaller scale. The first-ever ground cover Shasta daisy, ‘Carpet Angel Daisy’ grows only 8” tall, but can spread almost to 2’. Adorable white pom-pom flowers top this tiny plant in summer.

The Genus Thalictrum is home to many interesting and underutilized plants. The completely adorable Missouri native rue anemone, Thalictrum thalicroides (also known as Anemonella thalicroides) grows about 6-8” tall and wide and forms into a small, sweet thicket under trees. On the opposite spectrum, Giant Meadow Rue, Thalictrum rochebrunianum, can grow upwards of 6-7’ tall. In summer masses of small purple flowers top this tall plant, looking like purple cloud. Cousin to columbine, Thalictrum’s frilly delicate leaves thrive in well-drained soils and part shade.