Sequim Rare Plants, Plant List
Spring 2013 Plant List
These are the plants we can send to you for the spring of 2013. There are several ways they can be ordered --
- by printing out an order form (click here) and mailing it to us.
- by using the secure on-line shopping cart, simply by left-clicking your mouse on the "add to cart" buttons on this page.
- by telephoning us with your order and a credit card number, to (360) 775-1737.
Achillea 'Anthea'(PP# 8,828) This yarrow has ferny, serrated, silver leaves, sulphur-yellow flowers and an upright habit. The flower stems reach a height of twenty-four inches and are great for cutting. The flowers are long lasting and useful in fresh or dry arrangements. 'Anthea' needs full sun and good drainage. She is especially valuable because she has demonstrated a stronger tolerance of rainy, humid conditions than other yarrows, while retaining her ability to withstand drought. Flowering begins in early summer and persists for many weeks. USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8. More info, click here. $5.95
Aeonium 'Zwartkop'(usually pronounced ee-'oh-nee-um) This succulent is prized for its dark, uniquely colored leaves that in strong light will be purplish black. The leaves can be less dark and more green when dormant during winter or when grown in partial shade. It is a branching shrub that will reach three to four feet in height over several years. It is a good summer bedding plant since its architectural shape contrasts well with most other bedding plants, and can also be used effectively planted in containers. Water sparingly especially in winter, because it is adapted to dry conditions and its succulent leaves store water for use during dry periods. Because the species is native to the Canary Islands, off the coast of North Africa it cannot take much cold, although it is said to survive to 25-30°F. We can only guess at the origin of the name, "zwartkop." There is a bird, an European warbler with the common name of "blackcap," Sylvia atricapilla, that may winter in North Africa, possibly having something to do with the naming of this plant. More info, click here. $7.95
Agapanthus 'Hinag'A smaller scale plant than the agapanthuses usually seen in gardens, both the leaves and flowers of this have lovely colors. The leaves are striped in creamy yellow. They are evergreen. The flowers are a light to medium blue and low at a height of twelve to eighteen inches. This lily-of-the-Nile is hardy to USDA Zone 8 (+10° to +20°F). Also known as 'Summer Gold,' 'Hinag' was introduced from Japan by Barry Yinger. Where winters are colder than Zone 8, it would make a good container plant. Its small scale is perfect for a 6-inch to 10-inch pot. More info, click here. $14.95
Agapanthus 'Northern Star'Also known as lily-of-Nile, the round heads of medium blue, star-like flowers bloom profusely in July and August atop stems of 24 to 30 inches. The deciduous leaves are very distinct, having dark violet blue/black bases. One of the most cold tolerant agapanthuses, it is hardy as far north as USDA Zone 6. Click here to find your USDA hardiness zone. When cold weather arrives in fall, the leaves turn yellow and disappear until spring returns. More info, click here. $16.95
Agapanthus 'Polar Ice'The white flowers have a very light touch of violet and bloom for many weeks in July and August. The round heads of blossoms are five to six inches across on top of long green stems. They make a good cut flower. One of the hardiest of agapanthuses, it is cold hardy to USDA Zone 6. In summer it relishes frequent watering, however when dormant in winter, it needs ground that drains well to be able to survive the cold. One of the finest and hardiest of the lilies-of-the-Nile. More info, click here. $17.95
Allium sikkimense This low growing (6 inches) ornamental onion has sky blue flowers in summer. With its narrow leaves and low height, it is suitable for a rock garden or planted with other low growing flowers at the front edge of a bed. Once established, it is undemanding. It is also known as Allium kansuense. USDA Zones 6 - 8 in the East, Zones 6 - 9 in the West. More info, click here. $7.95
Antirrhinum glutinosum 'Gummy'This low, gentle plant has gray leaves covered in hairs and sticky stems that spreads eight to fourteen inches wide and grows four to eight inches tall. It does well either planted out in the garden in spring or grown at the edge of a container garden where it will flow over the edge charmingly. As a native of Spain it can take severe heat, and will flower from the beginning of summer until frost. Flowers of light yellow to creamy white are one-inch long. USDA Zones 8 to 11. More info, click here. $5.95
Arabis alpina subsp. caucasica 'Variegata'Popularly known as rock cress, this unusual form has grayish-green leaves edged in cream that are evergreen, and can light up a garden year around. White, four-petaled half-inch wide flowers appear from early spring until the weather starts warming up (for us in the Pacific Northwest they continue on into early summer), on elongating racemes that extend above and cover the foliage. A mature plant will reach eight to twelve inches tall when flowering, however otherwise will form a low mat of spreading growth to six inches. It needs only average soil. The soil having good drainage is particularly important. For areas that have warm summers and high humidity, particularly in areas south of Zone 7, it can be short lived. Doubly colorful with its flowers and foliage, it does good duty in a rock garden, as an edging plant, and planted in the crevices of a rock wall. Native to mountains in Europe, its can survive winter cold to USDA Zone 3. More info, click here. $5.95
Asarina procumbens -trailing snapdragon- If you have a greenhouse you will discover that certain plants kept in pots will seed themselves into the pots of other plants or into the nooks and cranies of the greenhouse floor where they will contentedly live despite neglect. One such seeder is this plant, a relative of snapdragons from the mountains of the Pyrenees between Spain and France. This grows equally well in the garden where you will find it seeding itself about. With spreading, trailing growth, it likes filtered light as well as full sun, and flowers nonstop through summer. The round green leaves are lightly hairy. The flowers are 1½-inches long. A superb plant for a hanging basket where it will drape over the container's edge. USDA Zones 7 - 11. More info, click here. $5.95
Aster alpinus 'Goliath'Aster alpinus 'Goliath' is a lively mauve form. Its flowers somehow look almost too large for the plant. With age, it covers itself in flowers. Most asters are thought of as blooming in fall. This one blooms in late spring. Being native to mountains in Europe such as the Alps, it is not a plant to grow in the South. It is better suited for cooler climates. It grows as a low clump, six to eight inches tall. Give it well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. USDA Hardiness Zones 4 - 7 in the East, Zones 4 - 8 in the West. And even farther north to Zone 3 with snow cover or other protection. More info, click here. $5.95
Aster alpinus 'Pinkie'This alpine aster, Aster alpinus 'Pinkie,' is a low growing plant that is notable for its flowering in late spring, rather than in fall as is usual for most asters. This is a selected color form with bright pink flowers with golden eyes. We propagate it vegetatively so the flowers will be uniform in color. Because its parents are native to mountains in Europe, such as the Alps, it is better suited for growing in cooler climates rather than where summers are warmer. It is especially suited for a rock garden, or planted towards the front of a flower bed. USDA Hardiness Zones 4 - 7 in the East, Zones 4 - 8 in the West. And even farther north to Zone 3 with snow cover or other protection. More info, click here. $5.95
Aster carolinianus Popularly known as the climbing aster, it has no clinging tendrils to help it grow upward, but weaves itself through other plants or through fencing and latticework. With your help tying the sideshoots up, it will grow taller more quickly. It's eventual height will be ten feet or more. The previous years growth does not die back to the ground in winter, so each year the new growth adds to its size. The leaves are small and the growth is not particularly dense, so it can happily mingle with other similarly size vines and shrubs. Our oldest plant is ten feet tall after about six or seven years growth. Being native to coastal areas of the southeastern U.S. into Florida, it needs hot summers to flower well. Its main season is October and November. In our cool climate we don't see any flowers some years. And occasionally instead of flowering in fall, the buds wait until the following spring to open! Each blossom is about an inch wide, in light pink. Large masses of them on a mature plant can be be very fragrant, something like flowering almond or marzipan, but we cannot detect any scent, there again, because of our climate. It is nicely evergreen, with the leaves taking on purple and red tints as winter arrives. Another name for it is, Ampelaster carolinianus. USDA Zones 7 - 10, possibly to Zone 6. More info, click here. $5.95
Aster lateriflorus 'Coombe Fishacre'A hardy mildew-free aster, 'Coombe Fishacre' has masses of light lilac flowers with golden eyes, the eyes turning rosy brown with age. The plant has a rounded, billowy shape. Reaching to three tall, it supports itself well without staking unless grown in more shade or in a particularly windy location. Blooms August into early October. We recommend dividing it every few years. USDA Zones 5 - 8, and to Zone 9 in the West.
For a very interesting retelling of some British garden history, including a bit about asters, click here. More info, click here. $5.95
Aster lateriflorus 'Lady in Black'Masses of tiny cream and pink flowers will cover this plant in September and October. It grows well in full sun or a half day of sun -- full sun is required for darker foliage. The dark leaves add variety and interest to its green leafed neighbors. In rich soil it grows three to four feet tall. It will be shorter, at 2½ to 3 feet tall in average soil. This grows well in a garden that has a clay type of soil. USDA Hardiness Zones 4 -9. More info, click here. $5.95
Aster nova-angliae 'Andenken an Alma Pötschke'We offer both a delicately tinted aster, such as 'Coombe Fishacre' on our list, and a very vibrant one such as this, a vivid watermelon pink, named in honor of a husband and wife, 'Andenken an Alma Pötschke.' This aster reaches four feet tall (staking with bamboo may be necessary) and blooms from late summer into mid-autumn, making it an excellent choice for an eye-popping splash of color at season's end. Not only do butterflies love it, but it makes a good cut flower. It thrives in a wide range of conditions, doing best it full sun and an evenly moist soil. USDA Zones 3 - 8, to Zone 9 in the West. A winter mulch is recommended. More info, click here. $5.95
Aster novi-belgii 'Eventide'The color of this flower is a medium lavender-blue, with golden eyes that darken as they age. New York asters are also known as Michaelmas daisies. Their season in at the end of summer into early autumn. We recommending dividing them every few years, discarding the older centers of a plant. For the greatest amount of flowers, pinching out the young tips once in mid spring, and a second time before mid-July is a good idea -- pinching them in the same way that mums are pinched to get the most flowers. Their mature height is 2 or 2½ feet. For USDA Zones 3 - 8, and to Zone 9 in the West. More info, click here. $5.95
Aster novi-belgii 'Tiny Tot'Aster novi-belgii 'Tiny Tot' is a very dwarf form of New York aster. Its height is half a foot, growing bushy, in a rounded bun. From late summer into October small purplish daisy-like flowers will cover the plant. The species name, novi-belgii, derives from 'New Belgium,' that was an early name for New York. USDA Zones 3 - 8, to Zone 9 in the West. More info, click here. $5.95
Aster tongolensis 'Napsbury'The growth of Aster 'Napsbury' is low and spreading. In early summer numerous, almost leafless flowering stems rise to eighteen inches. Each stem carries a large, single daisy of violet-blue with a bright golden-orange eye. The petals are thin and reflex downwards as they age. Easy to grow in average garden conditions. 'Napsbury' is a form of Aster tongolensis, a native of the Himalayas of Western China into Nepal, found on stony alpine meadows at an elevation of 11,000 feet. USDA Zones 4 - 8. More info, click here. $5.95
Astilboides tabularisThis used to be named as a Rodgersia. It needs similar care - moister ground than usual and filtered sunlight or afternoon shade. It has a different appearance, having even larger, completely rounded leaves of 2 or 3 feet wide on a full sized plant. Unusual and interesting is how the leaf stem attaches underneath to the very center of the big, round leaf, making the leaf look something like an open umbrella. Taller than the leaves are its clusters of fragrant, white flowers from summer lasting well into fall that resemble the flowers of Astilbe. The foliage will be two to three feet tall, with flower stems from three to five feet tall. Is very striking alongside a pond. Hardy in USDA Zones 5 - 9 in the West and Zones 5 - 7 in the East. Click here for an explanation of this difference between eastern and western hardiness zones on our FAQ page. More info, click here. $9.95
Aubrieta deltoidea 'Red Carpet Variegated'The flowers of this are a rich color of purplish red. The leaves are green and cream. Plant it where the drainage is good. And give it as much sun as possible. It will grow in some shade, but the best flowering will be in full sun. It does best with regular watering before and during its spring bloom. Later in the season it can take some drought. We recommend lightly shearing it as the flowering is winding down. Low growing at 2 - 4 inches tall, and spreading wider. Cold hardy to USDA Zone 3. More info, click here. $7.95
Aurinia (Alyssum)'Dudley Nevill Variegated'
‘Dudley Nevill Variegated’ is an easy-to-grow, choice perennial that thrives in full sun and hot, exposed sites. It needs soil that is well drained and low in fertility because rich soil promotes sprawling, floppy growth. Rather than growing tall, it grows as an ever-widening mat. We recommend shearing it back lightly just after flowering. Clusters of small, bright apricot flowers cover the plant in spring. The leaves are gray-green edged in cream and are semi-evergreen, making a tapestry of color throughout the year. It is a useful plant edging the front of a garden bed, or planted in a rock garden, or for trailing over stone walls. Other plants to consider choosing for companions are campanulas (bellflowers), veronicas, alpine asters, bergenias, daffodils, and erodiums (cranesbills), among others. Hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 7 in the eastern half of the U.S. and hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9 in the West. Click here for an explanation of this difference between eastern and western hardiness zones on our FAQ page. More info, click here. $9.95
Begonia 'Metallic Mist'(PP# 19,567) The parents of this hybrid are Begonia taliensis and Begonia pedatifida, birthing an offspring that is surprisingly cold hardy. 'Metallic Mist' survives outdoors to USDA Zone 7B, and is possibly root hardy in favored locations to Zone 6. It is a rhizomatus begonia that resembles a rex begonia, with its large, palm-like leaves of green and silver. As it likes cool shade, the perfect spot to set it outdoors is in a woodland or on the shady, east or northeast side of a house. We recommend adding a generous amount of aged compost when planting it. The mature height will be 12 to 18 inches, with a wider spread. When grown outdoors in the Pacific Northwest, its leaves will often not sprout until June. Light pink flowers come in clusters atop stems of twelve inches. More info, click here. $7.95
Bergenia ciliataThis uncommonly seen groundcover is adaptable to very dry shade and moister shade. While most bergenias are evergreen, Bergenia ciliata drops its leaves over winter. Take a closer look to note the light fuzz of soft hairs that cover the leaves and the leaf stems. The garden writer, Christopher Lloyd, described this species as quote, “beautiful,” in his book on garden foliage. We agree. Very undemanding once established. It grows well in USDA Zones 5 - 8, and also zones 9 & 10 in the West. More info, click here. $8.95
Bergenia ciliata subsp. ligulataLittle information can be found on the internet about this Bergenia. So we fall back on the 1982 edition of Graham Stuart Thomas's book, Perennial Garden Plants, or The Modern Florilegium. To quote him, “the leaves have a hairy margin and are broad and rounded ... The flowers appear early in dense heads, opening out into graceful sprays; they are nearly white but have a pretty contrast in the rosy red calyces.” He lists ligulata as a subspecies of ciliata, and they are, in truth, very much like one another in their flowers, their deciduous nature and their degree of hardiness. They are also both hairy but not to the same degree nor in precisely the same manner. Ligulata has much sparser hairs on its leaf surfaces, with more of its hairs on its leaf edges. Whereas ciliata has a much thicker blanket of hairs over its leaves and to a lesser extent, hairs on its leaf edges. The leaves of ligulata are ruffled. USDA Zones 5 - 8, and also zones 9 & 10 in the West. Limited quantity. More info, click here. $9.95
Bergenia 'Tubby Andrews'This very cold hardy perennial has evergreen leaves of green and creamy yellow in summer. When cold weather arrives in fall the coloring changes to green and various tints of pink to darker red. The colder the days become, the richer the coloring. As warm weather returns the following spring, the colors revert to creamy yellow and green on the new leaves. Occasionally a shoot with solidly green leaves shows up, that is best cut out when first noticed. Other than that, the plant demands little attention. Pink flowers show in spring, and again in fall. An ideal place to set this plant is at the edge of bushes and trees that lose their leaves in winter, or beneath them, where the bergenia will have shade during the summer, but full sun in winter. 'Tubby Andrews' also makes a good edging for a walk-way or at the front of a flower bed. He spreads slowly, in a mannerly fashion, into a wider clump over the years. USDA Zones 4 - 7 in the East, 4 - 9 in the West. More info, click here. $9.95
Buddleja colvilei 'Kewensis'This is large for a Buddleja, reaching a height of ten to fifteen feet, or even twenty feet where the climate is favorable. This is larger than the garden forms you most often see. It can reach the size of a small tree and grows quickly enough to do it within a short number of years. Though it cannot take much winter cold, to USDA Zones 8a to 11. In Zone 7 an established plant can regrow from the roots if its top is winter-killed. The name, 'Kewensis,' is for a plant chosen at Kew Gardens for its large clusters of pink flowers. This selection lives on by propagating it from cuttings. The flower clusters hang at the end of branch tips and are not fragrant. Its season is long -- many weeks for us in late summer. And where summers are warmer, from May to July. The green leaves are large and somewhat evergreen. Limited quantity. More info, click here. $9.95
Calceolaria arachnoideaThe contrast between the gray, felty, spoon-shaped leaves of this plant and its round, darkly purple flowers is dramatic. Coming from from the Andes of Chile, at elevations of 10,000 ft., it can take winter cold to USDA Zone 6. In Chile it is often covered by snow in winter. However in your garden it won't survive if the ground is soggy wet in winter. In the wild it grows in various habitats from dry, rocky hillsides to moist stream banks. Consider planting it into a rock garden or combined with other flowering plants in a container garden. The flowers are on stems several inches above the foliage. The plant will be two feet tall by slightly less wide. It starts to flower in early summer and continues on to the first frosts of fall. Before the blossoms appear, a young plant looks a lot like a plant of lamb's ear, Stachys lanata. Of course this grows taller than lamb's ear and these flowers end any thought that this could be lamb's ear. More info, click here. $8.95
Calceolaria integrifolia'Kentish Hero'This is an old variety from England with flowers that are orange and that age darker, until they become a blazing orange-red. It is developed from a plant that is native to Guatemala, and is not reliably winter hardy very far north. We list it as hardy to 20°F. It can be fickle how it survives a winter. If you plant several side by side, you may be surprised when one dies over winter while its neighbor survives. Its flowering season is very long, from late spring until fall. A plant could be dug, potted up and carried over winter indoors. The mature size will be eighteen to twenty-four inches. It produces a huge quantity of flowers in a season. If you are asking who or what is the hero in its name, it commemorates a chieftan by the name of Caratacus, who fought and beat the Romans in battle. More info, click here. $7.95
Calceolaria integrifolia'Sunshine'Similar to 'Kentish Hero' in everything except flower, this plant has clusters of bright golden flowers. A plant will grow to two feet in height, and even a bit more in warmer parts of the country. It can survive winters only down to about 25°F. When grown in a container, letting it become root-bound seems to produce the greatest amount of flowers. It produces flowers for such a long season, it is a very good addition to a mixed container garden. More info, click here. $7.95
Calceolaria 'John Innes'Calceolaria 'John Innes' is especially suited to growing in a rock garden, although it does well beyond a rock garden when the conditions are right - partial sunlight and soil that is moist but not too soggy. This is a hybrid of species that are native to colder, very southern parts of South America, and it can take quite severe cold, to USDA Zone 5, or even colder where there is a winter's cover of snow. Its name comes from the John Innes Horticultural Institute of Surrey, England, where it originated. The plant is very low at six inches and spreads slowly wider in a compact mass. The flowers are large in size, the size of a U.S. nickel, although not round but longer, top to bottom. Each flower has its own four to nine-inch stem. The flower's color is mainly a bright yellow, with a speckling of reddish-brown spots on the pouch. It likes both good drainage at the same time as not liking to fully dry out, in other words, ground that is moisture-retentive and quickly draining. If allowed to dry out too much in summer it will go dormant early. However just because it disappears above ground, don't think that it has died. A tip: choose a location such as a slope in full sun that is well drained, and mix in an ample amount of peat moss to keep the roots moist. This little golden pouch of a flower is a special delight for a child. More info, click here. $7.95
Campanula persicifolia 'Chettle Charm'Books call bellflowers of this species, “peachleaf bellflowers,” although it takes some imagination to connect its leaves to that of a peach tree. Among bellflowers, this species is distinct for its tall, thin graceful habit and large bell-shaped flowers. This particular plant has flowers of white, beautifully edged in pale lavender. The height of the flower stems will be to thirty inches. First-year plants may not produce many flowers, although you will see plenty by the second year. And they make a superlative cut flower for your home. They are the perfect length for a vase and have a long life as a cut flower. Their subtle coloring compliments most any arrangement. Cutting flowers to bring into your home will encourage the plant to keep producing more flowers. Quite cold hardy, to USDA Zone 4 (-30 to -20°F). Unfortunately it is not a plant for the deep South. More info, click here. $5.95
Campanula scheuchzeri(pronounced 'skook-zer-i) New for us, this species of bellflower grows as a low, clump of leaves with flower stems of six to ten inches. A plant will grow to twelve inches wide. The purplish blue flowers have a bell shape. It is of a height that could be used in a rock garden or towards the front of a mixed flower garden. Not particular to soil, although it would like to be kept moist through summer. And prefers full sun. As a guess, hardy to USDA Zone 4. More info, click here. $5.95
Caryopteris 'Summer Sorbet'The leaves of this low shrub are two or three inches long, green with broad bright yellow margins. They have a spicy scent when rubbed, and deer avoid eating them. During the later part of summer clusters of blue flowers decorate the branches. A plant grows to about three feet high and wide. It is deciduous, dropping its leaves in fall. In colder climates the tips of the branches may die back over winter, so gardeners often cut it back all the way back to the ground in spring and let it grow fresh branches. In other words, it is often treated more like a herbaceous perennial than a shrub. In August, the combination of blue flowers and golden-edged leaves is attractive. USDA Zones 6 - 8 in the East, to Zone 9 in the West. More info, click here. $9.95
Ceratostigma griffithiiMore frost hardy than you may think, established plants of this semi-evergreen, shrubby perennial will survive to 0°F. It begins to bloom towards the end of summer with sky blue flowers, and once it starts it continues on into fall. Its green leaves turn a vibrant red in fall while the plant is still blooming, giving you a glorious combination of the lighter blue against the ruddy leaves. Older plants are surprisingly drought tolerant, and survive the dryness of Western summers quite well. The mature height will be two to three feet tall by four feet wide. We sometimes cut the plant back completely to the ground at the end of winter so that the spring growth can give it a fresh look. Because it blooms on new wood, cutting it back hard at the end of winter won't keep it from flowering in its season. Anyone trying to think of good choices for late summer color should add this to their list. Late in the year when the season is waning, Ceratostigma griffithii is coming on strong. Grows well in sun or partial shade. More info, click here. $7.95
Chiastophyllum oppositifolium 'Jim's Pride'
This has a tongue-twister of a name, pronounced something like, kye-as-'toff-ill-um. Other names for it are golden lambstail and Cotyledon simplicifolia. It is an evergreen perennial with succulent leaves of green and cream that have a light tinge of pink in winter. Short six-inch tall sprays of pea-like golden flowers open in late spring to early summer. It grows low to the ground and spreads modestly. A plant will send out new shoots from below ground to form a clump. Native to the Caucasus, it is cold hardy to USDA Zone 6, or Zone 5 with protection. Partial shade is usually recommended, although here in the Pacific Northwest it can take full sun. An ideal spot would be a rock garden shaded from the afternoon sun where the soil is moist but well drained. This succulent member of the crassula family doesn't grow as vigorously as its green-leafed form. If you order this please do not keep it in a pot very long, but plant it in your rock garden or elsewhere in the ground. The reason is that it can be touchy with how it's watered in a pot and can rot quickly if kept too wet. More info, click here. $7.95
Clematis tanguticaBeing a native to northern China and Mongolia, this deciduous vine can happily withstand severe winter cold, to USDA Zone 3 (-40°F). A young plant will take a year to settle into a new home in your garden, though by its second year you should be prepared to jump back as it explodes into rapid growth. That second year it might not grow to a spread of twenty feet, but be forewarned it has that potential. It will climb any nearby support such as a fence, trellis or neighboring plant. Its flowers are light golden yellow and face downwards, blooming for us all summer into fall. The first flowers turn into small fluffy heads of seeds as new flowers keep appearing. If left to themselves, the seeds will blow off the vine and sow themselves around your garden. We do not think of the seedling plants as much of a problem -- they are easily spotted and removed or replanted elsewhere. A mature plant can be pruned back hard, close to ground level in winter or early spring. It quickly regrows to its full size in just a few months, and will rebloom well that year. More info, click here. $7.95
Convallaria majalis 'Aureovariegata'Lily-of-the-valley is an attractive old fashioned ground cover for large shady areas. Small purplish "eyes" appear at ground level in early spring, that develop into eight-inch long pointed green leaves that are striped lengthwise with creamy markings. Highly fragrant bell-shaped white flowers come in spring. Orange-red berries are occasionally produced in the fall. These are poisonous. While tolerant of most soil conditions, moist soil that is rich and slightly acidic is preferred for these woodland natives. Plants multiply rapidly in favorable conditions, and should not be planted if their spreading would be a problem. An excellent plant for use as a ground cover under deciduous shade trees or for naturalizing in an open shady expanse. Occasionally a shoot with all-green leaves will appear that should be removed to keep your spreading colony well clothed in these striped leaves. More info, click here. $7.95
Convolvulus cneorum This low bush, with gray leaves and the one-inch pearly white flowers with pale pink stripes on the backs is too-little-seen. It is evergreen and the leaves are downy, so the plant is drought resistant. And also long flowering, throughout summer. With a height of eighteen to twenty-four inches and slightly greater width, it is a native of Mediterranean limestone hills, and enjoys a hot sunny position in a rock garden, where fertility is fairly low and drainage is quick. Give it a once-a-year shearing as it begins to grow in spring to give it a good shape and keep it from becoming leggy. It is winter hardy in USDA Zones 8 - 11, or to Zone 7 with protection, although the top of the plant may be burned in severe winters. It is little seen though well worthy of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM) given it by the Royal Horticultural Society. In Zones colder than 7 or 8, it would make a superlative container plant, with its beautiful leaves and flowers, its long season and by reason that it likes being pot-bound better than many other plants. More info, click here. $8.95
Corydalis lutea Growing eight to twelve inches tall, the texture of this plant is delicate with its lacey fern-like leaves and golden flowers. It is one of the longest blooming perennials in the garden. It spreads abundantly to naturalize in shady areas, however it's not much of a weed and is easily removed where it's not wanted. It seems to be more popular in Europe than here in North America. It would get my vote as one of the top ten plants for a shady garden. Hardy to USDA Zone 5. More info, click here. $5.95
Deinanthe caerulea 'Blue Wonder'Growing as a clump to eighteen inches tall, this needs partial shade and soil that will not dry out too much. It is related to hydrangeas, although it doesn't grow as a shrub but sprouts from the ground each spring with large, broad and textured leaves of green. In July and August flowers of light lavender appear at about the same height as the leaves. Its flowering season is long, with new buds opening in succession. Each flower is between an inch and two inches across and faces outwards or nods slightly downwards. It is native to woodlands in China. Hardy to −5°F. More info, click here. $9.95
Dianthus 'Bewitched''Bewitched' has a large number of small flowers, so plentiful they can cover the plant is a solid sheet of color. The color is a light lavender-pink with a darker eye in the center. Its growth is compact and low. The flowers are light enough that they do not flop as do some of the larger, double dianthuses. And very well scented too. Grows well from USDA Zones 3 - 8. More info, click here. $5.95
Dianthus 'Blue Hill'The dense cushion of evergreen foliage is a glaucous, bluish color, contending for the honor of having the bluest of leaves among plants. In May and June magenta-pink flowers show on five-inch stems. It shows best when grown in full sun and not crowded by taller plants. Attractive at all seasons. USDA Zones 4 - 8, and to zone 9 in the West. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Bridal Veil'Many petals of pure white with a touch of reddish-mauve at the base create a ruffled, tousled, double flower that is an heirloom, gracing a few gardens since the 1600's. It blooms in July and August with stems of about twelve inches, adding nicely to a summer bouquet. And very fragrant. Hardy to USDA Zone 6. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Charles Musgrave'This variety has been around for many years. Sometimes it goes by the name of ‘Jealousy.’ It is extremely fragrant and is notable for its unusually colored eye of green. It has one fault, that it tends to be untidy, sprawling about, especially when it is in flower. So sticking in some short, branched pea sticks in spring as support when it starts to grow might be a good thought. Later in the year the support can be removed and the plant sheared back to keep it ship shape until the following spring. With fairly long stems, its flowers are good for a bouquet. USDA Zones 5 - 9. More info, click here. $9.95
Dianthus 'Dainty Dame'Petals of pristine white surround a dark red eye, with flowers the size of a twenty-five cent piece. It is very floriferous from spring into fall. And is very sweetly fragrant, this fragrance carrying some distance in the air. Its growth is tight and compact. Its leaves are are a lovely, chalky bluish-green. Grows well from USDA Zones 3 - 8. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Gloriosa'The double, frilly light pink flowers are sweetly fragrant. There is a touch of red at the center of the flowers. They bloom in July and August. The length of the flower stems is twelve to fifteen inches. Hardy in USDA Zones 5 - 8. To Zone 9 in the West. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Laced Hero'A sweetly fragrant, semi-double flower of white and reddish maroon opens in late May into June on stems of eight to twelve inches. The leaves are glaucous blue and evergreen. The key to successfully overwintering it is excellent drainage. Grows well from USDA Zones 3 - 8. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Mrs. Sinkins'This has a pure white, double flower that you will find mentioned often in books from Great Britain. It is sweetly fragrant of cinnamon/cloves. The flower stems are eight to twelve inches long and its leaves are glaucous blue and evergreen. Its flowers will flop unless supported by twigs or light “brushwork.” Grows well from USDA Zones 3 - 8. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Old Square Eyes'This dates only from about 1980 when it was found as a chance seedling in a garden on the British Isles. The single flower is large at 1 to 1½ inches across, of white with a salmon-pink eye, and is sweetly scented, blooming in late spring. Each flower typically has five petals, with an eye that is a pentagon rather than square. Occasionally a flower with only four petals will open, having a eye that is precisely square. As a flower ages the salmon-pink covers more of the petals. The flower stems are just over a foot long, a good length for a vase. In the garden, supporting the flower stems with an underpinning of short, cut branches will help to elevate them for a better view. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Queen of Sheba'To quote Old-Fashioned Flowers, a handbook of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, "Dianthus in all its many forms has played a seminal role in gardens for 2,000 years, at least. The most beloved is Dianthus plumarius, parent of so many 17th-century cinnamon pinks (also known as clove pinks), including 'Queen of Sheba'..." An old plant from the early 1600's, 'Queen of Sheba' has a single row of petals that have a blaze of white on the center of each petal and edged with a fringe of rose-red. The flowers are strongly and sweetly scented. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Raspberry Swirl'(PP# 14377) For us this dianthus flowers much longer than the others listed here, non-stop from early summer onto fall. In warmer places a plant may rest during the middle of summer and rebloom again in fall. Young flowers open with colors of light pink and deep maroon that change as they age, with the light pink turning to pure white. Each flower lasts a very long time before fading, and is exceptionally fragrant. The plant is low with leaves of gray-green. This is a new plant bred in England. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Sops in Wine'Intensely fragrant flowers have a single row of petals, each petal colored in deep red and white. The foliage is a glaucous blue. Flowers May into June in size of eight inches wide by eight to ten inches in height. USDA Zones 4 - 8. If you have the two volume set of books, Perennials by Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix, you will see that their photo of this plant does not match the photo shown here. In checking which plant is sold as 'Sops in Wine' in the United Kingdom, the plant offered by us is the one offered in the United Kingdom at most nurseries, for example, one being the Beth Chatto Gardens. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Sweetheart Abbey'The ruins of Dulce Cor or Sweetheart Abbey can be found today in the town of New Abbey, five miles south of Dumfries in southwest Scotland. It dates from 1273 when Lady Dervorguilla founded it in memory of her husband John Balliol (not the King of Scots, but his father, founder of Balliol College, of the University of Oxford). The monks bestowed this name upon their abbey in her honor after her death, when she was laid to rest together with her husband's embalmed heart. The fragrant flower has a full head of double petals, colored in crimson that lightens at the edges. The petals' edges are fringed with a sawtooth pattern as if cut with pinking shears. Hardy to USDA Zone 6. Needs full sun and well drained soil. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Velvet on White'Many petals of rich red and pink edged in white or a very light pink, on a compact-growing plant create the perfect flower for growing in a decorative garden container. This is what the hybridizer of this intended, growing it in pots, although we have found that it grows equally well in the ground. It is perennial and hardy to USDA Zone 6, coming through a winter in good shape. What makes it especially suitable for pot culture is its low, self-supporting height, its long season and its sweetly rich scent. Each flower would also be a good candidate as a boutonnière, for the buttonhole of a lady's or gentleman's suit jacket. More info, click here. $7.95
Dianthus 'Whatfield Ruby'Compact plants of six to eight inches tall by eight inches wide carry numerous flowers of rich ruby red during the months of May and June. As you would expect, the flowers are sweetly scented. The evergreen leaves are a grayish green. USDA Zones 4 - 8. More info, click here. $5.95
Erodium absinthoidesBeautifully light pink flowers in clusters decorate the finely textured leaves of grayish green. Once established in a garden this plant is drought resistant. USDA Zones 6 - 9. As a side note, the sexes occur separately -- the plants we offer are all females. Native to parts of southeastern Europe and Sicily. More info, click here. $7.95
Erodium cheilanthifoliumCreamy flowers have a delicate tracery of darker veins and two rich purplish blazes on the upper two petals. Long flowering and undemanding, this is a long lived perennial. Do not crowd it too closely with taller perennials, but allow it enough room to get lots of air and sunlight. It needs well drained soil to be long lived. Hardy in USDA Zones 6 - 9. More info, click here. $7.95
Erodium cheilanthifolium 'White Pearls''White Pearls' has white flowers and leaves that are a grayish green. It is a named clone of the species E. cheilanthefolium, that was selected at Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery. As is true for the other erodiums, do not crowd it too closely with taller perennials, but allow it enough room to get lots of air and sunlight. It needs well drained soil to be long lived. Long flowering and undemanding. Hardy in USDA Zones 6 - 9. More info, click here. $7.95
Erodium chrysanthumFrom Greece, this yellow storksbill or heronsbill needs at least a half day of sunlight for healthy growth. In hot summer climates, it would like afternoon shade. It has light pastel yellow flowers beginning early in summer and again in fall. It flowers better in a poor, lean soil. With water conservation a growing need this is one plant that would fulfill your desire for a plant that thrives in a dry or xeric landscape. Height will be five inches with a spread of twelve inches. Hardy to USDA Zone 5. Its leaves are lacey and grayish. $7.95
Erodium x 'Merstham Pink'Although many erodiums have purple blazes on their upper petals, this variety, 'Merstham Pink' is lacking the blazes and instead, the five petals are a more uniform, light magenta-pink, with dark veins running through the petals. Its leaves are grayish-green and finely divided, somewhat resembling the ferny leaves of yarrow. It grows well in full sun or a half day of sun. In full sun its foliage will be more compact and tight, and when given more shade, it grows a bit more loose and open. Its mature size is about eight inches tall and twelve inches across. When planting, adding a light dusting of dolomite lime to its planting hole will be appreciated, although not essential - if given its druthers, an alkaline soil would be its first choice. Long blooming and undemanding when grown in freely draining soil. Its blooming season is from spring to fall. Hardy to 5°F. More info, click here. $7.95
Erodium x kolbianum 'Natasha'Small in scale, this plant has lacey, feathery gray leaves and pale pink flowers with purple veins and purple blotches on the upper two petals. Its height is three or four inches, with the flowers another two or three inches above. Grows easily in the sunny, open garden, and also in a container or trough. Quickly draining soil is best for its longterm survival over winter. Hardy to USDA Zone 5. More info, click here. $8.95
Erodium 'Pickering Pink'(E. 'Merstham Pink' x E. 'Katherine Joy') Lacey, ferny leaves are mostly green but can have a grayish cast. The finely detailed flowers are palest pink, with darker veins on the lower three petals, while the upper two petals have dark purple blotches overlaying pink. Hardy to USDA Zone 6. More info, click here. $7.95
Erodium trifoliumSlightly furry leaves of green that are larger than the other of the Erodiums offered by us, its thinly petaled flowers are cream with purplish-red veins and blotches on the upper two petals. Also known as Erodium pelargoniflorum, it is native to the Atlas mountains of North Africa. Will self sow in your garden. USDA Zones 6 - 9. More info, click here. $5.95
Eryngium agavifoliumThe long sword-like shiny leaves, three inches wide at the base and edged with pointed teeth are evergreen. Flower stems to three feet are topped by prickly tan thimbles of flowers. Drought tolerant due to its deep roots. Its native home is the grasslands of Argentina. With age it will grow into quite a thick clump. Hardy to USDA Zone 7. More info, click here. $7.95
Eryngiums are also called sea hollies. They all have spiny, prickly leaves. The native habitat of some is at sea coasts, while others occur much farther inland. They come from both the Old World and from the Americas, with the ones from the Americas having long, sword-like leaves and the ones from the Old World with leaves that are not long and sword-like.
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Eryngium carlinaeThis seaholly is a low, mounding plant with green leaves, thinly divided into sharp spines. In summer low stems of flowers colored in steely blue rise above the leves to no more than a foot tall. It is native to Mexico, south into Central America. Its low height would make is suitable for planting in a rock garden or towards the front of a garden bed. Hardy in USDA Zones 8 - 11. More info, click here. $7.95
Eryngium variifoliumThis sea holly has glossy green leaves with white veins. The flowerheads are more gray than blue, small at about the size of green peas and come on short stems of twelve to eighteen inches tall. What is more striking about the flowers are the very large, pointed spines surrounding the base of the flowers. They are colored silvery gray. Their attractive leaves are evergreen. A plant will grow into a slowly widening clump over several years. Like the other sea hollies listed here, it develops a thick taproot. Hardy in USDA Zones 5 - 9. More info, click here. $7.95
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Eryngium yuccifoliumHere is an upright, architectural plant that is native to a large area of the United States - from New Jersey south to Florida, west to Texas, north to Minnesota and eastwards back to New Jersey. Quite a range. Despite being a native, it has an exotic appearance, resembling something from the desert Southwest, such as a yucca that its species name, yuccifolium, refers to. It has a very tough consitution, withstanding drought and less than ideal garden conditions. The plant's leaves grow to eighteen inches tall, with flowers coming in late summer on stems of four to five feet. The flowers are round, creamy buttons, in thistle-like clusters. Earlier Americans thought its roots could cure the venom from a snake bite, and gave this plant the name of “rattlesnake master.” (This plant, most definitely, does not attract snakes.) In a garden, its upright growth makes a nice accent. Not easy to find at nurseries or garden centers. USDA Zones 4 - 9. More info, click here. $7.95
Farfugium japonica 'Argentea' a.k.a. 'Albovariegatum'This grows one or two feet tall, and even to three feet with ideal conditions in shade. The round leaves are ten inches across, green with white creamy margins,and sometimes with a touch of pink.The leaves and stems can be lightly covered with downy fuzz, that rubs off when touched. Yellow daisy-like flowers show at the end of summer often no taller than the leaves. Cold hardy to USDA Zones 7 - 11. A plant will often wilt on hot sunny days if it is planted in full sun. This is not a sign of dryness of the roots in most cases, so don't water a wilted Farfugium if it is just flagging due to the heat. Some plants to grow with it are primroses, irises that like shade such as Iris foetidissima and I. japonica (listed on this website), and astilbes and hostas. Thinning out its large leaves on occasion is a good idea, especially so it doesn't crowd its neighbors. Farfugium resembles a different large-leafed plant, Ligularia, and can be mistaken for it. Although their appearances are similar, they like different growing conditions, Ligularia needing moisture and Farfugium liking ground that is well drained. More info, click here. $10.95
Farfugium japonica'Cristata'The large leaves grow to ten inches wide and have highly ruffled edges. Their coloring is unusual, velvety gray-green with new growth in spring having rosy-pink highlights. Our plants are propagated by dividing highly ruffled mother plants. Blossoms in late summer and fall with yellow flowers. Mature size is two feet tall by two feet wide. A plant will grow into a thick clump. Afternoon shade is recommended. USDA Zones 7 - 11. Where winters are colder, easily grown in containers and wintered in a cool greenhouse. Keep evenly moist. More info, click here. $9.95
Fuchsia procumbens'Variegated'
This is a very curious little plant, a low growing and prostrate shrub from New Zealand, that doesn't look much like a typical fuschia. The leaves are small, rounded and irregularly mixed with cream, pink and green. The flowers are upright, not drooping as is usually seen, and are colored amazingly in yellow and purplish-red, with blue pollen. Established roots are hardy to 10°F. Plants that are frozen above ground may regrow from underground if the plant has established itself over several years. Flowers from June to October. The photo shown here of the red fruit was taken in early January in a greenhouse, when the plant drops some of its leaves and is resting. This fuchsia can be planted singly in its own pot or mixed with other plants in a large container, in either case it will trail over the edge. Planted in the ground inside a greenhouse I have seen it grow large, several feet in every direction, and clambering up and through its neighbors. More info, click here. $7.95
Fuchsia 'Elizabeth Hobby Variegated'A small leaved upright fuchsia with tiny pink flowers, this has leaves of green and white. In a window that receives morning light it would be happy in a small pot on the window sill. In summer it can be moved outdoors. It would also be a nice addition to a mixed container of flowering plants. Other good companions for this would be felicia, chaenorrhinum, convolvulus, lobelia, silene and carex as just a few of the possibilities. Cold hardy to USDA Zones 9 and 10, and possibly Zone 8 with protection. More info, click here. $7.95
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Gladiolus tristis We have a special fondness for fragrant plants, and this being fragrant, it is a favorite. However, we would like to stress that our plants of it are being offered for growing in containers rather than for growing in the ground outdoors. By growing in pots, it can be grown in a much greater part of the U.S. than is possible otherwise. And in mild climates such as in California, growing it in pots reduces the concerns of it spreading to become a weed.
A fragrant gladiolus! The spring flowers of this gladiolus will be open during the day but only become scented late in the afternoon, with the sweet fragrance continuing through the night. It is pollinated in its home of South Africa by a moth that is attracted by the scent. A nickname for Gladiolus tristis is the marsh Africaner, which hints at its liking wet ground. The leaves are grasslike - eighteen inches long and very thin. The flowers are a light milky yellow, infrequently brushed in tan, and about two inches wide.
Said to survive in the ground outdoors to +10°F, our preference is to grow clumps of this in pots that are stored over winter by the window of an unheated porch, garage or basement. Or, as we do, in a cool greenhouse where the nighttime temperature drops close to freezing. It is normal for its new leaves to sprout in fall and carry over winter, followed by an early spring blooming. As summer arrives the blooming ends and the leaves wither and disappear during the summer months, when its soil needs to be dry.
So when grown in a container, at the end of summer the potted plant will be dry and dormant. Starting in October, begin watering the pot's soil lightly, not enough to thoroughly soak the entire container but enough to let the plant know that water is available if needed. When new leaves first sprout, continue to water only lightly, although once the leaves grow more than a couple of inches tall, more frequent water can be given. The potted plants we offer will have several plants per pot.
Our plants were purchased as a true species yet are possibly a hybrid, as they cross-pollinate easily. More info, click here. $5.95
Hebe speciosa 'Tricolor'Hardy to USDA Zones 9 and 10, for us this tender shrub needs protection during the winter. It may survive outside in the ground in most winters, however during our severest winters may die, so we prefer to grow it with other attractive plants in a mixed planter, that can be brought into a garage or porch over winter. Small 3-inch clusters of violet-purple flowers come in summer. Its creamy, green and pink-to-purple lustrous foliage is the main attraction. Can grow two to three feet tall and as wide, but looks very nice also as a smaller plant. Another name for this is 'Purple Tips.' Give it a once a year shaping during the growing season. More info, click here. $7.95
Hedera helix 'Spetchley'This ivy has extremely teeny, tiny leaves. The leaves are three-lobed and solid green. There is a thirty acre estate on the British Isles named Spetchley Park, three miles from Worcester, where it likely originated in 1962, although I do not know the details. Winter hardy to USDA Zone 5. More info, click here. $6.95
Helleborus 'Janet Starnes'Named by Phillip Curtis Farms (a wholesale nursery no longer in business) for plantswoman Janet Starnes of Molalla, Oregon, who found the original in a batch of seedlings. To quote their 1999 wholesale catalog, "shining blue-green leaves are dusted with galaxies of white and dark green stars. New leaves, almost cream colored, are fringed with pink; older leaves darken to a marbled green. Clouds of soft green flowers in early sping. Named for the Janet Starnes." Blooms on the previous year's growth. The flowers are showy, but the main attraction is the unusual foliage. Some gardeners cut off the flowers at the ground in early spring to allow a better view of the creamy colored new growth. Cold hardy to -10°F. More info, click here. $9.95
Hemerocallis citrinaWhat is so special about species daylilies? Their simple forms and lines cannot be improved upon no matter how hard hybridists try, coming up with ruffles and doubles. Their simple forms are also classic forms. To that add the wonderful scent that this species, Hemerocallis citrina, carries in her light yellow flowers, and you have a daylily that need never be discarded for the newest, latest hybrid. More info, click here. $10.95
Hemerocallis citrina var. vespertinaWith a pleasing scent and a lovely light yellow color, with darker reverse to the petals, here is a daylily to cherish. Flowering stems are tall at three to four feet. The season for Hemerocallis citrina var. vespertina is mid summer. Flowers are open during the day and last well into night. More info, click here. $10.95
Hemerocallis exaltataRarely offered, this species, Hemerocallis exaltata, is very robust, so strong that a gardener would think that it is on steroids, much like a tetraploid daylily. The flower stems are thick and reach to four and five feet.The flower is a very nice apricot color, and it flowers in the middle of summer. More info, click here. $12.95