Spring 2008 Plant List A--B
Plants in the catalog are listed alphabetically by scientific name and divided into pages for easier browsing. Click on the thumbnail photographs to display them full-size in a separate window.
Note
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Acorus gramineus 'Oborozuki'
'Oborozuki' Japanese Sweetflag
Japan, China, z. 6-9. A very attractive, evergreen, grass-like plant for moist soil to standing water. Sweetflag flowers
are insignificant, but 'Oborozuki' boasts variegated golden-green leaves which stand out at all seasons. A neat plant, it
forms a slowly expanding clump 8"-12" high and is a beautiful accent in sun or part shade. $5.00
Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus'
Variegated Japanese Sweetflag
Japan, China, z. 7-10. I love the Sweetflags: they stay where you put them, slowly expanding but never running away, always
looking fresh and tidy. This one grows 6"-12" high and has cream variegated, evergreen leaves; at a distance the plant appears to be a shimmering pale green. A very slow
growing evergreen, it requires nothing but constantly moist to wet soil—or shallow water—and a little shade. $5.00
Agastache foeniculum
Lavender or Anise Hyssop
N. America, z. 3-9. A prairie native growing to 3', Lavender Hyssop forms a bushy plant with strongly licorice-scented foliage,
sometimes used to make tea. In late summer it sports numerous cylindrical flowerheads popular with butterflies and hummingbirds.
Easy to please in sun or part shade and average soil, it may be short-lived but self seeds readily. $5.00
Ageratina altissima (Eupatorium rugosum)
White Snakeroot
N. America, z. 3-9. A versatile, long-blooming native, White Snakeroot breaks ground fairly late in spring but then becomes
a 1'-3' tall, full-foliaged plant which bears bright white flowers in flat-topped clusters from late summer into fall. It
will grow, and spread rapidly, in part to full shade in average to wet soil, or in sun with adequate moisture. Good for naturalizing
or in the border, and a good cutting plant. One caveat: it's poisonous to cattle—on the other hand, even deer don't bother it! $5.00
Ajuga pyramidalis 'Metallica-Crispa'
'Metallica-Crispa' Bugleweed
Europe, z. 3-8. My favorite of the Ajugas, this little gem looks like a very superior miniature spinach, with heavily crinkled
leaves of deepest bronze green with a metallic sheen. But unlike spinach, the small rosettes put forth 6"-8" stalks of indigo flowers, much loved by bees, in late spring. In a sunny to partly shady spot in rich, moist soil it will
spread—very slowly. It will not invade lawns. $5.00
Amsonia hubrichtii
Arkansas Blue Star
N. America, z. 4-9. A wonderfully garden-worthy perennial, Hubricht's Bluestar creates 3'-4' clumps of feathery, soft foliage,
graced in mid-spring by clusters of bluish white flowers. The billowy foliage stays neat and attractive all summer, providing
an excellent backdrop for later blooming plants. Then, in fall, it turns a striking gold that holds a long time before fading.
Great plant! Average, well-drained soil in sun to part shade. $6.00
Amsonia illustris
Ozark Bluestar
N. America, z. 4-9. Another great Amsonia, Ozark Bluestar has stiff, erect stems to 4' or more, clad in narrow, very lustrous
dark green leaves and topped in late spring by starry clusters of light blue flowers. Preferring average to constantly moist
soils and unbothered by pests, it will slowly expand to form a large clump in sun or part shade. Excellent as a single accent,
grouped as a backdrop for summer bloomers, or as a herbaceous hedge. $6.00
Anemone virginiana
Thimbleweed
N. America, z. 4-8. An erect 2'-3' native with large, maple-like leaves and long-stemmed, 5-petaled white flowers with prominent
golden centers. After its late spring bloom, interesting cylindrical seed heads develop which resemble thimbles—hence the name. Unlike the better known but thuggish A. canadensis, it does not spread aggressively and thus is good for garden
use as well as naturalizing in part to full shade. Tolerates dry shade. $5.00
Anemonella (Thalictrum) thalictroides
Rue Anemone
N. America, z. 4-9. A small spring-flowering woodlander with porcelain-white 1" flowers above delicate, bronzy foliage. Likes partial/full shade and moist, well-drained soil; may go dormant in mid-summer.
Dainty and long flowering, lovely in little colonies in woodland or garden. $5.00
Aquilegia canadensis
Wild Columbine
N. America, z. 3-9. Handsome foliage and red and yellow nodding flowers on wiry stems up to 2'. Very good for naturalizing
in open woods or on shaded slopes, or for garden use. Takes sun or shade and tolerates dry soil under trees. One of our nicest
and most satisfactory wildflowers, which will seed about gently. $5.00
Aralia spinosa
Devil's Walkingstick, Hercules' Club
N. America, z. 4-9. Although looking like something from a primeval jungle, Hercules' Club is in fact a 10'-20' southeastern
running shrub with bare, thorny stems topped by immense pinnate leaves. In midsummer it bears beachball-sized heads of greenish
flowers ahum with nectaring insects and followed by black berries on glistening red stalks that stand out spectacularly against
the gold fall foliage—until the birds eat them. Its spread may need to be controlled and it's not for everyone,but it can be a striking plant
in sun to part shade and average soil. High wildlife value. 2-qt: $8.00
Arisaema triphyllum
Jack-in-the Pulpit
Indian Turnip
N. America, z. 4-9. A distinctive and beautiful woodland native. The pale green spathe, often dramatically striped in brownish
purple, arches over the spadix, giving the appearance of a figure standing in a canopied pulpit. Height 1'-3'. In fall it
produces a showy cluster of scarlet berries enjoyed by wildlife. Preferring shade and moist soil, jack-in-the-pulpit is superb
in woodland colonies or combined with ferns. (Plants shipped in Fall will be dormant.) $5.00
Arisaema triplyllum var. striata
This uncommon and decorative form of Jack-in-the-Pulpit appears occasionally in local populations. The dark-green leaves
are veined in white, making them stand out in shaded woodland. Quite lovely. $7.00
Aronia arbutifolia
Red Chokeberry
N. America, z. 4-9. A great multi-purpose shrub, 6'-10', with flat clusters of white flowers in spring, neat foliage that
turns a blazing crimson in fall, and red berries providing late winter food for birds.Its multiple stems are usually bare
of leaves on the lower part, giving an interesting effect when massed and permitting planting around the base. It flowers
and fruits best in full sun but is highly adaptable, thriving anywhere from woods to front lawn to seashore, and in well-drained
to wet soil. A winner! 2-qt: $9.00
Asarum canadense
Canada Wild Ginger
N. America, z. 2-9. A deciduous native groundcover valued for its beautiful leaves—the brownish flowers are completely hidden. The leaves are large and heart-shaped with a soft silken sheen. They rise 4"-6" from creeping, ginger-scented rootstocks which will spread to form large mats in partial to full shade and moist soil. A
wonderful companion plant for bulbs or ferns. $6.00
Asclepias purpurascens
Purple Milkweed
N. America, z. 3-9. Similar to Common Milkweed but a little smaller at 2'-4', less aggressively spreading, and with deeper
colored, reddish-purple flowerheads. A good butterfly plant which prefers sun and well-drained soil. $6.00
Asimina triloba
Pawpaw
N. America, z. 4-8. A small—20+'
—fast-growing tree offering both attractive foliage and edible fruit. The leaves are large and tropical looking, with good
yellow fall coloring. Leathery brown flowers in early spring are interesting if not showy, and are followed by 3"-5" fruits which ripen in late fall and are very attractive to wildlife. The flavor of fruit from wild specimens varies widely
and few selected cultivars are available. So experiment! Plant a few and see what comes: you may discover the next taste sensation!
Pawpaw prefers moist, well-drained soil in either sun or shade; fruiting is heavier in sun. 5"-8" seedlings: $6.00
Aster (Eurybia) divaricatus
White Wood Aster
N. America, z. 3-8. A woodlander Aster, able to flower even in dry shade, A. divaricatus has neat, dark green foliage and
clusters of small, white-rayed flowers with pinkish centers borne on gracefully arching 1'-2' stems. Produces foaming masses
of bloom for a long period from late summer into fall, and is happy in average soil, partial to full shade. It spreads thickly
by short runners and makes a good groundcover under shrubs. $5.00
Aster (Symphyotrichum) laevis 'Bluebird'
'Bluebird' Smooth Aster
N. America, z. 2-8. 'Bluebird' is a fine selection of Smooth Aster, with glaucous green foliage, a compact habit to about
4', and abundant sky blue flowers with yellow centers in fall that are a great favorite of butterflies. It does well in
sun to part shade in average soil. One of the best Asters. $5.00
Athyrium felix-femina
Lady Fern
N. America, z. 2-9. A beautiful, erectly growing fern whose delicately lacy fronds are frequently set off by wine-red stems.
The crown forms a slowly expanding 1'-3' fountain but does not spread by runners, making it a good choice for a partly shaded
border as well as for naturalizing. $6.00
Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'
Japanese Painted Fern
Japan, z. 3-8. An unusual and very beautiful deciduous fern whose gray-green fronds appear to be inlaid with pewter. Add dark
red midribs and the effect is striking. A clump former to 18", it is much sought after both for its color and its neat, lacy form. A choice plant for partial to full shade and reasonably
moist soil. $5.00