Spring 2010 Plant List S--Z
Salvia koyamae
Yellow Sage
Japan, z. 6-8. A rarely seen plant and one of very few Salvias which not only tolerate but require shade. Its foliage is unusual
and quite distinctive: large, soft leaves with a triangular shape and a pale apple-green color, borne on trailing, 2′ stems
which weave their way through other plants in the border. Spikes of pale yellow flowers in fall enhance the overall effect.
A most elegant plant for shade and moist soil, good as a groundcover or in containers. $7.00
Salvia lyrata
Lyre-leaved Sage
N. America, z. 5-8. Stiff stalks rise 1'-2' from a handsome rosette of crinkly, spinach-like leaves with red veins to produce
tubular, palest lavender flowers in late spring/early summer. Tolerant of dry soil in sun or partial shade, this is a good
native for naturalizing at the edge of woods or in a wildflower meadow. Butterfly attractor. $5.00
Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis
Himalayan Sweet Box
China, z. 6-8. Despite sounding more like a disease you wouldn't want to know about than a shrub, this miniature—12”-18”—evergreen
is a valuable addition to a partly or fully shaded landscape. Sweet Box makes a dense, spreading mound of narrow, shining,
dark green leaves. In late winter, small pinkish flowers give off an intensely sweet fragrance and are followed by small
black berries. Spreading slowly by stolons, Sweet box is an excellent foundation, edging, or accent shrub. $12.00
Saururus cernuus
Lizard's Tail
N. America, z. 3-9. A handsome wetland plant which adapts readily to drier soil, Lizard’s Tail produces 2′‑3′ clumps of elegant
heart-shaped leaves with delightfully fragrant white flowers in early summer. The flowers form tapering “tails” with a curved
tip―like question marks punctuating the dark leaves. An excellent plant for wet soil or standing water, it also does fine
in reasonably moist garden soil. A strong grower in sun or shade, it may need to be restrained in some cases. $5.00
Saxifraga stolonifera
Mother-of-Thousands, Strawberry Geranium
Asia, z. 5-9. Delicate appearing and well-known as a pot plant, mother-of-thousands is also a fine groundcover for moist,
well-drained soil in partial to full shade. The softly hairy leaves are veined with silver; the oddly shaped white flowers
on nearly invisible stems are tiny but long-lasting and quite effective in masses. Spreads rapidly by casting out long runners
with miniature plants at the ends. $5.00
Senna (Cassia) marilandica
Southern Wild Senna
N. America, z. 6-9. Big, bold, and beautiful! The very tropical looking Wild Senna grows explosively in hot weather, becoming
a lush, 3’ to 6’ fountain of elegant pinnate leaves, topped in mid-summer by large panicles of yellow flowers. Good as a
trip to the Caribbean! Although it likes moist soil and full sun it will also grow well—and stay a bit more manageable in
size—in drier soil or partial shade. Birds enjoy the seeds carried in slender pods. $6.00
Sisyrinchium 'Suwanee'
'Suwanee' Blue-eyed Grass
N. America, z. 7-9. Found in Florida and introduced to the trade by Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery, 'Suwanee' is distinctive
enough that its exact place among the Blue-eyed Grasses is still uncertain. Meanwhile its a very pretty little plant, with
8” tufts of of glossy, grass-like leaves and quantities of pale blue starflowers in late spring. The foliage holds up well
once bloom is finished. Happy in well-drained to moist soil, sun to part shade. $6.00
Sisyrinchium graminoides
Blue-eyed Grass
N. America, z. 3-9. This miniature member of the Iris family produces narrow, grass-like blades 4”-10” long, from whose apex
the ½” star-shaped blue flowers emerge in late spring/early summer. Prefers moist, well-drained soil and partial shade, but
will tolerate a wide range of conditions. A pretty rock garden or edging plant, and nice for naturalizing among spring bulbs.
Spreads by seed where happy. $5.00
Solidago caesia
Blue-stemmed or Wreath Goldenrod
N. America, z. 3-9. It's been said Goldenrod should be our national flower, since its more than 100 species are found virtually
throughout the nation. Many are weedy plants, but some species offer good garden value. Blue-stemmed Goldenrod is one of the
latter. Its 1′‑2′ purplish stems arch gracefully, neatly lined with narrow, willow-like leaves and studded with button clusters
of golden flowers in late summer/early fall. Makes an elegant clump in sun to half shade and average soil, and will probably
seed around some. $6.00
Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks'
'Fireworks' Rough-stemmed Goldenrod
N. America, z. 3-9. This deservedly popular cultivar of a common species is a robust, upright plant to 4' or more, and spreading
as widely as you let it. Its size and dense, dark green foliage give it great presence in a sunny border and its mid/late-summer
flowers, bursting out in golden streaks, are spectacular. A big, easy-to-please plant for sun to part shade, moist to dry
soil. $6.00
Spirea tomentosa
Steeplebush, Hardhack
N. America, z. 3-8. A 2'-5' deciduous shrub with upright stems and medium foliage. In mid to late summer the stems are topped
with slender, pointed clusters of pink flowers. Informal in appearance, Steeplebush is best among other shrubs or tall perennials
in a sunny spot with average to wet soil. It can also be used as a hedge and cut back in winter to maintain a desired height.
$7.00
Stokesia laevis
Stokes' Aster
N. America, z. 5-9. A southeastern native, Stokes' Aster is justly popular for its large—2”-3”—and beautiful lavender blue
flowers borne in early summer on long stems above rather flat basal rosettes of thick leaves. A sturdy, long-lived perennial
that likes sun and well-drained soil, it's an easy care choice for the garden and a good cutting flower. $6.00
Stylophorum diphyllum
Celandine Poppy
N. America, z. 4-8. A beautiful, very showy native whose rather large, intricately lobed leaves appear in early spring and
are quickly followed by 2"-3" golden poppy-like flowers throughout the spring and intermittently through summer if the soil
doesn't dry out. The flowers are followed by equally attractive seedpods: dangling, furry ovals of silvery green. A 10"-20"
clump former, its velvety foliage is good all summer in partial sun to shade and moist soil. Easy and very nice, it will seed
about vigorously in moist soil. $5.00
Symplocarpus foetidus
Skunk Cabbage
N. America, z. 3-7. Straight from Jurassic Park comes the primeval looking Skunk Cabbage, with its immense, vivid green leaves
and knobby spadix—hard to think of it as a flower—covered by a thick olive-green hood streaked with brown and red glaze. The
earliest native to bloom here, it transforms shady, wet spots into exotic jungle for awhile, then goes dormant by midsummer,
leaving only its seedheads lying like hand grenades half buried in the ground. Altogether impressive. Slow growing and long-lived,
it requires nothing but constantly moist to wet soil and some shade. Outdoors its ill-famed smell is negligible or nonexistent—but
I don't recommend it as a houseplant. $7.00
Thalictrum polygamum
Tall Meadow Rue
N. America, z. 3-8. An airy, graceful native, 3'-6' tall, with lovely foliage very like a Columbine and loose heads of 1/2"
white powder-puff flowers in early summer. Although it occurs naturally in swampy areas, it is happy in anything from average
soil to standing water in sun or shade. A clump-forming plant, fine either in the border or naturalized, and a good candidate
for rain gardens. $6.00
Thelypteris noveboracensis
New York Fern
N. America, z. 4-8. A deciduous. colony-forming fern with fine-textured fronds from 1'-2'. A good spreader and fairly drought
tolerant. Nice for woodland slopes. $5.00
Thelypteris palustris
Marsh Fern
N. America, z. 2-9. A deciduous, fast-spreading fern with finely cut, medium-green fronds 1'-2' in height. Forms a dense,
uniform groundcover in moist to wet soil, partial to full shade. $5.00
Tiarella cordifolia 'Running Tapestry'
'Running Tapestry' Foamflower
N. America, z. 3-9. The growing popularity of Foamflower, well deserved given its beautiful foliage and flowers and long
bloom period, has given rise to various named cultivars, including 'Running Tapestry'. A large-leaved, quickly spreading
runner, 10"-12" tall, with abundant white flowers in spring and medium-green leaves flecked with red, it is a fine semi-evergreen
groundcover for partial to full shade. $5.00
Tiarella cordifolia 'Slickrock'
'Slickrock' Foamflower
N. America, z. 3-9. A fine creeping plant with superior foliage and candles of pinkish cream flowers in spring. The cultivar
'Slickrock' was selected from the wild for its very elegantly shaped leaves—like fine jewelry. A small plant, only 4"-8" tall,
it is nonetheless a rapid spreader in moist soil and partial to full shade. $5.00
Tradescantia virginiana
Virginia Spiderwort
N. America, z. 3-9. Spiderwort is one of my oldest native acquaintances, because it was in everybody's backyard when I was
growing up. Impossible to treat formally, it's a backyard plant, with its 1'-2' tousled mop of leaves like long green streamers
and cheerful clusters of mostly blue-violet, sometimes rose or white flowers in early summer. An easy spreader for sun or
shade, average to moist soil, it's a casual delight. $5.00
Tricyrtis hirta 'Sinonome'
'Sinonome' Toad Lily
East Asia, z. 5-9. A very orchid-like Toad Lily with 2'-3' stems that arch gracefully in fall to display clusters of complicated
flowers between each pair of furry leaves. The flowers are white liberally splashed with dark red and always remind me of
flocked wallpaper—but in a good way. Despite their exotic looks, they're an easy, reliable perennial for part to full shade
and moist, organic soil. $8.00
Trillium luteum
Yellow Trillium
N. America, z. 4-9. Very slow growing and highly prized, Trilliums star in the woodland garden. This species bears its three
broad, handsomely mottled leaves atop 12″ stalks, with stemless flowers centered in the leaves. Their three vertical, curved
petals resemble pale yellow candle flames lighting up the spring woods. Grow in organically rich soil in shade; may need protection
from deer. $9.00
Vernonia noveboracensis
New York Ironweed
N. America, z. 5-9. A tall and spectacular fall blooming native, whose 4’-6’ stems bear clusters of striking red-violet powderpuff
flowers over deep green foliage. An imposing plant for full sun to a little shade and moist to wet soil, and a prime butterfly
favorite. $6.00
Veronicastrum virginicum
Culver's Root
N. America, z. 3-9. Culver's Root is a boldly architectural plant whose strong, 3'-6' stems are furnished with flat whorls
of narrow leaves and topped in summer by multiple spires of tiny white flowers. Great for massing, which emphasizes the effect
of the long, slender spires, the clumps increase in size each year but do not spread. Full sun to part shade, average to
wet soil. $6.00
Viola conspersa
American Dog Violet
N. America, z. 4-7. A pretty native Violet with rather small leaves and flowers on the same stem, which is up to 8″ in length.
The pale lavender flowers begin blooming in early spring and continue well into summer. Good for the shady border or woodland
naturalizing. Not an aggressive spreader and one of my favorite Violets. All of our native Violets are important host plants
for fritillary butterflies. $5.00
Viola priceana
Confederate Violet
N. America, z. 4-9. An old-fashioned favorite, 8"10" tall, it has white flowers suffused with violet which from a distance
appear blue-gray—hence, I suppose, the name "Confederate" violet. Lovely for picking bunches in spring and for a groundcover
under trees or shrubs. Tolerant of most conditions and a fast spreader. $5.00
Viola striata
Cream Violet
N. America, z. 4-8. Appropriately named, the flowers of V. striata are not white but soft cream, with light purple veining
in the throat. Like V. conspersa, it has small, heart-shaped leaves which remain neat and compact, but will form a clump
1’ tall and around. Not invasive, although it may seed about a bit, it is an attractive violet for naturalizing in a shady
area. $5.00