Plant Reference A--B

Acorus gramineus 'Oborozuki'

'Oborozuki' Japanese Sweetflag

Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus'

Variegated Japanese Sweetflag

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Adiantum pedatum

Maidenhair Fern

N. America, z. 2-8. Our most distinctive native fern, and often considered the most beautiful. One to 2' black stems support fans of delicate, gray-green fronds which flutter in the slightest breeze. A deciduous fern, not invasive, it is lovely in borders, under shrubs, or anywhere it can have some shade and moist but well-drained soil.

Agastache foeniculum

Lavender or Anise Hyssop

Ageratina altissima (Eupatorium rugosum)

White Snakeroot

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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!

Ajuga pyramidalis 'Metallica-Crispa'

'Metallica-Crispa' Bugleweed

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Allium cernuum

Nodding Onion

N. America, z. 3-8. This dainty native onion forms a grassy clump only about 1' tall; the bloom scapes extend above it and each is curved at the top so that the pink or lavender flower heads hang downward, like a lantern on a pole. Unusual and pretty. It likes average, well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Bonus: The leaves can be used like chives.

Allium tuberosum

Garlic Chive

Chinese Chive

Asia, z. 4-10. A more decorative plant than the common chive (A. Schoenoprasum), garlic chive has flat, ribbon-like foliage to 1'. In late summer/early fall it produces 20" stalks with big, round starbursts of white flowers. Very worthwhile as a garden plant, and just as good for kitchen use as common chives.

Amelanchier canadensis

Shadbush, Serviceberry

Amsonia hubrichtii

Arkansas Blue Star

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Amsonia illustris

Ozark Bluestar

Anemone quinquefolia

Wood Anemone

N. America, z. 3-8. A miniature but delightful spring ephemeral. The 5-part, toothed leaves open bronze, scarcely visible on the woodland floor , but quickly darken to green. The 1" porcelain-white flowers face cheerfully upwards, rising all of 5" on slender stems. Though small it's a spreader, capable of forming large mats in part to full shade on humusy soils—until summer shade sends it into dormancy again.

Anemone virginiana

Thimbleweed

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Anemonella (Thalictrum) thalictroides

Rue Anemone

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Antennaria plantaginifolia

Pussytoes

N. America, z. 3-9. A low, mat-forming perennial with clusters of silver-white, furry flowers—they really do resemble kittens' toes—on single stalks in spring. In very dry weather the gray-green leaves curl to show their silver-furred undersides. Attractive, and one of the few groundcovers for really dry banks in sun or shade.

Aquilegia alpina

Alpine Columbine

Europe, z. 3-9. Deep blue, nodding flowers above 1'-2' mounds of attractive blue-green foliage. It blooms here in May and is spectacular with azaleas. The rare and vivid color brings a touch of alpine meadow to any garden in sun or partial shade, average soil.

Aquilegia canadensis

Wild Columbine

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Aquilegia canadensis 'Corbett'

'Corbett' Wild Columbine

N. America, z. 3-9. A pale yellow-flowered form of our native wild columbine, originally discovered in Corbett, Md. A little smaller in all its parts than A. canadensis, it is a profuse flowerer, very delicate and dainty.

Aquilegia vulgaris

Garden Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Double Pale Blue'

Garden Columbine

Europe, z. 3-9. A charming double form of the old-fashioned "granny's bonnet," with 1 1/2" nodding flowers of palest blue, as daintily and crisply fluted as a porcelain ballerina's skirts. A 1'-2' spring bloomer for sun or partial shade.

Aralia racemosa

Spikenard

N. America, z. 2-7. This giant cousin of ginseng is in fact a herbaceous perennial but in summer one would take it for a shrub. When mature its big, bold compound leaves can top out at 6'. In addition it bears airy panicles of greenish white flowers followed in late summer by clusters of showy wine-red berries. A striking specimen or mass planting in a woodland garden, it likes partial to full shade and humusy soil. Does not move easily once established.

Aralia spinosa

Devil's Walkingstick, Hercules' Club

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Arisaema triphyllum

Jack-in-the Pulpit

Indian Turnip

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.)

Arisaema triplyllum var. striata

Aronia arbutifolia

Red Chokeberry

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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!

Asarum canadense

Canada Wild Ginger

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Asclepias incarnata

Swamp Milkweed

N. America, z. 3-10. Not as well known as the closely related Butterfly Weed (A. tuberosa), but just as lovely, swamp milkweed is an erect plant, 2'-4' tall, with glossy, pointed leaves and heads of pale to deep pink, complex flowers in mid-summer. Found naturally in local swamps, it's quite happy in normal garden soil in sun.

Asclepias purpurascens

Purple Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

 

 

 

Asclepias tuberosa

Butterfly Weed

N. America, z. 3-10. A well-known and spectacular native with flaming orange flower clusters—much visited by butterflies—on 1'-2' stalks in mid-summer, followed by ornamental seed pods. Not in the least weedy despite its common name, it likes sandy, well-drained soil in full sun and will expand in time to make a large clump.

Ascyrum hypericoides

St. Andrew's Cross

N. America, z. 5-9. This neat little plant is technically a deciduous shrub—rarely exceeding 8" in height! It's reddish brown stems are tightly clothed in small, light green leaves and studded in late summer with the little x-shaped yellow flowers that give it it's name. It makes an excellent edge plant, eventually forming a clump 2 or 3 times wider than its height, and like most shrubs can be trimmed to shape. Prefers partial shade in dry to moist soil.

Asimina triloba

Pawpaw

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Aster (Eurybia) divaricatus

White Wood Aster

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Aster (Symphyotrichum) cordifolius

Blue Wood Aster

N. America, z. 3-8. A 2'-4' woodland aster with bluish-green foliage and erect stems bearing large panicles of pale blue ray flowers with gold centers in fall. An excellent Aster for partial to full shade, it naturalizes easily and is also good in the border—but there you may want to deadhead it to prevent an excess of seedlings.

Aster (Symphyotrichum) laevis 'Bluebird'

'Bluebird' Smooth Aster

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Aster (Symphyotrichum) novae-angliae

New England Aster, Michaelmas Daisy

N. America, z. 4-9. "Aster" means "star" and this one is the star of the fall garden, with its 3'-4' bushy habit and masses of blooms. Colors vary, but the one I am offering has large flowers of soft plum purple that mix well with the smaller flowered white wood aster (A. divaricatus) or Maryland golden aster (Chrysopsis mariana), or the reddish purple of New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis). It prefers full sun and average to damp soil. Pinch in early summer to increase bloom.

Aster (Symphyotrichum) puniceus

Purple-stemmed Aster

N. America, z. 4-7. A big—3'-6' —wetland Aster whose stout stems rise from bright green crowns to bear clouds of pale blue flowers in early/mid fall. A beautiful plant that needs room—best for naturalizing in moist to wet soil, full sun to part shade. Good butterfly plant.

Aster patens

Late Purple Aster

Aster tataricus

Tartarian Aster

Asia, z. 3-8. One of the tallest Asters. Basal clumps of 1' long, leathery leaves give rise to sturdy 5'-7' stalks bearing mounded heads of lavender flowers with yellow centers in mid/late fall. Vigorous, long-blooming, and trouble free in full sun to part shade, average to dry soil.

Athyrium angustum

Northern Lady Fern

N. America, z. 2-9. A beautiful, erect growing fern whose delicately cut fronds are frequently set off by wine-red stems. It produces a 1'-3' clump which grows slowly larger but does not spread, making it a good choice for a partly shaded border as well as for naturalizing.

Athyrium felix-femina

Lady Fern

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'

Japanese Painted Fern

Available for Spring 2008. Click here to go to the Catalog.

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.

Baccharis halimifolia

Groundselbush

N. America, z. 5-9. Native to mid-Atlantic coastal marshes, the groundselbush is a large—to 12' —fast-growing, deciduous shrub with leathery, gray-green leaves, greenish stems in winter, and a rounded form. It is an excellent shrub for the seashore, on either swampy ground or dunes, since it tolerates wet soil, drought, and salt. In fall, the silky seedheads make the whole bush appear covered with shining silver fluff—very striking. Female plants are said to be showier than males, but mine are as yet unsexed.

Begonia grandis (evansiana)

Hardy Begonia

China/Japan, z. 6-9. An exotic, tropical-looking beauty which is fully hardy and astonishingly tough. One to 2' stems emerge quite late in spring bearing wing-shaped leaves, velvety green on top with prominent, deep red veins on the underside. Small, soft pink flowers dangle gracefully from mid-August until frost. A "must-have" plant for partly to fully shaded gardens, and a good container plant. It will seed itself readily in moist, organic soil, but unwanted offspring are easy to pull; otherwise carefree. Shipped only in fall.

Begonia grandis 'Alba'

'Alba' Hardy Begonia

Belamcanda chinensis

Blackberry Lily, Leopard Lily

Boltonia asteroides 'Pink Beauty'

Boltonia