American Native perennial with lance-shaped gray-green foliage that looks good all summer and pendulous bell-shaped,
1-2" lemon yellow flowers in late spring. Use in the border foreground or in masses as a groundcover. Deserves much wider popularity. Beautiful with ferns, Dicentra eximia or Trillium
erectum. Long-lived. Large yellow blooms.
Soil: Moist but well-drained. LIMEY to neutral H: 18-24" W: 12-18" B/M:
Lemon yellow/ 4-5
"Perfoliata' refers to the way the stems 'seems' to pierce the
leaf in this woodland Native and makes it easy to identify this plant
along with tiny orange 'bumps' or granules inside the petals which
clenches the ID. It has gracefully twisted, 1" pendant
creamy yellow blooms in April and May.
Soil:
Moist but well-drained H: 6-18"
W: B/M: Creamy yellow/5-6
Uvularia - Merry Bells or Bellworts are one of
the treasures of our spring forests. They multiply by long, fleshy,
white underground stolons and form colonies of delicate stems holding
varying color yellow bells nodding in the breeze. These drooping
bell-shaped flowered plants are member of the Lily Family,
Liliaceae, and are among the easiest of wildflowers to grow in
partially-shaded areas in rich, moist but well-drained soil. The
do prefer Moist but well-drained soil and gratefully accept water
during drought but do survive without it!
'Wort' as in Bellworts (and pronounced
'wirt') is an old term that denoted the plant was used for food or
medicine.
Produces dainty, tubular pale yellow flowers in spring before the foliage
has completely reached it's full height. Delicate foliage is perfect with Trilliums or behind a planting of Labrador Violet. It's delicacy lightens heavy, somber plants.
Soil: Moist but well-drained
Ht: 12" W: 12"
B/M: Pale yellow/ 4-5
Tall leafy stems with dense clusters of tiny tube-shaped flowers. Forms a basal rosette of deeply divided leaves. AKA 'Garden Heliotrope' can be grown in the herb or wildflower garden or the perennial border in rich, moist soil. An
old-fashioned, cottage garden plant that CATS ARE WILD ABOUT. Short rhizomes.
A
short lived but self seeding Fall blooming Perennial that is
stunning in mass so you won't mind the self seeding. Oddly
enough, the seedlings are almost always stronger and more drought
tolerant than the original plants as if those that sprout and thrive
are the ones meant for that particular garden. Almost
leafless, tall wiry stems are deep green with domed heads of
lavender-purple that are very eye-catching. This is a superb
butterfly plant, rivaling even buddleia for their attention!
The Royal Horticultural Society has given it their prestigious
Award of Garden Merit and also the Missouri Botanical Gardens has
given it the Plants
of Merit Award in 2005. (there are only 50 and this is one!)
A dwarf form of the
above that's often just perfect when the tall form is just that --
too tall! At a third the height, you can find room for this
charmer in any garden. 'Little One' appears to be a little
more resistant to the powdery mildew than the species. It appears
that this plant is possibly sterile as no seedlings have been noted
from the nursery that introduced, though further testing will be
required before this claim can be made with certainty. For sure, it
must seed much less if at all.
Soil: Any
H: 18-24" W: 12-24" B/M:
Purple/7-9
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received my order yesterday and was most impressed by the quality and
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City, MD
Besides
being beautiful, this native is a good nectar producer for
commercial honeybees. In native environments, it's often seen
in moist spots, will take occasional flooding but also is happy in
average garden conditions where it will be shorter. Often
called Smooth Ironweed because it's leaves, stems and blooms are
glabrous. Very attractive to Butterflies!
Soil:
Most any, acid to Neutral H:
36-48" W:
12-36" B/M:
Purple/-7-9
$9.99 Qt.
Vernonia
fasciculata var. alba White Smooth Ironweed Zone:4-9
As
above but white in a garden where you want a great Native to attract
butterflies but purple just won't do. So now you can have white!
Soil:
Most any, acid to Neutral H:
36-48" W:
12-36" B/M:
White/7-9
A
new selection of an Arkansas Native comes from Dr. Allan Armitage's
U. of GA trials. With lovely fine foliage (like Amsonia
hubrectii), it's compact, well-branched and a vigorous plant.
In late summer, with it relatives in the Genus, it's covered with
blooms -- in this case TRUE PURPLE flowers beloved by butterflies.
Found in rocky flood plains where the late reclusive Botanist George
W. Letterman lived and died in a one room cabin near St. Louis,
spending most of his time in the woods in search of rare plants and
trees. The species honors him. It's tolerant of dry, hot
conditions and yet will take occasional flooding but by in large
needs well-drained soil.
A
lovely late blooming East Coast Native, from Connecticut to Florida
for the back of the border. Varies wildly in height, based a lot
on available moisture in the soil. Intense rosy purple starry
flowers are a perfect compliment to other Fall bloomers. Lives
fine in a very wet spot and yet is drought tolerant and able to take
'lean', poorly fertilized soil. The name Ironweed comes from the
Iron colors seed but could just as easily describe it's strong
demeanor. Tough as iron! Self seeds if happy.
Soil:
Most any
H: 4-8' W: 3-4' B/M: Rose purple/8-10
A
note about Exposure for Veronicas:
In the hotter zones --
7 and 8, Veronicas will take and appreciate Part Shade. In cooler
areas, they're better in Sun according to Dr. Leonard Perry,
Professor, University of Vermont on this Veronica
Page. Our zones on Veronicas are also
from this page.
Slender flower spikes on thin stems surrounded by narrow, dark green, toothed leaves. Really DARK NAVY BLUE! Spectacular with white flowers. Exceptionally cold-hardy.
Happiest in sun but agrees to live in part shade. Prized for cutting.
A mound forming plant with upright to decumbent stems. Dense,
2-4" long racemes of intense gentian blue flowers, 1/2" across
and cup-shaped. Synonymous with
and sometimes sold as Veronica latifolia or Veronica teucrium.
A brand spanking new introduction from
Intrinsic Perennial Gardens. Selected for vigor and longevity in
the garden. Needs well-drained soil BUT is much less demanding
than others of the genus which almost needed gritty soil to survive.
Silver foliage to 12" in clumps that are topped by numerous 15" spikes
of vivid sky blue flower in July.
From
Turkey to the Caucasus, this vigorous, fast growing species that thrives
in difficult spots. It hugs the ground with it's round glossy,
evergreen leaves which root as they go, creating a lush, thick carpet that
can be used as a grass substitute! In spring, it puts forth spikes
of dazzling cobalt blue in such abundance you can barely see the
foliage! With adequate moisture, it will rebloom in
summer. Needs a bit of shade in warmer zones. 1997
Plant Select® Winner. Drought tolerant when established.
When
folks think of Veronicas, it's generally of V. spicata or Spiked Veronica
but for our money, we think the Veronica longifolia (Long Leaf
Speedwell) are definitely
contenders for a spot in your garden. One of the taller
species. It's also the best for cutting due to its very fat
spikes. The tips often nod or curl over a bit but that just makes it
more charming! Less well known but they shouldn't be!
'Blue Giant' is aptly named
and is just that -- a Veronica with Giant Blue blooms for most of the
season if deadheaded and with a giant structure! It's one of, if not the
best of the V. longifolias. Lance-shaped, light to grayish-green
leaves. Takes some shade but may then need to be staked.
Soil: Moist but well-drained
H: 36-48" IB W: 12-24"
B/M: Deep Purple Blue/ 6-8
Another
spectacular introduction from Intrinsic Perennials Gardens, named after
the owner's sister and selected for its unique fuchsia pink spike in
July on 24" stems above long narrow, deep green glossy foliage. No
staking needed for this tall Speedwell in sun but at some point in
shade, it may need some support. Tall, strong, dense clumps with
uniform height makes this just a stunner.
Soil: Moist but
well-drained H: 26-30"
IB W: 30"
B/M: Medium Pink/6-8
A furry little mat -- quite different from any other Veronica you've met!
Makes a great creeping groundcover, but not a bully -- easy to control. Or just a moderately spreading perennial. Saucer-shaped, white-eyed,
blue flowers are born on short stems. Dense enough to keep weeds at bay. Rare in the trade.. From Turkey and the Balkans.
Round blue flowers on low, bushy, spreading foliage. Good in the rockery or in the front of the border. Easy in good, well-drained soil which means raised beds here in the land of "Clay & More Clay"!
Soil: Good well-drained
H: 12" W: 24" B/M: Blue/ 6-9
Dense, mat-forming perennial that has upright spikes of small, saucer-shaped flowers in early summer. Normally blue in the species, ours is more rosy pink. Foliage is narrowly oval and toothed.
Soil: Very well-drained
H: 12" W: 18" B/M: Pink/ 6-7
Not
only do they grow some of the best Hellebores in the trade but Dick
and Judith Tyler of Pine Knot Farms introduced this delightful plant
and claim it to be one of their favorites. From humble
beginnings - a basic pack of V. repens seed - Judith selected an
eye-catching gold foliaged seedling. The flat-as-a-pancake
foliage looks very little like a Veronica. If you're lucky, the
occasional blue-purple spike pops up but this is primarily a foliage
plant for Sun or light shade. Doesn't like drought! Here's
the University
of Illinois fact sheet and photos on it but please ignore their
typo -- it's not 2-3 FEET tall! Great as an underplanting.
Soil: Moist
but very well-drained
H:1" W: Indef. B/M: Blue/Occasionally
This
is a compact, clump-forming Speedwell with dense, vertical dark
violet-blue blooms tower above the foliage all summer. A cultivar
of V. spicata, it has improved heat tolerance over similar Veronica
'Sunny Border Blue' and is shorter. Very free flowering.
Soil: Any good, well-drained
H: 14-16" W: 12-14"
B/M: Dark Violet Blue/ 5-6
One of the most desirable summer-blooming plants. Forms a vase-shaped clumps above which rise beautiful showy spikes of pure white blooms. And it blooms from June to September! Superb
cut flower with neat grey-green leaves. Needs to be staked in shade or it flops.
Soil: Well-drained
H: 18" W: 18"
B/M: Pure white/ 6-9
A bushy spiked Veronica, that is
mat-forming but tall. More bushy than some spiked Veronicas with lateral racemes of dark violet flowers.
THIS IS HANDS DOWN, THE MOST BLOOMING VERONICA IN
THE TRADE and it seems to be our secret here in the US. Maybe
we have a special clone but it just never stops blooming -- was still
blooming in our unheated greenhouses in November. And we never have
time to deadhead, so it isn't because of that! If Veronica 'Sunny
Border Blue' was named 'Plant of the Year', this should be named Plant of
the Decade or Centaury! It has all the same tough, great
qualities of all the V. spicatas but 'Romiley Purple' is just a blooming
machine. Available all over Europe, it's virtually unavailable
here.
Soil: Well-drained
H: 18" W: 18" B/M: Dark violet/ 6-7
Spikes of deep rose-red flowers
(the closest to red but not quite) are held above dense narrow dark green leaves. Easy to grow in well-drained soil. Excellent for the front of the border. Divide every 3-4 years.
AKA
Veronica spicata x longifolia 'Glory'. A particularly compact
speedwell with racemes of dark violet-blue florets standing poker
straight from 12-18" tall above much shorter basal foliage.
Starts blooming in late June/early July and can bloom through October
if old fading blooms are removed periodically. It has the same
almost luminescent blooms as it's offspring 'Sunny Border Blue' but is
even more compact. Plant of the year for 2001.
1993 PERENNIAL PLANT OF THE YEAR and for good reason. Dark violet-blue flowers from JUNE TIL FROST on a compact plant with crinkled, lush foliage. Strong grower. Excellent. Like all veronicas, prized for cutting. Every garden should have this plant.
Soil: Well-drained
H: 18-20" W: 18" B/M: Dark violet-blue/ 6-9
We bought this plant under this name and
it's FABULOUS but we really question the ID but at the same time, HIGHLY
recommend the plant. Stunning and long blooming, just of
questionable heritage! It doesn't appear to be a form of V.
subsessilis, maybe a hybrid with that and something else. A robust
plant has large ovate extremely glossy leaves with brilliant blue spikes
Soil:
Well-drained H:
W: B/M: Brilliant blue/
$9.99 Qt.
New 2010
Veronica wormskjoldii (stelleri, nutans) American
Alpine Speedwell Zone: 4
Dark
blue bloom over a dark green spreading mat of foliage from June through
August on this moderate to fast grower. Native to the
Western States and Canada, it can take it hot or cold! Not another
'spiked' speedwell -- but a charming, groundcover with bloom more like 'Waterperry
Blue', etc.
Soil:
Well-drained H: 4-16"
W: 12-24" B/M: Dark blue/ 6-8
Intense blue flowers with dark veins, 3-4" trailing stems with shiny dark green to reddish bronze foliage. Used for rockeries, banks, or edging. Prefers sun but will take light shade. Very
floriferous. Dark-veined, purplish-blue flowers.
Soil: Good, well-drained
H: 3-4" W: Indef.
B/M: Intense blue/ 5-6 and
occasionally later
A
rare, little known form similar to our native Culver's Root that's
tall, easy to grow and very refined. The foliage - lovely
gray-green, deeply veined leaves are held horizontally and whorled
around the stem and lay the found for the many candelabra-lie, erect
spikes of lavender blue blooms in mid-summer. Flowering
side-shoots can extend the bloom period. This is a strong
grower and when grown in sun, needs no staking despite it's
eye-catching height.
Soil:
Average to moist
H: 5-7' W: 2' B/M: Lavender blue/7-9
Think of this native as a heavy blooming 4-5' tall Veronica!
6-9" long flower spikes open slowly from the top down, making for a long period of bloom. Elegant, tough, reliable and spectacular enough to build a late summer border around. Perfect with Monardas & Phlox.
Soil: Average to damp
H: 48-60" W: 24" B/M: White/ 9-10
Elegant late summer color. 40" plants with 15" racemes of Lilac-rose flowers in June-July. This is a color breakthrough over the old pale pink. Fabulous, beautiful, nothing quite like it -- really.
Needs moist or well-watered spot. The bloom color is nothing short of stunning!
Almost
iridescent in a soft, pleasant way.
A lovely, light lavender form of
Culver's Root. The Ernst Pagels introduction is stunning in
mass. Best used in the back
of a perennial border, in meadow or naturalized gardens. The foliage
on Veronicastrums is wonderful -- serrated leaves whorled round the
unbranched stems. When we started offering this in 2005 it was all
over Europe but unheard of here. Well, gosh, y'all ought to fix
that! It's lovely!
A
new twist on an old favorite -- this Periwinkle has gold foliage.
An introduction from Saul Brothers of Atlanta that's actually best
in well-watered, full sun but takes shade. New foliage is
bright gold maturing to green so at any given time, both leaf colors
are present
Soil:
Well-drained
H: 3.5" W: Indef. B/M:
Pale Blue/4-5
A
wonderful evergreen groundcover. More constrained in growth than
species with blue blooms. The white blooms are a nice change to a
well-known plant. Grows very low and flat
to the ground. Resembles Miss Jekells White. Hard to find in
the trade.
One of the nicest, most well-behaved of all the Native Violets. Blooms hard in spring, then sporadically
but consistently thereafter. White blooms have a purple blush to the back and a yellow throat. Moderately forms drifts by underground runners unlike many violets which become an absolute nuisance with seeding. In dry sites, plants may go dormant in summer.
Soil:
Moist but well-drained H: 12"
W: 8" B/M: White/4-6++
Fantastically silvered and swirled and cut, this viola takes highest
honors in the foliage arena. Delicate white (sometimes lavender) flowers
are produced in mid spring but the leaves alone are simply splendid. A
showstopper in small containers. Delicious fragrance.
Soil: Moist but well-drained
H: 5"(6") W: 8" B/M: White/4-5
Outstanding, extremely rare, Japanese species with finely dissected foliage and good-size.
Stem less, to 4" when in flower, which are fragrant, petals pale rose or purplish, about 1" long, spur about 3/16" long. CHOICE, needless to say. Woodland conditions. Self seeds politely. 20 blooming plants perfumes a 100'
greenhouse when the sun is shining and the door is shut with an intoxicating lemony sweet smell.
Soil: Woodland H: 4-6" W:
B/M: Pale rose to white/ Spring
Upon
a quick glance, many people will actually think this is a
Cyclamen! The foliage is very similar. Compact and
vigorous with green leaves veined in silver-grey with rich maroon-red
undersides. Flowers with Mauve-Pink flowers in bloom but looks
great all season because of the striking foliage.
Beautiful species. Young leaves reddish purple, older leaves dark green, heavily overlaid with purple. Blue-purple
flowers. A stemmed violet with flowers arising from the leaf stem. Not a
berserk self-seeder! A RARE violet that will thread it's way gently through your garden. Native to the Northeast.
Loves to 'crawl around' the stream connecting our ponds.
Soil:
Most any H: 4-6" W:
B/M: Blue-purple/ 5-6
$8.99 Qt.
Viola
palmata Early Blue, Three-Lobed, Cleft or Wood
Violet
Zone: 4
While
the bloom is the typical lovely, large 3/4" violet bloom, the
distinctive feature of Viola palmata is it's leaves some of which are
cut or divided into 5-11 lobes. (Those that have a mixture of lobed
and un-lobed are technically called palmata var. triloba - once a
different species, now just a variation of V. palmata.) Prefers
limey woods. Native to the Eastern US
Soil:
Well-drained, limey H: 4-6"
W: B/M: Blue violet/4-5
The lovely Bird's Foot Violet is quite different. It prefers full sun & an acid, sandy soil. Main bloom is in May but it continues to produce intermittently
until Fall. The finely divided, bird foot shaped foliage is attractive & gives it the name. Self seeds some. Combine peat & sand for soil.
Small but powerful violet -- striking heart-shaped leaves mottled with silver. Small pinkish purple flowers. 2-3". A treasure violet. Self seeds but is too
diminutive and charming for anybody to mind. Unlike most violets
that can be overlooked once they bloom, Sylvia Hart keeps holding your
attention with her variegated foliage. We got this many years
ago from the original owner of We-Du, Dick Weaver. Atypical Roots
Soil:
Moist but well-drained H:
3" W: Indef.
B/M: Purple/4-5
An
ornamental, strawberry-like plant grown as a groundcover. The
Eastern North American Native occurs on wooded slopes and ledges in
the Ozarks among other places. A mat-forming perennials which
spread by creeping rhizomes just below the soil surface and sports yellow blooms in
spring held above the foliage. Evergreen foliage tends to
bronze up in cold winter climates. This particular Waldsteinia
does best in northern climates with cool summers and dislikes the heat
and humidity of the deep South. (If you live in a hot spot, try
Waldsteinia ternata or W. geoides which tolerate heat, humidity and even
drought!)
From
Hungary, comes this delightful species of Waldsteinia. With
leaves like a Geum (geoides), palmate, 3-5 lobed, acutely toothed and
with yellow flowers that remind one a Potentilla verna. Much
larger leaves than our native species (below). Suggested by the U. of IL as a good groundcover for the
Mid-west. Impressive enough to be celebrated with
it's own stamp.
Soil:
Moist but well-drained
H: 6-8" W: Indef. B/M: Yellow/
Produces a thick, evergreen carpet which is covered in spring with yellow strawberry-like flowers. Excellent ground cover for a well-drained location. Plant 12" apart. Vigorous, stoloniferous and
evergreen. Drought tolerant when established. Unknown and terrific!
The best Waldsteinia for the heat and humidity of the south.
Long pointed leaves of gold and green. As the leaves mature, they weep. In summer elongated flower stalks rise from the center with fragrant, white bells. Gorgeous foliage that is gold in the center, green on the sides. Needs well-drained soil and best sited where there isn't strong wind. Y.
flaccida are almost stem less. Host Plant for the Cofaqui and Yucca
Skipper Butterfly Caterpillars.
Forms large clumps of semi-evergreen, glossy leaves to 12” long with crocus-like, glossy flowers 2” long in July-Fall. Flowers are pure white outside, tinged rose inside & are indescribable in mass. A short summer drought will promote heavier blooming. Fast! Naturalizes in areas that flood periodically. Non-native but naturalized in the Southeast.
Stunning
golden yellow 1" blooms appear periodically thru summer but
more abundantly in late summer. Beautiful in mass and growing
best in full sun, although Part Shade is ok in very hot areas.
AKA, Zephranthes citrina. *Reports
that it's hardy to zone 7 may be wrong. We saw it growing at
Missouri Botanical Garden which is zone 5 but possibly they dig them
up each year.
Soil: Most
any
H: 8-10" W: 12" B/M: Yellow/All
summer
The semi-evergreen clump of rounded, glossy green foliage makes 12" clumps. All summer, it's topped on and off, w/ beautiful 1" wide golden star-shaped flowers. Great en masse or as a feature in the rock garden. Performs best in moist or regular acidic garden soil... no lime please.
Can live in boggy conditions. From Argentina & Brazil.
Medium,
lilac pink 3" lilies bloom on and off all summer atop gray-green, grassy foliage.
Foliage is wider than in some species. Summer rains bring on a flush of bloom. A clump can
have up to 20 flowers open at once... absolutely spectacular. A
shocker when used in a mass planting!
Soil:
Moist but well-drained H: 12" W: 12-24"
B/M: Rose pink/
6-9
Seldom
seen in the trade. Pale lemon yellow blooming from July to
October (often after rains) and Native to a small area of Texas.
Grass-like leaves and long tubular blooms can reach 5" long BUT most
of that is the tube which then flares out at the tip. Recently
reclassified as Cooperia
jonesii
Soil:
Moist but well-drained H: 6" W:
10"
B/M: Golden Yellow/
7-10
An exquisite, pale pink Rain Lily that smothers itself w/ blooms! Needs well-drained soil but loves water in summer (it can even visit your pond in
summer!) Nestles in sweetly with other plants. It often blooms after a dry spell then rain. Won't tolerate soggy winter soil. Multiplies quickly. From 4000'
elevation in
Tamaulipas, Mexico.
A
beautiful pure white Rain Lily that showed up as a sport, mutation,
seedling in with our pink Z. 'Labruffarosea's. If you like
pure white blooms, it's much, much bigger than Z. candida.
Introduced
by Yucca Do, this selection is compact, has blooms at the same
height and have wide over-lapping petals with a picotee wash -- pure
white in the center and changing to dark pink at the tip of each
petal. It has a thick clump of glossy, strappy
leaves. Takes cute to a whole new level!
Soil:
Well-drained but moist H: 5"
W: B/M: White&pink/on and off after July
$8.99 Qt.
New 2010
Zephyranthes nymphaea
Rain Lily Zone: 7B-10
Few
plants are being discovered now -- far more becoming extinct BUT
this little charmer was discovered by Howard and Ogden in 1990.
Native to Eastern Mexico and found growing in Texas and Louisiana as
well, it's a vigorous species blooming with cup-shaped bright lemon
yellow blooms and with slender leaves. Long necked bulbs.
Soil:
Moist but well-drained H: 6-12" W:
3-6"
B/M: Pale lemon yellow /
7-10
A lovely, rare Rainlily from the Gulf of Mexico with 9" long dark
green strappy leaves topped throughout summer with light yellow
flowers backed pink-peach, most noticeable when in bud, on 10"
stems. Each bloom lasts for 2 days holding their color.
Grows well in most any soil - wet to very dry.
Soil: Most any H: 8" (10"IB) W:
B/M: Light Yellow/6-10
Native
to Mexico with average size light yellow blooms. While it
doesn't offset bulbs much, a large colony is still possible because
of abundant, possibly apomictic seed production. Thin foliage
to 12". Prefers some shade. Valles Yellow (often shown
as a cultivar name) is, in fact, the Common Name -- it's a town near
where the first clump was found in 1954. Rarely seen in
cultivation.
Soil: Moist but well drained
H: 12" W: B/M:
Yellow/6-10
Appearing
after rains (as they all do), with lemon yellow blooms and grasslike
leaves reaching 6" long and with very fine foliage. Found only
in Cameron County (Brownsville) Texas, it's extremely rare.
Probably a hybrid between Z. pulchella and Z. chlorosolen.
Recently classified as Cooperia smallii. Bright lemon yellow
blooms rades to ivory-yellow overnight so plant can present a two
bloom color appearance. EXTREMELY RARE!
Zizia aptera
(Zizea) Oval or Heart Leaf Golden Alexanders Zone: 3-8
An
unknown and wonderful native that prefers woodland conditions. This
native is seldom seem but perfect for the wildflower garden as it
gently self-seeds and is easy care. A member of the parsley family, but with undivided, semi-evergreen
leaves and delicate umbels of bright yellow flowers in early spring. Found
from New York to British Columbia south to Nevada and Georgia.
Hundreds of minute yellow flowers are clustered into umbels about 2-3
inches in diameter. A plant will typically have 5 or 6 such umbels.
Host plant for the Black Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar.
Zizia aurea (Zizea) Golden
Alexanders Zone: 3-8
if
moist
Delicate umbels of bright yellow flowers in the Spring over dark green dissected foliage. Woodland conditions or sun if moist. Causes digestive upset if consumed - so just look at this pretty thing - don't eat it!
This Native actually likes swampy or moist spot but does fine in
average soil in some shade. Zizia aurea is a food plant for the larvae
of the Missouri woodland Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio joanae). Host
plant for Black Swallowtail
butterfly caterpillars and also attracts Pearl Crescent, Eastern
tailed-blue, American Copper and Clouded Sulphur.
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on the
Plant Name for Large Photos (Lots of folks
still have dial up so this page only has small photos!)
American Native perennial with lance-shaped gray-green foliage that looks good all summer and pendulous bell-shaped,
1-2" lemon yellow flowers in late spring. Use in the border foreground or in masses as a groundcover. Deserves much wider popularity. Beautiful with ferns, Dicentra eximia or Trillium
erectum. Long-lived. Large yellow blooms.
"Perfoliata' refers to the way the stems 'seems' to pierce the
leaf in this woodland Native and makes it easy to identify this plant
along with tiny orange 'bumps' or granules inside the petals which
clenches the ID. It has gracefully twisted, 1" pendant
creamy yellow blooms in April and May.
Produces dainty, tubular pale yellow flowers in spring before the foliage
has completely reached it's full height. Delicate foliage is perfect with Trilliums or behind a planting of Labrador Violet. It's delicacy lightens heavy, somber plants. 
Tall leafy stems with dense clusters of tiny tube-shaped flowers. Forms a basal rosette of deeply divided leaves. AKA 'Garden Heliotrope' can be grown in the herb or wildflower garden or the perennial border in rich, moist soil. An
old-fashioned, cottage garden plant that CATS ARE WILD ABOUT. Short rhizomes.
A
short lived but self seeding Fall blooming Perennial that is
stunning in mass so you won't mind the self seeding. Oddly
enough, the seedlings are almost always stronger and more drought
tolerant than the original plants as if those that sprout and thrive
are the ones meant for that particular garden. Almost
leafless, tall wiry stems are deep green with domed heads of
lavender-purple that are very eye-catching. This is a superb
butterfly plant, rivaling even buddleia for their attention!
The Royal Horticultural Society has given it their prestigious
Award of Garden Merit and also the Missouri Botanical Gardens has
given it the Plants
of Merit Award in 2005. (there are only 50 and this is one!)
Besides
being beautiful, this native is a good nectar producer for
commercial honeybees. In native environments, it's often seen
in moist spots, will take occasional flooding but also is happy in
average garden conditions where it will be shorter. Often
called Smooth Ironweed because it's leaves, stems and blooms are
glabrous. Very attractive to Butterflies!
A
new selection of an Arkansas Native comes from Dr. Allan Armitage's
U. of GA trials. With lovely fine foliage (like Amsonia
hubrectii), it's compact, well-branched and a vigorous plant.
In late summer, with it relatives in the Genus, it's covered with
blooms -- in this case TRUE PURPLE flowers beloved by butterflies.
Found in rocky flood plains where the late reclusive Botanist George
W. Letterman lived and died in a one room cabin near St. Louis,
spending most of his time in the woods in search of rare plants and
trees. The species honors him. It's tolerant of dry, hot
conditions and yet will take occasional flooding but by in large
needs well-drained soil.
A
lovely late blooming East Coast Native, from Connecticut to Florida
for the back of the border. Varies wildly in height, based a lot
on available moisture in the soil. Intense rosy purple starry
flowers are a perfect compliment to other Fall bloomers. Lives
fine in a very wet spot and yet is drought tolerant and able to take
'lean', poorly fertilized soil. The name Ironweed comes from the
Iron colors seed but could just as easily describe it's strong
demeanor. Tough as iron! Self seeds if happy.
Slender flower spikes on thin stems surrounded by narrow, dark green, toothed leaves. Really DARK NAVY BLUE! Spectacular with white flowers. Exceptionally cold-hardy.
Happiest in sun but agrees to live in part shade. Prized for cutting.
A mound forming plant with upright to decumbent stems. Dense,
2-4" long racemes of intense gentian blue flowers, 1/2" across
and cup-shaped. Synonymous with
and sometimes sold as Veronica latifolia or Veronica teucrium.
A brand spanking new introduction from
Intrinsic Perennial Gardens. Selected for vigor and longevity in
the garden. Needs well-drained soil BUT is much less demanding
than others of the genus which almost needed gritty soil to survive.
Silver foliage to 12" in clumps that are topped by numerous 15" spikes
of vivid sky blue flower in July.
From
Turkey to the Caucasus, this vigorous, fast growing species that thrives
in difficult spots. It hugs the ground with it's round glossy,
evergreen leaves which root as they go, creating a lush, thick carpet that
can be used as a grass substitute! In spring, it puts forth spikes
of dazzling cobalt blue in such abundance you can barely see the
foliage! With adequate moisture, it will rebloom in
summer. Needs a bit of shade in warmer zones. 1997
Plant Select® Winner. Drought tolerant when established.
When
folks think of Veronicas, it's generally of V. spicata or Spiked Veronica
but for our money, we think the Veronica longifolia (Long Leaf
Speedwell) are definitely
contenders for a spot in your garden. One of the taller
species. It's also the best for cutting due to its very fat
spikes. The tips often nod or curl over a bit but that just makes it
more charming! Less well known but they shouldn't be!
'Blue Giant' is aptly named
and is just that -- a Veronica with Giant Blue blooms for most of the
season if deadheaded and with a giant structure! It's one of, if not the
best of the V. longifolias. Lance-shaped, light to grayish-green
leaves. Takes some shade but may then need to be staked.
Another
spectacular introduction from Intrinsic Perennials Gardens, named after
the owner's sister and selected for its unique fuchsia pink spike in
July on 24" stems above long narrow, deep green glossy foliage. No
staking needed for this tall Speedwell in sun but at some point in
shade, it may need some support. Tall, strong, dense clumps with
uniform height makes this just a stunner.
A furry little mat -- quite different from any other Veronica you've met!
Makes a great creeping groundcover, but not a bully -- easy to control. Or just a moderately spreading perennial. Saucer-shaped, white-eyed,
blue flowers are born on short stems. Dense enough to keep weeds at bay. Rare in the trade.. From Turkey and the Balkans.
Round blue flowers on low, bushy, spreading foliage. Good in the rockery or in the front of the border. Easy in good, well-drained soil which means raised beds here in the land of "Clay & More Clay"!
Dense, mat-forming perennial that has upright spikes of small, saucer-shaped flowers in early summer. Normally blue in the species, ours is more rosy pink. Foliage is narrowly oval and toothed.
Not
only do they grow some of the best Hellebores in the trade but Dick
and Judith Tyler of Pine Knot Farms introduced this delightful plant
and claim it to be one of their favorites. From humble
beginnings - a basic pack of V. repens seed - Judith selected an
eye-catching gold foliaged seedling. The flat-as-a-pancake
foliage looks very little like a Veronica. If you're lucky, the
occasional blue-purple spike pops up but this is primarily a foliage
plant for Sun or light shade. Doesn't like drought! Here's
the 
This
is a compact, clump-forming Speedwell with dense, vertical dark
violet-blue blooms tower above the foliage all summer. A cultivar
of V. spicata, it has improved heat tolerance over similar Veronica
'Sunny Border Blue' and is shorter. Very free flowering.
One of the most desirable summer-blooming plants. Forms a vase-shaped clumps above which rise beautiful showy spikes of pure white blooms. And it blooms from June to September! Superb
cut flower with neat grey-green leaves. Needs to be staked in shade or it flops.
A bushy spiked Veronica, that is
mat-forming but tall. More bushy than some spiked Veronicas with lateral racemes of dark violet flowers.
THIS IS HANDS DOWN, THE MOST BLOOMING VERONICA IN
THE TRADE and it seems to be our secret here in the US. Maybe
we have a special clone but it just never stops blooming -- was still
blooming in our unheated greenhouses in November. And we never have
time to deadhead, so it isn't because of that! If Veronica 'Sunny
Border Blue' was named 'Plant of the Year', this should be named Plant of
the Decade or Centaury! It has all the same tough, great
qualities of all the V. spicatas but 'Romiley Purple' is just a blooming
machine. Available all over Europe, it's virtually unavailable
here.
Spikes of deep rose-red flowers
(the closest to red but not quite) are held above dense narrow dark green leaves. Easy to grow in well-drained soil. Excellent for the front of the border. Divide every 3-4 years.
AKA
Veronica spicata x longifolia 'Glory'. A particularly compact
speedwell with racemes of dark violet-blue florets standing poker
straight from 12-18" tall above much shorter basal foliage.
Starts blooming in late June/early July and can bloom through October
if old fading blooms are removed periodically. It has the same
almost luminescent blooms as it's offspring 'Sunny Border Blue' but is
even more compact. Plant of the year for 2001.
1993 PERENNIAL PLANT OF THE YEAR and for good reason. Dark violet-blue flowers from JUNE TIL FROST on a compact plant with crinkled, lush foliage. Strong grower. Excellent. Like all veronicas, prized for cutting. Every garden should have this plant.
We bought this plant under this name and
it's FABULOUS but we really question the ID but at the same time, HIGHLY
recommend the plant. Stunning and long blooming, just of
questionable heritage! It doesn't appear to be a form of V.
subsessilis, maybe a hybrid with that and something else. A robust
plant has large ovate extremely glossy leaves with brilliant blue spikes
Dark
blue bloom over a dark green spreading mat of foliage from June through
August on this moderate to fast grower. Native to the
Western States and Canada, it can take it hot or cold! Not another
'spiked' speedwell -- but a charming, groundcover with bloom more like 'Waterperry
Blue', etc.
Intense blue flowers with dark veins, 3-4" trailing stems with shiny dark green to reddish bronze foliage. Used for rockeries, banks, or edging. Prefers sun but will take light shade. Very
floriferous. Dark-veined, purplish-blue flowers.
A
rare, little known form similar to our native Culver's Root that's
tall, easy to grow and very refined. The foliage - lovely
gray-green, deeply veined leaves are held horizontally and whorled
around the stem and lay the found for the many candelabra-lie, erect
spikes of lavender blue blooms in mid-summer. Flowering
side-shoots can extend the bloom period. This is a strong
grower and when grown in sun, needs no staking despite it's
eye-catching height. 
Think of this native as a heavy blooming 4-5' tall Veronica!
6-9" long flower spikes open slowly from the top down, making for a long period of bloom. Elegant, tough, reliable and spectacular enough to build a late summer border around. Perfect with Monardas & Phlox. 
Elegant late summer color. 40" plants with 15" racemes of Lilac-rose flowers in June-July. This is a color breakthrough over the old pale pink. Fabulous, beautiful, nothing quite like it -- really.
Needs moist or well-watered spot. The bloom color is nothing short of stunning!
Almost
iridescent in a soft, pleasant way. 
A
new twist on an old favorite -- this Periwinkle has gold foliage.
An introduction from Saul Brothers of Atlanta that's actually best
in well-watered, full sun but takes shade. New foliage is
bright gold maturing to green so at any given time, both leaf colors
are present
A
wonderful evergreen groundcover. More constrained in growth than
species with blue blooms. The white blooms are a nice change to a
well-known plant. Grows very low and flat
to the ground. Resembles Miss Jekells White. Hard to find in
the trade.
One of the nicest, most well-behaved of all the Native Violets. Blooms hard in spring, then sporadically
but consistently thereafter. White blooms have a purple blush to the back and a yellow throat. Moderately forms drifts by underground runners unlike many violets which become an absolute nuisance with seeding. In dry sites, plants may go dormant in summer.
Fantastically silvered and swirled and cut, this viola takes highest
honors in the foliage arena. Delicate white (sometimes lavender) flowers
are produced in mid spring but the leaves alone are simply splendid. A
showstopper in small containers. Delicious fragrance.
Outstanding, extremely rare, Japanese species with finely dissected foliage and good-size.
Stem less, to 4" when in flower, which are fragrant, petals pale rose or purplish, about 1" long, spur about 3/16" long. CHOICE, needless to say. Woodland conditions. Self seeds politely. 20 blooming plants perfumes a 100'
greenhouse when the sun is shining and the door is shut with an intoxicating lemony sweet smell. 
Upon
a quick glance, many people will actually think this is a
Cyclamen! The foliage is very similar. Compact and
vigorous with green leaves veined in silver-grey with rich maroon-red
undersides. Flowers with Mauve-Pink flowers in bloom but looks
great all season because of the striking foliage.
Beautiful species. Young leaves reddish purple, older leaves dark green, heavily overlaid with purple. Blue-purple
flowers. A stemmed violet with flowers arising from the leaf stem. Not a
berserk self-seeder! A RARE violet that will thread it's way gently through your garden. Native to the Northeast.
Loves to 'crawl around' the stream connecting our ponds.
While
the bloom is the typical lovely, large 3/4" violet bloom, the
distinctive feature of Viola palmata is it's leaves some of which are
cut or divided into 5-11 lobes. (Those that have a mixture of lobed
and un-lobed are technically called palmata var. triloba - once a
different species, now just a variation of V. palmata.) Prefers
limey woods. Native to the Eastern US
The lovely Bird's Foot Violet is quite different. It prefers full sun & an acid, sandy soil. Main bloom is in May but it continues to produce intermittently
until Fall. The finely divided, bird foot shaped foliage is attractive & gives it the name. Self seeds some. Combine peat & sand for soil. 
Small but powerful violet -- striking heart-shaped leaves mottled with silver. Small pinkish purple flowers. 2-3". A treasure violet. Self seeds but is too
diminutive and charming for anybody to mind. Unlike most violets
that can be overlooked once they bloom, Sylvia Hart keeps holding your
attention with her variegated foliage. We got this many years
ago from the original owner of We-Du, Dick Weaver. 
An
ornamental, strawberry-like plant grown as a groundcover. The
Eastern North American Native occurs on wooded slopes and ledges in
the Ozarks among other places. A mat-forming perennials which
spread by creeping rhizomes just below the soil surface and sports yellow blooms in
spring held above the foliage. Evergreen foliage tends to
bronze up in cold winter climates. This particular Waldsteinia
does best in northern climates with cool summers and dislikes the heat
and humidity of the deep South. (If you live in a hot spot, try
Waldsteinia ternata or W. geoides which tolerate heat, humidity and even
drought!) 
From
Hungary, comes this delightful species of Waldsteinia. With
leaves like a Geum (geoides), palmate, 3-5 lobed, acutely toothed and
with yellow flowers that remind one a Potentilla verna. Much
larger leaves than our native species (below). Suggested by the U. of IL as a good groundcover for the
Mid-west. Impressive enough to be celebrated with
it's own 
Produces a thick, evergreen carpet which is covered in spring with yellow strawberry-like flowers. Excellent ground cover for a well-drained location. Plant 12" apart. Vigorous, stoloniferous and
evergreen. Drought tolerant when established. Unknown and terrific!
The best Waldsteinia for the heat and humidity of the south.
Long pointed leaves of gold and green. As the leaves mature, they weep. In summer elongated flower stalks rise from the center with fragrant, white bells. Gorgeous foliage that is gold in the center, green on the sides. Needs well-drained soil and best sited where there isn't strong wind. Y.
flaccida are almost stem less. Host Plant for the Cofaqui and Yucca
Skipper Butterfly Caterpillars.
Forms large clumps of semi-evergreen, glossy leaves to 12” long with crocus-like, glossy flowers 2” long in July-Fall. Flowers are pure white outside, tinged rose inside & are indescribable in mass. A short summer drought will promote heavier blooming. Fast! Naturalizes in areas that flood periodically. Non-native but naturalized in the Southeast.
Stunning
golden yellow 1" blooms appear periodically thru summer but
more abundantly in late summer. Beautiful in mass and growing
best in full sun, although Part Shade is ok in very hot areas.
AKA, Zephranthes citrina. *Reports
that it's hardy to zone 7 may be wrong. We saw it growing at
Missouri Botanical Garden which is zone 5 but possibly they dig them
up each year.
The semi-evergreen clump of rounded, glossy green foliage makes 12" clumps. All summer, it's topped on and off, w/ beautiful 1" wide golden star-shaped flowers. Great en masse or as a feature in the rock garden. Performs best in moist or regular acidic garden soil... no lime please.
Can live in boggy conditions. From Argentina & Brazil.
Medium,
lilac pink 3" lilies bloom on and off all summer atop gray-green, grassy foliage.
Foliage is wider than in some species. Summer rains bring on a flush of bloom. A clump can
have up to 20 flowers open at once... absolutely spectacular. A
shocker when used in a mass planting! 
Seldom
seen in the trade. Pale lemon yellow blooming from July to
October (often after rains) and Native to a small area of Texas.
Grass-like leaves and long tubular blooms can reach 5" long BUT most
of that is the tube which then flares out at the tip. Recently
reclassified as 
An exquisite, pale pink Rain Lily that smothers itself w/ blooms! Needs well-drained soil but loves water in summer (it can even visit your pond in
summer!) Nestles in sweetly with other plants. It often blooms after a dry spell then rain. Won't tolerate soggy winter soil. Multiplies quickly. From 4000'
elevation in
Tamaulipas, Mexico.
A
beautiful pure white Rain Lily that showed up as a sport, mutation,
seedling in with our pink Z. 'Labruffarosea's. If you like
pure white blooms, it's much, much bigger than Z. candida.
Introduced
by Yucca Do, this selection is compact, has blooms at the same
height and have wide over-lapping petals with a picotee wash -- pure
white in the center and changing to dark pink at the tip of each
petal. It has a thick clump of glossy, strappy
leaves. Takes cute to a whole new level!
Few
plants are being discovered now -- far more becoming extinct BUT
this little charmer was discovered by Howard and Ogden in 1990.
Native to Eastern Mexico and found growing in Texas and Louisiana as
well, it's a vigorous species blooming with cup-shaped bright lemon
yellow blooms and with slender leaves. Long necked bulbs.
A lovely, rare Rainlily from the Gulf of Mexico with 9" long dark
green strappy leaves topped throughout summer with light yellow
flowers backed pink-peach, most noticeable when in bud, on 10"
stems. Each bloom lasts for 2 days holding their color.
Grows well in most any soil - wet to very dry.
Native
to Mexico with average size light yellow blooms. While it
doesn't offset bulbs much, a large colony is still possible because
of abundant, possibly apomictic seed production. Thin foliage
to 12". Prefers some shade. Valles Yellow (often shown
as a cultivar name) is, in fact, the Common Name -- it's a town near
where the first clump was found in 1954. Rarely seen in
cultivation.
Appearing
after rains (as they all do), with lemon yellow blooms and grasslike
leaves reaching 6" long and with very fine foliage. Found only
in Cameron County (Brownsville) Texas, it's extremely rare.
Probably a hybrid between Z. pulchella and Z. chlorosolen.
Recently classified as Cooperia smallii. Bright lemon yellow
blooms rades to ivory-yellow overnight so plant can present a two
bloom color appearance. EXTREMELY RARE!
An
unknown and wonderful native that prefers woodland conditions. This
native is seldom seem but perfect for the wildflower garden as it
gently self-seeds and is easy care. A member of the parsley family, but with undivided, semi-evergreen
leaves and delicate umbels of bright yellow flowers in early spring. Found
from New York to British Columbia south to Nevada and Georgia.
Hundreds of minute yellow flowers are clustered into umbels about 2-3
inches in diameter. A plant will typically have 5 or 6 such umbels.
Host plant for the Black Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar.
Delicate umbels of bright yellow flowers in the Spring over dark green dissected foliage. Woodland conditions or sun if moist. Causes digestive upset if consumed - so just look at this pretty thing - don't eat it!
This Native actually likes swampy or moist spot but does fine in
average soil in some shade. Zizia aurea is a food plant for the larvae
of the Missouri woodland Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio joanae). Host
plant for Black Swallowtail
butterfly caterpillars and also attracts Pearl Crescent, Eastern
tailed-blue, American Copper and Clouded Sulphur.
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