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A really tall perennial, hardy to zone 4 or colder. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Erect habit, colonizing mainly by forming a very tight clump. Moderately quick-growing and of long lifespan. Height: to 3-6', and 1½' wide. Native to parts of Asia: Japan/ China/ Siberia. An excellent, stately autumn plant that should be in every garden. Strong-stemmed, much branched. May self seed depending on the winter. Taller in full sun. Almost unknown in NAm but is a popular and widely used plant in China, Japan, and Korea as a commercial cut flower plant for its bright yellow long-lasting blooms important in the florist industry. Along with the chrysanthemum, it is one of the five famous flowers of autumn in China. Flowers can apparently be dried for winter use also. The first plants in NAm seem to have come from a 1985 Korean botanical expedition - from a collection on the Taean Peninsula on Korea's west coast on low hills overlooking the Yellow Sea. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: most any fertile mildly acidic, reliably moist but well-drained. Naturally occuring in steppes and grasslands, hills and mountains. If too much shade, no flowering stem will grow. Dense, compact foliage, coarse. Small fragrant flowers are borne in a large Umbel for 2 months all autumn. Flower colour: golden yellow. Flowers white to yellow in the species. Airy flower groups like stretched yarrow. Umbels compound. Quite excellent. Plants in some shade flower later and longer than in full sun. Honey-scented. Some uses: Borders and Beds, in Shrubbery, Specimens, Cut Flowers, Dried Flowers, attracting Beneficial Insects, Naturalizing Meadows.
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... Common names: Pale Beard Tongue. A low perennial, hardy to zone 3. Of Upright habit, colonizing mainly by forming a very tight clump. Height: to 16". Native to NAm: most of eastern US north of Florida and into Ont/ Quebec/ NB. Many Penstemons are mountain-dwellers and can be difficult in the Maritimes, so this species is of interest for its wide range and presumably better adaptability. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: gritty or gravelly, well-drained, moist to dry-ish. Naturally occurs in dry harsh places, open rocky woods and glades, ledges of bluffs, prairies, and along railroads. Small flowers are borne as a moderate Cyme, usually white, marked with lavender lines. Some uses: Borders and Beds, Dry Walls, Edgings, Rock Gardens, Hummingbirds, Naturalizing.
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synonyms Polygonum polymorphum... Common names: Mountain Fleece Flower; Snakeweed. A really tall perennial, hardy to zone 4(3?). Of Upright habit, colonizing mainly by forming a very tight clump. Vigorous, fast-growing. Height: to 4'+, and 3' wide. A strong landscape plant. Foliage to 3' high. Statuesque, showy, non-invasive; strong red stems topped by creamy- white flowers, astilbe-like in general appearance, in mid summer. The overall appearance is like that of a large shrub. When well-grown numerous stems slant out from the crown. Recommended site: part shade to sun. Soil: fertile, loamy, reliably moist but not wet. Prefers a moisture-retentive soil that is not too fertile. Dense, compact foliage, coarse. Small flowers are borne as a moderate Panicle for 2 months in late summer. Feathery masses of long white flower plumes. Numerous secondary panicles per stem make for an extended bloom period. Some uses: Accent, Borders and Beds, Specimens, Mass Planting, Screen or Hedge or Windbreak.
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also known as Tovara virginiana.. Common names: Fleece Flower; Snakeweed. A mid-height perennial, hardy to zone 4. Of upright habit, colonizing mainly by moderately creeping rootstocks. Vigorous, fast-growing . Height: to 1.5ft, and 2 ft wide. Species native to Asia: Japan/ Korea; seems to have naturalized in parts of the USA. May be sprawling rather than upright depending on conditions. A very different and distinctive foliage plant for the shade. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: fertile, reliably moist but well-drained especially in winter. Easy to grow. Fairly drought tolerant once established. Foliage of the seed parent and so far all seedlings is well marked with splashes of white, pink, red. 3in long. Tiny bright red to coral pink flowers are borne on a long threadlike non-upright Spike in late summer. Some uses: in Shrubbery, Foliage, Mass Planting, Naturalizing Woodlands.
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also known as Phlox decusata.. Common names: Border Phlox; (Tall) Summer Phlox; Perennial Phlox; Garden Phlox; Hardy Phlox. A really tall perennial, hardy to zone 4 or colder. Of Upright habit, colonizing mainly by slowly creeping rootstocks. Vigorous, fast-growing. Height: to 3.5ft. Species native to NAm: New York/ Iowa/ Georgia. Occasional short-term garden escapes in NS. Excellent late summer colour for open sunny beds. This cultivar has high resistance to powdery mildew. Recommended site: sun or light shade. Soil: very rich loam, largely organic, reliably moist but well-drained especially in winter. Deep soil. Susceptible to mildew, rust and red spider. Combat these by keeping well-watered in summer, and siteing in an open location with good air circulation. Also unfortunately of interest to deer. Good-sized fragrant pure white flowers are borne in a large cluster for a month in late summer. Some uses: Borders and Beds, Mass Planting, Cut Flowers.
Like the above but a bit shorter (2.5 ft) and with flowers of lilac pink, dark eye, pale margin.
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... Common names: Moss Phlox; Moss Pink; Creeping Phlox (but isn't); Ground Phlox; Ground Pink. Low perennials, hardy to zone 2. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Prostrate habit, colonizing mainly by rooting along the stems. Slow-growing and of long lifespan. Height: to 6-12", and 1' wide. Species native to E USA: New York/ Michigan/ New England. A rare garden escape in central NS. Recommended site: sun or light shade. Soil: rich, normal, sandy loam, reliably moist but well-drained. Dense, compact needley foliage, very fine. Usually evergreen. Small usually unscented light blue flowers are borne in a small cluster for a month in late spring. 5-petalled. Usually very floriferous. Some uses: Dry Walls, Edgings, Groundcover, Mass Planting, Alpine or Scree garden, Rock Gardens, Steep Banks, Naturalizing, Good between paving stones.
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... Common names: Virginia False Dragonhead; Obedient Plant; False Dragonhead. A tall perennial, hardy to zone 2. Low Maintenance in a proper site. Of Upright habit, colonizing mainly by moderately creeping rootstocks. Vigorous, fast-growing and of long lifespan. Height: to 2-4', and 1½' wide. Native to E NAm: Quebec/ Minnesota/ Missouri/ Tennessee/ N Carolina. Plants forming fairly dense stands (stems up to a few inches apart) to several metres across when happy; tries to be slowly invasive (but controllably, here). Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: fertile to good, loamy. Naturally occuring on river banks, in damp scrub and wet meadows. Tolerant of a wide range of conditions. Naturally occurring in low marshy places. Winter drainage may not be an issue. Floppy in rich soils, short and non-aggressive in dry sites. Dense, compact foliage. Small white flowers are borne on a moderate-size Spike for 2 months in autumn. Flowers like small snapdragons; spikes densely packed. Still some blooming in November some years. Some uses: Borders and Beds, Mass Planting, Cut Flowers, Wildflower, Naturalizing. Flower/ stem joint can be bent on the horizontal axis and will retain new shape (hence 'obedient'). The white form apparently may be more or less vigorous than the normal pink-flowered plants, depending on the site and conditions; for me the white is less vigorous, but others have told me the opposite.
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As above, but with pink flowers. Height: to 2-4ft.
... Common names: Balloon Flower; Chinese Bellflower. A low to mid-height perennial, hardy to zone 5 or colder. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Upright habit, colonizing mainly by forming a very tight clump. Slow-growing and of very long lifespan. Height: to 3½', and 1' wide. Native to all of Japan, Korea, N and W China and E Siberia. Showy and hardy. Easily grown. Recommended site: sun or light shade. Soil: fertile, mildly acidic, light, sandy loam, reliably moist but well-drained. Naturally occurring on grassy slopes of hills and mountains. Resent root disturbance once established. Thick tap-root; cannot tolerate wet ground. May be floppy in too much shade. Otherwise tough and fairly adaptable. Pink varieties fade in full sun though. Spring growth starts late (sometimes not til July!); mark and do not disturb; young shoots are brittle! Some of my plants have gotten past this hazard by growing quite happily with the crown completely exposed and about 1/2" above the ground. This has happened through run-off erosion and I haven't reburried them because there seems to be no problem with the situation; note however that these are in an area where the crowns are not sitting out in the baking sun but are shaded in spring by weed stubble and high trees. Large flowers are borne as a small Cyme for a month in late summer. Unopened buds resemble wee balloons. Some uses: Borders and Beds, Specimens, Cut Flowers.
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Height: to 2½'; nice form. Flowers of this strain are double, with 2 sets of 4 or 5 petals.
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synonyms Podophyllum emodii... Common names: Himalayan Mayapple. A low perennial, hardy to zone 3 or colder. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Upright habit, colonizing mainly by slowly creeping rootstocks. Slow-growing and of long lifespan. Height: to 10-12", and 18" wide. Native to Asia: NE Afghanistan east to C China. Unique. These are now mature plants (in their 5th year) and a number of them have flowered. Much superior as ornamentals for smaller areas than the more rampant native NAmerican Podophyllum. Recommended site: open shade. Soil: fertile, acidic, peaty, largely organic, reliably moist but well-drained. Naturally occurring in scrub, forest and alpine meadows at 2000-3500 m elevation. Easy if proper care is taken in providing proper soil. Foliage deep green; coarse. Large lobed leaves to 10" across, serrated. Some may be patterned with red/purple (fading to green later in summer); so far this seed batch hasn't displayed this characteristic but I can't remember if it shows up in small seedlings or develops later on. Grand, especially when opening (like little parasols)! Good-sized flowers are borne as individuals for a few weeks in late spring. Flower colour: usually pink, varying to white or reddish pink. Flowers before leaves mature, and carried above the leaf in this species. Attractive large glossy bright red fruit forms in fall. Some uses: Borders and Beds, Edgings, Foliage, Alpine or Scree garden, Rock Gardens, Berries or Fruit, Naturalizing Woodlands. Plants may come with labels numbered 1360A or 1360B, essentially the same but from different seed collection points.
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As above, but should have white flowers.
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... Common names: Drumstick Primrose; Drumstick Primula; Himalayan Primrose. A low perennial, hardy to USDA Zone 3. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Erect habit, colonizing mainly by forming a very tight clump. Slow-growing and of long lifespan. Height: to 6-12in, and 1ft wide. Native to Afghanistan/ Bhutan/ SE Xizang. Marvelous in bloom, and the easiest of the Primulas. Mature clumps will send up well over a dozen flowering stems. Recommended site: sun to part shade. Soil: fertile, peaty, largely organic loam, reliably moist but well-drained. Naturally occuring in scrub and on open grassy slopes, not always by water. Probably most drought-tolerant of primulas. Best with high shade, year-round mulch, deep watering during dry periods. Small fragrant flowers are borne in a large Umbel for a month very early in spring. Flowers pale lilac, dense spherical umbel to 3in diameter, blooming while leaves are still developing, on a thick stalk. One of the earliest Primulae to bloom here. Some uses: Edgings, Mass Planting, Rock Gardens, Waterside, Naturalizing.
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formerly named Anemone pulsatilla... Common names: Pasque Flower; European Pasque Flower. A low perennial, hardy to USDA Zone 3 or colder. LOW MAINTENANCE. Of Tufted habit, colonizing mainly by forming a very tight clump. Slow-growing and of long lifespan. Height: to 6-10in, and 1ft wide. Native to Europe: England/ S Sweden/ Finland/ Ukraine. A truly marvelous and eye-catching spring flower with a good show of foliage and seedheads through the summer. Recommended site: sun. Soil: rich, mildly alkaline, largely organic loam, well-drained, moist to dry-ish. Naturally occuring in dry grasslands, often on chalky soils. Probably best in full sun. Deep-rooted, resent transplanting once established. I have made no effort to modify the pH of the soil mine are growing well in, so they can't be overly fussy. Dense, compact foliage, very fine. Large purple-violet flowers are borne as individuals for 2 months very early in spring. Very showy, cupped; emerge with the leaves. Prominent bright yellow stamens. Wonderful fuzzy/ feathery seedheads. Some uses: Edgings, Alpine or Scree garden, Rock Gardens, Steep Banks, Naturalizing Meadows.
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White-flowered form of the above. Not as vigorous as the normal purple species.
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