Available 6-20-2013 Several years ago we had a green mutation on our clump of Bambusa 'Alphonse Karr' which, when planted on its own, grew to Sasquatch proportions (25' tall x 8' wide at the base). Our original clump is now 9 years old and, although we see some tip damage at 14 degrees F, it has much better winter hardiness than the other Bambusa multiplex cultivars we grow and doesn't die to the ground like Bambusa 'Alphonse Karr' at the same temperatures. Our largest canes are already over 1" diameter. Although it doesn't run, Bambusa 'Green Giant' still takes up plenty of space...so locate it correctly. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
No muss, no fuss, no trouble! We have long experimented with this heat-loving, deer-resistant, clumping bamboo and still find it strangely underused in southeastern gardens. Bambusa multiplex 'Riviereorum' is a 10' clumper that dies back to the ground at 8 degrees F, but returns late the next summer when the heat builds. In colder climates, Bambusa multiplex 'Riviereorum' can be grown as an ornamental grass and cut to the ground in early spring. When winter temperatures stay above 15 degrees F, the stems will remain green and the leaves evergreen. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Baptisia australis is an easy-to-grow, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant North American native that is always a perennial favorite (pardon the pun) for the border or the wild garden. This native has upright stems clothed with peanut-like, trifoliate (three-lobed), blue-green, waxy foliage on a clump that can easily cover an area 3' wide. In early spring before the clump bulks up, the awesome blue lupine-like flower racemes are held atop the foliage. Baptisia australis was selected by the Royal Horticultural Society as one of their top 200 plants of the last 200 years...quite an honor. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Baptisia 'Blueberry Sundae' is a 2012 release from the breeding work of Walters Gardens' Hans Hansen that includes both North American natives Baptisia australis and the more compact Baptisia minor. Baptisia 'Blueberry Sundae' makes a refined 3' tall x 3' wide clump, topped in late April (NC) with 3' tall spikes of lavender blue flowers...a much improved Baptisia australis look-alike. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We are thrilled to be able to offer this 2002 introduction from the late Rob Gardner. Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight' was discovered by Rob as a random seedling at the NC Botanical Garden. This cross of North American natives Baptisia sphaerocarpa and Baptisia alba produces a vigorous, easy-to-grow, deer-resistant, 3' wide garden specimen of blue-green foliage. Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight' is topped in late spring with stunning 18" spikes of soft buttery-yellow flowers. This great lupine substitute is long-lived, heat-loving, and drought-tolerant...you can't say the same for true lupines! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This 2011 Hans Hansen introduction makes a well-branched 3' tall x 3' wide clump, topped in late April (NC) with flower stalks adorned with dark mahogany buds that open to cinnamon colored flowers, highlighted by yellow keels. As with all baptisia, its drought tolerance and deer-resistance are legendary. This is a wonderfully vigorous hybrid that you're sure to enjoy. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
If you thought you'd seen it all...think again. This Hans Hansen selection is a real hussy...so much so, that we aren't sure who was involved in the blessed event, but we've put Baptisia cinerea down as a distant relative. This unusual baptisia makes a compact deer-resistant clump to 28" tall x 38" wide, topped in spring with 12-15" stalks of chocolate flowers that emerge upright, then angle downward as they age. Plant Baptisia 'Chocolate Chip' near Berlandiera (chocolate flower) for a flavorful garden moment...no carbs! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This compact 2011 Hans Hansen introduction (a Baptisia minor hybrid) forms a 30" tall x 2' wide clump topped in late April (NC) with spikes of black-purple buds that mature to brown...the darkest flower of any baptisia so far. Baptisia 'Dutch Chocolate' is an amazing color breakthrough in this wonderful group of US native, deer-resistant, drought-tolerant perennials. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' is a yummy 2011 Hans Hansen hybrid that forms a 3' tall x 3' wide vigorous clump, topped with dark purple spikes and adorned with contrasting large dark yellow flowers. You'll love this very vigorous, attractive selection for its beauty, drought-tolerance, deer-resistance, and overall durability. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' is a 1996 introduction, selected by the late NC Botanical Garden curator, Rob Gardner, from seedling at the garden. 'Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' is a cross of the North American native Baptisia minor var. aberrans (not Baptisia australis as is often printed) and a wandering Baptisia alba...obviously, some unsafe plant sex had taken place. The result is an extremely vigorous, deer-resistant baptisia with charcoal-green stems (when mature) and dozens of giant lupine-like flower heads of dusty purple. You will grow to love the outstanding Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' more each year as the clump matures...SUPERB! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Bauhinia yunnanensis hails from up to 6,000' elevation in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. The deciduous semi-vining Bauhinia yunnanensis emerges in late spring, producing long willowy branches to 15'-20' long. It's very possible that this will get much larger in warmer climates, so allow plenty of room. Each branch produces short tendrils designed for climbing, so a trellis or nearby sturdy woody plant would make a great display background. Starting in late August and continuing until frost, the branches are adorned with 1.5" wide, pale pink, orchid-like flowers, each highlighted by a purple central streak. We have grown this in the garden since 2004 and found it to be one of only two bauhinia species winter hardy to single digit F temperatures. We originally offered this as Bauhinia bohniana. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Very cute, but what's a beesia? Imagine taking an asarum and gluing tiny cimicifuga flowers on top and you've got the idea. This little-known cimicifuga relative hails from moist meadows and woodlands in the southwestern China provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, and Yunnan. The 8" tall x 1' wide rosettes are composed of dark, glossy green (maroon in winter) heart-shaped leaves, each highlighted by attractive lighter veins. The Beesia calthifolia clumps are topped in spring with slender 10" tall purple spikes adorned with tiny white flowers...not for the pansy crowd. We have found these very easy to grow in slightly moist, rich woodland soil. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Thanks to begoniaphile Rekha Morris for sharing this begonia that she found in the garden of...yes, Barbara Rogers of Anderson, South Carolina. Barbara has tracked this back to Norfolk, Virginia, but the trail runs cold there. The dark green foliage of Begonia 'Barbara Rogers' adorns the upright stems to 3' tall, although Rekha tells me they can reach 5' tall. From early summer until fall, the 3' wide clumps are adorned with large white flowers that attract hummingbirds. We have been unable to determine the parentage, although it undoubtedly shares some Begonia x semperflorens parentage...very cool! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Seeing these great tuberous begonias hanging from the cliffs in northern Argentina as we drove along in 2002 was, indeed, an incredible experience. The arching stems form a 2' wide clump and are clothed in pointed angel-wing type leaves. At the end of each stem are amazing 2" long bright orange-red bells...a hummingbird delight. In our shaded garden, these have performed wonderfully, drawing raves from all who pass by. Begonia boliviensis does not emerge from dormancy until June, so chill out. In colder zones, this is an amazing pot or basket plant. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This Heronswood introduction was made from wild-collected seed from Dan Hinkley's 1997 expedition to Japan. While the triangular green foliage on the 15" clump is similar to the species, it is the huge and excessively large flower clusters of deep pink that make this a unique selection. For us, Begonia 'Heron's Pirouette' begins flowering in June and continues treating hummingbirds non-stop until fall. As with the species, Begonia 'Heron's Pirouette' reproduces true from axillary bulbils, so you'll soon have plenty to share. Very easy and very nice! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This wonderful begonia was first discovered in Mexico in the 1830s, with the specific epithet referring to the leaves resembling the genus heracleum. Each 2' tall x 4' wide tightly rhizomatous clump is composed of 15" wide x 1' long maple-shaped leaves of medium green surrounded by a contrasting wide black-green border and held at the end of red-speckled leaf petioles. The common variety name "nigricans" should be used instead as a cultivar, since this represents a single clone and not a distinct natural variety. So far this has proved reliably hardy to 15 degrees F...a stunning garden specimen! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Available 6-13-2013We are in love with this amazing hardy begonia, which hails from up to 5,000' elevation in the Chinese provinces of Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, and Sichuan. Our oldest clumps of the rhizomatous Begonia pedatifida are now 18" tall x 3' wide. Each clump is composed of large 1' long deeply-lobed leaves. The stalks of large pink flowers from summer through fall are obscured by the foliage. We have found this to grow best in fairly moist, but well-drained organically rich soils. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Begonia U-358) This wonderful begonia is a D. Miller collection from Malaysia, which makes it all the more surprising that is has overwintered here into the upper teens F. For us, it makes a 18" tall x 18" wide rhizomatous clump of silver foliage with a wide red back. The light pink flowers are nice, but nothing compared to the great foliage. In colder climates, Begonia 'Pewterware' makes a superb houseplant or mixed container specimen. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This 1999 Dan Hinkley Taiwan hardy begonia collection hails from 6,000' in the Taipingshan region. In the garden, Begonia x chungii makes a small 1' tall x 1' wide clump of narrowly-lobed, pointed, rough green leaves, topped from early summer until fall with small spikes of light pink flowers...very quaint and attractive to hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Iris chinensis) I first saw this amazing irid in 2010 when I was visiting the Atlanta Botanic Garden. Evidently a plant vendor years earlier had offered what appeared to be a cross of Belamcanda 'Hello Yellow', and the taller orange form of Belamcanda chinensis. We were so impressed after growing this in our home gardens, that we felt it worthy of a name, and Belamcanda 'Gone with the Wind' was born. Belamcanda 'Gone with the Wind' produces 5' tall (6'-7' is possible in part sun) spikes with terminal clusters of lightly speckled butterscotch yellow flowers starting in early July and ending in October (NC) with branched clusters of seed heads that resemble blackberries. Frankly, my dear, we think you'll really like this! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
