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Verbesina
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Verbesina microptera (Mexican Winged Crown-Beard)
Sun Zone: 7-9 120" tall Origin: Mexico alternate image
Web-Only!
Do you need something bold in your garden and can't afford a bronze of Dennis Rodman? Try a Mexican verbesina. This steroidal version of our small-stature US native was collected by Yucca Do in Mexico (coll #T72-75). After years of trials, we have been thrilled with its performance. Each 10' tall giant is composed of amazing, thick, green, heavily-winged stems that are clothed with 15" long mitten-like leaves...reason enough to grow this gem. In late October, these massive clumps are topped with 1' wide clusters of small, bright yellow daisies that are deliciously fragrant. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04731
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Vernonia
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Vernonia altissima 'Jonesboro Giant' (Jonesboro Giant Ironweed)
SunZone: 5-9, at least 144" tall Origin: USA alternate image
Web-Only!
Driving through Jonesboro, AR, in 2000, I spotted this selection of giant ironweed. Most of the clones had fallen over due to their height and flower head weight, but I finally spotted a clone that stayed wonderfully upright. Cuttings were taken, and we are pleased to report that it has also remained vertical in our garden trials. V. 'Jonesboro Giant' forms a clump of 10-12' tall stems, clothed in dark green leaves and topped with large clusters of dark purple flowers starting in mid-August. The giant clumps sway a bit in the breeze, but so does the Sears Tower. Warning lights may be required in some jurisdictions...please check local flight path maps. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06548
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Vernonia angustifolia 'Plum Peachy' (Narrow-leaf Ironweed)
SunZone: 5-8 48" tall Origin: USA
(aka: V. a. A2GA-003B) In 1998, I found this wonderful selection of the southeast native (NC to MS), Vernonia angustifolia, growing on a grit outcrop in Turner Co., GA. Despite being discovered and named by the famed plant explorer Andre Micheaux more than 200 years ago, it is surprisingly absent in horticulture. The robust 4' tall stalks of narrow, green amsonia-like leaves are topped, starting in late August, with 8" wide, branched, airy flower heads of dark purple flowers. This clone holds its large flower heads upright better than any others that we have trialed. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06206
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Veronica (Speedwell)
While this group of perennials is certainly well-represented in the horticultural world, we thought we would present some of the most unique and newer members of the group that also feature colored foliage, amazing flowers, and a good degree of heat tolerance...an important feature here in the Southeast US. We think you will be dazzled with our choices! |
Veronica 'Pacific Ocean' (Pacific Ocean Speedwell)
SunZone: 5-8a, at least 24" tall Origin: Hybrid
This new introduction from the Netherlands appeared and then disappeared equally as quickly from the wholesale market. Now that we have had time to trial the plants, we find them quite good, even in our typically anti-veronica heat and humidity. Now, it's time to share, so here they are...a 2' tall veronica that is clothed at the bottom half with rich green leaves and topped with long spikes of blue-violet flowers in May and June. We really like this plant and hope you will also. Is the Pacific Ocean really this color? If so, I think someone spilled something. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07384
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Veronica repens 'Sunshine' (Sunshine Dwarf Veronica)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7-9, possibly colder 1" tall Origin: Hybrid
This 1996 introduction from Dick and Judith Tyler of Pine Knot Farms is one of our favorite plants...and that's saying a lot. From a seed packet of V. repens, Judith selected this bright gold seedling. The flat...read my lips...carpet of tiny gold leaves resembles baby tears instead of a veronica. We have used V. 'Sunshine' as a groundcover in both sun and light shade as long as the soil doesn't get too dry...great for brightening an area. Occasional tiny purple spikes adorn the mat...you will love it! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01808
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Veronica umbrosa 'Georgia Blue' (Creeping Veronica)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 4-8, guessing 4" tall Origin: Europe, Asia
(aka: V. peduncularis) This exciting groundcover veronica was discovered in 1979 in the Republic of Georgia and named by England's Roy Lancaster. It was misidentified as V. peduncularis, due to an incorrectly identified Kew herbarium sheet. So, now you know the rest of the story. V. umbrosa 'Georgia Blue' features very small, dark-green, rounded foliage (glossy purple in winter) that lays flat on the ground, making a nice mat...not weedy. In late winter and early spring, February through April, the foliage is nearly hidden by an abundance of medium-blue flowers...very special for the spring garden...great planted with daffodils. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01170
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Vinca
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Vinca minor 'Illumination' PP 12,132 (Illumination Periwinkle)
Light Shade to ShadeZone: 4-8, at least 2" tall Origin: Europe, Asia
Web-Only!
We are pleased to present what we feel will be the most exciting new evergreen groundcover to hit the market in a decade. This stunning sport of the common V. minor was discovered by Christy Hensler of Washington and evaluated here at Plant Delights. Each brilliant golden leaf is surrounded by a contrasting, dark green edge...both colors hold all year long. For us, V. 'Illumination' has not proven to be aggressive, like most other cultivars of Vinca minor. Within a few years, you will still have a striking patch, topped in spring with typical blue-lavender flowers...you will LOVE it! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03419
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Viola
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Viola pedata (Birdfoot Violet)
SunZone: 4-8 4" tall Origin: USA
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This charming little native violet has birdfoot-like leaves and is topped in spring and early summer with charming little purple, violet-like flowers. Birdfoot violet prefers poor soils, and very dry sunny banks...even to the point of being very rocky. This is the only violet we will allow in our garden...a non weedy charmer! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #02324
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Viola pedata 'Eco Artist Palette' (Bird-foot Violet)
Sun to Part SunZone: 4-8 3" tall Origin: USA
This splendid selection of our US native Viola pedata comes from native plant pioneer, Dr. Don Jacobs of Decatur, GA. V. pedata 'Eco Artist Palette' makes a small clump (3" tall x 3" wide) composed of finely dissected leaves that resemble...what else, bird feet. The clumps are topped with pansy-like flowers in April/May, usually with some re-flowering in late summer/early fall. Unlike the typical blue flowers, this selection has two dark blue-purple upper petals, contrasting with three near-white lower petals. At home in a sunny, well-drained rock garden, this is the only viola species in an otherwise weedy genera that we allow in our garden. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07215
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Washingtonia
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Washingtonia filifera Dallas Form (Washington Palm)
SunZone: 8-10, at least 720" tall Origin: USA
Web-Only!
We are pleased to offer a limited number of the Southwest native Washingtonia filifera that was grown from seed collected from a mature specimen in Zone 8, Dallas, TX. The plant was "discovered" by Matthew Nichols of Dallas, who tells me that they have endured 11 degrees F with no damage. It is our hope that this could add a little more hardiness, since it has grown to fruiting size in a Zone 8 climate.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07923
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Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm)
SunZone: 9-10, at least 1000" tall Origin: Mexico
Web-Only!
This limited offering was grown from seed shared with us by palm guru Hayes Jackson of Anniston, AL. Hayes got these seed from a plant of the northern Mexico native Washingtonia robusta (normally the less hardy Washingtonia) growing in the Florida panhandle Zone 8a town of Marianna. Hayes says there is a possibility these have some W. filifera blood. If you are an experimental gardener, don't wait. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07771
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Wollemia
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Wollemia nobilis (Wollemi Fir)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-10, at least 1200" tall Origin: Australia
It's still fairly common in botanical circles to discover new species...at least, small annuals and perennials. What David Noble found in 1994, growing on steep sandstone cliffs of the Wollemi National Forest northwest of Sydney, Australia, is anything but normal. This Norfolk island pine relative had been hiding for nearly 2 million years, but not any longer! The dark green plastic-like foliage emerges glaucous and adorns the trees that can reach 100' at maturity. So far, they have proven to be easy to grow, surviving both 15 degrees F and 106 degrees F in the ground at Plant Delights. Further north, I can see container specimens decorated for Christmas with seasonal dinosaur ornaments. If you'd like the opportunity to grow a true living fossil, don't delay. Pot size: 2 qt. (1.892 L) #07951
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Woodsia
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Woodsia obtusa (Blunt Lobed Wood Fern)
Sun to Part SunZone: 3-10 10" tall Origin: USA alternate image
Web-Only!
This small, easy-to-grow American native is found growing in both acidic and alkaline soils on rock ledges and cliffs in the eastern US. The slowly creeping rhizomes make a nice, compact, 18" wide mound for filling spaces in the woodland garden. The fronds are deeply cut, presenting a very nice lacy appearance. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03812
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Woodsia scopulina var appalachiana (Eastern Alpine Fern)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 3-8 8" tall Origin: USA
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(syn: W. appalachiana) From WV west to OK, the rare east coast subspecies of W. scopulina can occasionally be found in rocky crevices and adjacent rocky cliffs. We thought we would save you the trouble of trying to find your own. The small, upright, 8" tall deciduous clumps of light green upright fronds are perfect for a woodland rock garden.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07580
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Woodwardia
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Woodwardia orientalis (Oriental Chain Fern)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 8-10, at least 48" tall Origin: China, Japan
This large evergreen fern is perfect for adding a touch of the tropics to your temperate garden. Hailing from Japan and China, Woodwardia orientalis can be found growing on moist hillsides. Although slow to reach mature size, W. orientalis will eventually reach 4' tall x 6' wide when happy, so leave some room...or keep your fern depressed. When the plants mature, the glossy fronds are topped with small plantlets, which can be removed and planted around the garden...self propagation at its finest.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06019
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Woodwardia virginica (Virginia Chain Fern)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 4-9, at least 18" tall Origin: USA
This wonderful US native, from ME to TX, is strangely missing from gardens despite being a great, easy-to-grow garden specimen. W. virginica is usually found in bogs...often in very acidic, mucky soils, but we have found it quite adaptable in our dry sand. W. virginica has a long, creeping, deciduous rhizome that is topped during the growing season with vertical black stipes and upright 18" green fronds that often emerge coppery red. W. virginica is a nice spreader, but nothing like the weedy bracken fern. Our 5-year-old patches are 4' wide. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04891
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| <Verbena] | [Yucca - Zantedeschia> |
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