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Belamcanda
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Belamcanda chinensis 'Hello Yellow' (Dwarf Blackberry Lily)
Sun to Light Shade Zone: 5-9 10" tall Origin: Japan
(aka: I. domestica, B. flabellata 'Hello Yellow') This easy-to-grow dwarf blackberry lily is one of those adorable plants you can't help but love. This iris relative looks more like a dwarf gladiolus in foliage, until it is topped in July with 20" tall spikes of 1" round, buttery yellow flowers, followed by blackberry-like seed pods...a truly great plant for the border or a knockout in a mass planting! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #00867
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Bergenia (Winter Begonia)
While bergenias are quite common in the cooler climates, where they are renowned for their tropical appearance in the woodland garden, their intolerance for heat has left a void in warmer climates. After years of trials, we are able to offer several bergenias that will tolerate both the ravages of a real winter while tolerating the heat and humidity of a real summer. |
Bergenia 'Herbstblute' (Fall Glow Pig Squeak)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 3-7 6" tall Origin: China
Open House/Web-Only!
Bergenia 'Herbstblute' (probably a selection of B. cordifolia) is one of the few bergenias that has taken a likin' to our hot, humid summers. B. 'Herbstblute', which means "fall glow," refers to the re-bloom on this hybrid from Germany's Anne Eskuche. The glossy dark green 6" round leaves, about the size and shape of Barack Obama's ears, form a 2' wide flat basal rosette, topped in mid-March and again sporadically through summer and fall with 8" tall stalks of light pink flowers. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08192
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Berlandiera
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Berlandiera subacaulis (Florida Chocolate Flower)
SunZone: 8-9, at least 10" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
If you've got full sun and good drainage, then we've got a plant for you. Berlandiera subacaulis is the southern equivalent of the more common chocolate flower, B. lyrata. B. subacaulis makes a 2' wide clump of cutleaf grey-green foliage. Starting in early May and continuing most of the summer, the clumps are smothered (much more than B. lyrata) with 1.5" yellow daisies that perfume the air with the fragrance of milk chocolate. This Florida Panhandle endemic has no tolerance for poorly drained soils. In more northerly climates, B. subacaulis is superb for summer containers. Best of all, no calories! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06144
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Beschorneria (False Red Yucca)
While the most common species B. yuccoides, used in mild U.K. gardens, has not proven winter-hardy, many of the new species coming from higher elevations in Mexico have been fantastic in our trials. They are mostly evergreen, but some do become deciduous when our winter temperatures drop into the single digits. These light shade/part-sun loving, soft-leaved agave relatives are not only easy-to-grow, but produce some of the most unique flower spikes on any plants that we have grown...very Christmas-like.
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Beschorneria 'Ding Dong' (Ding Dong False Red Agave)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7-10 85" tall Origin: Mexico alternate image
Open House/Web-Only!
From our variable seed batches of Beschorneria decosteriana x septentrionalis, we made this selection in 2002 for its truly huge proportions. Beschorneria 'Ding Dong' forms a massive, thick, green, sandpaper-like rosette to 3' wide. On mature clumps, the flowering spike emerges in spring like a giant phallic asparagus shoot. As the shoot tops 7' tall, it begins to turn bright red and branch outward. On each branch, the fascinating bell-shaped flowers of red and green begin to open over the next few weeks. I don't know much about things from Venus, but this plant must be from Mars. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05128
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Beschorneria septentrionalis coll. #YD33-12 (Great Plant With Really Bad Name)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7b-10, at least 20" tall Origin: Mexico alternate image
Open House/Web-Only!
This little-known agave relative, named in 1987, makes a truly superb and unusual garden plant. Growing in shade all alone in the Mexican mountains at Tamaulipas, this poor plant simply needed a loving home...and that occurred, thanks to a 1991 seed collection by John Fairey of Peckerwood Gardens. The glossy, evergreen rosette (no spines) makes an attractive clump to 3' wide. After it is well established, you will enjoy the 5' tall, glossy, red flower spikes that are adorned with lovely reddish bells with green tips in March/April...sounds perfect for an early Christmas! This Yucca Do collection #33-12 is made from the northern limit of the natural range. In hot Texas climates, afternoon shade is best. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #02704
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Biarum
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Biarum tenuifolium (Narrow leaf Half Arum)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7-8, at least 6" tall Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Open House/Web-Only!
This strange little Mediterranean geophyte is right out of "Honey, I Shrunk the Arums." One of the easiest species to cultivate in the garden, B. tenuifolium starts growing in late summer/early fall with a bizarre 3" tall inflorescence (all the floral stuff). The inflorescence consists of a short black hood housing a extraordinarily well-endowed spadix (a "long dong"), although it smells like long dung. The 6" long narrow green ruffled leaves emerge in late winter and go dormant by early summer. If you find arums too large, petunias too showy, and you enjoy the smell of rotten meat, biarums are for you! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07370
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Bletilla (Hardy Orchid)
Of all of the terrestrial orchids, none are easier to grow than bletillas. These durable and hardy spring-flowering orchids prefer a slightly moist or rich garden soil. About the only thing they don't like is bone-dry soil and full sun. If you have always thought orchids were difficult to grow, give a bletilla a try.
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Bletilla ochracea 'Chinese Butterfly' Strain (Chinese Butterfly Hardy Orchid)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7b-8, at least 20" tall Origin: China
One of the real treasures in the genus bletilla is the Chinese B. ochracea. Although not as winter hardy as its cousin B. striata, it more than makes up for this with its stunning jewel-like flowers. The 20" wispy flower stalks emerge from below ground pseudobulbs, and top the iris-like pleated leaves in June. Each flower stalk is topped with 3-5 small, creamy yellow flowers, each highlighted with a purple and yellow speckled lip. B. ochracea is a slow grower, more finicky than B. striata...moist rich soil and morning sun or high filtered light shade are best. This is a particularly vigorous, precocious flowering seed strain introduced by Linda Guy of Carolina Nursery. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08155
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Bletilla striata 'Albostriata' (Striped Hardy Orchid)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-9 15" tall Origin: E. Asia
Bletilla striata 'Albostriata' is one of the rarer white-edged forms of the commonly grown ground orchid. Two opposite iris-like pleated leaves emerge from each pseudobulb in early spring. As the leaves emerge, the narrow flower spike arises through the center and then opens a few inches above the foliage. The flowers are rich purple in early spring, April for us. Moist soils are best. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01859
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Bletilla striata 'Kuchibeni' (Purple Lip Hardy Orchid)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-10 15" tall Origin: E. Asia
This hard to find but easy-to-grow cultivar from Japan is distinguished by its two-tone flowers. The upper part of the flower is white, while the lip is a contrasting purple. The foliage and growth habit are the same as in the species. I have seen this occasionally, incorrectly offered as B. striata 'Alba', which should be solid white. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01860
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Bletilla striata 'Murasaki Shikibu' (Hardy Ground Orchid)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-9 15" tall Origin: E. Asia
This unique selection of Bletilla striata has pale lavender flowers with a darker lip which appears bluish to the eye. Knowing most catalog writers are color-blind and that Photoshop TM has allowed some catalog writers to now match the plants to their descriptions, I was skeptical about the true flower color. Finally, my plants bloomed and indeed, the color is a real bluish-lavender. As with all bletillas, moist rich woodland soil is best, although this is one tough plant that will survive almost anything. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06948
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Boehmeria (False Nettle)
What a terrible common name for a group of great textural plants. Boehmerias are a genus in the family Urticaceae, which contains trees, shrubs, and perennials. Boehmerias are virtually indestructible in a variety of soils and moisture levels, but they are not for gardeners who haven't graduated past the flash and flower of annuals.
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Boehmeria nipononivea 'Kogane Mushi' (Kogane Mushi Japanese False Nettle)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 6-9 18" tall Origin: Japan
This wonderful selection of the Japanese boehmeria makes a dazzling foliage plant for the light shade/part sun garden. The small, fuzzy, round leaves emerge creamy yellow and become flecked with green as they mature. B. 'Kogane Mushi', which means "gold bug" in Japanese, is much slower growing than the species and for us has made an 18" tall x 18" wide clump. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06776
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Boehmeria nipononivea 'Nichirin' (Nichirin Japanese False Nettle)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 6-9 24" tall Origin: Japan
Open House/Web-Only!
This native to Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, Japan, has been selected by the Japanese in a number of variegated forms. We are pleased to offer the selection B. 'Nichirin', which makes a 2' tall x 2' wide clump of fuzzy green leaves, each irregularly bordered with a wide white band. B. 'Nichirin', which means "sun corona" in Japanese, makes an attractive foliage plant in the garden, adorned with axillary catkins in late summer. Relax and enjoy your "sun corona"...lime not included. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06777
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Boehmeria platanifolia (Sycamore-leaf False Nettle)
Sun to Part SunZone: 4-8, guessing 36" tall Origin: China, Japan, Korea
Open House/Web-Only!
We were thrilled to find yet another in the overlooked genus boehmeria that makes a great garden specimen. The deciduous B. platanifolia makes a 3' tall x 3' wide texturally enchanting clump of upright stems, clothed with fascinatingly bold, deeply incised green leaves, each attached to the stem by a bright red petiole. The top of the stems are adorned in late summer...I use the term "adorned" loosely...with floral stalks that look like limp pipe cleaners. Visitors to the garden seem quite enchanted with this...we hope you feel the same. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07909
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Boltonia
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Boltonia apalachicolensis (Apalachicola Doll's Daisy)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-9, at least 48" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
This very rare endemic to the Florida Panhandle is usually found in forested floodplains, although it grows quite well in more open garden sites. The small, grey-green foliage adorns the 4' tall stalks that are topped with open panicles of small white flowers in August/September. Do your part to save a rare native through propagation.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05317
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Borinda
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Borinda angustissima (Narrow Leaf Clumping Bamboo)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 8-9, at least 180" tall Origin: China
Open House/Web-Only!
The words "refined elegance" come to mind when you grow Borinda angustissima. The tight clumps of 1" canes (when mature) can eventually reach 15' and are adorned with airy, tiny green leaves highlighted by dark purple sheaths...simply delightful. Borinda angustissima was accessioned in 1993 by Dr. Jim Waddick in China's Northern Sichuan Province near Huang Long Si. Our plants have survived our oppressively humid 107 degree F highs and lows of 15 degrees F with no ill effects. B. angustissima is very slow to establish, but really starts to take off in its third year. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06571
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Borinda boliana (Himalayan Blue Mountain Bamboo)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7-8, at least 600" tall Origin: China
We have longed for hardy clumping bamboo of Sasquatch proportions, and thanks to Jackie Heinricher at Boo-Shoot Gardens, we have it. Our 1-year-old clumps of Borinda boliana have already reached 6' tall, while 3-year-old clumps have reached 25' tall with .5-1.0" arching blue-green culms. Mature plants should top out at 50' tall, so don't plant these under power lines or airline flight paths. Plants in the ground have thrived through 0 degrees F as well as 3 consecutive weeks of 100 degrees F+ heat and humidity in full sun. We are ecstatic about this new bamboo...blue marlin-sized fishing poles, biomass fuel potential, and a quick way to hide your untidy neighbors! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08115
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Bouvardia
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Bouvardia ternifolia coll. #T73-41 (Hummingbird Flower)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-10 24" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
"Wow, whaas dat?"...The common reaction from garden visitors in late summer as they walk up to our clump of bouvardia. Amazingly, many folks are not familiar with bouvardia as a garden perennial...notwithstanding its recent rise in popularity as a cut flower. This Mexican seed collection from the folks at Yucca Do comes from 2,460' elevation in the Hidalgo province town of Tamazunchale...bless you! In our garden, bouvardia awakens in very late spring and forms a small clump of 2' tall shoots, clothed with small linear leaves. Beginning in midsummer and continuing until fall, the plants are topped with flat flower clusters of brilliant orange-red flowers. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04943
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