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Rosmarinus
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Rosmarinus officinalis 'Arp' (Arp Hardy Rosemary)
Sun Zone: 6-9 40" tall Origin: Mediterranean Europe
Open House/Web-Only!
Discovered by Madalene Hill in Arp, Texas, this rosemary was sent to the folks at the US National Arboretum, which was so taken after it survived -10 degrees F that they released it under the name 'Arp'. This grey-green clump-former, to 3'+ tall, has typical fine-textured foliage, a wonderful fragrance, and (thanks to my wife) makes some fine rosemary chicken. R. 'Arp' is the best grower for us in the South through both summer and winter. Beginning in the fall and continuing through the spring, the clump is adorned with dark blue flowers...our 8-year-old specimen is 10' across and survived 0 degrees F...WOW! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01268
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Rostrinucula
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Rostrinucula dependens (Weeping Rostrinucula)
SunZone: 7b-10 36" tall Origin: China
Open House/Web-Only!
This green-sheep of the salvia family is little-known outside its native haunts from Shaanxi, China, south to Yunnan. While rostrinucula will never win a beauty contest, it is well in the running for most unusual. The flaking brown bark adorns an otherwise obscure 3' tall die-back shrub. Obscure until late summer, the long pendent flower racemes emerge from the branch tips, giving the overall effect of a miniature cascading pink waterfall. The tiny pink flowers open each day as the floral display travels slowly down the long flower spike, finally ending in mid-October. One of the truly great WHATZAT plants! In warmer climates, the wood may remain and the plant may reach 5-6' tall. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05420
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Rubus
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Rubus pentalobus 'Emerald Carpet' (Creeping Rubus)
Sun to Part SunZone: 6-9 6" tall Origin: Taiwan
(syn: R. calycinoides, R. 'Formosan Carpet') We probably get as many requests for this plant as anything else we grow. Where else could you find a durable, evergreen groundcover that takes sun or shade? The answer...Taiwan. This selection was made at the University of British Columbia from seed collected by Dick Pearson from the alpine forests of Mt. Hehuan in central Taiwan. Thick, heavily textured, sandpaper-like foliage adorns fuzzy, creeping stems (5' wide in 3 years). At the onset of cool nights in fall, the foliage turns a wonderful raspberry color. The flowers are insignificant, but that's okay. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #00729
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Rubus taiwanicola BSWJ317 (Taiwan Raspberry)
Sun to Part SunZone: 6-8, possibly colder 3" tall Origin: Taiwan
Open House/Web-Only!
What an amazing little plant this has been in our garden trials. This collection of Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones from 10,000' in elevation was found inhabiting rock crevices in the mountains of Taiwan. For us, it has proven to be an amazing, thick groundcover resembling a mass of dwarf ferns. Its identity is given away by the soft, prickly-foliaged white flowers and red fruit (reportedly edible, but not by us). In well-drained rich soils, it spreads quite fast, covering an area 3' wide in one season...less in more hostile conditions. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05509
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Rudbeckia
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Rudbeckia maxima (Black-Eyed Susan)
SunZone: 5-9 80" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
This overlooked drought-tolerant native can be found from Arkansas to Texas, growing in seasonally moist roadside ditches alongside old tires, beer cans, and cigarette butts. Research into whether the abundance of motor oil in these sites is actually essential for plant growth has been inconclusive. This unique black-eyed Susan has a deciduous basal rosette of waxy blue foliage resembling a collard (that's sort of like a cabbage to you northern folks). In late spring through early summer, the flower stalks rise to over 7'. At the top of each stalk are 2-3" wide, brown-centered, yellow daisies...WOW! After flowering, we leave the seed stalks as a delicacy for goldfinches. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #00355
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Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Henry Eilers' (Sweet Coneflower)
SunZone: 4-8 60" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
(syn: R. 'Quilled Form') I first saw this amazing drought-tolerant selection at Larry Lowman's Ridgecrest Garden in Arkansas. This selection of the prairie streambank native is from a population in Montgomery Co., Illinois. Rudbeckia 'Henry Eilers' makes a 4' clump of fragrant (vanilla) foliage, topped in early August with long flower spikes. Instead of the typical flat, yellow-gold flowers, each petal looks as though it has been plugged into a light socket. The unusual "rolled" petals create the look of a quill. Mother Nature must have gotten a real kick watching botanists trying to make this fit into one of their taxonomic keys. You're just going to have to get one and see for yourself. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05275
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Ruellia (False Petunia)
These American members of the Acanthaceae family offer a wide array of often-overlooked garden plants. We offer several varied selections of false petunia that are both garden worthy where they are hardy and are superb as annual or container plants in the arctic regions north of Zone 7. We hope you enjoy these long-flowering and easy-to-grow additions to your garden.
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Ruellia brittoniana 'Chi Chi' (Hardy Pink Petunia)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7-10, possibly colder 24" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
'Chi Chi' is a dynamite ruellia from Texas...a seedling selection of R. brittoniana from plant guru Scott Ogden. The narrow, very dark green foliage clothes the 2' tall stem, topped with 1" pink petunia-like flowers, from early summer through fall. R. 'Chi Chi' has performed well in both moist and dry conditions. Everyone who sees 'Chi Chi' wants to take her home...perhaps they've been watching too many soap operas on the Spanish Channel. Arriba! We do not recommend these for tropical or semi-tropical moist climates where they grow and multiply too well. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01582
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Ruellia brittoniana 'Colobe Pink' PP 10,841 (Bonita TM Pink Ruellia)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-10 8" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
This recent Color Spot Nursery release is a new hybrid from Texas plantsman Greg Grant. Forming a tight dwarf clump like R. 'Katie' (8" tall x 12" wide), R. 'Colobe Pink' is smothered with 1.5" wide flowers of scrumptious pink. For us, R. 'Colobe Pink' flowers from midsummer until fall...a perfect candidate for both color bowls and special spots throughout the garden. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01616
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Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie' (Katie's Dwarf Ruellia)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7b-10 6" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
Katie Ferguson of Texas found this dwarf form of our native ruellia, and this plant has taken Texas by storm. R. 'Katie' makes a 6" tall x 12" wide clump with lance-shaped green leaves. All summer, it is covered with 1.5" purple flowers. In good soil, it will reseed true. This is one fabulous plant! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01482
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Ruellia brittoniana 'White Katie' (White Katie Ruellia)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7b-10 8" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
Finally, we are pleased to present the long-awaited, white-flowered counterpart to the ever-popular Ruellias 'Katie' and 'Colobe'! Boasting the same compact habit as regular 'Katie', this new selection makes a 1' wide clump that is topped from July until frost with 1.5", saucer-shaped, white flowers against the dark green, linear foliage. Ruellia 'White Katie' is a great summer bedding plant where winter hardiness is an issue. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04166
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Ruellia ciliatiflora coll. #A1AG-069 (Hairy Flowered False Petunia)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-9, at least 20" tall Origin: Argentina
Open House/Web-Only!
I first encountered this unique ruellia in 2002 near the northern Argentinean town of Salta at 3,275' elevation. The plants grew in a very dry area on the partially sunny roadside banks. The 20" tall square stems compose a 20" wide clump, clothed in 5" long x 3.5" wide hairy green leaves, and topped, starting in June, with 1.5" wide purple-blue flowers. R. ciliatiflora makes a delightful garden plant in NC and we are glad to finally be able to share it with others. We do see a small bit of reseeding, but so far, nothing troubling. Keep an eye out in regions of the country it might like too well.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05026
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Rumohra
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Rumohra adiantiformis (Leather-leaf Fern)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 7b-10 24" tall Origin: S. Africa
Open House/Web-Only!
This South African native occurs on densely shaded rocky slopes, but adapts well to garden conditions. The shiny triangular leafed fern is used in corsages and arrangements...assuming you've all been on the receiving end of fresh flowers. This slowly spreading deciduous fern is a great addition to the woodland garden...ours has survived 0 degrees F with slight foliage burn. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01734
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Ruschia
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Ruschia 'Calvinia Pink' (Calvinia Pink Ice Plant)
SunZone: 6-9, at least 15" tall Origin: S. Africa
Open House/Web-Only!
This Panayoti Kelaidis introduction was originally discovered in South Africa's Karoo (Great Desert). The small fleshy green leaves adorn the semi-woody stems which form a tangled mass to 15" tall x 2' wide. The clump is topped, starting in early May, with small purple delosperma-like daisies. There is some reflowering in the summer, but spring is the peak flowering season. A well-drained soil in bright baking sun is best for this easy-to-grow rock garden specimen.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07946
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Ruschia indurata (Hard Ruschia)
SunZone: 6-8, at least 6" tall Origin: S. Africa
Open House/Web-Only!
This amazing succulent from the South African Karoo (Great Desert) is another surprisingly hardy rock garden plant, having survived years at the Denver Botanic Garden, as well as here in our Southeast US rock garden. The fleshy green stems are adorned with tightly clasping leaves that resemble freshly grated green thumbs. In late April and May, the 6" tall x 2' wide (in 5 years) clumps are topped by fluorescent bright purple daisies, held just above the foliage. For inquiring minds, the specific epithet "indurata" means "to make hard"...no, not that kind of hard. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07910
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Ruscus (Broom)
This bizarre but easy-to-grow group of evergreen plants was ruthlessly kicked out of the lily family and segregated in its own family, Ruscaceae. Ruscus was born without leaves, instead being left with prehistoric-looking cladodes for its foliage. Native from England through the Caucuses and into northern Africa, ruscus inhabits dry, rocky habitats. Ruscus is a small genus, but one with interesting sexual habits....some celibate and some quite self-indulgent, which result in a wonderful display of red-orange fruit.
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Ruscus aculeatus 'Christmas Berry' PP 16,680 (Christmas Berry Butcher's Broom)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 7-9 12" tall Origin: England, Iran, Mediterranean
This unique dwarf selection of the easy-to-grow evergreen butcher's broom is very similar to a clone that the late Elizabeth Lawrence grew in her garden. This form, however, originated as a seedling selection by Gys Petrus de Jong of Dublin, Ireland, although Gys got some really bad advice about the economic return from patenting a ruscus. The spiny, dark green cladodes (fake leaves) are compacted nearly on top of each other along the dark green stems. Throughout the winter, this self-fruitful form is covered with a dazzling show of bright red berries. R. 'Christmas Berry' makes a 1' tall x 1' wide patch in 5 years...painfully slow, but incredibly beautiful. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06347
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Ruscus aculeatus 'Elizabeth Lawrence' (Elizabeth Lawrence Butcher's Boom)
Part Sun to ShadeZone: 7-9, at least 24" tall Origin: England, Iran, Mediterranean
NEW!
This dwarf hermaphroditic (satisfies itself sexually) butcher's broom came from the garden of the late NC garden writer Elizabeth Lawrence. This tightly compact form eventually makes a 2' tall x 2' wide clump after 10 years. The thick, upright stems are adorned with spiny green cladodes (leaf wannabes) and highlighted by large numbers of glossy, bright red fruit from summer through late spring. Our plants are 4-5 years old from a seed strain that seems virtually identical to the parent. Although a fabulous, indestructible plant, this is never going to make it big with the petunia and pansy crowd that shop at Wal-Mart. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05932
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Ruscus aculeatus 'Wheeler's Variety' (Wheeler's Variety Butcher's Broom)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7-9, possibly colder 54" tall Origin: England, Iran, Mediterranean
This strange Eurasian poet's laurel relative forms a clump composed of spiny, dark, evergreen foliage held rigidly along the 54" tall upright green stems. The clump is adorned by bright red berries in early fall and winter. My first plant came from Elizabeth Lawrence's old Raleigh garden, after the home was used as a fraternity house for 30 years... that's one tough plant. A conversation piece for collectors, R. 'Wheeler's Variety' is probably the single best plant we grow for dry shade, albeit quite slow to bulk up. Our 8 year old clumps are now 4.5' tall. R. 'Wheeler's Variety' is a self-fruiting form (without benefit of a sexual partner) of a normally dioecious plant. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01371
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Ruscus hyrcanus (Azerbaijan Broom)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7b-9 24" tall Origin: Azerbaijan
Open House/Web-Only!
Here's another one that you won't find in your favorite gardening encyclopedia. This endemic of Azerbaijan (get out the map) grows in the lowland forests around the Caspian Sea with Parrotia persica and Danae racemosa. R. hyrcanus closely resembles R. aculeatus, but so far the "leaves" seem more dissected. The spiny, dark green foliage (actually cladodes, which is a stem that appears to have been run over by a bulldozer) makes a clump to 1-2' tall, adorned in fall with bright red fruit. Be the first in your neighborhood to have an Azerbaijan bed in your garden. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04652
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