(syn: Ligularia tussilaginea 'Aureomaculata') I grew up knowing leopard plant as a houseplant before finally discovering its amazing winter hardiness. The bold, round, shiny green, 8-10" wide leaves are spotted with yellow dots, similar to a leopard skin; hence, the name. This consummate conversation piece grows well in sites that can be kept slightly moist but well-drained...poor drainage kills. That being said, Farfugium 'Aureomaculatum' wilts when dry but is amazingly drought-tolerant. The 24" wide clumps are topped with numerous 30" stalks of spectacular yellow daisies in October and November. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This large-growing hybrid of Farfugium japonicum 'Giganteum' and Farfugium japonicum 'Aureomaculatum' was discovered by the late Gary Hammer and came to us via California plantsman, Lance Reiners. The 8" tall x 10" wide, large, green leaves form a large 20" tall x 3' wide clump topped, starting in late October, with 3' tall spikes of bright yellow daisies. Farfugium 'Escargot' has some of the largest foliage of any farfugium we grow, while also possessing unique overlapping leaf lobes which resemble the spirals of a snail...quite interesting! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Ligularia tussilaginea 'Gigantea', Farfugium reniforme) Thanks to Marco Stufano, former director of Wave Hill, for sharing with us so that we could spread it around. Farfugium 'Giganteum' is similar to the species, except for the giant size of each leaf...nearly 15" across and so thick and glossy that it doesn't seem real. Each attention-drawing, 30" wide clump is topped in late October with 4' tall stalks of bright yellow daisies...a nice complement to the leaves. Interestingly, Farfugium 'Giganteum' does not like all day shade, but instead prefers at least a couple of hours of sun (unless you live in the Desert Southwest) along with a slightly moist but well-drained soil. It is also a great centerpiece for a dynamic container planting in colder regions! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Ligularia tussilaginea) This unusual Japanese selection of leopard plant could easily have been named "snow leopard." Farfugium 'Kaimon Dake' emerges with large white leaves, each highlighted with a random pattern of central dark green specks...sort of like a cheap flat screen television after the warranty expires. The aging foliage eventually turns solid green which gives the clump a surprising amount of vigor. This cultivar does not like deep shade, actually preferring an hour or two of sun daily. Each 1' tall x 2' wide clump is topped by 2' tall stalks of yellow daisies in fall...a superb specimen plant we can offer thanks to our friend, Barry Yinger. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(syn: Ligularia tussilaginea 'Jitsuko's Star') This selection of the green leopard plant makes a fabulous, bold-textured perennial for the light shade garden, where it contrasts beautifully with ferns and other fine-textured plants. Starting in mid-October, the 15" tall x 20" wide clump of 6" round, tropical-looking green foliage is topped with 3' tall flower spikes of magnificent, double (Yaezaki means "double flower") yellow, daisy-like flowers...the earliest of the farfugium selections to flower for us. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This new generation selection of the popular clumping Fargesia nitida hails from the World Heritage Preserve of Jiuzhaigou in China's horticulturally rich Sichuan Province. Fargesia 'Jiuzhaigou' (pronounced "zhu zhi go") has much better heat tolerance than past selections of Fargesia nitida we've trialed. Fargesia nitida 'Jiuzhaigou' makes a 10' tall clumper with small, narrow green leaves adorning the green canes which turn a beautiful cinnamon red in their second season...brighter in better light. As the deer-resistant clumps age, the older canes eventually turn to yellow. Fargesia nitida 'Jiuzhaigou' is a stunning new bamboo that we are thrilled to make available. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This selection of the heat-tolerant, clumping Fargesia robusta is much shorter than other selections of the species we grow, forming an 8' tall x 2' wide deer-resistant clump in four years. The upright, arching stems spread out to 9' wide, forming a superbly elegant specimen clump, or if you can afford enough...a great green screen. Myths of much more cold tolerance have been thoroughly busted. For years, we sold this as Fargesia 'Green Screen', until we determined that 'Ping Wu' was the correct cultivar name and "Green Screen" is simply a marketing name for clumping bamboo. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Fargesia robusta 'Wolong' is another clumping gem that hails from the high mountains of Sichuan, China. Fargesia 'Wolong' boasts larger than normal, deer-resistant foliage than on typical Fargesia robusta, which consequently provides a more tropical feel in the garden. Despite the fact that Fargesia robusta 'Wolong' is often touted as heat-sensitive, we have not found this to be the case with our clump which received afternoon sun during our hottest summer on record with 95 days above 90 degrees. Expect 5-year-old clumps to hit 10' tall on their way to 15' at maturity. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Fargesia 'Green Panda', Fargesia sp. 'Rufa') Fargesia rufa is a recently-introduced species from the mountains of western Sichuan, China. Fargesia rufa is a pachymorph, which means it couldn't run even if it was being chased down the mountain by a pack of starving pandas. This short, deer-resistant clumping bamboo makes an elegant, 6' tall upright fountain, with stems arching outwards to 8'. In addition to the wonderful form, the culm sheaths are reddish-brown. In our trials, Fargesia rufa has been wonderfully tolerant of both heat and cold. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Fargesia sp. 'Scabrida' is a relatively newly cultivated and highly coveted upright Chinese clumping bamboo. First described in the 1970s, plants of Fargesia sp. 'Scabrida' from 8,800' elevation in Ping Wu county in Sichuan Province were finally imported to Holland by Jos van der Palen of Kimmei Nursery in 1997. Fargesia sp. ‘Scabrida’ has a habit similar to Fargesia robusta as it forms a 12' tall clump, prized for its prominent leaf sheaths which often emerge bright orange. In cool climates, the new shoots may take on a blue/purple color. Despite warnings that it may not like hot, humid climates, it has fared well for us since 2008 in a few hours of sun. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
For those that like their plants a little on the quirky side, you've got to try this fascinating hardy fig...at least in Zone 7b. Ficus gasparriniana v. laceratifolia hails from 1,500' to 6,000' elevation from India south to Thailand. Our plants are from a Linda Guy collection in Sichuan, China. The small upright shrub reaches 6' tall in 5 years, adorned with dark green, oak-shaped scabrous (sandpapery) leaves which are evergreen in tropical climates. The small snow pea-sized axillary fruit begins to form in June and turns red in July, continuing to be produced until Christmas. I can see a cottage industry, growing these in containers to decorate for the holidays. Is the fruit edible? Plantsman Pat McCracken says yes, but only if you are on a serious diet. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Japanese meadowsweet is one of our favorite mid-spring flowering plants for moist soil. The upright 3' tall stalks are adorned with 5-7 lobed green leaves and topped, starting in mid-May, with what resembles a punk hairdo of bright pink. Although Filipendula purpurea can take periods of drought, a sunny, moist site is preferred. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Filipendula 'Red Umbrellas' is a hybrid of Filipendula multijuga and Filipendula palmata made by Japan's Yohei Hosogai, with the final selection made and introduced by Holland's Walter Blom Plants. The green leaves on this compact 2.5' tall meadowsweet are heavily veined with crimson, which is also prevalent in the new growth. In early summer, the plants are topped with umbels of pink. As with all meadowsweets, slightly moist soils are best. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
I love the word "heat-tolerant" in the description of a fuchsia. In catalog-speak, this means the plant will tolerate more than one day above 90 degrees F before croaking. Imagine my surprise when our test plants of Fuchsia 'Sanicomf' thrived through one of the hottest summers in recent memory! Fuchsia 'Sanicomf' comes from the Suntory breeding program in Japan, where the actual intent was to produce true heat-tolerant fuchsias...much to the delight of our hummingbirds. This dwarf plant makes a 2' tall x 15" wide mound, adorned from May through October with pendent flowers consisting of purple petals, red sepals, and red anthers...very hot and loving it! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Fuchsia 'Sanihanf' is another of the truly heat-tolerant fuchsias from the Suntory breeding program. This large spreading cultivar makes a 30" tall x 3' wide flowering machine. The stems are adorned with pendent flowers consisting of purple petals, contrasting with red anthers and red sepals...attractive to hummingbirds. Fuchsia 'Sanihanf' makes a superb hanging basket where it isn't winter hardy. Thanks to the folks at Japan's Suntory for a moronic name for such a great plant. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
