Anthea yarrow is a 1993 introduction...a discovery by the late Alan Bloom of England, who found it growing in a patch of Achillea 'Moonshine'. Achillea 'Anblo', marketed under the equally strange name 'Anthea', is a noticeable improvement over most of the yarrows we have tried...it actually survives here without trying to take over the garden. The basal rosette of cutleaf silvery foliage is topped in late spring with very erect 30" stalks, holding nice flower clusters of light butter yellow. This is a great addition to the softer colored parts of the border. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We've tried many yarrows through the years and most have struggled through our hot humid summers, with the exception of Achillea 'Strawberry Seduction'. This Achillea millefolium hybrid (possibly with Achillea clypeolata) was selected in 2001 by Holland's Michiel Zwaan, who bred it from the Achillea Summer Pastels seed series. Achillea 'Strawberry Seduction' is a long-flowering selection that begins flowering in June with strong 2' tall well-branched stems, topped with clusters of colorfast red flowers, highlighted with small yellow centers. I've experienced strawberry reductions before, but admit that I find the imagery of a strawberry seduction...berry interesting. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' is an aroid relative and former member of the "family" before being ousted by the molecular taxonomy mob. Acorus calamus is now in the horticulture protection program disguised as a dramatic, upright deciduous iris. The vivid white and green banded, deer-resistant leaves of Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' make this one of the most strikingly beautiful vertical accent plants in the garden! Variegated sweet flag spreads slowly by means of a very thick above-ground rhizome. Sweet flag loves a moist spot such as a bog but will also grow in ordinary garden soils...a real easy-to-grow, carefree prize! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Despite the long, tongue-twisting name, the dwarf golden sweet flag is one of the most striking and certainly the cutest of the acorus. The tufts of tiny, golden, ornamental grass-like, evergold foliage make a slowly spreading patch to 2' wide in 5 years. If you get out the magnifying glass, you'll notice the tiny aroid-like tan spadices (flowers) in early summer. Acorus 'Minimus Aureus' is a bright, deer-resistant, dwarf evergreen perennial groundcover in moist shady areas where it makes either a feature specimen or a killer filler between dark stepping stones...a real highlight in the woodland garden. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This stunning Allium nutans hybrid comes from the Onion Man, Mark McDonough. Allium 'Millennium' represents several generations of breeding (onions) and is head and shoulders above any other alliums we grow. The compact 1' tall x 1' wide clump of narrow, glossy green, deer-resistant leaves is topped for over a month in late summer with 2" rosy-purple flower heads. We grow Allium 'Millennium' in several locations and have never seen any sign of a stray seedling...garliccimo! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Allium luteum) This fantastic selection of the southern European golden garlic was made by Antoine and Michael Hoog in 1978 while trekking in the Spanish Pyrenees. Allium 'Jeannine' is greatly improved over the typical species by having golden flowers instead of the typical greenish yellow, and by producing two flower spikes per bulb instead of the typical one. Allium moly 'Jeannine' also comes into flower a few weeks earlier than the normal species, which means late May/early June in NC. The small clumps are topped with 2" umbels of bright yellow flowers atop 10" stalks...very cute! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This delightful form of the Siberian Allium nutans was shared with us by our friend and garden writer, Pam Harper. Allium nutans 'Pam Harper' is composed of 8" long x 0.5" wide, slightly twisted, glaucous, deer-resistant leaves topped with 15" tall spikes that end with 2" floral balls. The clump begins flowering in early June and reflowers through the end of September. The flowers are pure white except where the nights are cool, when they may take on a light pink cast. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We had almost given up on alliums after growing far too many weedy species but have been delighted to find great non-weedy hybrids like Allium 'Sugar Melt', thanks to Allium guru, Mark McDonough. This hybrid of Mark's combines the best traits of both Allium nutans with the popular Allium senescens. Allium 'Sugar Melt' has been a standout in our rock garden, making a 6" tall x 8" wide circular clump of narrow, green, deer-resistant leaves, topped in early July (later in colder climates) with 16" stems of light pink flower balls...a perfect rock garden plant. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Ferns do the strangest things and anemias are near the top of the strange fern list. This Argentine native makes a delightful small clump to 8" tall x 1' wide. In nature, we saw Anemia tomentosa growing both in well-drained soils and in rock cracks in the Catamarca Province of northern Argentina. The fertile and sterile fronds look similar, except the fertile fronds produce long, alien, antennae-like "flower" stalks from spring to fall that are home to the developing spores. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Aristolochia debilis is a fascinating Dutchman's pipe that hails from low mountain thickets in southern China and central to southern Japan. The deciduous wiry-stemmed vine can grow to at least 15' long, but will need something to scramble on. During the growing season, the stems are clothed with heart-shaped green leaves and adorned most of the summer with a parade of small, purple, trumpet-like flowers. The fragrant flowers attract for both butterflies and curious visitors. Not only is Aristolochia debilis great in the garden, it has a secret life as an herbal medicine called Ma Dou Ling. Aristolochia debilis has been used as an energy supplement, diuretic, anti-bacterial and antifungal agent, anti-cancer agent, antiseptic, asthma treatment, snakebite cure, and used to treat hypertension, gastric disorders, hepatitis, pneumonia, and cirrhosis of the liver...I'll drink to that! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Available 6-13-2013 Aristolochia fimbriata is a really cool, deciduous groundcover Dutchman's pipe that spreads out to 2' on little green stems. Each rounded leaf is medium green, highlighted with dramatic silver veining. The cute, little, 1" long, yellow and brown flowers resemble miniature elephant trunks and are produced along the stem all summer. In winter, the stems retreat back to the base so there are no invasive problems with this gem! The only "ornamental" downside is that aristolochia is a delicacy for pipevine swallowtail butterfly larvae in midsummer...less foliage, but more butterflies! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Artemisia #GUIZ137) From a 1985 Sino-British expedition to Guizhou Province, China, comes an improved form of the wonderful perennial, Artemisia lactiflora. The stout, 4' tall, deer-resistant clumps of red-purple stems are clothed in cutleaf, dark green foliage. In July the clumps are topped with large, airy heads of small, pure white flowers. While Artemisia 'Guizhou' grows great in typical garden soil, a moist site will reward you with an even more spectacular show. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This wonderful hybrid artemisia (A. arborescens x absinthium) loves it in full sun...heat and humidity are not a problem for this workhorse of the garden. The very soft and freshly aromatic silvery foliage forms an attractive clump to 18" tall x 5' wide, which rarely flowers. Artemisia 'Powis Castle' makes a stunning groundcover when used en masse, and is insanely drought-tolerant once established. For best results in the garden, I like to prune back the winter-tattered foliage in early spring. If not, Artemisia 'Powis Castle' will slowly expand to 10'+ in width. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Hexastylis speciosa) We are pleased to once again offer the rare, but easy-to-grow, evergreen, native Asarum speciosum from our neighbors to the south in Alabama, where it occurs in only two counties. This selection, Asarum speciosum 'Woodlanders Select', was made by Bob McCartney of Woodlanders Nursery as being particularly nice in foliage and flower. The large, arrowhead-shaped, 6" leaves of green are marbled with muted silver patterns. In late spring, the base of the deer-resistant wild ginger clump is adorned with giant silver dollar-sized flowers that look like Lindsay Lohan's bloodshot eyes awakening after a three day drunk. This clonal selection has been propagated by tissue culture to assure uniformity. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Clinopodium ashei) Calamintha ashei is a rare and threatened North American native, found in the sandy soils of southeastern Georgia and northern Florida, where it forms an 18" tall x 30" wide clump of woody stems adorned by small, dentate, grey-green fragrant leaves. In spring, the drought-tolerant Calamintha ashei is smothered with small mauvy-pink flowers which also occur sporadically through the summer and into fall. The flowers are a favorite of both bees and butterflies. Ashe's savory grows best in well-drained sandy soils, where it can avoid competition from nearby larger plants. Unfortunately, in the wild, their habitat is being steadily consumed by agricultural citrus production. When plants become old and very woody, it is best to start new plants from cuttings. Our plants are cutting-grown from an original clone from Tattnall County, GA. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
I hadn't been as impressed in quite a while as I was when I first met this plant in Dale Hendricks' Pennsylvania garden. The bushy mound of light green deer-resistant fragrant foliage, reeking of peppermint, was smothered in clouds of tiny, very light blue flowers. Our plants here in hot and muggy NC have performed equally as well, in full flower from June until October. Calamintha need good drainage and plenty of air circulation, although this one has survived far better than other calaminthas for us. I think rock gardeners and herb lovers alike will fall in love with this gem...for me, it was love at first sight! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Leucanthemum 'Frosty') South Carolina plantsman, Ted Stephens, discovered this unusual hardy mum at a Japanese plant consignment shop a few years ago and subsequently named and introduced it to the trade. The typical chrysanthemum-shaped foliage is heavily frosted with white when the weather is cool but fades a bit in the heat of summer. The 1' tall x 3' wide clumps are topped in early fall with small pink daisies. Wouldn't it be nice if all plants were variegated? Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Chrysanthemum 'Gethsemane Moonlight' was spotted in an old garden in Conover, NC by Janice Nicholson of Gethsemane Gardens, who subsequently named and distributed it. Chrysanthemum 'Gethsemane Moonlight' is no weakling like many of the garden mums sold today. In addition to its amazing winter hardiness, Chrysanthemum 'Gethsemane Moonlight' makes a rapidly expanding 2' tall x 4' wide clump topped, starting in early October, with large 3" bright yellow daisies. Chrysanthemum 'Gethsemane Moonlight' has been a superb, frost-tolerant performer in our trials, but give it plenty of room. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We have been thrilled by the performance of this fascinating hardy garden mum which makes a very compact 2' tall x 3' wide clump for us. We actually see a first round of flowering on Chrysanthemum 'Matchsticks' in early July, followed by a second flowering in early October. The flowers are composed of red-tipped yellow petals with a unique spidery matchstick shape that mimics its namesake...quite striking...pun intended. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We are very pleased to share the Plant Delights introduction, Chrysanthemum 'Snow Dome', our favorite of the new group of hybrids between garden mums and Chrysanthemum pacificum (aka: ajania). This superb selection, thanks to genetics from NC's Richard Hayes, makes an unbelievable tight dome of cutleaf, silver-backed foliage that forms a perfect 15" tall x 2' wide mound...without any pruning or pinching. The foliage is then topped in October with a blanket of small white daisies. I'd grow this superb selection even if it didn't flower...great for a small garden. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
