- Native Perennials of the Old North State
(Sarracenias, Aster, Baptisia, Hymenocallis, Trillium, Asarum, Hardy Garden Ferns, etc)
At Plant Delights Nursery, we nursery propagate and sell perennials from all over the world, but some of the best plants are North Carolina native plants from our own state. While many people tout native plants as being better adapted to the state from which they grow naturally, this is simply not always true. Some North Carolina native plants might be far better adapted to a country like Australia than here in NC. Consequently, don’t choose plants just because they are native, choose them because they are great garden plants that also happen to be native. Although we are not strictly a native plant nursery, we have a passion for native plants, especially rare and hard to find native plants. From native trilliums to cypripedium ladyslipper orchids, we are your source for rare and unusual native plants on-line. We hope you’ll find some interesting North Carolina native plants on-line that will thrive in your home garden, wherever in the world that might be.
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Nurseries - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
Actaea 'Misty Blue' is a fabulous Mt. Cuba selection of the native East Coast woodlander, Actaea pachypoda (no, we're not lumping them with cimicifuga, which we find ridiculous). Actaea 'Misty Blue' has glaucous, pewter colored, pinnate foliage compared to the typical green. The 18" tall clumps are topped in spring with short stalks of white flowers, followed by really cool ornamental white berries attached by bright red stems. You're going to love this amazing actaea selection...if you plant it in a light shade site with moist, but well-drained soil. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Available 7-25-2013
(aka A1FL-113) This selection of the worldwide native Adiantum capillus-veneris comes from Washington Co., Florida, about an hour west of Tallahassee. Adiantum capillus-veneris 'Falling Waters' has made a splendid patch in our garden with frond pinnae (fern leaflets) that are slightly smaller and narrower than what we typically see in other regional southern maidenhair fern forms. Our five-year-old clumps have spread to 2' wide and so far have survived single digit temperatures with no problems. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Adiantum capillus-veneris A3T-022) We discovered this wonderfully cut leaf form of the southeastern native Adiantum capillus-veneris along Wasp Creek in Kendall County, Texas. Unlike most forms of southern maidenhair fern, the pinnae are shaped like narrow Japanese hand fans. For us, Adiantum 'Fan Dance' forms a tight 6" tall patch that expands to 2' wide in 5 years. We are pleased to finally be able to share this special form of southern maidenhair fern. Moist soils are best. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(coll. #A2T-034) This form of the wonderful southern maidenhair fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris, comes from spores that we collected in 2000 in the Edwards Plateau region of Texas near the town of Rock Springs. Not that you are interested, but we were stopped three times by border patrol agents who searched our backpacks for illegal aliens...glad I carried a small backpack. Plantsman Scott Ogden showed us this population of southern maidenhair fern growing along a small creek in a very alkaline soil. Our 5-year-old clump is 1' tall x 2' wide and, as you can imagine, quite heat tolerant. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Available 7-4-2013
Without a doubt, Adiantum pedatum is one of our most elegant North American native plants. The horizontal horseshoe-like wreath of foliage rests atop 18-24" tall, wiry black stems. Northern maidenhair fern thrives in moist, rich soil, but also grows well in all but the driest of woodland garden sites. The light, airy, fine texture of the Adiantum pedatum fronds serves as a perfect backdrop for hostas and other bold foliage plants. In early April, this deciduous native fern unfurls for a true Kodak moment. In 10 years, expect a 2' wide deer-resistant clump to develop. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Available: 2/21/2013 Anemonella 'Cameo' is a lovely selection of the native deer-resistant rue anemone, and one of the fastest multiplying of the double clones...which still isn't saying much. The short clumps of thalictrum-like foliage are topped from April-June with the cutest double, light pink flowers. Plant Anemonella 'Cameo' in a special well-drained place away from larger competitors...great for the rock garden, but mark the plant well since rue anemone is usually dormant by late summer. Pot Size: 7.87 fl. oz (232.7 ml)
Without a doubt, this selection of the easy-to-grow Anemonella thalictroides is among the most incredibly beautiful North American native plants we grow. The dainty thalictrum-like foliage makes a small 6" tall x 6" wide deer-resistant clump. Starting in early April (NC) and continuing for at least two months, Anemonella 'Shoaf's Double Pink' clumps are topped with 1" wide stunning pink pompoms, then are dormant by midsummer. This is a slow-to-propagate selection highly prized by keen gardeners around the world. Pot Size: 7.87 fl. oz (232.7 ml)
The widespread Arisaema triphyllum is one of our favorite US native wildflowers. This hardy Jack-in-the-pulpit emerges in very early spring with a solitary stalk of one to two leaves, each with three leaflets. The height varies genetically from 1 -3' tall, but 18" is normal. On the top of the stalk is its namesake pitcher. As the common name indicates, the hooded pitcher-like spathe has an appendage (spadix) that resembles a preacher in the pulpit...I bet this one was named during one heck of a hangover! If pollination of the flower occurs, you will have a stalk of bright red berries as the plant goes summer dormant. Moist soils are best, but Arisaema triphyllum has amazing short-term drought tolerance. Arisaema triphyllum offsets, so you will soon have a nice colony. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This amazing selection of our native Jack-in-the-pulpit comes from plantsman Paul James of Virginia. This fast-multiplying selection of Arisaema triphyllum emerges in spring with trifoliate leaves adorned with silver-white veins. There are at least three other silver-veined forms of Arisaema triphyllum, but none have rivaled the vigor of this selection. The 22" tall clumps are adorned in early spring with green "Jack" flowers. Arisaema 'Starburst' prefers moist woodland conditions and will go dormant by late summer. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Native to all but the six most western US states, Asclepias incarnata makes a stunning 50" tall stalk, topped in summer with branched terminal heads of mauvy-pink flowers, attractive to hummingbirds. Asclepias incarnata prefers moist to soggy soils, but fares well in typical garden soils in all but very extended droughts. A regular renaissance plant, Asclepias incarnata stays fresh in a vase as well as being a monarch butterfly indulgence...hopefully not at the same time. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This wide-ranging North American native plant is found in all but 7 of the continental states...sorry, Pacific Northwest. Asclepias 'Hello Yellow' is a golden yellow-flowered seed strain that comes remarkably true within the range of yellow-gold. The drought-tolerant deciduous Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow' makes a 20" tall x 2' wide mound of stems clothed with index finger-sized green leaves and topped in late spring with branched spikes of golden to golden-orange flowers...a favorite butterfly and hummingbird attractant! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(syn: Ampelaster carolinianus) What will they think of next...a native (NC south to Florida) woody aster that climbs! We figure the North American native Aster carolinianus watched too many old kudzu movies. Yes, it grows, it climbs, it mingles, it blooms...it closely resembles a clematis in habit with fragrant lavender-pink flowers from late September into November (NC). Give Aster carolinianus a trellis, deer fence (which it really loves) or let it socialize in the border...it's actually well-behaved! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(syn: Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) If you have never seen a mass of Aster 'Purple Dome' in full flower, then you haven't yet lived! From Dr. Dick Lighty, former Director of the Mt. Cuba Center, Delaware, comes this wonderful selection of our drought-tolerant native New England aster. The 18" stems of fuzzy, narrow green leaves are topped in early fall with vivid 1.5" wide shocking purple daisies...so thick you can't see the foliage. Aster 'Purple Dome' will eventually spread to 3'. Planted en masse, the effect is indescribable! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(syn: Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) We originally acquired this selection of our native Aster oblongifolius from Montrose Gardens, which acquired it from Ruth Knopf of Boone Hall Plantation in South Carolina. Ruth acquired the aster from her maid, Fanny, who acquired it as a pass-along plant from her grandmother. This spectacular aster is the last to flower in our garden, usually in October and November. 'Fanny', the aster (not the maid), makes a nice clump to 4' in width and is smothered with 1" blue flowers...awesome! For a fall show in a hot dry site, a nice 'Fanny' is a hard thing to beat. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This selection of deciduous deer-resistant lady fern from Europe is one of the most unique ferns available today. Found in 1857, in Ireland, in the garden of a Mrs. Frizell, the tatting fern is still known to most avid gardeners. The narrow (less than 1" wide) fronds of Athyrium 'Frizelliae' are arranged like fuzzy green, ear-like projections on both sides of the rachis (leaf center). I know this sounds really bizarre, but even normal folks are attracted to this unusual fern. Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae' makes a great 1' tall x 18" wide specimen for a special spot in the woodland garden! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Athyrium filix-femina 'Lady in Red' is a hot selection of our North American native, deer-resistant lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum forma rubellum) from a volunteer at The New England Wildflower Society. The lacy, light green foliage is held upright on dark, brilliant red-violet stipes (fern stems). Each plant of Athyrium 'Lady in Red' makes a slowly spreading patch to 3' in 5 years. This deciduous, easy-to-grow fern makes a great blending plant for hosta and other bold-leaf plants in the woodland garden. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Considered the "Queen of Ferns," this exquisite selection of the deciduous, deer-resistant lady fern was the pride and joy of the Victorian fern craze. The narrow pinnae of Athyrium 'Victoriae' are like little green boomerangs. As they are attached to each side of the stem, the effect is a three-dimensional stunner in the woodland garden. At the end of each pinna, the fronds are crested, adding to the exquisite beauty. For us, Athyrium 'Victoriae' forms an 18" tall x 18" wide clump. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Baptisia australis is an easy-to-grow, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant North American native that is always a perennial favorite (pardon the pun) for the border or the wild garden. This native has upright stems clothed with peanut-like, trifoliate (three-lobed), blue-green, waxy foliage on a clump that can easily cover an area 3' wide. In early spring before the clump bulks up, the awesome blue lupine-like flower racemes are held atop the foliage. Baptisia australis was selected by the Royal Horticultural Society as one of their top 200 plants of the last 200 years...quite an honor. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This superb sedge, native from Quebec south to South Carolina, is a must for shade gardeners. Naturally occurring in dry woodlands, even underneath hemlocks, Carex appalachica is adaptable to almost all garden conditions...except swamps. The very narrow, weeping, mop-top looking, deer-resistant foliage makes an airy, 18" wide clump. When used singly or en masse, the textural contrast near bolder elements is simply stunning. If you've been looking for a shady replacement for an unmown lawn or a hairpiece that matches your green thumb, look no further. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Carex cherokeensis is another of our favorites from this wonderful ornamental grass genus. Carex cherokeensis is a native sedge, home from Missouri east to North Carolina and south to Florida where it can be found in a wide range of conditions from acid seeps to dolomite glades. Our two-year-old clumps are 2' tall x 4' wide, and topped in late spring with wispy flower spikes that reach a foot above the mound of luscious evergreen foliage. We're growing our Carex cherokeensis in average garden soils, but it is often found in very moist habitats in the wild. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
