We are in denial about some of these perennials for sale below. Some of them are woodier than others. Some misguided individuals refer to them as shrubs.
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 Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
What started as a stray seedling in the New York (Seneca Hills) garden of Ellen Hornig is now taking the gardening world by storm. Buddleia 'Ellen's Blue' makes a compact 4' tall deer-resistant bush, smothered all summer in terminal spikes of blue-violet flowers (RHS 89D)...a hummingbird treat. This unique color in buddleias, combined with its extraordinary fragrance, makes this one of the best new butterfly bush introductions...9 out of 10 butterflies choose Buddleia 'Ellen's Blue'...we agree! Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
This stunning Sean Hogan introduction is a bright yellow foliaged butterfly bush that originated at Sean's nursery as a seedling, probably from Buddleia 'Santana'. Buddleia 'Evil Ways' is highlighted throughout the summer with very dark purple terminal flower clusters. The color contrast of the flowers and the yellow foliage is simply superb. For us, Buddleia 'Evil Ways' has produced a 4' tall x 5' wide deer-resistant specimen, perfect for some really cool color combinations in the garden...yellow swallowtail butterflies and iridescent hummingbirds are a nice touch. Without question, our favorite new butterfly bush in years! Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
(aka Buddleia NCSU 2005-008) Good golly, Miss Molly...to quote a line from the old Little Richard favorite. This new hybrid from NCSU plant breeder Dennis Werner takes Buddleia 'Miss Ruby' a step closer to the elusive red by crossing it back onto Buddleia 'Attraction'. The sangria-red flowers top the compact 5' tall clump from July until frost...a treat for hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
We have grown Aloysia virgata since 2001 and it has become one of our favorite summer flowering plants. In our climate it dies to the ground in winter and behaves as an 8' tall perennial, where in more southerly climates it makes a large open shrub to 15'. The upright woody stems are clothed with dark green sandpapery leaves. Starting in July and continuing until a hard frost, the branches end in terminal spikes of extremely fragrant white flowers that serve as an attractant for butterflies, other cool insects, and garden visitors. The intoxicating fragrance of vanilla almond is strongest in late afternoon and evening. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This 2005 introduction from Patrice Dreckmann of California's Rainbow Heights Nursery has been a real star in our trials. Despite dying to the ground each winter in our climate, the deer-resistant Brugmansia 'Antique Lace' reaches a massive 10' in height each year with over 200 flowers at once, starting in late summer and continuing until frost. The 11" long x 7" wide flaring creamy white flowers exude a honeysuckle-like nocturnal fragrance usually only associated with California's Sunset Boulevard red-light district. This has proven to be one of the most winter hardy brugmansias we grow, so far surviving 9 degrees F with no problem. Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.892 L)
This pass-along hybrid still rates near the top of the list of great angel trumpets. Brugmansia 'Charles Grimaldi' is a vigorous deer-resistant grower reaching 8' tall by the end of each growing season. Starting in late summer and continuing into the fall, the plant is laden with up to 100 huge, 12" long, golden-orange pendent flowers. Did I mention the flowers are deliciously fragrant in the late afternoon and evening? Establish plants early in the season and don't cut back the old stalks until spring in regions north of Zone 8. Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.892 L)
I've grown many angel trumpet selections over the years, but none have blown me away like Brugmansia 'Cherub'. Brugmansia 'Cherub' is the first out of the ground in spring, the most vigorous, and by far the most floriferous. This seedling of Brugmansia 'Ecuador Pink' was hybridized by Dr. Jim Alston of Park Seed. The 7' tall stalk jumps out of the ground in spring, adorned by long, dark green leaves. Starting in late summer (NC), the top of the deer-resistant clump is adorned with hundreds of large, dangling salmon-pink trumpets...exceedingly fragrant in the afternoon and evening...simply superb! Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.892 L)
Oh, my! Every now and then a new plant comes along so stunning it makes you fall to your knees and weep. Actually, I do that when I back into them, but that's another matter. This Terra Nova introduction is a tetraploid version of the popular Brugmansia 'Sunset'. The huge, tricolor leaves are dark green in the center, with narrow blotches of light grey-green toward the edge, surrounded by a 1" wide creamy white border. The 60" tall deer-resistant clumps are adorned with huge, fragrant apricot flowers dangling from the branches in midsummer and again in late summer. AMAZING! Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.892 L)
We are thrilled to bring you one of the finest perennials for those in Zones 7 and 8, a fine deer-resistant shrub for those from Zone 9 south, and a great container plant for those of you in the arctic zones north of Zone 7. Brugmansias have long been prized for their stunning flowers, but now we can add variegated foliage to the mix. This large perennial, to 5' tall, is adorned with large tobacco-like leaves edged in white. In late summer, the clumps are topped with dozens of fragrant, light golden peachy flowers...a true showstopper! To overwinter in colder zones, simply take 1-2' cane sections and store in slightly moist peat moss. Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.892 L)
Brugmansia x candida is a naturally-occurring hybrid of two Ecuadorian species, Brugmansia aurea x Brugmansia versicolor. Brugmansia x candida 'Double White' has proven to be an exceptional grower for us, topping out at 8' tall by year's end. Starting in late summer and continuing through fall, the broad-shouldered, deer-resistant plant is adorned with up to 100 large double white flowers, dangling like newly washed underwear beneath the tobacco-like foliage. To the sweet fragrance of the flowers in the evening, add a full moon and a bottle of wine, and you'll be in the mood for love. Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.892 L)
This hot new deer-resistant, hummingbird-friendly buddleia is a seedling from UGA's guru of woody plants, Dr. Mike Dirr. The plant was eventually named by Ted Stephens of Nurseries Caroliniana. Buddleia 'Attraction' flowers towards the red spectrum and is a dramatic improvement over Buddleia 'Royal Red'. This is a tremendous breakthrough in butterfly bush breeding--and who knows...perhaps it will attract redder butterflies. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
(aka Buddleia 2004-09) We are excited to offer the first butterfly bush from the breeding program of Dr. Dennis Werner of the JC Raulston Arboretum at NCSU. Not only does this hybrid of Buddleia lindleyana, Buddleia 'Nanho Purple', and Buddleia 'Honeycomb' have very low seed set, but Buddleia 'Blue Chip' is one of the most compact buddleias we have trialed. At the UK's Wisley trials it was #2 in public voting after Dennis's Buddleia 'Miss Ruby'. The short internodes produce a compact plant that stays at 1-2' tall in the first season, and with an annual rejuvenation (beheading) it remains 2-3' tall. Unpruned plants will eventually reach 4' in height. Buddleia 'Blue Chip' is adorned through the summer with short spikes of lavender-blue...a perfect deer-resistant plant fit for small spaces and great for low-flying butterflies and hummingbirds. Unlike most material sold, these are foliar nematode free. Pot Size: 2 qt. (1.892 L)
This little-known Chinese species has shiny green leaves, cinnamon trunks, and graceful 2' long pendulous panicles of medium-lavender flowers in summer...a hummingbird favorite. Our clone of Buddleia lindleyana came from giant specimens in the Bolivia, NC, garden of the late Francis Marion Galloway, where they have grown since the 1860s. Buddleia lindleyana is our only buddleia that is not cut to the ground each year. We have limbed up our specimen as a walk-underneath feature...a truly spectacular species which deserves much wider use. Its only bad habit is being stoloniferous, and that seems to slow slightly with age. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
Buddleia 'Miss Ruby' (Buddleia 'White Ball' x Buddleia 'Attraction' hybrid) is the second in a series of butterfly bushes from Dr. Dennis Werner of the JC Raulston Arboretum. Buddleia 'Miss Ruby', named in honor of JCRA benefactor Ruby McSwain, makes a compact 6' tall upright deer-resistant hummingbird friendly bush, that only reaches 2-3' in year one, but is topped all summer with the brightest reddish-pink flowers ever produced on a buddleia. In the 2008 trials at the UK's famed Wisley Gardens, Buddleia 'Miss Ruby' was the top public vote-getter from over 100 cultivars worldwide! Celebrate with us by bringing 'Miss Ruby' into your garden. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
"And now for something completely different"...as the Monty Python troupe would say. This wild buddleia hybrid comes from the breeding program of Dr. Jon Lindstrom of the University of Arkansas. Jon combined the genetics of Buddleia stachyoides and Buddleia tubiflora to create an 8' tall deer-resistant butterfly bush that flowers virtually year-round in mild climates with a peak season of fall through spring...a hummingbird hangout. The 1' long terminal spikes of bright orange flowers that open from bottom to top, could easily pass for leonotis. The trunks, which remain woody unless the temperature drops into single digits, are clothed with 11" long verbascum-like fuzzy green leaves...also great for sunrooms since it flowers all winter. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
This hybrid from The Netherlands' Boskoop Experimental Station is absolutely one of the finest "pink" flowered cultivars on the market. The silvery cast to the foliage (especially evident fall through spring) and compact (5' tall x 6' wide) habit combine to make this a truly spectacular deer-resistant buddleia. Buddleia 'Pink Delight' is topped with large 1' long flower heads delighting hummingbirds from June until frost. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
This cute but quirky deer-resistant hybrid butterfly bush, from the famed experiment station in Boskoop, Holland, is better-suited to the rock garden or miniature train landscape than to the border. This rare genetic dwarf makes a tight ball, 3' tall x 3' wide, of greyish foliage topped all summer with miniature spikes of white flowers. Just wait until you see the miniature butterflies and hummingbirds it attracts! Remember, it should only be pruned with miniature clippers and watered with tiny watering cans. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
This buddleia is hot and flying off the shelves faster than bread before an approaching snowstorm. Buddleia 'Bicolor' is a Mike Dirr introduction that arose as a seedling of virtually sterile Buddleia 'Honeycomb'. The flowers are an amazing lavender in bud, opening to peachy-pink with a yellow cast as they age. I've grown a lot of butterfly bushes and have seen nothing like this revolutionary introduction. Dazzle all your neighbors, hummingbirds and butterflies with this unique butterfly bush. Pot Size: 3 qt. (2.83 L)
The Jelly palm was/is most certainly one of Elvis's favorites...rumor has him recently sighted in South America growing Jelly palms. This slow-growing specimen is the most cold hardy of the "feather leaf" palms...reliable to about 15 degrees F. Below that temperature, protect the trunks during extended cold. The trunks eventually reach 10', with large 5' long drooping fronds of blue grey emerging from atop the central trunk...truly spectacular where it can be grown. When the plants mature, you'll enjoy the delicious early winter-ripening fruits. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Caryopteris 'Lisaura' is the latest superb introduction from UK nurseryman Peter Catt. This hybrid of Caryopteris x clandonensis backcrossed to Caryopteris incana has turned out to be the most heat-tolerant of the gold-leaf caryopteris we have trialed. The 1.5" or wider leaves emerge golden and age to a chartreuse gold, which allows the plant to maintain its vigor. Our 3-year-old, deer-resistant clump is 3' tall x 4' wide. The clusters of axillary blue-lavender flowers adorn the terminal growth from summer until fall, nicely accenting the golden foliage. In 2007, Caryopteris 'Lisaura' was awarded the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
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