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Helmeted Cobra Lily or Jack in the Pulpit. Young bulbs of this rare species from the Indian Himalayan foothills. Tall stems to 4'+ carry big 3-parted leaves and strongly cowled or helmeted flowers varying from green with white stripes to purplish. Choice plant and one to brag about. These are seed-grown from our plants in our shade garden which have persisted and done well for 7 years now.

This durable Japanese and Korean species has been long-lived in both the garden and in containers for us. Wish we could say the same for some of the other species which have delighted then departed. Broad, glossy trifoliate leaves wing out above the striped, green and white cowled flower, with a distinctive mahogany rim to the spathe tube lip. Shade to some sun. Our own propagations.

This is a heralded Japanese Jack in the Pulpit whose species name sikokianum I believe translates into English as 'divine whup-ass' because this truly and gloriously kicks some tail in the garden. A mysterious yet provocative regal beauty. A classic for the shade garden.

A collection from Guizhou of this species in the Sinarisaema section and which is likely part of the variable Arisaema consanguineum complex. This has up to 8 radially arranged leaflets with attractive green flowers with pale white stripes held beneath. The long, attenuated drip-tip of the spathe-limb is softly chocolate colored and adds considerably to the allure. This has been a durable plant in the garden.

Tall Jack in the Pulpit. These grow into big boys with a large green flower and distinctive vertical spadix held well above the foliage. This merits that overused word of awesome especially when it gets 5' tall and you are eye-to-eye with that intriguing flower. The showy brilliant red fruit cluster is most welcome in early fall.

This collection is from the species elevational limit in the confluence of Tibet, Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan. This species is well-represented in gardens but from areas with much less cold exposure. Paired pedate leaves of splayed finger-like leaflets and sizable green flower standing proud above with an even prouder erect spadix. The showy red fruit in late summer and fall extends the pride. A durable and easy species in the garden.

Andalusian Dutchman's Pipe. Native to Portugal, Spain and hopping across Gibraltar to North Africa, this curious vine with its heart-shaped leaves always gives pause with its small mahogany-purple flowers shaped like trippy little saxophones. We find it nigh unto impossible to walk by without stopping to admire the pixie quirkiness. Comparatively large seed pods follow the flowers.

Northern California endemic representative of the incredible pipevine genus. For those with an interest in evolutionary life history, or who love to bore their friends with biology fun facts there is a lot to love here. The pairing of distinct pipe-shaped flowers and musty odor may be an example of plant life imitating human life, but scientists instead tend to think it has something more to do with attracting fly pollinators through deception, with the confounding curves ensuring enough time spent to ensure a pollen packet pickup. Then there's the fact that this plant provides the sole food source for the pipevine swallowtail butterfly, whose caterpillars use the ingested toxin of the leaves as a defense mechanism. For the less trivia inclined, the elegantly arrowhead shaped leaves and intriguing purple and beige striped flowers are sure to be reward enough.

Quirky little evergreen vine from the Mediterranean that brings delight far out of proportion to the size of its flowers. Small curved pipe-like flowers are a subtle burnished pale flesh on the outside accented by thin reddish lines. The flared pipe bowl is a perky yellow with faint lines in the back of the throat and a rim of umber, delicately whiskered. This was born to infiltrate the small shrubs in the maquis which gives protection from goats or is perfect on its own as a wiry tangled mound sprinkled with flowers in the rock garden.

Marvelous little Thrift that is the lazy gardener's cushion plant. The English alpine gardeners in particular pride themselves in growing these difficult plants that forms cushions or 'buns'. Well this makes a perfect tight round dome on its own with pink flowers right in the foliage. Easy.

Ruby Thrift. Great little tussock plant with low mounds of tight grassy ruby red foliage and stems bearing small pom-poms of deep pink flowers. A classic rockery or seashore plant. Tolerates drier conditions and thrives with average moisture in good drainage. Full sun.

Rarely offered little Wormwood which is troughable, which is a term we should trademark in order to capitalize on the 20 or so people who have both troughs and a penchant for dwarf Artemisia. We need a new business advisor or maybe we should listen to the current one. Few inches high and spreading. Yellowish flowers.

Cretan Arum. Aside from Crete, this is found in Turkey as well. A beautiful species that checks the boxes for drought/heat tolerance as this is a summer dormant bulb. The green leaves appear in fall and have been undamaged here in winter drops to 10F so guessing can go lower. Scented soft yellow spathes. Not flowering size, plant in well-drained soil 3" deep in sun and enjoy.

Our selection from the California Redwoods of a large-leafed and vigorous clone of Wild Ginger. This sports large glossy green leaves which mask the sizable brown starfish flowers hidden underneath. We always like surprises. A dense big groundcover in shaded rich moist soil.

Great foliage on this Wild Ginger from China which keys most closely to the species caudigerellum. A mist of white spray droplets on the leaves is especially vivid on the young foliage making this very desirable. Small tan to soft red flowers are a welcome addition. We have seen nice clumps of presumably this species in Vietnam looking fabulous on the forest floor among the bright buff trunks of Camellia trees.

European Wild Ginger. Rounded, heart-shaped most excellent evergreen leaves (evergreen in mild winters or our Z8 garden) hug the ground close and dense, hiding the small flowers and their lack of ornament We have a slightly paler leaf clone that is most apparently pale when planted next to this clone. We go the extra mile to ensure that you can have monochromatic integrity if you so desire!

European Wild Ginger. Rounded, heart-shaped most excellent evergreen leaves (evergreen in mild winters or our Z8 garden) hug the ground close and dense, hiding the small flowers and their lack of ornament We have a slightly darker leaf clone that is most apparently dark when planted next to this clone. We go the extra mile to ensure that you can have monochromatic integrity if you so desire!

A smaller Japanese Wild Ginger that eventually clumps quite densely. It looked good in our garden for many years but we dug it and potted it so we could share these and must plant some back. Small heart-shaped leaves with an irregular central green isthmus flanked on either side by a froth of silver. Small purple-brown flowers are not missed hiding under the fine leaves. This looks like the form from Mt Takao based solely on web photos from habitat. Wish we had our own photos from Mt Takao!

This has grown into one of our favorite plants. Much like an Eremurus or Foxtail Lily in effect with basal strappy leaves and a 4'-6' tall branched flower spikes in May and June with lots of pale peach tinted white flowers opening from reddish-striped buds. Longest-lived in sandy soils and late summer dormant.

White Asphodel. From Spain to North Africa and over to the Balkans, this has done very well for us in our garden. Narrow leaves in small clumps with flower stems 2'-3' tall and perhaps with greater maturity, to 4', and which bear showy starry white flowers. We also enjoy the darker round seed capsules which extends the interest. This will go summer dormant and isn't for the humid Southeast.