China

Impish little species to a foot or so which looked unremarkable in the wild but blossomed - literally and figuratively - in the easy livin' at the nursery. Clusters of small white bells heavily marked in magenta dangle from long pedicels at the base of each leaf which is likewise fetchingly daubed in a small spot of bright maroon. A Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy Offering. Graceful and attractive.

Our Asian collection of this seductively compelling woodland species. All parts in all stages have a synchronicity of poised loveliness that binds the gaze to that moment slowing time and pace allowing one to absorb beauty be it a nascent unfurling, ornament of purplish bells, refinement of green or understated black pearls.

Our collection from Yunnan in 1997 of this cream of the crop higher elevation Piptanthus. Imagine our excitement seeing just 3 plants growing in a rubble outflow at the base of a steep hill after hours of walking across the valley of the Gang Ho Ba. Great silvery silken trifoliate foliage and large yellow pea flowers. This makes a multistemmed rounded shrub to 6' tall in our border. Most folks mistake it for a shrubby Argyrocytisus (Cytisus) battandieri until it blooms with flowers evocative of Laburnum. We've grown and killed several collections of the green-leafed P. nepalensis but this variety (which we have offered in the past as P. aff. tomentosus and much earlier as P. forrestii) is far hardier having withstood early November 14F with strong winds despite not being hardened off as the previous week had been in the 60's. Thanks to Grahame Ware for sharing recent research in the genus and hopefully nailing down the correct name. With botany however, never say never.

These are divisions from our 1997 seed collection in Yunnan China. This is one of our favorite species (of course we could say that about any of them at any given moment!) of Bergenia and while the leaves are not the big elephant ears of some, they are nicely shaped and have some of the best winter color developing rich purple color. Pink flowers.

A collection by Aaron Floden that ticks many of the boxes for the species brachystemon but this has not yet been verified. The anticipation is keen indeed! The green-cream flowers in terminal groupings of 3-5 show well and even as buds entice in the nascent olive green shoots. A Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy Offering

A superb form of this variable species obtained from the former Quarryhill Botanic Gardens. Green elliptical leaves pair nicely with the large flattened corymbs of white fertile flowers which are sporadically fringed in over-sized pure white sterile florets. This owns a spot in perpetuity on our personal list of faves.

This is one had thought was Hedychium spicatum var. spicatum but are now thinking it is H. yunnanense. This is a much larger plant than any of our spicatum collections getting to over 5' tall and has a much larger and denser inflorescence packed with far more flowers - up to thirty. The flowers resemble spicatum in their shape and white and coral colors and the resultant orange-red fruit is also very similar.

Large green leaves stippled in evenly spaced pale hairs and small flowers pink in bud and on the reverse, opening to nearly white with the gentlest of pink touching the face. A rhizomatous species that has been hardy in mild PNW gardens especially if mulched in winter with something airy yet insulating. A Hinkley collection from China.

Oddity from the high alpine meadows of Tibet, China, Nepal and Bhutan which we have grown for a number of years. A tap-rooted species making clumps of narrow green leaves from which stems up to 2' arise in summer each bearing a single curious round head of closely packed small white flowers. A conversation starter for sure. This should be good to zone 5 given where it grows.

A collection by our friend Daniel Winkler of this Tibetan alpine meadow and streamside species found growing up to nearly 15000' . Nodding pale yellow flowers on a tall stem stem held well above the foliage, this was once described as var. luna due to its moonlight yellow flowers. This has proved a durable species here at the nursery carrying on year after year while more effete species quietly slink into oblivion.

Excellent form of the species from our 2010 Asian collection. Nicely packed flowers more horizontal than pendulous with more purple in the throat than typical. The new growth is pleasingly bronze which then greens up as the leaves mature. Don't be afraid to feed and water this - it will just get bigger and taller!

A tuberous species allied to Begonia taliense and differing mainly in the shallow lobes of the leaves. This is native to SW Sichuan and the Zhongdian Plateau in Yunnan. This has reasonable hardiness as it grows up to 2600 meters and is excellent in zone 8 gardens especially if you winter mulch. A low and densely clumping species with bright pink flowers late in summer.

Cannot ship to DE, MA, ME, NH, RI, WV. This was collected by Dan Hinkley on the summit of Emeishan in Sichuan in 1996. In his 2000 catalog he says with some embarrassment that he collected it as a scandent Hydrangea but that that it is Ribes henryi. Delving into Flora of China, everything about Ribes henryi is bristly and glandular so it is definitely not that species. (This muddle of plant identification is all too familiar. Pity the poor nurseryman trying to find time and focus to properly research a plant for what appears to be a seemingly orderly and bucolic nursery is really an out of control daycare on the verge of a cacophonous rebellion.) What it does key to is Ribes davidii var. davidii. This will be a low - 18"-30" tall - spreading evergreen shrub with greenish yellow flowers and favoring a moist, lightly shaded position. We've seen this species often in China and it favors growing on mossy rocks or outcrops in higher rainfall areas. Cannot ship to DE, MA, ME, NH, RI, WV.

Codonopsis are curious things. These are herbaceous vining relatives of Campanula or Bellflowers and seem an unlikely expression of such. From an almost bulbous root arises several tendril shoots which love to twine into surrounding shrubs from which to display their 2" dusky lavender star shaped flowers. Usually the foliage carries a musky scent but true confessions, we can't remember if this species does writing this as we are in the middle of winter. An unlikely armature for such improbable and lovely flowers. Many species of Codonopsis are dug in the wild as their roots are eaten although we wouldn't encourage you to try it. There's carrots in the market after all. These are young plants but should flower this year.

Three year old bulbs of this grand show-stealer. From near the eastern edge of this species described range, this was growing above a stream in the bright dappled light that filtered through the leaves of a panoply of deciduous and broadleaf evergreen trees and large shrubs. This collection has very rounded leaves.

Keying Ophiopogon requires a keener taxonomic mind than we possess plus a bottle of sippin' whiskey within easy reach as it is a frustrating endeavor. This is a little gem forming loose open tussocks of fine bladed grassy green leaves which provides excellent viewing of the comparatively large brilliant blue fruit. A Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy Offering. Proceeds from this offering go to support the mission of Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy.

This purple-flowered groundcover Skullcap is from our friends at Free Spirit Nursery in British Columbia where they only grow hardy plants - zone 5 or lower. We've come to regard them as brilliant. Low growing to 8" tall and spreading by rhizomes. Looked great in the Free Spirit 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.

Climbing Monkshood. This is from our seed collection on the Chongqing-Guangxi-Guizhou expedition in 2010. We found this on the summit of the previously unbotanized highest peak in the Wumingshan where it was clambering about on the top of the short scrub. We were struck by the large seed pods. Light to mid-blue flowers on stems that can reach 10'-15' on this vining Monkshood. This a widespread and variable species in China one we find most appealing.

Seedlings from this very good named form of the very variable Anemone obtusiloba which ranges at higher altitudes across the Himalaya into western China. Our mama plant came home with us from Scotland and is notable for larger blue flowers with 3-4 extra petals beyond the usual 5. We expect these youngsters to carry on the family tradition. Starts flowering early in spring with main flush in late spring but sporadic bloom during summer. A small species suited to a larger trough, rock garden or special spot in light shade.