China

Our collection of this triumphant Asian species which occurs in the Sino-Himalaya and is such a delight in the garden. This collection is from an adjacent area to the CGG14112 collection also listed and we expect these to be of similar high caliber when they reach flowering size. Rich, moist soil and plant shallow.

A Roy Lancaster introduction of the variety chinensis from Yunnan, China (which in of itself, is reason enough to have this plant in the collection but then Roy is a hero to us so we're biased but not without reason) of an invaluable winter blooming shrub tolerant of deep shade with white fragrant flowers from late fall into early winter. Superb shade evergreen shrub.

Collected by Hinkley from Emeishan as the species cavalieri, this Borage family member has riveting evergreen foliage washed in a gleaming silvery metallic overlay that is more than reason enough to grow this but OMG it has lovely flowers too which are white but touched in the palest blue. Gentle runners that makes a quiet patch. Ultra choice & rare, this has thrived in North Seattle for some years. Thanks to the generous and gifted Jeanette Kunnen for sharing. Full disclosure has some of these with minor slug nibbles on the leaves but we did not observe this happening in the garden - don't be dissuaded but we didn't want you surprised!

Rare Chinese Solomon's Seal that is on our admittiedly long list of favorites. Nice little increaser making a loose clump of wiry stems with lavender imbued green leaves and I'm secure enough in my masculinity to say absolutely darling flowers. A little sun to shade in decent soil.

From a 2012 collection in China by Goteborg Botanic Garden's three Henrik's including Henrik Zetterlund and his sense of humor is all over the expedition acronym. This is Polemonium chinense var. chinense based on the glabrous stems. Violet flowers, rarely white in late spring and early summer. We keep waiting for a white one.

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.

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.

Our collection from Guizhou in an area famed for its vast diversity and density of Rhododendron species. It was really quite staggering to see the Rhododendrons dominate the landscape even in the fall when all was out of flower. This little Mondo Grass grew as part of the herbaceous understory and had narrow evergreen leaves to 6" with 8" flower stems bearing up to 7 glossy blue-black fruits. Part of our mission here at the nursery is to provide wild-sourced plants in genera that is confused taxonomically in hopes more light can be shed. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy.

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.

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.

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.

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.