China

Asian terrestrial orchid shared with us years ago by Adam Black at Peckerwood Botanical Garden with caveats as to species ID. It could be sinense or ensiformis or a hybrid of the two. Does well in the Southeast but protect from extreme cold there. We have not flowered this clone.

Superb form collected in NE Yunnan at 1900 metes by perhaps the preeminent modern plant hunter, Jens Nilsen. The list of 'firsts' in Jens' history of collections is astounding. This collection is not a first but is notable for being an exceptional form. Larger in all parts than previous introductions with gold flowers in midsummer.

We received this extraordinary selection from and equally extraordinary plantsman, David Mason of the vaunted former Hedgerows Nursery. Few members of the genus approach this for impact which is only heightened by flowering before other large-flowered forms. The emerging spring growth is enclosed in soft salmon sheaths and the hot damn lavender-pink flowers stand proud before the leaves develop. This is a cool climate genus.

Crazy fern that takes away the need to fuss of growing this from spore, as it makes a multitudinous panoply of ready-to-go plantlets on the leaves that will soon have you owning the corner in your 'hood dealing in fern babies. Remember, if it's a kid, the first one is free. Warmer gardens or indoors, mulch protect in zone 8 winters.

Choice species (as seen in our shade garden) collected by NW Plant Wunderkind Riz Reyes on Mt Emei in Sichuan. This species is often confused with Corydalis elata in the trade. This selection is quite vigorous with red highlighted new growth and spires of icy blue flowers. Moist.

You simply cannot run awry with any of the Roscoea humeana types and the eponymous 'Long Acre Sunrise' from Nigel Rowland of Long Acre Plants, England, is no exception. Our importation from the UK features the expected large flowers held proud above the nascent leaves. In this selection, a clear, soft yellow that will win over a good share of those who "don't do yellow".

Rich deep blue trumpets with exterior pale striping on this collection from a 10,000' alpine moist meadow where it mingled with too many Primula, dwarf Rhododendron and a Bistorta that unexpectedly threatened to steal the show. This requires rich, moist acid soil with afternoon shade in hot sun areas.

Tongue Ferns are widespread in China and Japan where they can be epiphytic as well as lithophytic on rocks. Fantastic variants are being selected by the cult followers of Pyrrosia in Japan and "Tachiba Koryu' is one with evergreen blade-like leaves sporting rounded lobes along the margins. Does fantastic at Peckerwood Gardens near Houston. We have seen the species making impressive colonies on rock faces or in mossy rubble during various China forays and it is always like coming across an old friend in the forest. This is best grown in loose, well drained soil and would be happy in a rotting stump or lightly shaded scree bed.

A very uncommon plant in North America - we have not seen it listed elsewhere - and one we brought across the pond from the lamentably late Michael Wickenden of Cally Gardens in Scotland. This is a much smaller version of this cold hardy species with dense low foliage of nicely deeply lobed leaves. The leaves take on fall color before dormancy and the early spring white flowers are welcome indeed if they escape being frosted.

This busy Lizzy is not the free-wheeling wild times tropical annual of your Grandma's time, this is the conservative backlash foliage over flowers, year round workhorse Impatiens. Hardy down to the warmer parts of Zone 6 this is a great plant to add some tropical flavor to your less-than-tropical perennial woodland garden. Plus happily spreading and easily dug to share with friends! Wheels of lime or silver-streaked dark green leaves centered in red with yellow balsamineous flowers in Summer. These are cutting grown from a particularly narrow form at the old Heronswood nursery. 

A fine foliage plant in the family Urticaceae and it is easy to see the family resemblance in it's cousin the nettle. But no worries, this is a venomless pussycat making a clump of tall stems with dangling panicles of tan flowers. Great texture for the moist shade garden. From China/Korea.

This clone came from a knowledgeable plantsman in Vietnam and no data as to whether it was from a wild collection or a cultivated plant originating from China. Evergreen Solomon Seal relative with white bells under upright and slightly arching stems clad in alternate green leaves. Hardy in Kansas.

Our collection of this exceptional form of this distinctive vining species of Monkshood from the wooded slopes of Longshou in Sichuan. It was an overcast day on this our first day in the field in the fall of 2012. The summit of Longshou was completely socked in which is frustrating to a plant hunter aside from missing out on spectacular views. As we made our way down the mountain, we got below the clouds and exciting plants started to pop out - Schisandra in full red fruit, 5' tall Arisaema, Vaccinium delavayi and off to the right, a flash of bright color. We hurried over and it was an climbing Monkshood in full bloom with eye catching reddish-purple flowers. The excitement turned to lamentations as it was in bloom which meant there was no seed which was a total downer. The lamenting turned to exultant whoops as we noticed this species had aerial stem bulbils in the leaf axils which are even better than seed. We think this is quite superior to other color forms of this rare species and have given it the name 'Monk Gone Wild' because it is a pretty crazy color for a Monkshood plus this monk managed to remain technically celibate yet still have lots of children via these stem bulbils.

A proven species for the garden, this Primula from China is in the Cortusoides section of the genus as evidenced by the broad, soft hairy leaves reminiscent of Primula kisoana but without the groundcover proclivities. A good display of pink to rose-pink flowers on 12"-16" stems in late spring with sumptuous leaves in attendance if given light shade and a moist, organic-rich soil. Our seed came from a most discerning Scottish grower.

Beautiful Styrax from southern China and a nice infusion of new genetics to go along with the forms already in cultivation. Vigorous grower of pleasing habit and not overly large at 20'-25' with profuse white flowers of good size for this species. Small nut-like fruit follow the flowers. A favorite genus of ours.

From Guizhou Province comes this collection of Chain Fern where it grew in association with Rhododendron irroratum and Viburnum cylindricum among other goodies. An awesome fern in the garden with fronds that can be 4'-7' long which arch low over the ground and which are salmon colored as they are just unfurling. This is a rare wild collection and one we propagate quite slowly by the 1-3 bulbils that accompany each imposing frond and so have a very limited number each year. Semi-evergreen in zone 7 where mulching the crown well in winter is advised to evergreen in warmer zones. Likes it moist. Best one we ever saw was at Linda Cochran's famed old garden on Bainbridge Island where she had a huge specimen luxuriating in her rich moist compost at the foot of an imposing bamboo clump.

We quite love the Roscoea clan and we have a special affection for this one which challenges for top honors as having the smallest flowers in the genus. Why would I want the small flowered one you ask? Because these small orchid-like flowers are an intensely colored black-maroon like a Lapin Cherry reduction dessert sauce is why.

Dramatic Bergenia from legendary OR nurseryman Russell Graham and we have named it so in appreciation and to keep this clone distinct. One of the most frustrating plants in our garden, not for us but for pleading customers as we've never offered it. Deciduous leaves up to a rounded square foot and white-pink flowers.

Originally from Maurice Foster who is one of the UK's great plantsmen who would not gladly brook an inferior form. This can hit 10'+ in height with a narrow aspect and generally deciduous willowish or bamboo-like leaves. Small purplish flowers and outrageous jester's cap fruit with dangling orange arils. This used to be the variety quinquecornutus but that has been sunk. We've seen this various times in China and Vietnam and always get the same pleasant rush.

Our collection from an area of extreme resource exploitation in Sichuan. Normally we don't collect much in this group but this was huddled out of harm's way on a cliff face playing the sympathy card which coupled with unusually glossy leaves and showy red fruit, we relented. Multi-stemmed to 8'-10' +. Deciduous. Every time we look at Viburnum in Flora of China to key this out and see the 115 taxa, we get easily distracted.