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145 products
145 products
Lily of the Valley. A good selection of this stalwart species with a yellow margin to the leaves and said leaves are larger than average as well. Typical scented white flowers. There are numerous spellings of the cultivar name but since this is an American introduction, we can only assume this is correct.
This excellent hardy orchid is one we received many years ago from our late Plant Guru, Jerry John Flintoff as Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. africana. Well, that has been merged into D. elata and it looks right to us but we are not orchid botanists. Vigorous, with green leaves and richly colored flowers. Native to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in north Africa, dallying on some islands in the Med (smart orchid!) and jumping to France, Spain and Portugal up to Belgium and the Netherlands.
Grown from seed given us by the originator, Dr. Keith Ferguson and named for his wife, Lorna. They have grown this spectacular, heavy flowering selection for over 40 years in their garden in the Cotswolds. From the Maritime Alps, this resembles our native Veratrum viride with similar bold pleated leaves and green pendulous flowers but this elevates that look to a ridiculous level with its sheer volume of flowers on stems that can reach 8 feet! We have been also gifted seed from the late Michael Wickenden of Cally Gardens and our friend, the redoubtable German plantsman Christoph Ruby. The fact that this trio holds this in valued esteem, should be ample endorsement. Long-lived, hardy as the bejabbers (been wanting to use that for years) and deer resistant. These are young plants not of flowering size but give them a rich moist soil and a bit of amply rewarded patience.
Hungarian Clover. Why should I buy a Clover? What are these yayhoos trying to pull? I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. Well, if you get this you will be in Deep Clover and that is a very good thing. This has mondo white flowers and trashes the ballyhoo and acclaim of this week's plant darling.
There really isn't anything like this - a plant with no comparables. Early spring yellow stars followed by leathery lobed green leaves in a dense low mound. It is the early yellow flowers that steal the show in part because they have so little competition and in part because they are so unique. As the season progresses, the yellow bracts turn to green and look like perfect green flowers well into summer. We did a little plant profile on this for Fine Gardening spring of 2011.
Truly a Sea Holly as this Eryngium is a dune plant throughout a good part of Europe. Hard to beat texturama for the dry garden, Mediterranean style or really, any ol' garden as long as you aren't too nice to it. Good drainage in lean soil and you can bask in the splendor of the gray, lightly spiny foliage and the small light purple flower buttons.
Good blue-flowered marginata selection named for Primula enthusiast Jimmy Long. The species is native to European alps and is found in rocky cliffs often under overhangs. These have been easy in pots in the open nursery and are great container or rock garden plants.
Wolfsbane. Our collection from the Swiss Alps of this quietly charming yellow-flowered Aconitum Lovely at trail's edge in the light shade of the deciduous forest in August. Apparently this is key to any good witches garden and used in shapeshifting spells and as a werewolf repellant. Better safe than sorry.
Very intriguing perennial with intricate light brown flower buds that appear to be spun glass art depicting the skeletal structure of some microscopic sea creature. From the center extends the feathered pinkish petals. While not spectacular compared to a Dahlia, we think it spectacularly interesting but then we are certifiable plant loons.
Soldanellas completely bewitch us wih their dual charms of excellent evergreen foliage and incredibly cute flowers. When these little guys flower, we just smile because this is such a little overachiever with its lavender fringed flowers in April. Reddish leaf petioles and leaf undersides are subtle allure.
In the Solanaceae or 'Tater Family, this deciduous perennial gets many stems that start blooming almost upon emergence in early spring with thimble-shaped chocolate flowers that are yellowish on the inside. Very cool. This likes part sun and is broader than tall at 2' x 3'. It has a nice little overlap with some of the black flowered Hellebores as it is really coming into its own as they are starting to tail off so there is a clever couple of weeks at least.
We love white flowers in the shade garden. The juxtaposition against the dark earth and the interplay and mediation with other colors makes white an excellent choice. These have pure white flowers with a light chartreuse throat touched faintly in red and of course those perfectly mottled leaves.
From Wendy Perry of Bosvigo Plants in S. England comes this unfortunately scarce and choice Campanula. Gently and very controllably spreading to make an impressive clump with spires of pure white flowers. Pairs impeccably with Hosta 'Patriot'.
A free-flowering, lower carpeting form of this choice species that is ideal in the rock garden and one we acquired from our friends at Rumbling Bridge Nursery in Scotland. This Croatian native has a tidy personna, showy mauve-pink flowers and small leaves coloring well in winter. When we say carpeting, it's more of a place mat.
This sterile hybrid Galega is a showstopper. Named for Lady Wilson of Rievaulx who is known both as a poet and as the wife of former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, if this plant reflects the persona of Milady then Harold was one lucky guy. This is a robust perennial making stout clumps with lots of tall sturdy stems supporting a myriad of showy blue and white pea flowers blooming its tail off the second half of summer. Great staying power and very reluctant to leave the party that is the summer border.
Uncommon species which has an understated wowness, a gently modulated shout-out, a decorous fist-pump, a nomination for Best Supporting Perennial. While this Pea is no Peacock, it nonetheless garners ample attention with its clusters of copper-orange Pea flowers in mid to late spring which are set off nicely by the dense light green leaves. Long-lived and to our minds, choice perennial.
European primrose species found in the wild growing in limestone mountains and favoring north-facing vertical crevices. Good luck growing this, right? Not so - it has been very easy and tolerant of, we're sorry to report, some surprising amount of neglect. Nice blue flowers over leaves edged in farina. This will make small 6" trunks in time. Zone 4-8.
Soft Shield Fern. These ferns are excellent textural additions to the shade garden as they make broad mounds of dense, fine evergreen foliage. Even though they become substantial plants with an obvious visual weight, it retains a daintiness of appearance. Tough and easy to please.
This was a purchase by the Miller Botanic Garden in the late 90's from the RHS store at Wisley and to our knowledge, is not available in this country and very scarce elsewhere. An early bloomer, in fact, it is flowering now this late December in its pots sitting outside unprotected as we have had a relatively mild winter so far. Huge flowers resembling an elwesii Whittall Group but it isn't according to Galanthophiles we know. Increases well and a good performer in the garden. Yes, it is one bulb.
One of those spring ephemerals we totally groove on. This tuberous Toothwort is native to the woodlands of the former Yugoslavia so current geography is from Bosnia through Croatia and into stable Austria. This will form a little colony but is not annoying in the least and is so delightful with its sizable white flowers in March. This will go summer dormant so no need to call when that happens.