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Or as we like to say, Lah-go Poo-Yay-Way. Presumably collected near the Chilean lake for which it is named, this uncommon clone is not horticulturally distinct from the Lake Caburqua form but does represent important genetic diversity in this monotypic genus. Scrambling and rambling and climbing woody gesneriad with orange tubular flowers and hardy here in Zone 8. A good wall plant for sure. We brought this home from England after acquiring it from an elderly collector who had numerous treasures which admittedly were staring into the abyss. Happy to say, it is living large here.

A False Solomon Seal collected by the good folks at Crug Farm Nursery during a plant hunting trip to Central America. They found this once common species in Guatemala relegated to remnant populations at higher altitudes above 9000 feet where it found it spread rhizomatously to form small colonies. This decline of a species is a common situation particularly in lesser developed countries where human subsistence takes priority over species preservation. We can thank plant hunters for their efforts in preserving and conserving plants through cultivation. White flowers on stems to 18" and the rhizome is best mulched well to prevent frost from penetrating in winter.

An intriguing Iris relative from higher elevations in South Africa which has narrow vertical foliage and dark yellow very Iris-like flowers. This has proven to be nicely hardy for us here and may well be hardy to Zone 6 especially with mulch. This provides that important vertical element in your design scheme.

This is from a collection of ours from North Dakota where its glaucous-green leaves looked most appealing. Small starry white flowers in May and June and the subsequent fruit is most appealing - to us anyway - when immature as the round green "peas" are decked out in dark stripes. This will spread a foot or so a year and you can eat the new shoots to keep it in check.

These we grew from seed we received which are a bit of a mystery as half the plants were as expected and the other these delightful rogues. We've not flowered them but certainly looks to be allied to Lingholm but whether these will be sky blue or violet blue, we can't say other than either will be lovely. These do not appreciate anywhere it gets hot and/or humid in the summer. Only for cool to cold climates, with no warm humid evenings.

If Thomas Hardy had written a book based on this plant, he would have tiltled it "Fusca the Obscure". Or Poe "Descent into the Plant Maelstrom". BIO -Botanical Interest Only. If you buy this we're doing an intervention on you and get you into the Plant 12-Step Program. You need help.

Small plants from wild-collected seed of this dramatic species native to the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains. Drama comes in with the leaves - up to 24" long and 10" across and the white 6"-10" flowers. The flowers are scented but not pleasantly so and not enough to banish from the garden this impressive tree. Full sun only in cooler climates.

Seed-grown from a wild collection in Winston County Alabama of this unrivaled North American tree. This has the largest simple leaves of any native plant - up to 30" long - and let's add the flowers as well which are 8"-10" wide and rarely to 12". These fragrant soup bowls are white with rose-purplish bases and followed by showy big cone-like fruits from which red seeds hang by threads. Seriously. Rich moist soil sheltered from wind.

One of the better grasses you will find as this has impeccable manners coupled with tasteful presentation. A dense and self-contained spiky green mound of thin green blades gives rise to dark-stemmed flower spikes which can reach 30" tall and are at their best in late summer to autumn. Came to us via Marchant's in the UK.

Guatemalan False Solomon Seal. A collection by Port Townsend's own Josh McCullough from Volcan Azul in Guatemala at around 10,000'. This grows both in the trees as an epiphyte and on the forest floor as a geophyte. Fab narrow pleated leaves with terminal drooping panicles of flowers backed in lavender-pink with pale faces followed by shiny red berries. The flowers pictured is the first small bloom on these plants and we expect a better effort once they gain more maturity and practice. I know Sue expects a better effort from me at times but I'm straying into too much information again. A very rare plant in cultivation and regrettably likely best in Zone 9 but it is completely untrialed. This is a genus we are passionate about.

Dwarf False Lily of the Valley. This wee woodlander as a species is native to western Europe and Japan with this tiny-leafed form likely from Japan. This is sometimes offered under any number of names and we got this one from Michael Wickenden of Cally Gardens. Small white flowers.

Kelly likes to bang on about Maianthemum oleraceum or even, god forbid Maianthemum fuscum, but this may be the true underappreciated gem of the genus. Pairs of glossy pleated leaves set so close together you'd be forgiven for not seeing the stem from which they spring. Grows big like its impressive relatives but stays low and arrays itself horizontally gently proffering gleaming sprays of flowers in a variety of purple hues with a pleasingly sweet smell which travels. A presence of beauty and charm without stealing the show, simply very likeable. 

The Wynn-Jones of Crug Farm collected this woodlander from Japan's Shikoku Island and represents a link to the shared flora we have here in the Northwest as there are native Mitella in our nearby woods. This is a low and evergreen species with foliage patterned in chocolate markings. The flowers are small pinkish-brown affairs with strongly recurved corolla lobes and held on stems 8"-15" above the leaves. This won't stop anyone in their tracks on its own but as part of the intricate plant tapestry that is required for an exquisite shade garden, this is an essential element. Plus if you are a tiny bit competitive, you can't disregard the fact that you will have something that is very unlikely anyone visiting your garden will have in their own garden. Zone 6 at least, likely lower and best in shade to part shade.

A very vigorous form from a Quarryhill collection that is much taller and has larger green leaves than any of the others we grow. The usual early spring white flowers in March and April here. We have a just a few of these from division here in late winter and these may not be fully rooted out on early orders.

Quite the uncommon small evergreen tree to large shrub that has tiny little red flowers cladding the stems which individually are a bit of nothing but in their multitudes are really kind of fun. Native to Argentina through Chile down into windy Patagonia, this has not been trialed much here but is growing at the Arboretum in Seattle. Zone 8. Previously received as Maytenus chubatensis and offered as such but finally plowed through some South America floras and wait a minute - it's Maytenus magellanica! We down widdat since it is actually nicer and hardier.

Partridge Berry. An introduction from Piping Tree Gardens Nursery in Virginia who made numerous selections from the rich local woodland flora. We can't attest to comparative sizes - too much like junior high locker rooms - but can say that this small-scale evergreen groundcover with small white fragrant flowers does have lovely red fruit.

Love Moraea and a lot of them are winter-growing and too tender for us but this is one that is summer growing and flowering which fits right into the program! Narrow green leaves with a slight tunic at the base, not as flamboyantly netted as in M. alticola. Lovely yellow Iris-like flowers come in succession on stems above the leaves.

We are very fond of this plant from Chile where it can scramble up into trees quite a ways and the branchlets poking out into the sun are studded with glowing brick orange 1.5" trumpets. We've also seen it kept as a loose mound in full sun literally covered in flowers. Evergreen.

We have seen this species in the wild on multiple occasions and it is variable but all are first-rate foliage plants. This particular collection is derived from the plant voted best broadleaf evergreen of the trip, excluding Rhododendrons. Umbels of small creamy flowers give way to small black fruit. While we can't recall every plant we have seen plant hunting, the memory of this is crystal clear.

We have not keyed this Chinese species yet but it is on the docket. This was a small tree growing in bamboo and mixed forest at good elevation. The leaves are glossy and attractive but the almost lilac-like heads of white scented flowers are the thing. Small shiny black fruit. A Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy Offering