New & Restocked

More like Agapetes viridobracteata, this is the green bracted form of this species we also grow from a Vietnamese collection that possesses the namesake red bracts. While not as flashy this has a charm of its own, the varying shades and textures of light green have a cool, refreshing quality like a chilled glass of mint tea on a hot day taken while lounging on an exotic veranda. These would prefer to be draped over their own veranda, preferably one made of rock or stump-age, given their epiphytic past. This grows outside at the Rhododendron Species Garden so definitely on the hardier side of the genus.

A Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy Offering

Ahh just another native Saxifragaceae you say, and shove it under the table where you don't have to look at it too often. That is until, one day you see emerging from the Marianas trench of the greenhouse, the yellow bristling maws from a pack of some benthic sea monsters. On second glance these resolve into the intricately grotesque little spires of flowers from this unassuming creeping herb. "We gotta propagate this" quickly follows in your internal monologue and you note this moment for future sales purposes. A stoloniferous lover of moist shade.

For me this tree always resides in a particular memory from my time at Yew Dell Gardens in Kentucky. In the middle of the workday, executive director Paul Cappiello came screaming by in one of the golf carts and said "hop in we're gonna go look at a tree". So I did and off we went, ripping through the arboretum at top speed until WHAM we were smacked in the face by a thick, heavenly floral scent. The source of which revealed itself when we turned the corner and entered a sun-flooded clearing where white petals danced in the air as they fell from a majestic beast of this species drenched in flowers. "I think this is the best snowbell species", Paul said and it was certainly hard to disagree in that moment, its hard to disagree now for that matter. You need this.

You know that friend who despite their nice but nothing-out-of-the-ordinary looks seems to inspire an inexplicable frenzy of devoted suitors? You know the one with the flirty charismatic air that you just can't place because you seem to be the only one not susceptible to their romantic magnetism? Well this is probably that friend to those of you on the other half of the country. Which is fine by us cause we don't need the competition in the DMs that are already chock full of a large diversity of nectar-hungry pollinators. What can we say, the tall elegance and up-for-anything attitude that sees V in both woodland edges and prairie meadows just has us hooked. Wild provenance plants from the Western edges (Iowa) of this Eastern U.S. native's range, these particular plants are hairy leaved and have flowers that start as bright pink buds that open to white. our friend Aaron made a mistake in introducing us to this one.

I would probably doubt the desirability of mauve if I didn't have a friend who claims that apricots, of all things, are her favorite fruit. To that end I know for a fact someone is absolutely frothing at the mouth for this botanical monument to mauve. The fleshy-pinky-purple flowers of this hardy ginger relative defy characterization but they will certainly mauve you, whether to joy or uncertain regard however, is in the eye of the beholder. An introduction from the Roscoe-royalty at Hartside nursery in the UK.

We have long grown several species of New Zealand Libertia but now thanks to this wild collection by Cody Hinchliff we are excited to try out a Chilean one! In my own Chilean journey I saw this plant growing primarily on rocky bluffs by the ocean, not at all where I expected! Stiff, evergreen, iris-like leaves with the occasional orange hues that are quite tough and provide a great mid-size grass alternative with the added bonus of cheery white tripartite flowers. Happy in heavily wet situations but can also tolerate intermittent drought or drier conditions when established.

A Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy Offering

This species is best known from the clone ‘Chocolate Stars’ which has been around for years and noted for its brownish foliage.  This is not that but does have leaves in shades of copper when first emerging that later morphs into various green realms as the season progresses.  Likewise, the flowers for us start out white in the early part of spring and later are softly lavender.  These are rare second-generation plants from our own wild collection for those plant collectors (Me! Me!) who appreciate seeing alternative expressions of a species.  Fast-growing in moist light shade with white to lavender tubular flowers followed by narrow reddish seed capsules.  This will self-sow so we just pull off the seed-bearing stems leaving the fresh new foliage to fill out the plant.  We leave a stem or two just so we can have a few seedlings to pot up.  Any unwanted seedlings are weakly rooted and a literal snap to remove.

Stephanie Bloom is a bit of a mythical figure, both the plant and the namesake have origins which could be said to be murky at best. What is known is that this is an excellent form of Roscoea humeana. So excellent in fact that it was awarded the RHS' Award of Garden merit, only obtained through rigorous trials or the vouching of industry experts, an especially impressive feat considering that it was earmarked "Subject to Availability", a rare exception to the usual criteria. Well we are doing our best to aid in ameliorating that asterisk. Large dark flowers of an open appearance set ol' Steph apart.

Usually its the human doing the charming in the interspecific courtship with snakes but this poker has us undulating out from our woven basket docile as can be. The flute-song of its red-orange-white gradient lulls not only us into quiet bliss but a variety of pollinators as well. Tough and strong growing, a good old hybrid from Bressingham Blooms in England.

Potentially the first offering of this Taiwanese endemic fairy bells, collected by Pascal Bruggeman. Spindly green stems and narrow bladed leaves serve as the perfect garnish to the large, zesty, lemon-colored, waxen bells that rival even Kirengeshoma and set themselves apart from the more common Disporum uniflorum in their flared open mouth. That final pop of acid necessary for the balanced shade garden so coveted in fine gardening.

A richly purple selection of this usually pale yellow species, a color which is here maintained in the central eye. This is a favorite in our bed of 70+ Roscoeas for its early show of numerous flowers held among multitudinous vigorous crowns. Kudos to its originator Hartside Nursery across the pond and to Kelly and Sue for ferrying it across.

We are very excited to be offering one of the incredible New Zealand alpine daisies. If you aren't familiar you may want to leave now or you will be a lifelong thrall, with your fellow gardeners playing whip noises from their phone at every mention of another Celmisia you simply must have. If you're already in Asteraceae Anonymous then you are in good company hear with us. Broad felty leaves with a silver-furred underside belie the large classic daisy flowers, a simple recipe that produces untold deliciousness. Needs full sun, sharp drainage, and is maladapted to hot humid summers, though this species is among the more forgiving of these divas.

It's always a bit of a point of shame when we export a U.S. native from the UK, but we must say it certainly hurts a little less when it comes from someone like Sir Peter Cox of Glendoick. One can even forget the pain entirely when the plant in question is as dashingly handsome as this one. A bleeding heart with a real emphasis on the bloody side of the equation with the usually pink flowers donning a deep carmine robe that lends them a sultry romanticism. The rest is familiar but for good reason, finely cut blue-green leaves and a strong spreading habit. 

A unique Bergenia collected in Kashmir and later named by Beth Chatto after a close friend. It forms a neat rosette of highly unusual, bright green leaves that have a strongly tapered, or cuneate, base with a coarse ciliate margin, typical of B. stracheyi. In autumn, the leaves turn a brilliant shade of crimson, plum red. Heads of small white, drooping flowers appear in spring in tight clusters. An interesting foliage plant that may not be to everyone’s taste but is well worth growing for its winter colour and white flowers.

Thanks to our pal Scott Galloway curator of the best Bergenia collection around and creator of the incomparable info source the Bergenlist for the description and photos!

Have you also found yourself wondering if Tibetan monks eat strawberry rhubarb pie? When you discover the myriad amazing Rhubarb species that dot the Himalaya its a natural next query. If they do I wonder how they cope with the intricacies of high-elevation baking....Well one thing is for sure they aren't using this species, though it used as a highly valued medicinal for a range of ailments. So valued in fact that there may be cause for conservation concern. So do your part and grow this beauty in the back yard (and treat your bellyaches while you're at it?), huge ruffled dark green leaves form a clump that can get upwards of 5ft tall and wide. The plumes of white flowers aren't bad either. Not for those in the hot humidity of the deep South, unlike strawberry-rhubarb pie.

A clone of black crowberry we received from the late Captain Steele of Bayport Plant Farm in Nova Scotia. Unfortunately with the passing of Captain Steele we no longer have a way of ascertaining the finer points of this plant, nor the origins of its name. So if you know let us know! What we do know is that this low mounding Ericaceous shrub with its glossy black edible berries (requiring another clone) makes an excellent woodland or alpine groundcover!

A Cody Hinchliff wild collection of this long-blooming Arizonan salvia. The long wait to see what species this would be when it flowered was well rewarded with white centered indigo flowers ensconced by particularly dark calyces that received unanimous approval from the staff. Extremely hardy, to at least zone 6, and with all the usual benefits of sage, pollinator magnet, drought tolerant, deer resistant, fragrant foliage etc. 

Never enough of these whimsical epiphytic blueberry relatives with their chunky lignotubers and whimsical tubular flowers in a seemingly infinite variety of colors and patterns. Luckily thanks to our favorite local Ericaceae dealer Steve Hootman we are never long without. This collection flowers with white, slightly fuzzed flowers tinged green at the base and tips. The densely hairy arching stems and glossy leaves are good enough on their own, especially when they are flushing new foliage in salmon tones. Particularly vigorous and easy to keep looking nice as compared to its fellows in the genus, may have some hardiness as well.

Perseus had to best a sea monster to get his Andromeda, and Sue had to cart hers all the way from Vermont for us to offer them. Meanwhile all you have to do is shell out a few measly shekels to get yours, modern-folk and their convenience economy I guess... Anyway it's easy to see why Sue was so attached and why this sole member of the genus was bestowed the name of a legendary Greek beauty. Slender glaucous leaves that lend it the more mundane name of bog rosemary form an elegant evergreen mound worthy of a spot even without flowers. Flushed pink lantern flowers which mark the plant as Ericaceae (and at their best can almost entirely cover the plant) are deserving of a detour on your winged flight aboard Pegasus. Likes moist to wet feet and needs a cool summer climate to thrive but will tough out even the coldest winters.

We grow an unreasonable amount of different Ophiopogon or mondo grass species and varieties. Unreasonable because they mostly just fuse together into one globular grassy ball in the mind due to their lack of distinguishing characters. The forbidden blue jelly beans of this particular collection are vivid as ever. Wild collected umbraticola is good enough already but if that's what this is then it is a particularly fine form with a large profusion of both flowers and fruits, with the latter being on the larger side of those we have encountered. Being called "dwarf" must have given these a Napoleon complex that led them to excel in other areas...