A German selection of dwarf Balsam Fir and a superior cultivar than the more readily available 'Nana'. Hardly surprising that the Germans would have a superior cultivar and if enough of these get planted, they might counteract Volkswagen's emissions cover-up. Grows just 1"-3" per year and reaches 2'x2' in 10 years.  Zone 3-8.

Imposing perennial to 4' or more with stout stems holding large corymbs of small whitish flowers most of the summer.  Pretty awesome plant for a Yarrow and a hard one to come by and thanks to Gayle Richardson for sharing this with us.  Bold enough to fit in the tropical look, hardy enough to grow nearly anywhere and the deer don't like it - sign me up!

Wicked New Zealander with defensively formidable stilleto yelloowish leaves in a low dense mound.  This is not only deer resistant but wild boar, komodo dragon and grizzly bear reisistant as well.  This well armored Kiwi has dioecious white flowers in a showy yellow plume.  Good deep drainage.

Rollicking twining Monkshood from China that delights in scrambling up into shrubs or onto thin trellage.  Although a fine and aristocratic perennial, it remains devoid of snobbery embracing chainlink as if it were ornate wrought iron at an Antebellum mansion.  Dusky lavender flowers.

This is a clone of this climbing Monkshood species which initialy caught our eye as being subtly different than the other form we offer.  This has some yellowish mottling to the foliage and appeals to our geeky natures as being a little different.  Same light blue flowers as the typical form.  This will climb to 10' or more and drape itself upon a handy shrub or trellis.

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 blue flowers on this vining Monkshood.

An interesting Monkshood species from a Philip MacDougall collection in Taiwan.  This has large dusky blue-purple flowers on 2'-3' stems in mid summer and is not so tall so as to require support.  This does well for us in full sun but might be even better in half sun. It has been a reliable performer and a nice change from the typical Dutch and Euro selections.

Another climbing Monkshood species which we quite enjoy. A great deer proof perennial that each year produces twining vines to 10' or more with terminal clusters of Monkshood flowers of lavender-purple and white in late summer and fall. Good for trellises or running up into large shrubs, small trees or wire fence panels. Pretty darned easy.

The best of the black Bugbanes and more widely known as Cimicifuga.  This has rich black-purple foliage which keeps its color even in part shade.  Tall flower stems with foot long wands of white very fragrant flowers in late summer/early fall.  Great in big containers.  Deer resistant.  Black is Beautiful.

Appalachian Bugbane.  The Actaea Formerly Known As Cimicifuga.  Uncommon and quite nice perennial with maple-like leaves with late season white flowers like gleaming tapers.  Superb shade plant and one your gardening friend won't have.  Very likely deer proof.  Easy.

Our collection from Bita Hai in Yunnan at 11000' from a plant 5' high having an exceptionally long and dense seed head.  This will have creamy flowers with pale yellow tones in a "bottlebrush" sort of arrangement.  A not unpleasant muskiness to the foliage might keep the deer at bay.

Crug Farm collection from Chejudo Island in Korea from a slightly larger form.  This was found growing in a shaded dry streambed as just 8" tall plants.  The amenities of cultivation has fattened them up nicely and expect 18" or so.  Glossy leaves and white bottlebrush flowers.  Very cold tolerant.

Seed collected by Ron Ratko in Idaho from a white berried form although these will likely be typical scarlet.  Small poofs of white flowers in spring yield to showy seed clusters in late summer.  A nice native for the shade garden.

A subtle woodlander for most of spring and summer until late summer and fall when it suddenly busts a move and starts strutting its stuff.  Fern-like foliage backs small white puffs of flowers in May which become showy clusters of bright white fruit in late summer & fall.  The white version of our red fruited native.

Himalayan Maidenhair Fern.  Evergreen to semi-evergreen creeping fern making the the most textural groundcover imaginable.   Salmon pink new growth goes to light olive and finally green leaflets on black wiry stems just 8"-12" high.  Likes a loose moist soil but will tolerate dry when established.

Mairis's Maidenhair Fern.  This is a sterile semi-evergreen hybrid between Adiantum capillaris-veneris and anybody's guess.  Sterile hybrid means vigor - no wasting time flinging spores into the air.  If only I had been a sterile hybrid, I could have been a contender.  All that time lost and distractions.

A lovely cultivar introduced to this area by the enigmatic Pete Ray of Vashon and no relation to our local Kingston.  Tastefully narrow deciduous leaves with medium small flower heads of a good clear mid-blue.  Hardy and a good performer in the garden.  Sun and deer resistant.

A hardy deciduous selection of Lily of the Nile which boasts very good light blue flowers on stems to 30".  We presume that this is a Dutch selection based on the name,  Had it been named Los Angeles, we would have gone out on a similar limb and said US of A.  An established clump puts on a show.  We mulch ours in cold winters.

Also known as Threadleaf Hyssop, this grows in AZ and NM at 5000'-7000' elevation where it gets darned cold. The flowers are a orange to burnt orange set in a purple calyx and there other sunset shades playing in that floral sandbox as well. This likes well-drained soil low in fertility in lots of sun. Deer proof, low water needs, low maintenance - it's all good.

Named by plant guru John Flintoff who found this as an interesting seedling growing in plantswoman Loie Benedict's garden. Light green leaves with a spreading habit and flowers of a soft muted lavender which happily goes with most everything. As long as the soil is reasonably moist, this will be good in sun to light shade and is resistant to deer and rabbits.

Frosted Jade Ajuga.  Hard to believe that this is an Ajuga but it is true.  This choice selection has fantastic foliage and very good dark cobalt flowers.  Not a spreader - this makes a clump with 16" tall stems.  Challenges all of your comfy notions about Ajuga but in a good way.  Great in our shade garden.

Rare plant found only in limited areas in central Honshu, Japan where it likes the forest fringes in the subalpine areas and is known as hiiragi-sou or holly tree-leafed weed.  Hiiragi-sou sounds better than the translation.  This selection has dark blue flowers and is a deciduous clumper to 16" tall - very nice!

A dark colored selection of Allium senescens ssp. montanum by Mark McDonough that puts on a serious flower display of ruddy pink flowers in mid to late summer to the unending delight of those little orange Skipper butterflies.  Clump forming and not invasive, this is muy bueno.

One of my favorite Alliums from Mark McDonough with cool gray green foliage and sugar pink 2" balls of flowers in midsummer.  This is a rhizomatous type making nice clumps without being invasive.  The foliage looks good during bloom and the bees & butterflies have a rugby scrum over the nectar.

Tapertip Onion.  Western US and BC native growing in open rocky areas, stabilized screes, subalpine meadows.  One of the best colored natives with nice heads of magenta rose flowers on stems from 5-12 inches tall depending on how happy and mature it is.  The leaves wither before flowering leaving the stage to the star.  Ideal for rock gardens.

A fine dwarf Alium from China with small heads of dark blue flowers in this form.  This is good in the rock garden, loves full sun, tidy enough for edging on a small scale and deer proof so excellent for those Asian-inspired, deer-infested gardens on Orcas.

This is a Chinese species with 10"-15"stems of good bright purple flowers over grassy clumps of foliage.  This is an easy plant for general garden beds and does not want to dry out in the summer like the bulbous Allium species.   This reseeds just enough to make your planting look natural and not contrived and is not a pest at all.  Deer proof.

An uncommon and attractive Allium introduced to the Northwest by Diana Reeck of Collector's Nursery who was given seed of this while visiting Kunming Botanic Garden.  A clumping Chinese species with small heads of soft yellow flowers.  Adapts to sun or bright shade in reasonably moist soil.  Well behaved, this won't become a Yellow Peril.

One of the best Allium species you can get for ornamental value.  We love the broad pleated leaves which are endearing enough but toss in the 3" globe packed with ivory flowers touched with green centers and we have a winner.  Great in containers or rock garden.  Easy.

We are suckers for any Allium allied to Allium karataviense because they all have the most wonderful pleated broad foliage and good globe shaped flower heads.  A larger plant than its cousin with longer leaves and taller flower stems to 14" with a nice spherical display of purple-violet florets.  This is from the dry hills of Tajikistan so a good summer drying is a good thing.