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.

Fine deciduous species with excellent foliage collected by Peter Zale in northern Vietnam.  This will need a sheltered position in the Northwest as it breaks growth early in spring and the new growth can suffer frost damage..  That said, if you have that mild garden near the water or in an urban heat sink, this is a good one.

This is one of the rarest Maples in wild known only from a very small and threatened population which was recently rediscovered following its introduction to cultivation in the 1930's from a scarce handful of seed.  Narrow leaflets in 5's or 7's on a usually shrubby small tree and best in a milder garden. Parent plant thriving in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood.

Seed collected at Lao Cai, Phansi Pu valley, Vietnam at 1960 meters.  This is a striking semi-evergreen maple whose brilliant burgundy new growth ages to a dark glossy green and then scarlets up in the fall.  In the wild, this can form a decent sized tree but in cultivation is somewhat shrubby to a shapely small tree,  Not for cold areas, zone 8b?

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.

The largest of the Spaniard Grasses, this is native to sub-alpine montane grasslands on the South Island of New Zealand where it does experience snow.  The plant forms large tussocks whose needle sharp blue-green leaves can reach 3' long.   Perhaps best of all, it has a spike of soft yellow flowers up to 9' tall.  Not a true grass but in the carrot family.

One of the sweetest little bulbs imaginable!  Summer dormant with dainty white flowers on 6"  stems appearing in Aug into Sept.  This grows in Portugal, Gibralter and Morocco and is just as happy growing with Madrona in the PNW as it is Olives back home.  Grassy foliage up in fall and winter.

Our collection of this distinctive viningMonkshood from the wooded slopes of Longshou in Sichuan.   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 stem bulbils.

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.

Monkshood.  This is a fine wildflower from Japan making attractive clumps with cowled dusky lavender flowers.  This has been an easy doer increasing easily and the clumps are a snap to divide if you want more.  And we always do.

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.

These are from wild collected seed in the Russian Far East.  Light green foliage and spires of white flowers.  A good tough plant and quite attractive.

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.

These are sturdy plants which will grow like mad next year.  Our collection from Guizhou in 2012 of this handsome in foliage vining kiwi fruit.  The fruits themselves were quite a decent size, about the size of a walnut and made for a tasty trail snack.   No idea on the species yet - there are lots in China!  Hardy Z8 to likely Z7.

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 fine evergreen Maidenhair Fern from a naturally occurring hybrid between Adiantum aleuticum and A. jordanii.  These are a different clone than the "original clone" and no less desireable with the same fine and wholesome attributes.  Maidenhairs have always been one of the quintessential ferns in our estimation and this is a choice one.

This is likely the first introduction of this curious Tea family member from our collection in Guangxi Province. An evergreen shrub to 10' in the wild with long slightly drooping olive-green leaves prominently hirsute especially along the margins. Flowers are small and white and give way to small black fruit. We are thinking hardy to zone 8.

A Vietnam species which has been hardy to 15F.  Great container plant with tubular red flowers which can easily be moved inside for the winter where it can serve as a houseplant  until it is time to go back outside.  Or keep it outside until there is danger of frost and then hustle it in and bring it back out when safe.

This is a fine selection quite comparable to "Back in Black" but a bit more compact in stature aspiring to attain 3' in height.  This makes it much more workable for the front of the bed or as a container element.  Dark stems holding dark blue-purple flowers in late summer.  Mulch if very cold but has been fine here in the Puget Sound area.

This was selected at Bressingham Gardens by the legendary Alan Bloom and is derivative from the garden-proven Headsbourne hybrids that are noted for hardiness and excellent flowers.  This pick of the litter has 2-1/2' stems with baseball sized flowerheads of a good dark blue.  This will be good for zone 7 with a nice deep mulch.