Veratrum oxysepalum syn. V. album subsp. oxysepalum
This is the Japanese version of our native False Hellebore. Wonderful broad pleated leaves and when old enough, nice spikes of white starry flowers to 3' or more. This likes a rich moist soil, emerges early in spring and goes dormant by mid to late summer. Deer resistant and very hardy. Young plants.
In Stock
Primula aurantiaca x pulverulenta
From great plant friends in Scotland, this showy cross of two fine Candelabra Primrose species garnered accolades when they used this to great effect in a display show garden. Colors are widely variable and size can be a bit shorter than the parents but literally, all are good and work well together. Now if only politicians............
In Stock
Primula 'Lois Lutz'
We learned our original offering of this was incorrect as noted by a Primrose Society judge who said what we had was 'Jay Jay'. Shortly thereafter, we got a letter from Deborah Lutz who said our 'Lois Lutz' was not correct and she should know as Lois was her mother and would we like the correct one? Thank you and Yes!
In Stock
Centaurea nervosa
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.
In Stock
Prosartes hookeri 'Callie's Gold'
The first all-gold foliage form of our native Prosartes hookeri. These are seed-grown from our fantastic variegated Prosartes hookeri 'Lemonworth' which we found near Leavenworth WA. Seedlings come up either green or gold and we look forward to planting seed of this gold form.
In Stock
Gentiana 'Striped Hybrid'
A classy selection we brought in from the UK as the pure white clone 'Serenity,' but turns out to be a dead-ringer for this Scottish selection with alternate petals dusted in light turquoise. At first we were a wee put off and aye, felt a bit of an eejit, but now we ken this a bonny lass and we not be haverin'.
In Stock
Primula beesiana ex Special Deep Purple
These are plants from a special deep purple form of this Candelabra Primrose from friends in Scotland who are enviable growers with an equally enviable discerning eye. We have not flowered these yet so we will be surprised and delighted together. This requires a moist to wet soil and can take full sun in cool sun areas.
In Stock
Ajuga 'Loie's Lavender'
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.
In Stock
Disporum smilacinum 'Ki-no-tsukasa'
A very good and stable selection from Japan of this little woodland creeper. Dark green leaves are well-marked with feathered yellow tips and in spring this has pendant white starry flowers. This will increase to create a definite bit of visual velcro in the garden because as your eye roams the plants, it will stop abruptly on this one.
In Stock
Dactylorhiza 'Harold Esslemont'
Solidly colored mid-purple flowers with each individual flower being of good size. The leaves are unspotted and green. This excellent selection commemorates Scotland's great plantsman who was a notable alpine grower and exhibitor. We have literally just a few divisions to offer of what is likely the first offering in the US. A Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy offering.
In Stock
Gypsophila cerastioides
A decidedly unBaby's Breath Baby's Breath. This is a delightful deciduous creeper that absolutely covers itself in lavender tinged white flowers with darker pencilings. Very nice in the rock garden or rockery. Appreciates good drainage but some moisture in the soil.
In Stock
Mukdenia rossii - dwarf form
A very uncommon plant in North America - we have not seen it listed elsewhere - and one we brought across the pond from the lamentably late Michael Wickenden of Cally Gardens in Scotland. This is a much smaller version of this cold hardy species with dense low foliage of nicely deeply lobed leaves. The leaves take on fall color before dormancy and the early spring white flowers are welcome indeed if they escape being frosted.
In Stock
Erythronium dens-canis 'Rose Queen'
This Dog Tooth Violet can really gussy-up the shade. Perfectly formed light rose pink flowers touched with warm caramel in the throat add a lightness and sort of tasteful elegant extravagance to the shade garden. The mottled leaves extend the interest. Imagine this in Barbie's garden...
In Stock
Uvularia perfoliata 'Jingle Bells'
A nice find in the woods of North Carolina, this variegated Perfoliate Bellwort is a choice addition to the shade garden. Creamy, feathered markings adorn the margins of the perfoliate leaves which pair nicely with the creamy white flowers. Perfoliate means the leaf surrounds the stem so it looks like the stem runs through the leaf. Slow to increase, we don't have many.
In Stock
Meconopsis - Golden Group
One gold leafed seedling among thousands from seed sown of our Blue Poppies. The leaves are most intense in spring and the flowers are a lovely amethyst. Like most, some are perennial and some are not. Save seed! Cannot be grown anywhere it gets hot and/or humid in the summer.
In Stock
Primula polyneura
A proven species for the garden, this Primula from China is in the Cortusoides section of the genus as evidenced by the broad, soft hairy leaves reminiscent of Primula kisoana but without the groundcover proclivities. A good display of pink to rose-pink flowers on 12"-16" stems in late spring with sumptuous leaves in attendance if given light shade and a moist, organic-rich soil.
In Stock
Asarum europaeum - dark leaf clone
European Wild Ginger. Rounded, heart-shaped most excellent evergreen leaves (evergreen in mild winters or our Z8 garden) hug the ground close and dense, hiding the small flowers and their lack of ornament We have a slightly paler leaf clone that is most apparently pale when planted next to this clone.
In Stock
Thalictrum - Yellow Hybrids
These are seed-grown from the impressive yellow hybrid Meadow Rue, Tukker Princess. These will gain some height reaching 6'-8' in flower with a nice display of bee-lovin' scented yellow flowers. Does not flop in our sunny and windy garden which is a plus. Self-sows which is not a plus so cut off seed head before ripe.
In Stock
Erythronium dens-canis 'Purple King'
This really would benefit from the heraldry of trumpets when it blooms since royalty does enjoy the pomp of lavish circumstance. But the flowers are such a nice fuchsia purplish pink with a red throat that the trumpets and all the trappings are implied. And with the same good mottled leaves.
In Stock
Meconopsis baileyi
One of the fabled Blue Poppies whose sky blue flowers in late spring hold people in thrall. This perennial species is one of the easiest to grow, a good fertile moist soil that drains in bright to dappled to part shade is perfect while avoiding hot sun and dry. Cannot be grown anywhere it gets hot and/or humid in the summer.
In Stock
Nomocharis sp. nova BO 14-125 syn. Lilium
Beautiful pink flowers on this elegant plant formerly placed in Nomocharis and where they continue to reside in our hearts and minds. Grown from a seed collection in China by the very knowledgeable Bjornar Olsen, this is a very special plant. Some variation from evenly pink to a pale margin on the tepals.
In Stock
Convallaria majalis 'Albostriata'
Nice striped leaf version of the familiar Lily of the Valley. This sometimes throws a reversion of solid green leaves but is mainly the cool gold striped foliage. If the green reversion continues into the next year then a surgical excision with your Hori-Hori is indicated. Easy and nice.
In Stock
Anemone nemorosa 'Wilks' White'
One of the larger flowered varieties of Wood Anemone, this has excellent white flowers which are more than enough to stand alone or perfect in a supporting understory role to larger shrubs and perennials.
In Stock
Iris 'Scramble'
We are pleased to be the first to introduce this excellent Sibirica Iris to North America. We were visiting John Grimshaw, plantsman extraordinaire and Director of the Yorkshire Arboretum, and walking about his home garden when he asked if we would like a bit of an Iris he had named with lovely scrambled egg flowers of yellow and cream. We said yes, of course because while we might be comparatively brutish colonists, we ain't without a certain native wit. Very floriferous on a shorter plant with flowers well-displayed.
In Stock
Pterostyrax cf. corymbosus H2MD 098
Our collection of what we presume to be the species psilophyllus although the immature seed capsules match corymbosus. Time will tell and either way, a fine deciduous shade tree with panicles of white flowers in May and June. Flora of China does not list either species as growing at the collection location which is cool.
In Stock
Geranium dalmaticum 'Croftlea'
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.
In Stock
Bergenia 'David'
A hybrid Bergenia from the breeding work of Rosemarie Eskuche in Germany. 'David' has smallish leaves which stand quite upright taking on good color in the winter. Being smaller and upright lends itself to containers or the rock garden. Intense pink flowers on stems to 16" in spring are impossible to ignore unless of course you decorate with plastic flamingos.
In Stock