New and Restocked Plants

Staggeringly good introduction by Jens Nilsen from the China-Myanmar border region.  This incomparable Lipstick Vine species is comment-provoking even out of flower with abruptly pendulous branches holding thick, long leaves. The red tubular flowers are the cherry on the Aeschynanthus sundae.

Rare species from Taiwan collected by botanist Pascal Bruggeman. This is evergreen in mild winters and has late spring subterminal clusters of pendulous bells the color of a perfect flan with tips of the tepals looking as though dipped in chocolate.  A rhizomatous species but so not a thug for us.

Ashwood Nursery's strain of Severin Schlyter's compact 'Bibo' selection. Strain refers to seedlings grown from seed collected from the clone 'Bibo' which is indicated by the ex. Strictly speaking, only divisions and not seedlings can be called 'Bibo' so in this case, keep the ex!

Young plants of this extremely rare species which we speculate will have only light frost tolerance so perhaps good for zones 9-10.  Evergreen bold leaves bringing to mind an unholy union between a laurel and a rhododendron.  Insignificant flowers at a relatively young age.

Rare and distinctive species endemic to the island of Ulleungdo off the coast of Korea evolving from the mainland species, H. asiatica - a great example of island species evolution.  The biennial leaves are very large. Small white to palest pink flowers backed by a stylin' green involucre.

A rare introduction of this small alpine Allium that is scarcely represented in cultivation.  Small flattened leaves arch close to the ground and the short-stemmed blue flowers are quite pleasing.  The leaves distinguish it from the similar but with rounded leaves, Allium cyaneum, which it shares habitat.

A robust hybrid of E. tuolumense showing broad lightly mottled leaves and 12" flower stems bearing multiple sulphur yellow flowers with a light brown ring in the throat.  A vigorous increaser by offsets - not seed.  In just a few years you will have a truly impressive clump.

A rare species from shaded moist areas in coastal Mendocino and Sonoma Counties in CA. Pleated leaves and branched flower stems to nearly 2 feet bear beautifully fringed snowy white flowers. Regarded as tender, Veratrum expert Christoph Ruby of Hof Botanic Garden in Germany tells us zone 5 hardy!

Our own flowering divisions from a plant bequeathed us from the former garden of plant-obsessed Marian Raitz.   This Japanese selection is a fully pink double and double means the flowers last longer than the typical single fertile flowers.  Ideal for cool greenhouse pot culture or mild gardens.

A fragrant free-flowering and good perennial blue Corydalis.  That blue is displayed in a quantity of such a pure intensity that it can leave one in a state of unintelligible, ecstatic glossolalia.  It is best to dress accordingly as you want to be looking fine if that happens.  To 12"+ and wider, rich and moist.

A subtly appealing Frit for the bulb enthusiast and one which does well in the garden (as opposed to fussing in containers or growing in bulb frames) This has up to 3 bell shaped flowers of a blend of olive-green and purplish-brown. Sun to half sun and decent drainage and increases quite well. Flowering size.

This excellent clone of the Wood Anemone has larger than usual white flowers held nicely above the foliage with better than usual substance and poise.  Hard to describe precisely but like some things that are elusive in definition, you know it when you see it.

Cool little gesneriad which recently was transferred from the now defunct genus Briggsia Glabrella.  We only call this molecular meddling when we are updating our various database entries and pot tags.  Shaded moist areas in Guangxi and SE Yunnan and can take light frosts.  White/pale pink flowers.

This from an unforgettable visit to Aberconwy Nursery in Wales, exceptional alpine plant growers.  A tender African violet relative, this makes dense rosettes of spirally arranged rugose leaves - the perfect backing for the white flowers!   A Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy Introduction.

This collection is from nearly 6000' in San Miguel Co., New Mexico and hardy down to Zone 5.  This yucca relative makes dense clumps of thin grassy leaves to 3' tall and holds the dense plumes of creamy flowers nestled in the uppermost leaves.  The brown seed heads evoke fat cigars.

Soft pale blue flowers on this clone which we brought in from the UK a few years ago.  This species seems a necessary part of the spring woodland garden and the twiggy rhizomes will in time form a dense floriferous carpet with flowers backed by deeply segmented green leaves.

This is loving our crevice garden but might be better in our rock garden as the 20" mat of trailing stems clad in small rumpled leaves is a tad big for the crevice. A profusion a creamy, violet-striped erect flowers sporting a purple hooded upper petal.  From the Himalaya & Everest National Park, to nearly 15000'.

Alas, most Schefflera you have known and loved have been moved to other genera with just a scant handful remaining in Schefflera. Perfectly sensible for a very large genus spread over several continents. These are seed-grown from our plants from the recent first North American introduction.

Our collection of this Chinese mayapple from Yunnan China.  Pink flowers in spring followed by large red roma tomato fruit in Fall.  Rich moist soil.  Great foliage.

Rare and elusive denizen of the New Jersey Pine Barrens which when in flower,  always strikes me as looking more extra-terrestrial than a product of our own earthly evolution.  Bizarre pink cones studded with blue anthers are just a giggle.  Rich moist soil in some shade.

Rare and choice goody that Jim Fox brought to us from England.  Surprisingly hardy with screaming hot bright fuchsia pink daisies in summer.  Don't plant it with Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' like we did - a memorable combo for its garish bad taste.  Winter dormant.

A Toadlily from a UBC collection in Sichuan which is a superior foliage plant with bold black mottlings especially vivid on the new growth.  In bright shade to part sun this has strong vertical stems which have late summer buff to amber-brown flowers.  This is pretty neat.

Our collection from our way to Tianchi Lake in Yunnan.  We found this Lily relative (which has been called N. forrestii) growing in a wooded copse with Sorbus reducta.  Likes a good moist soil and can have 7-10 flowers per stem in our experience when it gets some age.  Survived in Wisconsin where the ground 5' deep.

A refined shade plant that would grace any plant connoisseur's garden yet is perfectly happy to hang with us average Joes. Leaves evoking Anemone and pendant flowers combining pastels and lavenders in an understated parasol of exquisite design and dimension. A plant that is not on the radar of a lot of gardeners so let's keep it to ourselves.

A rich reddish purple foliage form of our native Western Stream Orchid found by Roger Raiche in California and the best foliage of any selection. Totally hardy outside and loves a wet spot but is perfectly happy in a garden bed that doesn't dry out. This makes a colony of vibrant colored leafy stems bearing numerous orange-brown-yellow flowers. Divisions from our patch potted this spring.

We have long affection for all the forms of the dwarf Iris cristata which is an east coast native and with Powder Blue Giant our affections sometimes manifest themselves in PDA's such as stroking the large medium blue flowers and oohing.  Deciduous carpeter.  A real sweety.

An outstanding selection from Mt Kiyosumi in Japan, this is distinguished by russet and burgundy tones to the new foliage and the lacecap flowers are the perfect complement to that foliage with the sterile florets being white in the center of the flower and bushing to a distinct pink rim.

Excellent member of the Crassulaceae which means it is a succulent basically but one that eschews the arid sunny spot in favor of lusher environs like our shade garden with dairy manure mulch.  Makes a thick clump of fleshy green leaves with taller stems of pendulous strings of beads yellow flowers.  Very easy to please and a show stealer in bloom.

Bleeding Heart.  Given the Award of Garden Merit in the UK, this is truly a winner with icy blue ferny foliage subtending the dangling white heart shaped flowers.  A superb form of our western native and deserving of a place in any garden.  Can you tell we like it?

Fabulous hybrid Hepatica that in time will form mats of great lobed foliage with loads of light medium blue flowers in early spring.  A durable plant with few if any faults.  Great with Ranunculus ficaria and Hellebores.