Camassia scilloides            New!            Z 4 - 9        part shade

[Wild Hyacinth ]    This is the local species I find when walking the woods. Strap-like leaves emerge from the leaf litter and reach up to 2 feet in length. Height, however will not reach that total as individual leaves arch out and over like spray from a water fountain. Individual flowers have 6 petals arranged in an open star shape with protruding anthers extending from the center. Petals are light lavender, anthers are yellow. Flowers are on a separate stalk well above the foliage and arranged in an open spike.
   
Transplant: This species of Camassia is found growing along woodland edges in pockets of decent soil and leaf litter. I usually see it along rocky ledges and hillsides in drifts. Perfectly suited to gardens of the eastern US for the brown-black bulb wants winter and spring moisture while in growth, then a drying off in summer. Great in clumps with Dodecatheon (shooting stars) in white and pink, Trillium with mottled foliage and brown-red  blooms, ferns of choice.
   
From 5 pint containers.

Campanula 'Summertime Blues'        New!            Z 4 - 9        sun - part shade

[Summertime Blues Bellflower]    May be the longest blooming bellflower in the trade. Blooms begin in spring, accelerate into summer and keep on going well into fall. Flowers are bell-shaped with flared rim atop 2 foot stout stems. Flowers are silvery-blue on dark red-brown stems with serrated leaves of rich green.
   
Transplant: Good rich garden soil with a touch of fertilizer during growing season and you too can have bellflowers in your garden that look just like the photos in glossy gardening magazines. Easier than home-made sin to grow and certainly far more attractive. Another attractive feature is Summertime Blues forms a clump and does not do rampant spread by roots or seed about. Pair up with Thalictrum of choice, fall blooming anemone.



Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries

Heuchera villosa variety macrorrhizza                Z 4 - 9                shade

[Big Root Alum Root]    Selection of our native species grown from seed. Selected for its hairy light green foliage and stems, individual leaves can reach eight inches or so across. Leaves are five-lobed and heart-shaped on long stems. Expect a plant eighteen inches or more in height and perhaps two feet across. Blooms are quite late and although small, quite numerous on their tall stems. I like this one for it is what a heuchera looked like before all the hybridizing began. Very native. Very natural.
   
Transplant: For largest and lushest plants consider a humus-rich soil and light organic mulch. H. villosa will perform in somewhat dry soil with root competition. This species is also noted for standing up to our local heat and humidity of late summer.


Photo courtesy Jelitto

Heucherella  'Golden Zebra'        New!            Z 4 - 9        part shade - shade

[Golden Zebra Foamy Bells]    I find the hybrid Heucherella that haves parentage of both Heuchera and Tiarella perform best in my gardens. They seem to live much longer than many of the hybrid Heuchera, look better in winter. Golden Zebra has bright golden leaves with heavy embossing of red-orange down the center radiating outward along the veins. Definitely a show-stopper. This hybrid is smaller than most, reaching only 10" high and about 18" across in a very dense clump. Small flowers are mostly appreciated by hummingbirds, add little to the overall show.
   
Transplant: Heucherella do not like heavy clay. Give them decent well-drained soil and feed lightly. Sited properly they will mostly take care of themselves. Great in containers. For companions I have transplanted mine beneath a Japanese maple that picks up much of the gold and orange color echo. I expect to add Heuchera Brass Lantern to give further visual punch. Heuchera can sure be fun to play with.
   
From 5 pint containers.


Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries

Lilium speciosum rubrum    New!            Z 3 - 8            sun - open shade    

[Red Showy Lily]    Been performing since 1830, and still around to dress up the late summer garden when it needs it most. Stout stems reaching about 4 feet in height. Blooms are crimson-rose with white edged petals. Over the crimson are rough spots of magenta, contrasted by the pinkish-white centers. A true show stopper that is easily grown.
  
Transplant: Place about 6 inches below soil line and about 12 inches apart in good well-drained soil. Plenty of light is required for good flower production. Too much shade and they will lean toward the source of most light. Good with Aconitum, fall blooming anemone and late blooming geraniums as well as in containers.
   
From 5 pint containers.

Rodgersia podophyllum ‘Bronze Form’     New!        Z 5 – 7                open shade

[Bronz Form Rodger’s Flower]    Rodgersia are large impressive perennials deserving of a large space in the late summer and fall garden. Overall outline is up to three, maybe over four feet in height, eventually more than that in spread. Leaves are on long coarse stems, palmate with five leaflets. Leaflets are over a foot across and textured, serrated opening to bronze, fading to glossy brown-green. Blooms are in June and July, creamy white. Truly an impressive perennial.
   
Transplant: For best show Rodgersia require extra consistent moisture.  If you do not have pond edge, seepage area, drainage ditch that stays moist in late summer, create your own. Make a rather large hole in the garden, line it with pool liner and fill with peat and soil mix, then water in. Well worth every effort to grow this one to perfection. Use with large moisture loving ferns such as Royal or Ostrich.
   
From 5 pint containers.