There are hundreds of different varieties of peonies. We selected ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ because many of our clients ask for a pink selection. These bring a lovely sweet scent to the garden when in bloom and make excellent cut flowers. It’s a long time favorite (since 1906) and dependable year after year.
Monarda ‘Purple Rooster’ is one of the darkest and truest purple flowers around! Its upright, rigid stems create a strongly vertical aesthetic while the dull green leaves have a rough, sand-papery texture. Purple Rooster is very much so mildew resistant, which is a big plus when it comes to Beebalms! This cultivar was selected by The Flower Factory in Stoughton, Wisconsin and named by the owners David and Nancy Nedveck.
Culture: Best grown in rich, humusy, medium to wet soils in part shade to full shade in a location sheltered from winds. Must have moist soils that never dry out. Benefits from a regular, deep watering in hot summers. Site selection in hot summer climates can be a bit tricky because leaves tend to show wilt when grown in hot sun and flower spikes tend to grow on a slant toward brighter light when grown in shade. Probably best in partially shaded (afternoon shade) or dappled shade locations in the St. Louis area.
Noteworthy Characteristics: There are about 150 species in the genus, Ligularia. Most are native to Asia, especially Siberia, China and Japan. Ligularias have a basal rosette of large kidney-shaped, heart-shaped or triangular, often toothed leaves and stem leaves that decrease in size and number as they go up the stem. They have daisy-like, yellow to orange flowers held on narrow spikes, on long cone-shaped spikes or in flat-topped clusters. Ligularia fruits are cylindrical, usually hairless achenes. Ligularias can be large plants growing over 6 ft. tall.
Genus name comes from the Latin word ligula meaning strap in reference to the shape of the ray flowers.
‘Britt-Marie Crawford’ is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial that is grown in gardens not only for its showy rounded clumps of large, glossy, purple-black leaves but also for its summer display of bold daisy-like orange-yellow flowers. Its best ornamental feature is probably the leaves which generally retain good color throughout the growing season. This plant was first discovered by Britt-Marie Crawford growing in a plot of Ligularia dentata ‘Othello’ in Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom. After her death, her husband, James Crawford, took steps to honor his wife by naming the cultivar after her and introducing it into commerce. Leathery, long-stalked, orbicular-reniform leaves (to 7″ long by 9″ wide) have wavy, coarsely-dentate margins. Leaf color is a distinctive and showy purple-black. Leaves may acquire some green tones as they age. Leaves typically form a basal foliage mound to 24″ tall and as wide. In mid to late summer, daisy-like, bright orange-yellow flowers (2-3″ diameter) in loose corymbs rise above the foliage on stems to 36-40″ tall. U.S. Plant Patent PP16,113 was issued on November 15, 2005.
Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Slugs and snails can significantly damage the foliage. Even with adequate moisture, leaf wilting usually occurs in hot summer climates, particularly when the plant is exposed to too much sun.
Garden Uses: Group or mass in moist or wet areas of shade or woodland gardens. Particularly effective along streams, ponds, pools or bog gardens. Excellent specimen for the shaded border as long as soil moisture requirements can be met.
Ligularia ‘The Rocket’ is a stately plant with very tall, 5 to 6′ golden yellow flower spikes that rise up high over large, serrated green foliage. This variety needs constantly moist to wet soil for best growth but is spectacular in the right situation. The foliage will wilt during the heat of the day or if the sun hits it, but this is a natural reaction that doesn’t always mean they are dry. If they don’t recover as it cools in the evening check the soil moisture and then water deeply if needed.
Matteuccia is a genus of ferns with one species, Matteuccia struthiopteris (common names ostrich fern, fiddlehead fern or shuttlecock fern). It is a crown-forming, colony-forming plant, occurring in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in central and northern Europe, northern Asia, and northern North America. The species epithet struthiopteris comes from Ancient Greek words, struthio meaning ostrich and pterion meaning wing.
It grows from a completely vertical crown, favoring riverbanks and sandbars, but sends out lateral stolons to form new crowns. It thus can form dense colonies resistant to destruction by floodwaters.
The fronds are dimorphic, with the deciduous green sterile fronds being almost vertical, 100–170 cm (39–67 in) tall and 20–35 cm (7.9–13.8 in) broad, long-tapering to the base but short-tapering to the tip, so that they resemble ostrich plumes, hence the name. The fertile fronds are shorter, 40–60 cm (16–24 in) long, brown when ripe, with highly modified and constricted leaf tissue curled over the sporangia; they develop in autumn, persist erect over the winter and release the spores in early spring.
Matteuccia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Sthenopis auratus.
Jacob Cline Beebalm (Monarda Jacob Cline) is one of our most spectacular native Beebalm hybrids with heads of long tubular deep red flowers. Discovered in a Georgia garden, it has excellent mildew resistance and blooms for a month or so in mid-spring.
36-48″ tall x 36″ wide. With its spectacularly large, deep-red flowers, vigorous growth habit and mildew-resistant foliage, ‘Jacob Cline’ is a must for the perennial border. Planted into a compost-enriched soil with regular irrigation, this big boy will form impressive clumps that should be divided every 3rd year to keep it vigorous. Companion plant with Phlox paniculata ‘David’ for long-blooming summer color. (Cutting propagated.)
Culture: Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Sharp soil drainage is especially important. Avoid wet, poorly drained soils. Plants have good drought tolerance. Best flowering occurs in full sun locations. Stems are more likely to flop if plants are grown in part shade. Cut back plants almost to the ground in late winter to early spring as soon as new growth appears.
Although the taller species sometimes benefits from a spring pinching to control height, this small cultivar performs well without pinching.
Noteworthy Characteristics: Perovskia atriplicifolia, commonly called Russian sage, is a woody-based perennial of the mint family which typically grows 2-4′ (less frequently to 5′) tall and features finely-dissected, aromatic (when crushed), gray-green leaves on stiff, upright, square stems and whorls of two-lipped, tubular, light blue flowers tiered in branched, terminal panicles (12-15″ high). Long summer bloom period. Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year (1995).
Genus name honors Russian general V. A. Perovski (1794 – c. 1857).
Specific epithet means with leaves resembling salt-bush.
‘Little Spire’ is a compact Russian sage cultivar which typically grows to 2′ tall (species typically grows to 3-4′). It is a woody-based perennial of the mint family. Features finely-dissected, aromatic, gray-green foliage on stiff, upright, square stems. Whorls of 2-lipped, tubular, violet-blue flowers tiered in branched, terminal panicles appear over a long summer bloom. Silvery foliage can provide good winter interest in warm winter climates.
Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Plants tend to sprawl or flop over as the summer progresses.
Garden Uses: Mass or specimen in borders. Provides long summer bloom for the perennial border. Contrasts well with both pink (e.g., phlox, mallow or roses) and yellow (e.g., rudbeckia) perennials.
Edger along paths. Gray-green foliage and blue flowers provide good texture, color and contrast to many other summer blooming plants.
Culture: Grow in moderately fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. Prefers rich, moist, organic soils. Also prefers moderate summer temperatures over the heat and humidity of the deep South. Needs good air circulation (space well and thin out stems as needed) to help combat potential powdery mildew problems. Intolerant of drought and needs to be watered in dry spells. Avoid overhead watering however. Appreciates a summer mulch which helps keep the root zone cool. For winter, cut plants to the ground and remove from the garden plus clean up all plant areas in order to minimize possible powdery mildew infection for the following growing season. Remove faded flower panicles to prolong bloom period and to prevent unwanted self-seeding (cultivars generally do not come true from seed).
Noteworthy Characteristics: Phlox paniculata, commonly known as garden phlox, is native from New York to Iowa south to Georgia, Mississippi and Arkansas. It has escaped gardens and naturalized into areas beyond its original native range. In Missouri, it is typically found south of the Missouri River in moist or rich low woods, thickets, alluvial banks and gravel bars along streams and bluff bases (Steyermark). This is an upright perennial that grows in a clump to 2-4′ tall and to 2-3′ wide on stiff stems clad with conspicuously veined, opposite, pointed, elliptic, deep green leaves (to 4-6″ long). Fragrant, tubular, pink-purple to white florets (to 3/4” diameter) are densely packed in large, tiered, domed terminal clusters (to 6-8″) over a long July to September bloom period. Each individual floret has a long corolla tube and five flat petal-like lobes. Butterflies love the flowers.
A large number of garden phlox cultivars in flower colors including white, lavender, pink, rose, red and bi-color are available in commerce. Cultivars resistant to powdery mildew are often the best choices.
The genus name is derived from the Greek word phlox meaning flame in reference to the intense flower colors of some varieties.
Specific epithet refers to the plant bearing flowers in panicles.
‘David’ is a garden phlox cultivar that typically grows in an upright clump to 3-4′ tall. Fragrant, tubular flowers (1/2″ to 1″ diameter) with long corolla tubes and five flat petal-like lobes are pure white. Individual flowers are densely arranged in large, terminal, pyramidal clusters (panicles to 6-12″ long) in summer atop stiff, upright stems which seldom need staking. Long mid to late summer bloom sometimes extends into early fall. Narrow, opposite, pointed, lance-shaped leaves (to 5″ long). Good fresh cut flower.
Problems: Phlox is not always an easy plant to grow well. Phlox bugs, powdery mildew and root rot can be serious problems. Spider mites can also be a problem, particularly in hot, dry conditions. Taller stems may need staking.
By reputation, ‘David’ has good resistance to powdery mildew.
>Garden Uses: Garden phlox is a staple of the perennial border. Mixes well with other perennials and provides long summer bloom. Regardless of flower color, garden phlox is attractive to hummingbirds and is a good selection for inclusion in a bird garden.
Laura garden phlox blooms in mid-summer with round heads of large, lavender-purple flowers that are delightfully fragrant. The foliage is mildew resistant and this perennial grows easily in compost enriched garden soil.
24-30″ tall x 18″ wide (cutting propagated). If you love flowers with rich, saturated colors (and who doesn’t!), Phlox ‘Laura’ is a “must have” cultivar for your perennial flower beds. The white-eyed deep lavender-purple flowers are are deliciously fragrant. The plant’s foliage has excellent mildew resistance making it a wonderful, low maintenance garden phlox. Plant ‘Laura’ in compost enriched garden loam and irrigate regularly.
Culture: Easily grown in moist, humusy, organically rich, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Best performance occurs in cool sun-dappled shady areas. Dislikes hot summer conditions. Slowly spreads by thin rhizomes to form colonies in optimum growing conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics: Polygonatum odoratum, commonly called fragrant Solomon’s seal, is a rhizomatous, shade-loving perennial that typically grows to 18-24” tall on low, gracefully arching, angled (as opposed to cylindrical), unbranched stems. It is native to shaded slopes and woodland areas in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Each stem (to 18” long) rises singly from the rhizome clad with 8-17 alternate, upright, parallel-veined, elliptic to ovate-oblong leaves (to 4” long). Leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall. Greenish-white tubular flowers (to 7/8” long) on short pedicels droop (usually in pairs but sometimes solitarily) from the leaf axils along and beneath the arching stems. Flowers have a sweet, lily-like fragrance. Flowers bloom late spring to early summer (May-June). Flowers are followed by attractive pendulous blue-black berries (each 1/4″ diameter) in fall which hang downward from the leaf axils.
Genus name comes from Greek words poly meaning many and gonu meaning knee joint in reference to the jointed plant rhizomes. Early herbalists believed that plants with jointed rhizomes were helpful in treating human joint disorders.
Specific epithet comes from the Latin word odoratus meaning sweet smelling in reference to the fragrance of plant flowers.
Common name is usually considered to be in reference to the large, circular seals (leaf stalk scars) located on the rhizomes. However, some authorities suggest the common name actually refers to “wound sealing properties” of the plant.
‘Variegatum’ is a popular cultivar of var. pluriflorum. It features showy light green leaves edged with white. New stems are tinged with maroon red. It is a superior foliage ornamental for shady garden areas. Perennial Plant Association’s 2013 Perennial Plant of the Year. Synonymous with and formerly known as P. odoratum var. thunbergii ‘Variegatum’.
Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. All parts of this plant may cause discomfort if ingested by humans (plants contain small amounts of saponin and convallamarin). Watch for slugs, snails, weevils and sawflies. Leaf spot and rust infrequently appear.
Garden Uses: Best in woodland gardens or shady areas of rock gardens or border fronts. Foliage is attractive in flower arrangements.
