MALVA alcea 'Fastigata'

KIRENGESHOMA koreana (Yellow Waxbells) 5' arching stems with waxy yellow bell-shaped blooms in July, attractive clumps of palmate foliage. Likes an acid, moist but not boggy location, zone 4. Differs from K. palmata in blooming 6 weeks earlier, growing 1-2' taller, and having more upfacing flowers whose petals curve upwards at the tips.  

KIRENGESHOMA palmata Grows 4ft. high from a thick, slowly expanding crown, forming a loose, upright silhouette, wider at the top, with branches eventually arching gracefully. In late summer and into September showy, 1 1/2in., waxy, yellow, bell-shaped flowers dangle from the leaf axils at the ends of the stems. Very attractive, especially so for blooming so late in the season. Gets lots of attention form visitors to the nursery, many of whom are surprised to learn that in fact it is a perennial and not a shrub as its thick stems and large, maple -like leaves might lead one to believe. Requires at least part shade and does well even under quite heavy shade with moist, humusy soil. We have both K. koreana and K. palmata in our lamentably dry shade border and its worth noting that both perform beautiful. It seems to be a case of shade trumping moisture. Zone 5.

KNAUTIA macedonica Wine-red scabiosa-like flowers on 24-30" stems bloom June until frost over neat clumps of dissected foliage. Self-sows nicely. Long blooming, undemanding perennials for dry, sunny spots Zone 4.  
 
KNIPHOFIA hirsuta 'Fire Dance' Red Hot Poker New Coral-red pokers turning yellow, above strap-like green -blue leaves. 20ins. high. Blooms June-July. Grow in rich, moist, but well drain soil in full sun. Standing water in winter is especially damaging. Almost all garden varieties are hybrids of species native to South Africa. Zone 5.  

LAMIASTRUM galeobdolon 'Florentinum' ('Variegatum') 15-18" trailing stems, yellow flowers over silver and green variegated foliage, June-July. Spreading habit—great groundcover for problem shady areas. Zone 3.

LAMIASTRUM galeobdolon 'Herman's Pride' Silver markings are dappled on green foliage. Grows to 8" tall with yellow flowers in the spring. Forms a well-behaved mound. Zone 3.  

LAMIUM maculatum These little plants are indispensable ground covers in part shade, with their neat habit, moderate spreading, and long bloom season. Zone 4.                             

LAMIUM 'Beedham's White' Very beautiful, lime green foliage sprinkled with pure white flowers in spring. One of my favorite lamiums for its foliage.

LAMIUM 'Ghost' New Larger than many other Lamium, with leaves that are completely silver. Pink flowers in spring that tend to rebloom in fall. If they should get a little tired looking in mid to late summer, plants can be given a hard cut and in just a week or so will develop fresh new growth to carry them through the rest of the season and, at the same time, dispel any doubts one might be harboring about the staying power of lamium.

LAMIUM 'Pink Pewter' Striking white and green foliage stays compact. 6in. tall pink flowers are long-blooming. Flowers in April-July. Zone 3.

LAMIUM 'Purple Dragon' Large, dense spikes of rich purple flowers and silvery foliage. Flowers are undeniably larger and more richly colored and more effectively showcased against the silvery white leaves.

LAMIUM 'White Nancy' Nearly all-white leaves with narrow, blue-green margins and pure white flowers. This variety is particularly dense, making it a useful weed-choking groundcover.

LATHYRUS vernus 'Rose Elf' Showy reddish violet, pea-like flowers on 8in. stems in very early spring, non-climbing. Very deeply rooted so able to withstand drought. A delightful, unassuming charmer especially conspicuous for its early bloom. After flowering, foliage conveniently dies back, clearing the stage for the next performer. Zone 4.
 
LAURENTIA fluviatilis 'Solenopsis' New Mat-forming perennial with small leaves and 1 ½in. small blue flowers. Prefers light shade but will also grow well in sun with adequate moisture. Excellent for planting between stepping stones. Zone 5.
 

LAVANDULA x intermedia Very fragrant, with improved hardiness and vigor. Dense and symetrical foliage form a compact ball of only 12ins. tall, but purple-blue flower spikes tower well above the foliage almost all summer. Zone 5.


LAVENDULA x intermedia 'Dilly Dilly' Very fragrant, with improved hardiness and vigor. Dense foliage forms a compact ball of only 12ins. high, but purple-blue flower spikes rise well above the foliage all summer. Zone 5.
 
LEONTOPODIUM alpinum (Edelweiss) Low growing plants with fuzzy greenish-silver foliage and woolly, grayish -white, star shaped flowers. Huge sentimental value attaches to this plant. Memorialize in song by Julie Andrews in the movie 'The Sound of Music'.  

LEUCANTHEMELLA serotina 'Herbststern' Masses of pure white daisies in Sept-Oct. Blossoms are similar to those of Shasta Daisies but with broader petals. Flowers are borne on very tall, 5ft., stems. An underused gem for the fall border. Easy in sun in good soil with sufficient moisture. Zone 5.  

LEUCANTHEMUM (CHRYSANTHEMUM)

LEUCANTHEMUM superbum (Shasta Daisy) 'Becky' 36-42", large single white flowers in June and July. This cultivar is particularly long-blooming, and doesn't flop. Shiny green foliage, excellent cut flower. A staff and customer favorite! 2003 Perennial Plant of the Year.  

LEUCANTHEMUM superbum ' Broadway Lights ' Large flowers open bright yellow and slowly change to butter yellow, then white. 18-24ins. tall. Blooms June through September.

LEUCANTHEMUM superbum 'Crazy Daisy' Fully double white flowers can be up to 6" in diameter, with a shaggy sheepdog look. 18-24" tall, zone 4.

LEUCANTHEMUM superbum 'Goldrausch' ('Goldrush') New Double, shaggy, creamy-yellow daisies that bloom heavily, June-Aug. on lower, 14in. plants. This is a really new and exciting Shasta daisy, with frizzy, yellow petals that remind me of shredded cheese. Color is brightest upon opening and gradually fades to creamy-white, with new yellow flowers opening amid those that have faded creating an exciting ebb and flow throughout the entire bloom period.


LEUCANTHEMUM superbum 'Snowcap' 8-10in. stems bear large, single daisies in late spring and summer.
 

 
LEWISIA A classic rock garden or alpine plant, with dainty flowers in spring to early summer and compact rosettes of dark green, fleshy foliage. They require perfect drainage, and a dry period after flowering. A good candidate for stone walls, or in gravel beside a path. 


LEWISIA cotyledon Hybrids Neat, tufted clumps with flowers in a bright blend of red, pink, orange and yellow on 10in. stems., only one color per plant. With their succulent-like leaves, plants are well adapted to well drained, infertile, full sun locations. Use to good effect in the rock garden, in containers and out of foot traffic between stepping stones.
 
LIATRIS (Blazing Star) Native American wildflowers, excellent for the border, meadow or wild garden. Exceptionally good cut flower, fresh or dried. Attractive to butterflies.  

LIATRIS 'Kobold' Rose-lavender wands of tightly packed flower clusters, 1 2-2' spikes, mid-late summer. Zone 4.

LIATRIS pycnostachya 'Eureka' A striking new Gayfeather selection developed by the Nebraska State Arboretum and distributed as part of their 'Great Plants' series. Tall, 5ft., narrow flower stalks with the top 1 to 1½ft. lined with bright, rosy red flowers. Adapted to life on the prairie, plants are happiest in rich, but well drained soil, in full sun. Valuable for their long bloom period which begins in mid summer and for their strong vertical habit which contrasts so effectively with softer growing, less formal companions. Excellent cut flowers. Zone 3.
 

LIGULARIA dentata 'Brit-Marie Crawford' Glossy chocolate-maroon foliage and broad clusters of large, orange -yellow daisies, 40", zone 4. Darkest foliage yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIGULARIA 'Osiris Fantasie' New rich, dark green, heart-shaped leaves with wavy, deeply serrated edges showing off the burgundy undersides. Interesting dark purple stems and yellow flowers that bloom just above the foliage in late summer. Foliage grows to 24ins. tall. Zone 4.

LIGULARIA stenocephala 'The Rocket' Stately gold spikes bloom in late summer over large clumps of toothed, heart-shaped green leaves, to 3'. Requires either constant moisture or afternoon shade or else foliage wilts dramatically, but will recover as temperatures cool. Zone 5.

LILIUM (Garden Lily) This is a preliminary listing that will be greatly expanded once the season gets under way. Watch this space for late additions.  

LILIUM asiatic (Asiatic Lilies) An early flowering group of lilies, blooming June-July with flowers held horizontally or upfacing. Full sun or light afternoon shade and good, well drained soil.

LILIUM asiatic 'Shocking' 24-30ins. yellow and red bi-color with outfacing flowers.

LILIUM oriental (Oriental Lilies) The Oriental lilies bloom after or at the tail end of the Asiatics. They are generally taller, have larger flowers that are fragrant and are very extravagant in every way. Cultivation is the same as for the Asiatics.

LILIUM oriental 'Acapulco' Mauve, very fragrant. 40ins. tall.

LILIUM oriental 'After Eight' Red flowers with white centers. 20ins. tall.

LILIUM oriental 'Mona Lisa' Light pink with white edges. 26ins. tall.

LILIUM oriental 'Stargazer' Upright facing dark blooms of a rose/white speckled blend. Ever popular and exceedingly fragrant. Good cut flower. 28", Aug.

LIMONIUM latifolium (Sea Lavender) Delicate blueviolet flowers on 30" stems over a rosette of broad, leathery leaves. Blooms for a good part of the summer. Plants need good drainage and air circulation, be sure to space them at least 18" apart. Flowers are good for cutting and drying. Zones 3.  
 
LINARIA purpurea (Toadflax) 3-4' spikes, the top half of which are encircled with multitudes of the tiniest, most delicate flowers in shades of pink or purple. Excellent filler plants, especially attractive when randomly scattered throughout the garden . Tend to be short lived, but self-seed reliably and once you have them, they're sure to return somewhere in the garden year after year. Hot sun and well drained soil. Zone 5. 

LINUM flavum 'Compactum' (Golden Flax) Many 1" waxy goldenyellow flowers with dark green lanceolate foliage, JuneJuly. 'Compactum' is superior to the species, 69" tall, and very floriferous. Zones 57.          
 

LIRIOPE (Lilyturf) An indestructible groundcover, Liriope spreads quickly in almost all soil and light conditions, providing that the drainage is adequate. Can be mowed in the early spring if winter is unkind to the evergreen foliage. Some varieties are listed as zone 6, but it has been our experience that, as a group, they're perfectly hardy in zone 5 and, in the case of L. spicata, even zone 4.  

LIRIOPE 'Monroe White' 12-15" white spikes bloom in late summer.

LIRIOPE 'Royal Purple' Deep purple, 12-15" flower spikes in late summer.

LIRIOPE spicata Evergreen groundcover with dark green, grass-like foliage. Upright arcresembling grape hyacinths. Zone 4.                
LIRIOPE 'Silver Dragon' 8" silvery white leaves with a fine, green edge; pale purple blooms mid to late summer. Zone 5.

LOBELIA  Breeding programs over the last few years have produced a gorgeous array of hybrid cardinal flowers, in rich colors from clear pink to velvety dark purple and red jewel-tones. These stunning plants bloom in late summer in sun or part shade, and prefer a moist rich soil. Cutting back spent flowers encourages additional side shoots to bloom, so the display lasts a good long time. They are hardy to Zone 4, but winter mulch is prudent to prevent frost heaving. Our native cardinal flowers, Lobelia cardinalis and Lobelia siphilitica, (parents to the new hybrids) are excellent garden plants and self-sow freely (particularly L. siphilitica) when they like where they are planted.   
 

LOBELIA cardinalis (Cardinal Flower) Bright red spikes in late summer/fall, 3-4'. Native.
 

LOBELIA cardinalis 'Flamingo' Soft pink flowers blooming on 20in. stems, July-Sept., with medium green foliage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOBELIA siphilitica 'Blue Selection' 30-36" spikes of clear blue flowers mid summer. Look for self-sown seedlings to plant elsewhere or to give away to friends. Zone 4.

LUPINUS (Lupine) Lupine often deteriorate after blooming and are best placed behind taller screening plants or, cut back. With cool conditions, blooms persist for weeks in spring. Good drainage and lime-free soil are essential. Lupines are vulnerable to temperature extremes, and can be short-lived for reasons that are not always obvious. On the other hand, when they are happily situated, they thrive, and self-seed themselves around. Zone 4.

LUPINUS Gallery Series A strain of lupine comprised of dwarfish, compact plants growing only 15-18ins. tall.

LUPINUS 'Gallery Blue'

LUPINUS 'Gallery Red'

LUPINUS perennis (Wild Lupine) Lavender flower spikes to 30ins. high in June-July. Goes dormant after flowering so should be place where its late summer absence will be camouflaged by other plants. Prefers dryish, well drained soil in sun. If you choose to cut back, wait until plants have had time to disperse their seed. Zone 3.                            

LYCHNIS (Catchfly, Campion)  

LYCHNIS arkwrightii 'Lingai Orange' New Orange/Red flowers over chocolate-burgundy foliage. 10ins. high. Blooms May-June. 

LYCHNIS chalcedonica (Maltese Cross) Dense heads of bright scarlet, 3'.

LYCHNIS coronaria Magenta flowers bloom on 24-30" stems in early summer, over silvery felted foliage. A biennial that self-sows prolifically. Zone 4.

MACLEAYA cordata (Plume Poppy) Showy plumes of coppery pink flowers atop 7-8' stems, July-Aug. Rounded, lobed leaves are gray-green above and gray-white below, with a dusting of cinnamon. An impressive and towering plant, somewhat aggressive but unwanted stems are easily pulled out. Zone 3.  


MALVA alcea 'Fastigata' 3-4ft. tall with an upright form and oodles of 2in., saucer-shaped, pink flowers from early summer to frost. Plant are so reliable and problem free that they're easy to taken for granted, but it's a mistake to do so. Their large, welcoming, bowl-shaped flowers are a pleasing shade of pink and are borne in great profusion, virtually for the entire season. Full sun and average moisture are their only requirements, and, they're appealing to butterflies and good for cutting. Zone 3.
 
MALVA moschata (Mallow)  36" bushy plants full of 2" pink flowers, early summer to frost. Easy in full sun and average soil. Very long blooming and carefree and ideally suited to informal, cottage garden type settings.

MALVA moschata 'Alba' White flowered form of above, 36".

MALVA moschata 'Appleblossom' New Soft pink flowers. 24ins. tall. Blooms July-Sept.
 
MEEHANIA cordata New Low, green, carpeting foliage, 6-10ins. high, becoming overspread with hundreds of 1 to 1½in. bright lavender or lilac flowers in May and June. Prefers part to full shade and moist, humus-rich, fertile soil. Entirely new to me, have only seen it in pictures but liked what I saw enough to want it in my garden. Native to Eastern North America, south to Tennessee. Zone 4

MONARDA (Bee Balm) Easy to have a love/hate relationship with these plants. They spread too fast and some varieties are just too mildew prone, yet their brilliant colors electrify the summer border, hummingbirds and hummingbird moths love them, and their fast spread can easily be managed so long as one is diligent and digs out half the plant every year,- sounds drastic but really is quite easy and soon becomes just another routine garden chore. We try to carry only mildew resistant varieties and these, of course, are the ones you should look for.   


MONARDA 'Coral Reef' Almost fluorescent coral to salmon pink blooms, 2-3', disease resistant foliage.
 
MONARDA 'Fireball' New'  Large red flowers on dwarf plants, only 16ins. high. Blooms June-July.
 

MONARDA 'Mahogany' Flowers of the deepest winered on 3' plants.

MONARDA 'Marshall's Delight' Smooth, rose-pink flowers carried on 3-4ft. strong stems with mildew resistant foliage.  Free flowering and long blooming. This is an older variety that has stood the test of time and won favor with many gardeners for all the fine qualities mentioned above.

MONARDA 'Petite Delight' Compact, just 12-15" tall, with lavender rose flowers and dark green, mildew-resistant foliage.
 
MONARDA 'Petite Wonder' Even smaller than 'Petite Delight', just 9-10", with clear pink flowers and excellent mildew resistance.

MONARDA 'Pink Supreme' New An excellent dwarf form with bright pink flowers carried above 9-12in. deep green, mildew resistant foliage. Blooms July-Aug.

MONARDA 'Praire Gypsy' New Bright raspberry pink flowers on low 24in. stems. Said to be mildew resistant and drought tolerant.

NEPETA (Catmint) This is an invaluable group of plants, long blooming with aromatic gray-green foliage and a clumping habit, in a variety of heights. Deadhead by cutting back hard after flowering has diminished for another, though more modest, flush of bloom.    

NEPETA x faassenii An indispensable plant for the sunny border. We offer the following:

'NEPETA Blue Wonder' A compact selection with heavier bloom than the hybrid, 12-15".

NEPETA Six Hills Giant' 30", larger and hardier than the hybrid, foliage is more green

NEPETA x faassenii 'Walker's Low' 18" mounds of gray-green foliage with lavender-blue blossoms late May through fall. Very prolific.
 

NEPETA siberica 'Souvenir d'Andre Chaudron' 2ft. tall with large, blue flowers all summer. One of our favorite plants for its stalwart, upright form, its refreshing, lime-green foliage and its summer -long production of catmint -blue/purple flowers, more blue than purple. Likes full sun and more moisture than Nepeta x faassenii types. A great cottage garden plant. Fragrant. Zone 3.

NEPETA subsessilis 20" spikes of 2" long, trumpet-shaped, bluish flowers. Blooms for an extended period in July and Aug . Unlike most other Catmints, this species requires rich, evenly moist soil in full sun. An excellent mid-border plant whose long bloom period, ease of culture and informal appearance make it a great choice for the cottage garden.

NEPETA 'Blue Dreams' Large, bright blue, salvia-like flowers on lower, 2ft. plants. Though 'Souvenir d'Andre Chaudron' will always be my favorite tall catmint, I am impressed with the vivid color, long bloom and overall consistent performance of this newer subsessilis variety.

NIPPONANTHEMUM nipponicum (Montauk Daisy) We hadn't been carrying this pretty daisy because we felt its end-of -season, Sept.- Oct. bloom rendered flowering an impossibility in our zone. But, having been "set straight" by a number of customer who reported excellent bloom year after year, we've gladly added this fine plant to our collection. Plants develop strong, stout, much branched sterms to 3-4ft. and become almost shrub-like in appearance. Foliage is dark green and lustrous and in Sept.-Oct. profusely adorned with large, single, white daisies.