Achillea m. 'Terracotta' 

ACANTHUS mollis 'Rue Ledan' New White flower spikes replace the typical purple/mauve spikes of the species.  More compact, with spikes reaching to only 3ft. from a base of lush, dark, glossy green and spiny foliage. 

ACANTHUS spinosissimus (Bear's Breeches)    Leaves are dark green, spiny, very glossy and highly ornamental. The 2-2½ft., large clumps make a dramatic statement. Imposing spikes of mauve-pink rise 3-4ft. in midsummer. A stiking plant for both foliage and flower, and equally at home in the border or in a container. Easy, requiring only a site in full, or very light shade, with good drainage. Often listed as hardy to zone 6, but has overwintered reliably for us in the ground for many years, even self-sowing a bit.

ACHILLEA (Yarrow)   Extremely hardy, free-flowering, needs well drained soil. Good for cutting and drying. All are hardy to zone 3. 

'Anthea' Soft yellow flowers on 2-3' stems late spring into summer, silvery-green foliage.

'Coronation Gold'  The classic, with bright gold flower heads on 2-3' stems in late spring, gray-green foliage.

millefolium hybridsThese are carefree hybrids that thrive in average to poor, well drained soil in full sun and, with minimal cutting back, bloom virtually all summer. Foliage is usually a pleasant shade of green with a light, ferny texture. Plants recover quickly from hard pruning and, if so treated at the first sign of untidiness, will regrow into an attractive, fresh plant in a very short time. Replication of plants could not be easier, simply dig and divide into as many pieces as needed. Plants sometimes grow too vigorously for their own good, depleting nutrients and crowding other plants and we generally make it a practice to significantly reduce clump size every couple of years. 

'Pink Grapefruit' New Lavender-pink, larger flowers on compact, 24in. plants. 

'Pomegranate' New Rich velvety red flowers over compact foliage, 24ins. tall.

'Red Velvet'  Deep purple-red flowers. We've enjoyed this variety in our border for many years. It never fails to grab the eye with its vivid color and smart, upright habit.

'Royal Tapestry' A reliable variety that opens royal purple and undergoes many color as it tones down to an eventual light, mauve-white.

 

ACHILLEA m. 'Strawberry Seduction'  Strawberry red flowers over thick, dark green foliage with a vigorous mounding habit, 18-20ins.high.

'Terra Cotta' Dark peach flowers burnished orange with pronounced silvery foliage, 2 ft. tall. A distinctive color by itself and especially nice for toning down immodestly luminous reds and bonzes.

'Moonshine' Soft yellow, 18", gray foliage.

ACONITUM Monkshood  Monkshoods resemble Delphiniums in stature and foliage, but are longer -lived and tolerant of shade and moist (not soggy) soil. Bloom time ranges from mid to late summer to early fall. The taller, more stately varieties sometimes require staking. Hardy to Zone 3. Warning: all parts are poisonous. 

cammarum 'Bicolor'  4-5' stems bearing white and blue flowers in summer.

cammarum 'Bressingham Spire'New 3ft. sturdy spikes with violet-blue flowers in summer. Zone 3.

cammarum 'Cloudy' New Compact growing with delightfully unconventional, soft blue, hooded flowers blooming mid to late summer above glossy, dark green foliage. Low growing to only 24ins., so no staking required. Zone 3.

cammarum 'Stainless Steel' New A handsome new monkshood, 40ins. tall with beautiful, metallic blue flowers over gray-green foliage. Blooms midsummer.

 

carmichaelii 'Arendsii'  3-4' sturdy spires of dark violet need no support. Blooms quite a bit later than other Aconitum species, Sept.-Oct., persisting well into fall. Plant with Japanese Anemones for a lovely combination.

AGASTACHE  This is a large group of plants that thrive in hot, dry, sunny places and bloom nonstop all summer long. Lots of them are hardy in Zone 5, while many others are more tender, but any that you can get your hands on are worth having. Plants are upright growing with flowers presented on spikes that rise, in most cases, well above the foliage. All parts of the plant are deliciously fragrant and irresistable to hummingbirds and butterflies. Look for tender agastache under "Tenders A" 

barberi 'Tutti Frutti' Bright fruit-punch pink flowers on erect, 4-6ft. stems all summer long.  One of the tallest of the group. Thrives in hot full sun with well drained soil. Though officially rated zone 6, many of our customers in zone 5 claim that it consistently overwinters. Excellent drainage is the key.

'Black Adder'   Strong, bottlebrush-like clusters of dark purple buds appear in early to mid summer and then open a lighter shade of purple creating an exciting two-toned effect. Blooms continue uninterrupted through summer into fall.  Its foliage smells distinctly like black licorice when crushed, thus its common name, Anise Hyssop. Grow in full sun. Good drainage is critical. An easy to grow, long blooming perennial which, though designated hardy only to zone 6, has proven completely hardy here in Whately, (zone 5).

'Blue Fortune' A profusion of deep blue spikes July-Sept., 2-3', zone 5.

foeniculum 'Golden Jubilee'   Dense spikes of lavender-blue flowers bloom June-Sept. atop 36" stems. Golden foliage turns lime with age. Zone 5.

'Heatwave' New 3ft. tall stalks of fuchsia flowers all summer. Fragrant, drought tolerant and very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.

'Purple Haze'New Smoky blue-violet flowers on 3ft. stalks with all the same great qualities of the above varieties.

AJUGA 'Chocolate Chip' A dwarf Bugleweed with tiny, 1/2in. wide, chocolate colored leaves and blue flowers on low, 2in. stalks. Blooms April-May, but foliage is attractive throughout the season. Spreads quickly. Zone3. 

reptans 'Black Scallop' Very dark, glossy and heavily scalloped, burgundy leaves and deep blue. 6in. flower stalkes in May.

reptans 'Burgundy Glow' Dark burgundy foliage variegated with green and white. Short, 4in. flower stalks.

ALCEA (Hollyhock)  Officially biennial, but may live 3-4 years. Self-sows. Blooms all summer. 

ficifolia 'Mixed Singles'  A vigorous and extremely hardy native of Siberia. 6-7ft. tall. Grow in full sun in reasonably moist soil..

rosea 'Creme de Cassis'  This selection commands attention with its 3-4in. wide, showy white flowers with a raspberry-red eyezone and yellow throat. Both single and semi-double blooms are found on a single plant

'Newport Pink' Double pink flowers for most of the summer. 6-8ft. tall.

ALCEA rugosa (Russian hollyhock) Large single pale yellow flowers and deeply lobed leaves are produced on 6-7' stalks. Increasingly popular due to its classic form and resistance to hollyhock rust. Zones 3.

ALCHEMILLA (Lady's Mantle) Beautiful foliage plants with sprays of chartreuse flowers in spring/early summer.  Prefers partial shade and moisture, with good drainage. Excellent groundcover, edging plant. Cut flowers add an airy effect to arrangements, and dry well.  

mollis Lovely gray green fan-shaped leaves forming a 12" mound, zone 3. This is the "classic" Lady's Mantle

ALLIUM (Ornamental Onions)   Actually bulbs, ornamental onions come in many colors and sizes. Our offerings range from the outrageously large to the diminutive. The foliage on some species goes dormant during or just after flowering, so planting "full-foliaged" plants next door will cover up any unsightly dying leaves. 

'Gladiator' Spectacular, softball-size lilac-purple flowers bloom from late May into June on 3-4' stems. Foliage declines as flowering commences. Zone 5.

thunbergii 'Ozawa' New Only 10-12ins. tall with clusters of bright, purple-pink flowers in fall contrasting with the equally bright, pumpkin-orange fall foliage. Excellent as an edger or front of the border plant. Full sun.  Zone 2.                        

AMSONIA (Blue Star)   Graceful and long-lived native plants, with lovely and delicate foliage when not in bloom, and excellent yellow fall color. Pest free and low maintenance.  

hubrichtii Thread-like leaves, with clusters of blue, star-shaped flowers in June-July. The soft, undulating light green foliage turns a beautiful orange/amber in Autumn. 4-5' tall, zone 5.

tabernaemontana  A great plant that has it all: easy to grow, pretty pale blue starry flowers in May and June, and attractive willow-like foliage that turns a beautiful orange/gold in fall, 3'. Zones 3.

x 'Halfway to Arkansas' New A sturdy, well-formed, 3ft. high clump of deep green, narrow, willowy foliage that turns amber-gold in fall and remains attractive for many weeks. Interesting blue, star-shaped flowers in clusters during May. Grow in full sun in rich, well drained soil. Zone 5.

ANEMONE 

leveillei New Large, white, cupped flowers with purple stamens that create an eye-catching contrast against the white petals. Grows 30ins. tall and blooms for several weeks in mid spring. Prefers rich, moist soil in part shade.  Zone 5.

multifda 'Annabella Deep Rose' Spring blooming with deep, rose/pink flowers over fine, fern-like foliage.  Seed heads which resemble cotton balls extent the ornamental appeal.

sylvestris  Attractive clumps of dark green, sharply cut foliage from which arise flowering stems with slightly nodding, cupped-shaped, pure white, fragrant blooms. Total height of foliage and flowers is 18ins. Best in part shade where its glowing white flowers show to best advantage. Zone 3.

ANEMONE Tomentosa 'Berkshire Charm' New A fall blooming Anemone that has demonstrated reliable hardiness to zone 4.  Grows to 40ins. tall and enlivens the fall border with large, single,  pink flowers.

x hybrida (Japanese Anemone)  Aristocrats of the late summer-early fall border, Japanese Anemones bloom in shades of white to rich pink, with flower forms from singles to semi-doubles and doubles, rising on stems 2-3' tall, well above the clumps of deep green foliage. Provide rich, organic soil, with good drainage, particularly in winter. Zone 5. Winter protection may not be necessary, but provides some peace of mind.  These beauties are well worth any degree of fuss.

'Honorine Jobert' 3-4' stems bear single white blooms. A classic that has been gracing gardens since the American Civil War.

ANGELICA gigas Curiouser and curiouser are these intriguing, extraterrestrial buds and flowers. 4-5in. wide, oxblood red, flat topped panicles emerge from large, exotic looking, horizontal buds, never failing to astonish and amaze no matter how often witnessed. The unique flower color and form bring excitment to even the tamest border. Blooms July - August. Grow in full sun in good to average, moist, but well drained soil. Zone 4.

AQUILEGIA (Columbine) Spring and early summer flowering. Prefers rich, moist soil in light shade; good drainage extends life. Columine are an important early source of nectar for returning hummingbirds. Unless otherwise noted, all cultivars are hardy to zone 3.

c anadensis The bright red lanterns of this native columbine never fail to delight when happened upon in their natural setting which, here in New England is just about anywhere from open, moist meadows to drier, shady glens. Self seeds prolifically, - the more the merrier of this little gem - and is said to be less appetizing to leaf minors than other columine. 18-24ins. tall. Completely hardy.

 

canadensis 'Corbett'  A selection of our native columbine bearing pale yellow, long-spurred flowers

'Little Lanterns'   A compact, brilliantly colored red and yellow version of our lovely native, 10" high.

'Pink Lanterns'New Dainty, nodding, pink blooms with straw-colored inner petals. Very cute at only 12ins. high.

flabellata 'Ministar'   Very appealing, low growing columbines that earn their place at the front to the border, or in the rock garden, with a stunning display of nearly standard sized bright indigo and white flowers flowers.  Blooms May and June. 8ins. tall.

'Dorothy Rose'New  Light, rose-pink flowers of the "hose-in-hose" style, meaning that several flowers are set one inside the other. 24-20 inches high. Looks a lot nicer than it sounds.

'Origami Series' A newer strain of columbine that we've really come to like a lot. They are heavy flowering with large flowers whose colors are bright and sharply defined. Plants are well branched and grow to the perfect front to mid-border height of 18ins.