A clump of Corydalis elata that thrives in our shady, zone 5 border.

CALAMENTHA nepetoides    Calamentha is one of those garden gems that always looks good and smells even better. A tidy rounded mound, 12 - 15 ins. tall by 15 - 18 ins. broad, tightly clothed in tiny gray/green leaves. In early to mid Aug. Calamentha begins covering itself with hundreds of small flowers. Flower production is profuse and long lasting, continuing until halted by frost. To call these plants fragrant doesn’t begin to describe the intensity of the aroma emitted at the slightest contact with the leaves. Extremely drought tolerant but perfectly at home in fertile, moist but well-drained soils. Pretty enough for a formal, structured setting but equally attractive in the herb garden and in more casual, mixed borders. Zone 5.

nepetoides ‘Blue Cloud’     Blue flowered form of C. nepetoides. 

CALLIRHOE involucrata  ( Wine Cups)      Bright purple-red, cup-shaped flowers all summer over finely cut foliage on spreading, ground-hugging stems. Drought-tolerant, native. Excellent when used to creep through stones in the rock garden or cascade over walls. They require well-drained soil, in full sun. Zone 4.

CALLUNA (Heather)    See listing under Trees and Shrubs.

CALTHA palustris    see under Woodland Plants

CAMPANULA (Bellflower)    A large group comprised of tiny, alpine types that are perfect rock garden subjects, all the way up to 4-5ft. varieties, and every size in between. Flowers range in color from white to rose to every shade of blue-purple and are mostly tubular, from trumpet-like to widely flared, with some of the most appealing being broadly flattened into saucers or chalices. All do well in average, reasonably moist, but well drained soil in full sun. 

carpatica (Carpathian Harebell)    Tidy mounds are covered with flowers most of the summer. Great rock garden or edging plant. All cultivars are hardy to zone 4.

'Deep Blue Clips'     An outstanding improvement in color, with intense deep blueflowers, 6-8".

'White Clips'    Large white flowers all summer, 6-8".

glomerata (Clustered Bellflower) Bellefleur™ Blue New    Large clusters of deep blue, trumpet-shaped flowers displayed just above the tight, compact foliage. A new strain of the Clustered Bellflower with a neater habit and a longer bloom period. 2-10ins. high. Zone 3.

glomerata ‘Emerald’ New     Soft, sky blue flowers with slightly darker edged bloom in clusters, May-June. 18-24” tall. A showy, reliable performer for the middle of the sunny border. Nice for cutting.

glomerata ‘Joan Elliot’     Clusters of deep violet-blue flowers on 18" stems in May. A time-tested garden performer, long blooming and its long stems make it a nice cut flower. Place at mid border with average, reasonably moist soil, in full sun.

persicifolia Peachleaf Bellflower     This is an easy to grow and satisfying plant for beginning and advanced gardeners alike. Deadheading greatly prolongs bloom. Zone 3.

persicifolia ‘Blue-Eyed Blonde’ New     Brilliant yellow foliage provides a stunning backdrop for the large, violet-blue bells that line the stems in June and beyond, if spent flowers are removed. Grows to a demure 12” high.

persicifolia ‘Chettle Charm’     Creamy white, bell-shaped flowers edged in lavender-blue on sturdy stems. Long blooming, from June-Aug. Makes an excellent cut flower with a long vase life. 3-4' tall. Light shade and full sun with reasonably rich, moist but well-drained soil. Zone 3.

persicifolia ‘La Belle’    Double lilac flowers on low, upright stems, May-July. Neat, compact habit, 24ins. tall, with deep green, narrow leaves. Dead-heading greatly extends the bloom. Makes a long lasting cut flower.

persicifolia ‘La Bello’ New     Not to be confused with ‘La Belle”, this cultivar has white, double flowers that are equally as ravishing as its blue counterpart. Blooms May-June but removal of spent spent will keep it blooming through the summer. 24-30” tall on sturdy stems. Nice for cutting, bringing a touch of the unexpected to any arrangement.

persicifolia ‘Takion Blue’    Blue, 1-1½, saucer-shaped flowers line sturdy, compact stems for a long period from late spring into summer. Foliage has improved disease resistance. 16-20ins. tall.

persifolia ‘Takion White’    Identical to the above except with white flowers.

persifolia ‘Telham Beauty’      Delicate, china-blue cups line the 3ft. flower stalks from June through July. An easy to grow and rewarding perennial whose charming, wide open, cup or bell-shaped flowers just keep coming for weeks and weeks, attracting hummingbirds all the while. Well suited to the cottage garden. Grow in full sun to light shade in reasonably fertile and moist soil. A standard of the classic perennial border. Zone 3.

‘Pink Octopus’      A Companula punctata hybrid with large pink bells with unique, long, narrow, tendril-like petals dangle from well branched, 15in. tall stems. An intriguing new flower form that adds a touch of whimsy and curiosity to the sunny, summer border.  Zone 5.

poscharskyana ‘Blue Waterfall’    ½” long, star-shaped lavender-blue flowers bloom in profusion June-July and sporadically the rest of the season. At 8-12” tall, an excellent edging or rock garden plant. Zone 4.

punctata ‘Pantaloons’    Fragrant, soft lilac, double, ruffled bells on and vigorous 28ins. tall stems. Blooms through the summer in sun or part shade. Zone 4.

rotundifolia ‘Olympica’ (Bluebells of Scotland)      12in. tall stems hold delicate, dangling clusters of small but, ever so sweet, bell-shaped, sky blue flowers all summer. Thrives in dry, alkaline locations such as pockets in stonewalls, between, in and around stones in the rock garden, and between stepping stones.  Zone 3.

sarmatica New     An unusual bellflower that's scarce in the trade. Distinguished by crinkled, gray-green leaves that form a rosette from which arise 18-20" flower stalks lined on one side only with dainty sky-blue bells that resemble the Bluebells of Scotland. Blooms May to July. Clump forming to around 12" wide. Drought tolerant and adapted to average to dry, very well-drained soil which is just the type of soil found at the tops of retaining wall, in pockets within rock walls, between stepping stones and in rock gardens. Zone 3.

 

‘Summertime Blues’    Expect a nonstop, season-long display of large, dangling, lavender-blue bells from this exciting new hybrid from a cross of two notoriously fast spreading varieties which, ironically, yielded this well behaved, non-spreading gem. Grows 2ft. high with a contained, non-spreading habit, similar to C. ‘Kent Belle’ but minus the rapid spread. Said to be the longest blooming campanula yet! Perfect for guaranteeing a season-long touch of blue in the sunny, mixed border. Will also perform well under very light shade. Zone 4.

takesimana ‘Elizabeth’ New     A handsome, strong growing and long blooming bellflower, still unfamiliar to many gardeners but with many qualities to commend it. Large, heart-shaped, light green leaves form a rosette over which large bell-shaped flowers hang suspended from sturdy, arching stems for many weeks from mid to late summer. Flowers are creamy-white flushed reddish-pink on the outside and sprinkled with red spots on the inside. These are large, burly plants, 3’ high by 3’ wide, that require sufficient elbowroom to expand and develop to their full potential. Brenda has had it in her garden for a couple of years and has gotten to like it very much. Like all bellflowers, it’s easy and undemanding, requiring only full sun to light shade and average or better, moist but drained soil.

CENTAUREA (Cornflower)    Rugged and drought tolerant with intriguingly thread-like petals. Colors range from white to rose, to yellow and to the brightest of blues. Often described as informal looking and best suited to the meadow or naturalized garden, but this characterization does a disservice to these handsome plants which can stand shoulder to shoulder with any of the more “refined” border perennials. 

macrocephala    Large tennis-ball sized, bright yellow flowers are prized by florists as cutflowers, lasting 10 days in the vase. Grows 34' high under farvorable conditions; needs full sun and good drainage. A big attention-getter when in bloom in our border and, although it has been around since perennials were invented, the usual reaction from visitors is “what the heck is that thing?”. Zones 3.

montana (Perennial Bachelor Button)    The perennial bachelor button produces deep blue, 2in. flowers for  many weeks throughout the summer, cut back for rebloom. 12-18ins. tall. Grow in full sun in well drained soil.

montana ‘Amethyst Dream’ New       What makes this cultivar unique is the intensity of its deep purple flowers, a color very different from the typical purple of C. montana. Grows 20” high and has the same long bloom period and undemanding cultural requirements as the species.

montana ‘Amethyst in Snow’    Pure white feathery flowers with royal-purple centers.

montana ‘Gold Bouillon’    Dazzling yellow-chartreuse foliage brightens the trendiest garden, especially when coupled with the 2in., fringed, deep-blue cornflowers that blossom from late spring through summer when deadheaded. Grow in sun, in average well drained soil. Zone 3.

CENTRANTHUS ruber ‘Coccineus’    These are lime lovers, most at home in sunny, dry, alkaline sites. If happy, they spend their summers throwing up 2ft. stalks of attractive rosy-red flowers. When planting them, look for your sunniest, driest spot and ad lime whether or not you think you need to. Here at the nursery, the plants that do the best are the ones that self-seed into our barren, pebble walkways. Zone 4. 

CERASTIUM tomentosum    Low growing and wide spreading mats of narrow, silver-gray leaves are overspread with thousands of tiny white flowers that are elevated above the foliage on 8in. stems. Clumps are 4-5ins. high and 2-3ft. wide. Grow in full sun with good drainage. Zone 3.

CERATOSTIGMA plumbaginoides (Plumbago)    Dark, azure blue flowers held in bright red calexes from August throgh September over tightly mounding green leaves that turn bright red in fall. In the South it spreads well enough to be used as a ground-cover, but here in the North it’s very well behaved, and spreads only enough to form an attractive clump 1-2ft. across. Very late to emerge in spring, so don’t expect to see anything until at least mid to late May. Zone 4  

CHELONE (Turtle Head)     Easy, low-maintenance plants for the border; especially good for moist soils, or alongside streams and ponds. Chelones form large, rounded clumps with spikes of unusual flowers for a much appreciated late summer display. Dark, shiny foliage provides season-long beauty.

CHELONE lyonii 'Hot Lips'    Rose-pink flowers resembling turtle heads in Aug.-Sept. and foliage that emerges bronze-green and turns to a lustrous, rich dark green. 24-30" high. Always the focus of much attention when in bloom late in the season. Plants have a sturdiness about them that leads many visitors to mistake them for shrubs. Zone 4.

CHRYSANTHEMUM    This genus has gone through major name changes. We've listed the various species under their new names, but include a cross-reference here so you can still find them!

coccineum (Painted Daisy):    see Tanacetum coccineum

superbum (Shasta Daisy):   see Leucanthemum maximum

wehrichii:    see Dendranthema weyrichii

zawadskii (rubellum):    see Dendranthema zawadskii

Chrysogonum virginianum ‘Pierre’     Long, red-tinted leaf stalks with soft green leaves creep along the ground to form a thick ground cover. Early in the season the foliage becomes covered with starry golden flowers. Grows in sun or shade and requires consistent moisture throughout the season. 6” high with a spread of 2’ or more. Blooms mid-spring to summer. Zone 5.

Cimicifuga (Snakeroot, Bugbane)    A stately plant with spires of white flowers. Good at the back of the border and as contrast to large, coarse leaved companions such as darmeras, hostas and rodgersias. Prefers moist, rich soil. Dark leaved varieties color more intensely with increased light exposure, with full sun producing the deepest, most dramatic leaf color. However, plants in full sun require ample moisture to perform well and if water is lacking, than afternoon shade is recommended. 

racemosa 5-7' spires of white flowers bloom July-Aug. A statuesque and elegant woodland native, zone 3.

simplex ‘Black Negligee’ New    Deep dark purple foliage and fragrant white, purple tinted flowers on stately wands that rise high above the foliage. Darkest foliage color is achieved in full sun, though, when grown in sun, soil must be evenly moist. Shade is more forgiving if soil is drier and, in fact, when grown in part shade not much intensity of foliage color is sacrificed. 40” high.

simplex 'Brunette'     A plant that takes your breath away with its sumptuous, dark maroon leaves and stems and elegant 1½' pale pink, fragrant flower spikes in late summer-early fall, 3-4' tall.

simplex ‘Hillside Black Black’ New    Very handsome leaves of deep, copper-purple, beautifully arranged in graceful tiers as they work their way up the stems, finally giving way to tall flower spikes of fragrant, white flowers.

simplex ‘Pink Spike’      Dark, bronze-purple foliage and 4ft. wands of pale pink, very fragrant flowers late summer into fall. 

simplex 'White Pearl'    4ft. clumps of ferny leaves topped by 2ft. spikes of bottlebrush-like, creamy white flowers Sept and Oct.. Valuable for its late bloom.

CONVALLARIA majalis (Lily of the Valley)    Fragrant white nodding bells in spring, spreads quickly, 6-8".                              

 'Bordeaux'    Blooms more prolifically and with larger flowers than the species. Taller flower stalks appear higher above the foliage.

COREOPSIS    The classic golden summer daisy, free blooming. All species require a sunny, well drained site. Deadheading most species of will greatly extend season of bloom. Zone 4. 

grandiflora ‘Heliot’     Sunny yellow flowers with rust-red centers, 14” tall with a compact, uniform habit. Blooms June-Autumn. A carefree, cheerful, long-blooming little gem that pumps out bright flowers all summer with no fuss or bother except perhaps the occasional deadheading.

grandiflora ‘Jethro Tull’    A natural cross of C. grand. ‘Early Sunrise’ and C. a. ‘Zamphir’ that improves upon the best qualities of both parents with bright, golden yellow flowers more consistently fluted than ‘Zampfir’, with a neat compact habit and very heavy flower production from mid spring until late summer. Grows 18ins. tall and makes a standout contribution to fresh arrangements. Zone 4.

‘Sienna Sunset’New     Eye-catching flowers in a rich shade of burnt sienna bloom June-Oct. on 16-20in. stems. A sport of C. 'Crème Brulee', it shares the same great characteristics of its parent, while adding an exciting new color to the tickseed world. Creates a focal point in any garden and combines especially well with dark-leaved Heuchera. Zone 5.

tripteris New     This N. American native is not often encountered in the trade, but it’s definitely worth seeking out. Tall, 6-8’ high, strong stems that are branched at the top come alive with bright yellow, 2” daisies, July-Sept. Flowers undergo a fascinating color shift, gradually changing from yellow to purplish as the season progresses. Long-lived and well adapted to sun and part shade and dry to average soil. A large, imposing, easy to grow perennial that combines beautifully with Asters, Beebalm and Phlox for a late season show. Zone 4..   

verticilata 'Moonbeam'     Pale lemon daisies from June to frost if deadheaded, 15-18". Spreading, mounded form. Narrow leaves are dark green. 

verticilata ‘Route 66’ New    Single, yellow flowers with a stunning deep red ring spreading toward the tips of the rays. The red coloring becomes more dominant as the summer progresses until, by late summer, the entire flower is essentially red. Grows with a nice, upright habit, 24-28” tall. Easy and reliable and an exciting new color in the verticilata group. Zone 5.

verticilata ‘Zagreb’ 8-12in.    stems lined with green, thread-like foliage and smothered in golden yellow, 2in. dainty flowers for most of the summer.  Plants are noticeably more stiffly upright than other verticilata types.  An indestructable garden performer. Zone 4.

Big Bang series:

x ‘Cosmic Eye’ New    A new addition to the Big Bang series with yellow flowers with a wide dark burgundy banding surrounding the yellow center. 20” tall. Blooms profusely from June into Sept. Zone 4.

x ‘Galaxy’ New    Another new Big Bang introduction, this one with bright yellow, semi-double flowers that bloom from June through Sept. Plants are 12” high, compact and well branched with a sturdy upright habit that’s less prone to flopping. With its tidy habit and long bloom period, ‘Galaxy’ is particularly effective in mass plantings. Zone 4.

COREOPSIS x ‘Redshift’    A new, completely hardy, red flowered coreopsis, the second in the ‘Big Bang’ series developed by Darrell Probst. First came C. ‘Full Moon’,- large canary-yellow cups-, and now we have ‘Redshift’ with flowers opening with deep red centers, maturing to exciting blends of red, pink and yellow. Upright growing, well branched and heavy blooming. Grows 30-36” tall by 30” wide. Long blooming, nice for cutting. Zone 4.

Limerocks:

x ‘Limerock Dream’ New     A sport of “Limerock Ruby’ that overflows with large, eye-catching, orange flowers all season. Terrific for accent in beds, for hanging baskets and containers of all sorts, and a great boon for those of us who get misty eyed over the color orange. 16” tall with a wider spread. Hardiness is not firmly established but the mounting consensus is that it’s tender, hardy only to zone 7.  Limerock Plant Farm in RI gets credit for this beauty.

x ‘Limerock Ruby’ New     The original “Limerocker” with an abundance of ruby red, yellow centered flowers all summer up to hard frost. 18” tall with a relaxed, spreading habit. Zone 7 until proven hardier.

Corydalis ‘Canary Feathers’     Dense mounds of blue-green, feathery leaves to 7ins. high crowned with 9in. spikes of tubular, ¾in. long, canary yellow, flowers in May-July. Flowers are sterile so plants will not self seed in the garden. The attractive foliage accounts for at least half of the appeal of this pretty little newcomer. Zone 5 when sited in protected locations. Otherwise and until further notice, zone 6.

Corydalis elata     Cobalt blue flowers emerge in May, more upright than C. flexuosa, 16" high and wide. Does not go summer dormant. Requires evenly moist but well-drained, organic soil in part to full shade. Zone 4. 

lutea    12-18", lacy, fern-like foliage and yellow flowers resembling those of Dicentra. Very long blooming, May-Sept. Tolerates a more moist soil than the blue-flowered types, and does not go dormant. Self-sows generously, but seedlings are easily weeded out if they pop up in undesirable locations. A top performer. Zone 5.

ochroleuca     White, funnel-shaped flowers nestle in the airy, blue-gray foliage from June till frost. This always tidy, 12” high and wide plant requires only reasonably moist, well-drained, average soil in part shade or, even sun, if sufficiently moist. A charming, unobtrusive little beauty that, like C. lutea, greets the gardener everyday with a fresh display of flowers. Unlike C. lutea, ochroleuca does not self-seed with abandon. For us, this plant does best with the least amount of fuss which, at Bay State, means being wedged between edging boulders and left on its own to bloom non-stop, all summer. Zone 5.

sempervirens     Dainty pink flowers with yellow tips displayed in airy sprays above the blue-green, deeply dissected foliage. Does best out in the open in dry, gravely soil. Also in light shade. A native biennial that bloom most of the summer and self-seeds reliably. Zone 5.

Cranbe cordifolia (Giant Kale)     A majestic plant, both in foliage and flower. Huge, heart-shaped leaves form a low mound from which stout flower stems arise supporting large, billowy clusters of tiny white flowers in early summer. Overall height is 4-6ft. Prefers well drained, somewhat alkaline soil. Impressive! Zone 5. 

Crocosmia (Montbrechia)    Long arching wands are laden with brightly colored trumpet-shaped flowers for weeks in mid-summer. Sword-like foliage; a good companion to ornamental grasses. Never fails to attract lots of attention in our border. Also an exceptional cut flower. Needs good drainage.  Zone 5. We will likely carry some other cultivars besides the ever popular 'Lucifer'—visit us in mid summer to see! 

'Lucifer'     Red flowers in summer, 2-4', good for cutting, always dazzling in bloom.