SAGINA subulata  Emerald-green, moss-like, low, mat-forming foliage with tiny white flowers in spring. Best in sandy, gravely, but not dry soils. One of the best fillers for between stepping stones. Zone 4. 

subulata 'Aurea' Low, dense, moss-like, 1in. high golden mats. Tiny white flowers in May-June. Best color in more light. Needs good drainage. Zone 3. 

SALVIA Prefers well drained soil, drought tolerant. Salvias respond well to cutting back after blooming is finished to encourage rebloom. 

argentea Large wooly silver leaves are topped by 2-4' flowering stalks, bearing white flowers tinged with yellow or pink. Prompt removal of the flowering stalks keeps the more attractive foliage looking its best. Biennial. Zone 5 with protection and excellent winter drainage.

'Eveline' Vibrant, pink flower spikes bloom in abundance June to August, with up to 30 stems per plant.  Glossy, gray, wide green foliage and a dense vertical. more compact, bushy habit. Grows 24ins. high with full sun.

SALVIA nemorosa 'Carradonna' Striking black flower stems bear purple blooms in May through July, to 18". A new introduction from Germany, zone 4.

nemorosa 'Royal Crimson Distinction' New A new introduction, selected for its deep, crimson/pink, 24in. flower spikes. Blooms May-June and longer if deadheaded. Drought tolerant. Zone 4. 

verticliata 'Purple Rain' Smoky purple flowers bloom on long stems in summer. This is a gorgeous shade of purple, quite unique, capable of bringing just the perfect shade of purple to that special planting combination. Plants eventually become a little floppy, at which point they can be made to look respectable  with some inconspicuous bracing in the form of fresh twigs bent in an arch, both ends buried in the ground.  Bracing is worth doing as it prolongs the initial bloom and postpones the inevitable, more drastic remedy for floppiness, that of a hard cut-back that essentially erases the plant from the face of the earth for a week or two. All salvias respond well to hard pruning and will quickly regrow into nice looking fresh plants.

x 'May Night' Dark violet-blue, 12-14", summer, Perennial Plant Association's 1997 Perennial Plant of the Year. Zone 5.

SANGUISORBA menziesii 'Dali Marble' New A variegated burnet with refined, blue-green, toothed leaves with eye-catching, white edges. Produces beautiful, maroon, bottlebrush flowers, June-Aug. Grows 3½ft. tall and prefers moist, humus-rich soils in sun or light shade. Zone 3.

SANGUISORBA officinalis  Small but effective, 1½in. long, reddish purple, bottlebrush-like flowers in summer. The delicate, pinnately compound leaves form a attractive base from which arise 6ft. flower stems.

SANGUISORBA officinalis 'Lemon Splash' New Unique lemon-yellow daubing on narrow, toothed, blue-green leaves. Maroon, bottlebrush flowers bloom later in the season during July-Aug., held clear above the foliage on 1-2ft. stems. Gorw in sun in rich, moist soil. Zone 4.

SAPONARIA ocymoides (Rock Soapwort) Masses of pink, ½in. blooms in late spring over low, 10in. high, trailing and spreading mats of foliage. Extremely effective when planted at the front of the sunny border, at the edges of stone walkways and patios and at the tops of walls so that stems drape softly over the edge.  Zone 2.

SAPONARIA ocymoides 'Snow tip' White flowered form of the species.

SAXIFRAGA  A large group of plants with much ornamental value and minimal care requirements. Most are low and mat forming with delicately formed but boldly colored flowers carried by the hundred on wispy stems above the foliage mats . Many are native to alpine regions and perform best in gritty, evenly moist but well drained soil. Very suitable for rock gardens, for plugging into walls and for wedging between stones anywhere in the garden. Commonly seen at higher elevations throughout Northern New England. In the picture at left, the purple blobs are a large colony of Saxifraga hunkering down for the winter in N.H.s' White Mountains. Zone 3. 

 

SAXIFRAGA fortunei 'Black Ruby' New Scalloped-edged foliage of dark purple, almost black. with ruby pink star-shaped flowers in autumn. Stunning! Prefers shade and will grow to 8ins. by 8ins. Zone 3.

SAXIFRAGA 'Purple Robe' Dainty pink blossoms in late spring.

SAXIFRAGA 'Touran Red' Tiny red flowers, only 4ins. high.

SAXIFRAGA 'Touran White' Same as above, with white flowers.

SCABIOSA columbaria 'Butterfly Blue'  20", lavender blue flowers all summer. The Perennial Plant Association's Plant of the Year for 2000. Try as an underplanting with roses for a sensational combination. ('Pink Mist' would be equally gorgeous). Zone 5.

columbaria 'Pink Mist' The pink form of 'Butterfly Blue' with the same prolific bloom habit, May-Sept.

SCABIOSA ochroleuca 'Moon Dance' 3' sprays of creamy flowers bloom on wiry stems all summer. Self sows.  Zone 5.

SEDUM (Stonecrop)   Indestructible ornamentals for the sunny border and rock garden, Sedums contribute not only attractive flowers, usually towards the end of the season, but also bold, architectural form and foliage that contrasts so effectively with so many other plants, and, holds its appeal for the entire season. Even better, it does all these great things with very little water.  

Low Varieties  Perfect for the rock garden, tucked into stone walls, or as edging plants in the border.

SEDUM sieboldii  5-6in. high by 12in. wide mounds of round, bluish gray leaves with showy, narrow, red margins.  In colder climates, leaves turn attractively pinkish very late in the season, just when the pink flowers start to appear. Zone 3.

spathulifolium 'Cape Blanco' 1-2in. high, compact, silver-gray rosettes with yellow flowers in summer.

spurium 'Tri-color'  Very pretty red, green and white foliage forms low, modestly spreading mats. Pale pink flowers in summer

Taller Varieties 

alboroseum 'Medioveriegatum' Upright to 12-15" with showy variegated cream and green leaves and soft pink flowers. Has a more soothing effect than the icy white and blue/gray variegation of Sedum 'Frosty Morn'. Flowers are unremarkable—it's the attractive foliage and the determination to grow anywhere with hot sun and good drainage that commends this worthy plant.

'Autumn Delight' New Selected for the color of its succulent leaves and stems which are the color of the inside of a lime. Leaves are outlined dark green. The flowers open pink and turn russet.

'Autumn Fire' Similar to 'Autumn Joy', but selected for its tighter growth habit, thicker foliage, and more brightly colored rosy flower heads.

SEDUM 'Autumn Joy' Coral blooms in early fall, deepening to rust by winter, 2'. Good winter interest.

'Black Jack'  A sport of 'Matrona' from which it inherits its attractive upright habit. What makes 'Black Jack' unique is its brilliant, deep purple foliage and 5-8in. vivid pink flowers which occur from late summer into fall. 24ins. tall.

'Hopewell' New Different from all the rest! From the rosy pink stems, to the very thin, blue-gray leaves that are brushed with pink at base and edges. Another unique trait is that the whorled leaves are both wavy and slightly ruffled. Flowers are deep pink to almost red and the foliage will deepen in color as the season progresses. Long blooming, late June into Oct., 16ins. tall.

'Lynda Windsor' New The chocolate-purple foliage has a violet undertone, making it one of the very darkest leaved Sedums. Flowers are generally held to be the deepest ruby-red of any Sedum. 16ins. tall.

'Maestro' New   A sport of 'Matrona' with large, blue/green leaves on bright purple, upright stems. 5-7in. flower heads bear red buds that open light pink bossoms. 18ins. tall. Zone 3.

'Mini Joy' A shorter version of the ever popular 'Autumn Joy'.  Rose-pink flowers bloom atop sturdy, weather tolerant stems, providing wonderful autumn color. Flowers are long-lasting in floral arrangements.

SEDUM 'Neon '  Much deeper rose pink than 'Brilliant' with rounded, thicker flower clusters and more consistent color.

'Picolette' New Miniature, with green foliage, flushed bronzy red with hints of silver. Masses of deep pink flower clusters from late summer to mid-fall. Sturdy, upright form but very compact. Excellent for containers, along a path or edge of the border. (12-15")

'Postman's Pride' Discovered bu a Belgian Postman in his garden, 'Postman's Pride' is a new selection with very deep purple foliage. The foliage color is more of a blue-purple, rather than a red-purple like Sedum 'Purple Emperor'> It has a semi-upright habit to 20ins. tall. In late summer, deep purple buds open to pinkish flowers.

'Purple Emperor'  Dusky-red flowers over dark purple foliage in late July-Sept. Sturdy, 16" stems.  Excellent 3-season plant.

'Samuel Oliphant' New A well-branched variety with showy variegation, composed of dark green with cream speckles and outer margins edged neon pink. Light pink flowers bloom late summer. Keeps its color until fall. 30ins. tall.

SEMPERVIVUM (Hens and Chicks) Native to the central Alps of Europe, and through the mountainous regions of Russia and Asia Minor, thriving where most plants would perish. Adapted to sunny places where drainage is excellent , sunny rock gardens, rock walls, between flagstones, etc., actually preferring these inhosbitable spots to sites with rich moist loam. All are low growing, ground hugging, with succulent, rosette forming leaves. The flowering rosettes, called "hens" often die after flowering, leaving the "chicks" to carry on for another year. Zone 3.     

SENNA,(CASSIA), hebecarpa A large, 4ft. tall, tropical looking plant with large, delicate compound leaves which somewhat resemble the fronds of the Royal Fern. Clusters of yellow/golden, pea-like flowers occur in August  on very dark, almost black, stems. A large, self-supporting, architectural perennial for full sun in rich, moist, but well drained soil.  Zone 5.

SIDALCEA (Mallow, Checkerbloom) 'Rosanne'  42in. spikes of miniature, hollyhock-like, carmine-rose flowers in July and Aug. Grow in sun to light shade. Good drainage is key! Zone 4.

SILPHIUM perfoliatum 'Full Cup'(Cup Plant)   A North American native adapted to moist soil in open woodlands or prairies. Numerous erect stems form massive clumps, 6-8ft. high with large, loose clusters of yellow, daisy-like flower from July to Sept. Zone 3. 

SISYRINCHIUM angustifolium 'Lucerne' (Blue-eyed Grass)    Blue, ¾" star-like flowers on plants resembling tiny irises, spring to summer, 10" tall. Moist to average soils. Excellent for edging, zone 5.

SISYRINCHIUM 'E.K. Balls' Shorter and more compact with particularly deep blue flowers opening just above the miniature, iris-like foliage. 6-8ins. tall. Requires full sun and good drainage. Zone 4.

SPIGELIA marilandica  Long, narrow crimson buds peel back to reveal bright yellow interiors,(also cream and chartreuse). One of natures fireworks displays, stunning. Blooms in July from bushy clumps 12-16ins. tall and wide. Grow in moist, light shade. Zone 4.   

STACHYS byzantina ' Silver Carpet' (Lamb's Ears) Leaves are velvety soft, silver, and shaped like - and feel like - a lamb's ear. A moderately fast spreading groundcover for dry, sunny spots. Though promoted as a non-flowering cultivar, it may now and then put up a flower. Zone 5.

STACHYS coccinea 'Pow Wow' New Bushy plants with spikes of brick red flowers starting in June and continuing through summer, 12ins. tall. Foliage is greener and less woolly than S. byzantina types. Drought tolerant and best planted in full sun, in dry, well drained soil. Zone 5. 

STACHYS macrantha (grandiflora) 'Supurba' Dense clumps of attractively crinkled, slightly glossy, bean-green leaves, 3ins. long, decreasing in size higher up on the stems.  Flower spikes rise 8 -12ins. above the thick basal foliage carrying large, bright rosy-purple flowers in dense whorls. Requires better soil and more moisture than its cousins, those plants-of-last-resort, the lamb's ears.  'Supurba' will tolerate light shade. Zone 5.

STACHYS monnerii 'Hummelo' Similar to macranthus in having green leaves and a clumping habit but generally somewhat smaller overall and with flowers that are less purple, more rosy-pink. Attractive, tidy garden-worthy plant. Full Sun.

STOKESIA laevis (Stoke's Aster)  12-18in. flower stalks each bearing several flowers which open at different times. Flowering period extends for up to four weeks in summer. Part shade is best and sharp drainage is essential as plants will not tolerate wet feet. Zone 5.                                               

'Peachie's Pick' Not peach colored. Named for the Mississippi plantswoman who discovered it, Peachie Saxton. Lavender-blue flowers much larger and a bit later than other types. Upright habit, deep green foliage. We grew it last year for the first time and felt it really was the nicest stokesia we'd seen. Zone 5.

TANACETUM coccineum 'Garden Treasure' (Painted Daisy) New  Brilliant, semi-double, rose-red daisies with fluffy gold centers encircled by a prominent white boa. In the not so distant past, Painted Daisies were a favorite florists cut flower. In the border they are very showy, in bloom for several weeks in early summer, and, of course, they are an excellent cut flower. Just under 3ft. tall. Zone 3. 

TANACETUM coccineum 'James Kelway'