Saponaria ocymoides

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, scalloped, woolly leaves form a unique, rosetted base for spikes of clean white flowers in late summer. Grown primarily for its foliage which provides a nice contrast in numerous plant combinations.

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’     24-30” blue-purple flowers, with glowing purple stems, begin blomming in early summer and continue in bloom for many weeks. Flower stems are distinctly upright and never succumb to the unsightly flopping seen in many other Salvia varieties. Past-bloom flower stems remain ornamental. Zone 4.

nemorosa ‘Marcus’    Compact, dwarf salvia, growing 8-10ins. tall with intense, blue-violet flower spikes in late spring. Cut back after the first flush of bloom to promote rebloom again later in the season. Excellent at the front of the border. Zone 4.

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

Salvia nemorosa ‘Royal Crimson Distinction’    Bright, fuchsia-pink flowers on sturdy stems in June-July representing a new and exciting Salvia color. As is true of all Salvias, cutting back induces a second bloom. Grow in full sun in average, well drained soil. Zone 4.

Sanguisorba canadensis  See Woodland Plants

Sanguisorba menziesii      Small, deep maroon-red, bottlebrush-like flower spikes flutter atop 32in. strong, slender stems, Aug.-Sept. The compound, tropical-looking leaves are gray/green with leaflets scalloped around the edges.  The subtle but uniquely shaped and intensely colored bottlebrushes are great for injecting unexpected shots of color here and there throughout the late summer, mixed border. Blooms July-Aug.  Grow in sun to part shade with reasonable moisture. Zone 5.

Sanguisorba menziesii ‘Dali Marble’     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 ‘Lemon Splash’     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’      Same as above but with white flowers.    

Scabiosa caucasica ‘Isaac House’ (Pincushion Flower)     Assorted shades of blue, white and pink pincushions on 18-24” stems in summer. Plant in full sun in rich, moist, but drained soil. Plants take their time getting established in the border but, if you have the patience, it’s worth the wait as the distinctive flowers add an interesting new shape to the mix of daisy-type blooms, and, they make excellent cut flowers. Zone 3.

Scabiosa ‘Vivid Violet’ New    Promoted as demonstrating much improved mildew resistance over other highly promoted but often poorly performing varieties. Vivid, lavender-purple pincushion-like flowers are produced for several months over healthy foliage that remains attractive all season. Full sun with rich, reasonably moist, but drained soil. Zone 4.  June availability.    

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.

cauticola ‘Lidakense’    Low, perfectly round, 3-4in. high cushions of beautiful, eucalyptus-like, blue/gray leaves, edged with purple. Pink flowers in Sept. Zone 3.

hispanicum New     Tight mounds of tiny silver-gray, short stubby, needle-like foliage with white to pale pink flowers in summer. Only 2-4” tall by 6-8” wide. Perfect for trough gardens and for wedging into any sunny, well drained crevices. Zone 3.

rupestre ‘Angelina’     Low, spreading carpets of bright golden, needle-like foliage that takes on strong orange tones. Can be a bit of a nuisance because of its eagerness to spread, but its brilliant colors can look sensational when used effectively such as flowing over boulders, in troughs and other mixed containers, and drapping down retaining walls. I like it a lot but I keep a close eye on it and, when it gets too ambitious, I just yank out the unwanted parts. Hot full sun, average, but well-drained soil. 

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.

sieboldii ‘Mediovariegatum’     This is the variegated form of the deservedly popular S. sieboldii. On this variety the lovely blue-gray, eucalyptus-like leaves are further ornamented with a central cream stripe that accentuates the pink rimmed, glaucous foliage. Bright pink, flat flower heads late summer to early fall. Grows 6-8ins. high and spreads to 12ins. to form a neat little pincushions that look terrific in rock gardens, at the front of the sunny border and in containers. Zone 3.

spurium ‘John Creech’    Red flowers over wide, low, speading foliage mats, 2ins. high. Blooms in June.

spurium ‘Voodoo’ New     Intensely colored, bronze to dark mahogany foliage and bright rose-red flowers in fall. Low and quick spreading with definite, though modest, goundcover possibilities for small areas in full sun. 6" high with a much wider spread. Zone 3.

ternatum ‘Larinem Park’ New      Small round leaves tightly pack the stems to form dense, low growing and slow spreading clumps. What’s more, this is one of the few sedums that does well in shade, even dry shade! Also does well in sun with reasonable moisture. 6” tall by 15” wide with very gradual additional spread. White star-like flowers in spring. Found in the central Appalachians. Hardy to Zone 3.

Taller Varieties 

Sedum ‘Abbeydore’     Reddish-pink flowers on compact plants with green leaves that in late summer become edged in pinkish-red and stems take on a conspicuous red color. 16” tall. Zone 4.

‘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.

forsterianum ‘Garnet Brocade’New    A new sedum valued for both its flowers and its foliage. 2ft. tall, dark purple stems are clothed with dusty gray leaves, each with a distinct purple midrib. In late summer-fall, the purple stems rise above the leaves and give breath to the carmine-pink flowerheads that contrast so effectively with the dark stems. Drought tolerant. Zone 4.

‘Mr. Goodbud’      Dark mauve flowers open from and contrast nicely with light pink buds. Resilient foliage less prone to melting-out in summer. 15” tall.

‘Pink Bomb’     A sturdy, compact, lower growing stonecrop with large, bright pink flowerheads in fall. Only 1’ tall. Have seen it suggested that this cultivar is an improvement of and should replace S. ‘Brilliant’.

‘Purple Emperor’     Dusty red flowers appear late in the season above dark, purple-red foliage. 18" tall.

‘Red Cauli’      Pink flowers change to bright red and finally bronze in late autumn. Stems are bright red in spring with green leaves that turns purple in late summer. 12" tall with a semi-prostrate form.

telephium ‘Bon Bon’     An early bloomer with small clusters of pink flowers blooming over chocolate foliage, June-Sept. Plants grow 16ins. tall and have a sturdy, compact habit. Zone 3-9.

telephium ‘Sunkissed’    Grayish green foliage has bronze undertones. Pale yellow flowers bloom in masse in summer as if the plant was kissed by the sun! Grows 12-24ins. tall and up to 12ins. wide. Zone 5.

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.     

arachnoideum ‘Red Cobweb’     Small rosettes webbed with silver hairs. Red flowers in July. 4” high.

‘Lavender and Old Lace’     Blue-gray, succulent leaves infused with lots of red and purple.

‘Red Beauty’      Gray-green, medium-sized rosettes with red tips, 4” tall.

‘Sunset’     Olive-green leaves with orange-red highlights toward the tips.

SIDALCEA ‘Party Girl’ (Mallow)      Purple-pink, hollyhock-like flowers on 3-4ft. plants. Blooms July-Sept. Zone 5.

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 ‘Devon Skies’      An Iris relative with low, iris-like fronds grouped in tight clumps, and lots of large, sky-blue flowers in mid-summer. 6” tall. Suitable for rock gardens, trough gardens and other mixed container plantings and for placing between patio stones. Easy to grow in almost any well drained soil in full sun and very bright and cheery in bloom. Because they’re so tolerant of dry soils, it’s fun to pop them into random, unexpected places where they’ll thrive with little care such as scattered along the edges of stone paths, wedged tight into the base of a stone wall, and actually inserted into gaps in wood or stone retaining walls. It doesn’t take many of these little eye-catchers to make a statement!

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. 

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.   

Spiranthes cemua var. odorata    A hardy adaptable orchid with silver-green evergreen rosettes and tall spikes of charming hooked, white flowers in late summer. Does best in moist areas and will slowly spread to form colonies. Good for boggy areas.

Stachys byzantina ‘Helene von Stein’ (Giant Lamb's Ear)       Large, velvety soft, gray-green leaves, twice as big as those of S. 'Silver Carpet'. Forms impressive, moderately fast spreading clumps that thrive in hot, well-drained places. Though listed as a non-flowering cultivar, plant may throw up the occasional flower. Said to be much less prone to leaf rot under hot and humid conditions. 8-10" high. Zone 4.

Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’     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 monnerii ‘Hummelo’     Getting to like this Stachys more and more for its sturdy, upright flower stems topped with bright, rose-purple, tight, bottlebrush-like flower clusters displayed well above a dense rosette of fresh, mint-green leaves. Plants have a handsome, tidy appearance that keeps them looking fresh and vigorous throughout the season. Most effective in groups but strategically placed specimens will draw lots of attention as well. Blooms for several weeks in early to mid-summer, preferring decent soil in full sun. Overall height is 16-18”. Zone 4.

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.