|
|
 |
|
|
|
Bay State Perennial Farm is known for its wide selection of perennials. Plants are listed alphabetically by their latin names and can be located by clicking on the first letter of the plant name in the alphabet above.
|
|
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.   
Salvia azurea Picture Sage A season extending, late bloomer with azure blue flowers on tall, airy stems reaching anywhere from 3-5ft. tall. Outstanding at the back of the border combined with those other late season standards such as Heliopsis, Helianthus, Rubeckia ‘Herbstonne and Silphum. Stems may require support which can be achieve by tucking them in amongst strong stemmed companions. Native from southern Canada to Arkansas. Prefers rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Blooms from late August into October, Blooms begins later if plants have been cut back earlier in the season to control height. Zone 4.
|
|
|
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.
nemerosa ‘Merleau Blue’ Compact and uniform growing with heavily branched flower stems carrying rich purple/blue spikes starting in late May and continuing through summer. Bloom is heaviest during the early part of the year with flowers more intermittent as the season progresses. Like most S. superba, 'Merleau Blue' responds well to a hard pruning in summer to encourage new flowers and fresh new foliage. An excellent long blooming and pest free border perennial that brings rich, vibrant color and vertical structure to the mixed border. Very effective in large groupings and especially useful in hotter, dryer locations due to its proven drought tolerance. 16-18" tall. Attractive to hummingbirds. Zone 3.
nemerosa ‘New Dimension Blue’ New Very compact with full, richly colored deep blue flower spikes, May-June. Clumps to only 8" high and suceeds in average, well drained soil, in hot full sun. The taller nemorosa types are first class perennials well suited to mid border use. 'New Dimention Blue' retains all the excellent qualities of its taller relative but in a smaller, irresistible plant tht's perfect for those hot dry spots at the very front of the sunny border. Also great for container gardening. Zone 5.
nemorosa ’New Dimension Rose’ New Same as the above but with glowing, rose-violet flowers.
verticilata ‘Endless Love’ New Differs from 'Purple Rain' in having increased vigor and a longer flower period. 9" long spikes of violet-blue flowers begin opening in June and continue for many week and, if spent flowers are removed, plants will keep churning out new flowers. The attractive leaves are large, silvery-green in color and they form a mound 2' high,(including the height of the flowers), by 3' wide. Notable both for its flowers and its foliage, and its ease of culture. Grow in sun, in average, well-drained 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.
|
|
Saxifragia x arendsii ‘Touran Red’ Bright emerald green mats covered with a profusion of delicately formed, bright, cheery red flowers carried on thin but sturdy, upright stems, 4-6" above the foliage mat. Flowers ocurr by the hundreds in a dazzling display starting in April and continuing until temperatures begin heating up in summer. They perform best in gritty, well drained, though not dry, soil, in sun to part or heavier shade, and they are among the best candidates for rock gardens, for plugging into walls and for wedging between stones anywhere in the garden. In shadier locations they combine effectively with Primula, Hellebores and the smaller bulbs. Zone 3.
Scabiosa columbaria ‘Blue Note’ New A large-flowering and floriferous Scabiosa that produces dense plants with a habit that's more compact than 'Butterfly Blue' and with more vigor than 'Blue Diamonds'. Clear blue, button-flowers on 8-10" stems all summner, nice for cutting. Removing spent flowers will encourage more bloom and planting in well drained soil will go a long way toward maintaining healthy plants. Full Sun. Zone 4.
Scabiosa japonica ‘Ritz Blue’ New (Dwarf Pincushion Flower) Low mounds of deep green foliage serving up loads of large blue flowers in May-June. Small, tidy specimens, only 8" high, perfect for a full sun spot at the front of the sunny border and for use in mixed containers. Not fussy about soil but high acid locations should be avoided. Best in average, well drained soil, especially those that are well drained in winter. Zone 3.
|
|
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.
kamtschaticum A low growing, tidy and well behaved sedum with narrow, succulent dark green foliage tightly set on compact stems, clump-forming. The semi-evergreen foliage turns bronze/gold as temperatures fall. Orange/yellow flowers in flat clusters are produced in summer. Only 4-6" high with a slightly wider spread. Sun. Zone 4.
kamtschaticum ‘Variegatum’ Narrow, succulent, dark green leaves edged with creamy-yellow margins are tightly set on compact stems, clump-forming, 4-6" high with a slightly wider spread. Orange/yellow flowers in flat clusters are produced in summer. A low growing, tidy and well behaved sedum suitable for grouping as small scale, low maintanance groundcover, for planting in rock crevices and between stepping stones, and for mixed containers. Easy in sun, in average, well drained soil. Zone 4.
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 pincushion that looks terrific in rock gardens, at the front of the sunny border and in containers. Zone 3.
Taller Varieties
‘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.
|
‘Carl’ Distinguished from 'Autumn Joy' by its compact habit and large clusters of brilliant magenta pink flowers held on reddish stems. Forms a dense, upright clump of grey-green foliage only 18" high. Blooms late summer into mid fall. Zone 3.
‘Neon’ A much deeper rose-pink than 'Brilliant' with rounded, thicker flower clusters and more consistent color. 18-24". Zone 3.
‘Picolette’ New An exceptional compact form with a dense, upright, habit and gorgeous green foliage infused with a bronzy red and silver cast. Masses of deep pink flower clusters bloom late summer to mid-fall. Grows 8-12" tall and wide. Excellent in the garden alxso in mixed containers and as a perennial edger. Zone 3.
‘Purple Emperor’ Black purple, almost black, leaves capture your attention from the moment they unfurl in spring. In late summer, early fall clusters of flowers open pink and age to bronze. 16" high. Zone 3.
‘Xenox’ Beautiful purple-gray leaves on dense compact plant, only 14ins. tall. In August, wide, pink flowers are carried close to the foliage. Tolerates summer heat better than other varieties and maintains a stout, non-flopping habit all season. Zone 3.
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.
‘Red Beauty’ Gray-green, medium sized rosettes with red tips.
‘Royal Ruby’ Dark wine red.
‘Sunset’ Olive green with orange red highlights on the leaf tips.
Silphium perfoliatum (Cup Plant) A North American native adapted to rich, evenly moist soil in open woodlands or prairies. Numerous erect stems form massive clumps, 6-8ft. high with large, loose clusters of yellow, daisy-like flowers from July to Sept. Well used at the back of the perennial border and at the edge of properties where they will be conspicuous from distant viewing points. I find it completely troublefree, in fact I planted it some years ago in a rather dry spot and then forgot about it. It has done very well and I've come to value its sturdy, architechurally impressive stems and leaves as well as the showy, long-season bloom. 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.
|
|
|
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’ 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 macrantha (grandiflora) ‘Superba’ 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’ 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 ‘Blue Danube’ I like ‘Blue Danube’ for the extra height of it’s flower stems. Large, full, lavender daisies are nicely displayed atop 2’ high stems, high enough so they can be seen in mid-border where their showy flowers will deliver that much sought after infusion of blue from mid to late summer. Sun to part shade with average, reasonably moist but very well drained soil. Nice for cutting, but leave some for the butterflies. 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, 8-12” high. A real stunner and one of the nicest stokesia we’ve seen. Sun to part shade in average, evenly moist soil that’s well drained. Zone 5.
|
|
Back to Top
|
More Perennials
|
|
|
