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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.
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Tellima grandiflora False Alumroot Foliage bears some resemblance to that of Heuchera with glossy green leaves arranged in an attractive tiered pattern forming a neat mound, broader at the base and narrowing towards the top as leaves become smaller. Tall, airy but sturdy flower stems rise 2’ above the foliage decorated with loose whorls of fuzzy, button-like flowers about the size of a chocolate chip. Colors are usually in shades of cream, chartreuse, sometimes with a hint of rose. Blooms mid to late May into June. Will never be accused of being “flashy” yet it has a quality about it that never fails to attract attention. Suitable for part shade with average to rich, moist but well-drained soil. Zone 5.
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Thalictrum 'Lavender Mist' (rochebrunianum) Large, lovely flowerheads composed of hundreds of delicate, lavender petaled, yellow centered flowers are carried high above airy, blue-green foliage. Height depends on soil and moisture but these are large, clumping plants easily capable of climbing to 6-8’. Best results are obtained in rich, moist but well-drained soil, in sun. Zone 4.
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Thalictrum ‘Splendide’ Shorter than ‘Lavender Mist’ at 4-6’ tall, but just as profusely blooming and, it’s further distinguished from ‘Lavender Mist’ by its pronounced, dark burgundy stems. In the border, its narrow, upright form lends elements of drama and verticality while its airy, delicate foliage and large, open flower panicles invoke an airiness reminicent of soft breezes on summer afternoons, blooms June-July. Grow in sun, in rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil. Zone 4.
Thymus (Thyme) If you’ve got a sun-scorched, all-too-well-drained and infertile pocket that refuses to nurture any plant unfortunate enough to find its way there, then, we’ve got a thyme just waiting to thrive in that very spot. I personally have repeatedly rototilled an escaped batch of Mother of Thyme,(Thyme serphyllum), in an effort to eradicate it, only to see it, grow right back twice as large,(and this was in the little “Death Valley” of our back field). Thymes are rugged plants needing only full sun and excellent drainage and just the occasional, tiniest bit of water. Most are wonderfully fragrant.    
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Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’ Forms a dense, flat mat of evergreen, dark green foliage that is smothered in bright magenta-red flowers during early summer.
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praecox ‘Elfin’ Tight domes of minute leaves. It has outstanding cushions that rarely flower, however it's considered the finest thyme for growing in troughs and between stepping stones and in rock crevices. Zone 3.
praecox ‘Pseudolanuginosus’ Tiny silver-gray, woolly leaves on low, 2" high, spreading mats. Unrivaled for the beauty of its dense, flowing habit, especially when allowed to spill over rocks or the edges of retaining wall. Also terrific between stepping stones. Its requirements are few, hot sun and perfect drainage. Will not survive in wet, poorly drained soil. It’s usually best to refrain from watering altogether. Zone 3.
Tiarella (Foam Flower) Most at home in the shade or woodland garden with even moisture and the occasional addition of a good compost. Most of the newer hybrids can boast of attractively dissected foliage artfully dabbed in the center with unique dark blotches. Some are vigorous enough to be put to use as shady groundcovers, while other are more restrained and more appropriate as specimens. Flowering occurs in mid spring and is sensational. Airy spikes of fragrant pink or white flowers rise 8-10ins. above the foliage creating a froth of bloom through the shady garden. Zone 4.    
‘Appalachian Trail’ A running variety that makes an excellent groundcover for shade. Spreads vigorously to 3' wide, laying down a dense, weed-chocking carpet of mid-green, maple-like leaves, generously splashed with burgundy. Foliage is 4" heigh and showy, and white foamflowers rise an additional 6" in April creating a delicate, misty white expanse across the woodland garden floor. Vigorous without being invasive, and easy to grow in average to rich, well-drained soil in part to full shade. Zone 4.
‘Candy Striper’ Largest leaf of the tiarellas, dark green with a blackish stripe down the center of each leaf lobe. Through spring, the eye-catching foliage is further enhanced by a profusion of 14" flower spikes dense with pink buds that open white, casting a fresh, inviting spell over the early spring garden. Strengthening the enchantment is just a hint of fragrance. Part to full shade with reasonable moisture. Well behaved, mounding, clumping habit. Delightful. Zone 3.
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‘Crow Feathers’ Bright green, deeply lobed leaves with purple-black centers with the black color seeping into the body of the leaf. Color intensifies in winter when leaves turn a mix of pink, red, purple, and black. Slightly fragrant, tawny-pink flowers in early spring through early summer. Clump forming. Grow in shade. Zone 4.
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‘Pink Skyrocket’ Prized for its large, dense spikes of sparkling pink, fragrant flowers. The foliage is deeply divided with each leaf having a dark purple central blotch. Grows quickly into a handsome clump. Not a spreader. 12-14ins. tall.
Tricyrtis (Japanese Toad-Lily) Toad-Lilies are fascinating flowers for very late summer-early fall bloom. Flowers,usually spotted, bloom at the ends and in the leaf axils of arching stems. Grow in partial shade in moist, fertile soil, in a site where they can be observed up close and personal.  
flavum (Yellow Toad Lily) Large up-facing, deep yellow flowers with dark spots. Leaves are shiny green with purple spots and mottlings. Fall blooming. 12-18” tall. Zone 5.
formosana ‘Samurai’ One of the few variegated leafed Tricyrtis that's also a tough garden plant with clean foliage. Leaves are green with a creamy-gold edge on compact plants with a vigorous, spreading habit. Flowers are small, lily-like, purple with dark purple spotting and yellow throats. Blooms September-November. 1-1½' tall. Grow in part shade,(morning light only), or full shade, in rich, moist but well drained soil. Zone 4.
ohsumiensis x flava New In spring, thje highly attractive leaves are shiny green with purple spots. In fall, large upward facing deep yellow flowers bloom at leaf axils all along the gracefully arching stems. A vigorous hybd. that forms substantial clumps. Solidly hardy, Zone 4.
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Trifolium rubens (Giant Clover) Large, bright purple flower spikes, cone-shaped and not rounded like most clover, showy. Plants also differ from other clovers in that the silvery-green foliage develops into a tidy, well-behaved clump, 2' high. Hardy and long-lived, plants contribute a different and unexpected flower form and color to the sunny border. Easy to grow in full sun, in average to rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil. Zone 5.
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Trollius All trollius prefer a moist soil and do well when planted near ponds and streams, in moist meadows or in bog gardens. With ample moisture, full sun is best. On drier sites, protection from hot afternoon sun is recommended. Our borders here at the nursery are quite dry, so we do plant trollius in afternoon shade with excellent results. Trollius make excellent cut flowers. Zone 3.
Trollius x cultorum ‘New Moon’ New From T. 'Alabaster' lineage comes this new hybrid with bright creamy-yellow flowers and improved vigor. Decorative beginning with the tightly wrapped, globe-shaped buds which then open to reveal large, elegant, saucer-shaped, lemony-yellow blooms. Flowers late April-mid June and should only be tried in soil that's consistently moist. Full sun to light shade. Fantastic for adding touches of mellow lemon-yellow to filtered light situations, and at their very best planted in full sun at the edges of ponds and streams. 2-2½' tall. Nice for cutting. Zone 3.
Verbana bonariensis See Tenders.
Verbascum A plant that I can’t help admiring is Verbascum thapsus,(Mullein), familiar to most of us as the big, silver/green leaved, yellow flowered monstrosity that grows everywhere by the side of the road, in pure sand. I admire it’s cactus-like tenacity and its brief but flamboyant flower display. I do, however, know enough to leave well enough alone and to continue admiring it where it is, out there by the side of the road. This is in sharp contrast to the friendly welcome I extend to its elegant cousins. These new verbascum come in luscious colors and, if deadheaded, will bloom through the summer. They thrive in thin, dry soil and will rot if over watered. They cut well and attract hummingbirds. I’ll take two please!   
‘Southern Charm’ 1½", flowers in luscious pastel shades of peach, gold, rose and lavender crowd tall, 24-30" stems that are launched from dense rosettes of silvery leaves. Flowers begin opening in June and continue for many weeks with excellent rebloom resulting from a hard pruning of spent flower stalks. Tall,stately plants with flowers in very appealing, unique colors. Well suited to hot, full sun locations with average, well drained soil that supports no standing water. Nice for cutting. Zone 5. Available May-June
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Vernonia fasciculata Native, 2-4’ tall with long, narrow, willowy leaves. In late summer, bright, dense, flat-topped clusters of purple-magenta flowers begin blooming just in time to add a dash of purple to the late season border. Bloom lasts for about a month. Grows in full sun, in rich moist soil but plants are tolerant of moister or drier consitions. Withstands occasional flodding. Generally considered one of the showiest and garden worthy Iron Weeds. Zone 3.
Vernonia crinita (Ironweed) Large, impressive, late season blooming perennial, 6-8’ tall with numerous, sturdy stems arising from a substantial rootstock, each stem displaying large, bright purple-violet, loose flower sprays in late summer. I suspect that this is in fact the much admired Ironweed that has become legendary in our front border despite never having been positively identified. Considered the best vernonia for garden use. Best in sun in rich, evenly moist soil. If you only have room for one really large perennial, this is the one you should choose. Vernonias in general receive short shrift in the literature yet the specimen in our border is a huge customer favorite. Zone 4.
Vernonia glauca A bit shorter than the New York Ironweed, and much more adaptable to average garden conditions. Flowers in August and September with deep purple, loose, upright flower clusters. Very appealing to butterflies. 4-5’ tall. Grow in average or better soil. Once established, tolerant of dry places.
Vernonia lettermanii ‘Iron Butterfly’ New to gardens, this Ironweed resembles Amsonia hubrechtii with its long, slender, needle-like foliage, attractive even without flowers, 2-2½ft. high by 3ft. wide, full and billowy. 'Iron Butterfly' is a late summer bloomer, coming into bloom just when most other perennials begin losing their riotous summer color. Flowers are produced in great abundance and remind me of tiny, purple thistles caught in the network of delicate, lacy foliage. A native of Arkansas where it is found growing in moist meadows, in sun to light shade. Once established, plants are quite drought tolerant, as we have found to be the case with all Vernonia we've grown. 2nd runner-up to Buddleia in the best-butterfly-attracting-plant category. Zone 4.
Vernonia noveboracensis (New York Ironweed) Bold plants that stage a showy display of deep reddish purple flowers in late summer. Strong, upright stems form tight, hefty clumps that in time can be divided, though not without the expenditure of a good deal of effort. In full sun, with rich, deep and moist soil, plants can become the focal point of the late summer- early fall border. Depending on conditions, height ranges from 4-8'. Zone 3.
Veronica This is a large genus containing many fine garden plants ranging in height from 1in. to 3ft. and exhibiting flowers in shades of white, pink and purple and every nuance thereof. Growing requirements are minimal, consisting only of a need for full sun in average or better, well drained soil, with a reasonable amount of moisture. Valuable for showy flowers over a long period, especially when deadheaded. It’s important to allow enough space around plants to ensure good air circulation. Zone 4.
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longifolia 'Eveline' A showy, long-blooming selection with tall, deep purplish red flowers spikes over attractive dark green foliage that takes on a pleasing orange/amber fall color. Begins blooming in early summer and continues for many weeks. 20” tall. Zone 4.
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peduncularis ‘Waterperry Blue’ Sky blue flowers with a white eye blanket the deep bronze foliage in April-May. The small to tiny leaves are an attractive dark, purplish-green in large foliage mats 3” high by 18-20” wide. Plants require full sun and average to good soil that remains reasonably moist through the summer. Looks great cascading over edging rocks, weaving its way through taller perennials, and in containers. Zone 4.
prostrata ‘Goldwell’ New Masses of bright blue flower spikes rise 6-12" above carpets of variegated yellow and green foliage. Blooms May-June. Adapted to full sun and dryish, average to poor soil where it spreads quickly and offers the possibility of modest groundcover use. Especially effective when combined with other similarly adapted gray and silver-leaved groundcovers, i.e. Veronica incana, Antennaria, taller variegated or silvery Thymes. Zone 4.
prostrata ‘Heavenly Blue’ Low, spreading mats, 4"tall by 2'wide with stout, sapphire blue spikes just above the foliage from May into June. Shearing off spent flowers extends the bloom. Does well in sun, in average, well drained, dry soil. Becomes more drought tolerant as it establishes. Very attractive for its foliage and flowers and well suited to the rock garden and between stepping stones. Also, as an underplanting, it really sets off the taller spring bulbs. Zone 4.
spicata ‘Red Fox’ Rich, dark pink flowers, 15ins. high, bloom for many weeks above spreading mats of thick green leaves. One of my favorite Veronicas for its abundant, richly colored flowers that bloom on and on with little effort on my part.
spicata ‘Twilight’ New Medium blue flowers on long stems over healthy, dark green foliage. Flower stems are numerous and make a beautiful show, late June-August. Its healthy foliage, alone, distinguishes this veronica, and then there are the tall blue flower spikes which, at 2-2½’ high, provide a valued shot of blue color and a vertical element to the mid border area. Very easy to please in sun, in average to poor, well drained,(dry), soil. Zone 4.
x ‘New Century’ New Mat-forming, evergreen foliage that is nearly obliterated by the blanket of blue flowers in April-May. 2" high, spreading. Begs to be used at the front of the border, especially where it can flow over and around edging stones. Wonderful in rock gardens and in troughs and mixed containers, also between stepping stones. Full sun and average, very well drained soil are a must. Zone 4.
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Veronicastrum sibiricum (Tall Speedwell) Taller than V. virginicum with blue flowers up to a foot long. I love the strongly vertical but airy look of these plants. Zones 4-8. 5 ft. Sun, garden soil.
virginicum A large, architecturally formed plant, 4-5' tall, handsome in foliage and flower, distinctive at the back of the border. Blooms late summer to early fall at a time when color is sorely needed, with 6-9" white flower spikes. Flowers may be pinkish in color. Native to the northeastern woodlands and meadows, easy to grow.
virginicm ‘Lavender Towers’ A regal plant that havers above the border with long spikes of pale purple flowers in mid summer. Whorled foliage provides an interesting foil for early summer bloomers. Makes an elegat companion for pastel Summer Pbhloc and Bee Balm Gdroe in full syun with average to moist soil, well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. Zone 5.
VINCA minor (Myrtle) Indestructible, low-growing, evergreen groundcover. Zone 4. When all is said and done, vinca emerges as one of the toughest groundcovers available. It will grow in sun and shade, in wet or dry soils. One of the most impressive examples I've ever seen is at The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts where vast portions of the ground in a dark hemlock forest are beautifully carpeted with thick, lush mats of the plants. Zone 4.
minor ‘Bowles Variety’ Deep, lavender-blue flowers that are larger than the species.
minor ‘Sunny Skies’ Glossy oval leaves with a wide, white margin topped with bright, sky blue flowers in late March-May. The brightly colored leaves really enliven a drab shady spot. Zone 4.
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Viola ‘Columbine’ New This polpular but sometimes hard to find violet has fragrant, white flowers with lilac-purple streaking on the petals. It blooms late May-October and groows 6-10" tall with an equal spread. Good vigor. Very versatile. Zone 5.
Viola cornuta (Horned or Tufted Violet) May grow to 12ins. tall but more usually in the 8-10in. range. Stems lie prostrate on the ground for a portion of their lengths, then abruptly turn straight up forming a full, leafy clump. Flowers are large, 1½ins. across, held on 4-6in. stems. Flowering begins in spring and may continue through summer. Cut plants backwhen they begin to appear tired,(early summer), will encourage new flowers. Much more heat tolerant and, in general, longer lived than pansies. Part shade in moist, but well drained soil is preferred, though ours have done surprisingly well in full sun, with little moisture. Zone 4.
cornuta ‘Jacqueline’ Mid-size, pale mauve flowers, softly marbled with white, for an extended bloom period. A lovely color that combines beautifully with purples, red-purples and white and pale yellows.
cornuta ‘Rebecca’ A striking English variety with white flowers irregularly margined with deep volet, giving them a dramatic striped appearance. Petals are slightly ruffled and lightly scented. A terrific performer which has bloomed through the entire season in our border. Zone 4.
cornuta ‘Seaview Gem’ New Lengthy and prolific display of rich mauve-colored flowers throughout the warmer months. Flowers are more purple-mauve than those of 'Jacqueline', and blend beautifully with purple, burgundy, soft yellow and white shades. A mixed container planting with a purple/mavue theme including 'Seaview Gem' and/or 'Jacqueline' is a guaranteed success. Throw in some Japanese Mondo Grass and perhaps some Achillea 'Anthea' or 'Apricot Delight', and it's devastating! Zone 4.
Viola labradorica Small,(only 4-6ins. tall), modestly spreading violets with rich, bronze foliage and tiny blue flowers for most of the growing season. Does nicely in our partially shaded garden where it self-seeds around, filling gaps between rocks and, in more open areas, spreading enough to serve as timid groundcover. Also works well as an underplanting beneath shade loving shrubs such as Rhododendrons. Zone 3.
Viola pedata (Bird’s Foot Violet) see under woodland plants.
Waldsteinia Ternata (Barren Strawberry) A terrific carpeting trailer with glossy, rich green, strawberry-like leaves that give complete coverage. There is a brief display of bright yellow flowers in spring, but this plants real value is in its thick, glossy, ground-covering foliage. At its best in full sun but part shade is tolerated. Drought tolerant. Zone 4.
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Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard' The best gold centered variegated yucca available, whose brightness increases in mid summer just when others begin to fade. 2-3' clumps of sharp tipped leaves give rise to 6' flower stalks. Zone 5.
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