Plants
Bergenia emeiensis
Bergenia emeiensis is a rare perennial from China's Mt. Omei, known for its glossy evergreen foliage. It thrives in dry shade and alkaline soils, making it ideal for shade gardening. In early spring, it produces charming white or pink flowers, adding a touch of color to shaded areas.
Viburnum plicatum
Viburnum plicatum is a deciduous shrub known for its large, rounded flower clusters that bloom in May or June. It features toothy, textured vivid green leaves and is resistant to leaf spots and powdery mildew. This plant is adaptable to moist to wet soils and can be grown in full sun to partial shade, requiring pruning after flowering.
Scutellaria ocmulgee
Scutellaria ocmulgee is a rare plant native to Georgia, forming a 2-foot tall by 3-foot wide clump. It is covered with fuzzy grey-green leaves and produces large flower heads with hundreds of blue flowers in early June. This plant is drought-tolerant and well-suited for sunny garden spots, offering a unique and colorful display.
Hosta 'Harpoon'
Hosta 'Harpoon' is a hybrid plant known for its narrow, wavy, glossy green leaves with a rippled creamy border that emerges gold. It forms a 2-foot wide clump and produces 40-inch scapes of dark lavender flowers in midsummer. This hosta is a winner of multiple awards and is ideal for shade gardens.
Sedeveria 'Green Rose'
Sedeveria 'Green Rose' is a drought-tolerant succulent that thrives in ample light, ideally in a south-facing location. It features a rosette form and requires porous, well-draining soil. This plant reproduces in various ways and benefits from periods of drought between waterings, making it a low-maintenance choice for succulent enthusiasts.
Hedera helix 'Thorndale'
Hedera helix 'Thorndale' is a broadleaved evergreen vine known for its creamy white veins on green leaves. It can either self-cling or trail, making it versatile for various landscaping needs. This ivy is fast-growing, cold hardy, and heat tolerant, adaptable to different soil types. It is also recognized for its air-purifying qualities, as highlighted in NASA's Clean Air Study.
Pecteilis radiata
Pecteilis radiata, a Japanese native orchid, is known for its small basal rosettes and striking white egret-shaped flowers on 1-foot tall spikes. It thrives in mountain bogs and moist seeps, rapidly multiplying when conditions are favorable. This plant requires a planting mix of peat moss or peat and sand and is considered challenging to grow.
Ceanothus 'Concha'
Ceanothus 'Concha' is a hardy West Coast native shrub with arching branches and deep green evergreen leaves. It produces reddish-purple buds that open to bluish-purple flower clusters, attracting butterflies and birds. This plant is unappealing to deer and thrives in poor soil, clay, and coastal conditions. It can grow as a shrub or multi-trunked tree, reaching 4-6 feet in height and 4-10 feet in spread.
Cypripedium 'Kathleen Anne Green'
Cypripedium 'Kathleen Anne Green' is a hybrid orchid with striking white pouches and cinnamon purple striped sepals. It thrives in well-drained, compost-rich soils and light shade, attracting bees as pollinators.
Agapanthus 'Elaine'
Agapanthus 'Elaine' is a vigorous grower introduced in 1990, known for its 3-foot tall clump of green strap-like leaves. It produces 50-inch stems of dark blue-violet flowers in midsummer, attracting hummingbirds. This plant is a striking addition to any garden.
Iris germanica 'Victoria Falls'
Iris germanica 'Victoria Falls' is the tallest of the Tall Bearded Irises, known for its re-blooming capability and award-winning status. It features cornflower blue standards with cream to rich blue ruffled edges and is pollinator-friendly. The sweet-scented blooms and sword-like green foliage thrive in full sun, with moderate moisture needs. This hardy iris is drought-tolerant once established and resistant to pests and diseases.
Dasylirion cedrosanum
Dasylirion cedrosanum is a striking plant native to the Sierra Madre Occidental highlands in Mexico. It resembles Dasylirion wheeleri with its twisted, powder blue, linear leaves. This plant grows to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide in ten years, with ancient specimens reaching up to 5 feet tall. It thrives in open, alkaline rocky grasslands at elevations of 3,000 to 6,000 feet. Dasylirion cedrosanum is drought-tolerant and ideal for xeriscaping, adding a unique architectural element to gardens.
Helleborus hybridus 'Mrs Betty Ranicar'
Helleborus hybridus 'Mrs Betty Ranicar' is a vigorous hellebore with large, fully double white flowers that bloom in early spring. It is almost true from seed and thrives in part sun to shade, making it a popular choice for winter and spring gardens.
Marsilea angustifolia
Marsilea angustifolia is a carpeting foreground aquarium plant known for its deep orange and brown new leaves that mature to a bright green. This plant grows 1-3 inches tall and thrives under high lighting and CO2 conditions. It has a moderate growth rate and prefers a pH range of 6.5-7.5. Marsilea angustifolia is easy to care for, making it suitable for both beginner and experienced aquarists. Its ability to form a dense carpet makes it an excellent choice for creating lush, green landscapes in aquariums. This plant's unique coloration and adaptability to various water conditions make it a popular choice for aquascaping enthusiasts.
Aralia cachemirica
Aralia cachemirica is a dramatic plant with cut-leaf foliage resembling aruncus. It grows up to 6 feet tall, creating a tropical effect in gardens with its arching stems and giant panicles of white flowers in late summer, followed by black berries.
Vitis labrusca 'Worden'
Vitis labrusca 'Worden' is a deciduous fruiting vine known for its dark, antioxidant-rich grapes that ripen earlier than the Concord variety. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8, this self-pollinating vine grows rapidly and requires full sun and well-drained soil. It is a robust choice for home gardeners looking to cultivate their own grapes.
Lespedeza thunbergii 'Little Volcano'
Lespedeza thunbergii 'Little Volcano' is a deciduous perennial from Japan's Ryukyu Islands, growing up to 7 feet tall and 15 feet wide. It features small, dark green leaves and bright red-purple flowers that bloom from mid-September to mid-October. This plant is known for attracting butterflies and is drought-tolerant.
Heuchera 'Oakington Jewel'
Heuchera 'Oakington Jewel' is an old English cultivar resulting from a cross between H. americana and H. sanguinea. It features purple veins with a silver overlay and a green border, adding a striking visual element to gardens. Pink flowers appear in spring, attracting butterflies. This plant thrives in part sun to light shade and is rabbit resistant, making it a resilient choice for diverse garden settings.
Eucomis 'Mini Tuft Cherry Blossom'
Eucomis 'Mini Tuft Cherry Blossom' is a compact, fast-growing plant with shiny green, heavily ruffled leaves. It produces 10-inch tall stalks of pure white flowers in late June.
Hedychium forrestii
Hedychium forrestii is a ginger lily with large, glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers that bloom in late summer. It is known for its strong, sweet fragrance and is often used in gardens for its ornamental appeal.
Ajuga tenorei 'Cordial Canary'
Ajuga tenorei 'Cordial Canary' is a bright golden bugleweed forming a 3-inch tall mound with narrow golden leaves. It produces blue-lavender flowers in spring and thrives in morning sun to part sun with slightly moist soils. This plant's vibrant foliage and compact size make it an excellent choice for groundcover.
Begonia 'Tiger Paws'
Begonia 'Tiger Paws' is known for its striking foliage with chocolate to bronze-red leaves and bright green, paw-like markings. It features white eyelash-like hairs on leaf edges and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor settings. This plant grows relatively rapidly, making it a lively addition to gardens.
Dryopteris bissetiana 'Sichuan Splendor'
Dryopteris bissetiana 'Sichuan Splendor' is a deer-resistant wood fern found at high elevations in Sichuan, China. It forms a 1-foot tall by 2-foot wide evergreen clump with impressed spores on the back of its fronds. This plant is suitable for shade gardens and is known for its resilience in dry conditions.
Bletilla 'Candles In The Wind'
Bletilla 'Candles In The Wind' is a dense, vigorous clump-forming plant known for its 4-foot tall spikes with white flowers blushed pink and a yellow-tipped tongue. The three-way branched spikes bloom from mid-May through July, providing a stunning display. This plant thrives in full sun for at least a couple of hours and is not picky about soil moisture, making it a versatile addition to gardens. 'Candles In The Wind' is a delightful choice for those seeking a hardy and visually striking plant.
Penstemon 'Midnight'
Penstemon 'Midnight' is a vigorous plant with dark green leaves, growing 18 inches tall and wide. It produces deep purple bell-shaped flowers in spring and sporadically through summer, attracting butterflies and adding vibrant color to gardens.
Aglaonema 'Ruby'
Aglaonema 'Ruby' is a striking plant with ruby-red and pink-accented foliage. It thrives in moderate to low light conditions and is low-maintenance, making it a colorful addition to indoor spaces.