Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Abutilon theophrasti

Family: (Malvaceae)

(A) to 3′.  Velvet Leaf, China Jute.  A Native of southern Asia whose specific epithet commemorates the ancient Greek botanist-philosopher, Theophrastus.  Velvet Leaf has been grown in China since around 2000 BCE for its strong, jute-like fibre.  The alternately arranged leaves are light green, cordate, pubescent and up to eight inches long and wide.  A solitary flower about ¾-inch across emerges from the axils of the upper leaves. Each flower consists of five petals that are yellow to orange-yellow, five light green, pubescent sepals, and numerous stamens with golden yellow anthers that surround the pistil in a loose cluster. The flowers are followed by interesting fruit that is initially light green, but quickly turns brown or black with maturity. This fruit (schizocarp) is a circular cup-shaped disc of 9 to 15 carpels, each with a beak on the margin of the disc.  Blooms July to August.  Well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Acmella oleraceae

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 10″.  Toothache Plant.  South America.  A profusion of rounded, orange-yellow disc florets with brownish red centres resemble eyeballs.  Creeping, bronze-green foliage has numbing properties when chewed, hence the common name.  Easy to grow.  Very unusual and fun; a “must have”.  Summer blooming.  Sun.  3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Actaea japonica (syn. Cimicifuga japonica)

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 3′. Bugbane, Rattletop, Snakeroot. Numerous creamy, tufted, sessile flowers bloom on spikes from August through October. Shiny lobed and toothed leaves are very attractive in the woodland. Self-sows nicely. Partial shade. 3 & 6A

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Actaea simplex 'Brunette' (syn. Cimicifuga ramosa 'Brunette')

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 6′. One of the darkest leaved Cimicifugas. Stems are a rich purplish brown with pure white, upright, fragrant flower spikes in September. Not all seedlings will be as dark as ‘Brunette’, but definitely worth a try. Partial shade. 3 & 6A

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aethionema schistosum

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 6″.  Turkish Stone Cress.  Turkey and Lebanon.  Erect, woody stems with narrow, blue-green foliage produce rounded heads of rosy lilac, four-petalled flowers in early summer.  Interesting multi-coloured, flat seed capsules follow and persist.  A welcome self-sower.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agastache foeniculum

Family: (Lamiaceae)

Short-lived perennial to 3.5′.  Anise Hyssop.  A North American native with aromatic, anise-scented foliage.  Lavender-blue flowers appear in many-flowered verticillasters which are densely packed into showy, cylindrical, terminal flower spikes up to 6 inches long.  Mid-summer bloomer attractive to all pollinators. Self-sows.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agastache foeniculum 'Alba'

Family: Lamiaceae

Short-lived perennial to 3.5′.  White Anise Hyssop.  A white cultivar of the above. Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agastache nepetoides

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 5′.  Yellow Giant Hyssop.  South Canada to Southeast US.  Whorls of tiny, greenish-yellow flowers closely packed into five-inch terminal spikes appear on stiff, square stems. Toothed, arrowhead-shaped leaves are up to five inches long. Whilst the leaves lack the strong smell like other species in the mint family, the bitterness of its leaves make it deer resistant.  Tolerant of summer heat and humidity, this late summer bloomer is a favourite of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.  Grows best in rich, open woodlands. Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agastache scrophulariifolia

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 5′. Purple Giant Hyssop. Native to eastern North America. Many terminal spikes of small, violet to rosy pink flowers on tall, branching stems. The coarsely toothed, lanceolate leaves are aromatic. Blooms July to September. Well-drained soil. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agrimonia gryposepala

Family: (Rosaceae)

(P) to 5′. Tall Agrimony. North America. Slender, erect racemes of bright yellow, five-petalled blooms open from the bottom upwards, atop upright, softly hairy plants bearing paired, coarsely toothed, chartreuse green leaves. This native of open woods and thickets makes a surprisingly attractive garden plant. A patch planted outside our greenhouses was a joy all summer. Well-drained soil. Partial shade/sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Albuca bracteata (syn. Ornithogalum longibracteatum)

Family: (Asparagaceae)

Tender bulb to 3′.  Pregnant Onion.  South Africa.  Beautiful spikes of white striped green, star-shaped flowers.  The smooth, green bulb becomes very large and produces many bulbils attached to the sides of the mother bulb.  These bulbils become flowering size very quickly.  The foliage is two inches wide and a smooth, glossy green.  An easy and fascinating houseplant.  Sun.  3 & T3, then may need 40º for 2-3 months.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Allium atropurpureum

Family: (Alliaceae)

Hardy bulb to 3.5′. South Europe. On top of sturdy stems, very dark wine-red florets with prominent purple anthers form an intense, two-inch wide, spherical inflorescence in late spring. Very striking in our Purple/Magenta Square in the Flower Garden. Sun. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Allium caeruleum (syn. Allium azureum)

Family: (Alliaceae)

Hardy bulb to 2.5′. Siberia, Turkestan. Rich azure blue flowers form a small head atop upright stems. Blooms late spring/early summer. Very sweet. Sun. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Allium moly

Family: (Alliaceae)

Hardy bulb to 12″.  Golden Garlic.  Southern and southwestern Europe.   Star-shaped, 1/2” diameter, bright yellow flowers appear in loose umbels atop leafless stalks in late spring above with flat, tulip-like, blue-green, basal leaves which appear in 2’s.  Sun.  3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Allium sphaerocephalon

Family: (Alliaceae)

Hardy bulb to 3′.  Drumstick Allium.  Europe, North Africa, West Asia.  Cylindrical, hollow, grey-green leaves to 14 inches long form a grass-like foliage clump in spring.  Sturdy, slender stems rise in late spring and are topped with oval, clover-like flowerheads. Each flowerhead is a tight, dense, one-inch umbel of tiny florets that emerge deep green but mature (top to bottom) to rose-purple, displaying an interesting bi-colour effect.  Excellent when weaving through their neighbours.  Blooms mid-summer.  Sun. 3 & 6