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): Acer pensylvanicum

Family: (Sapindaceae)

Deciduous tree to 25′.  Moosewood, Striped Maple.  NE US to eastern Canada.  Young trees feature smooth grey-green bark, striped vertically with distinctive white marks running the length of the trunk.  Bark transitions to a reddish-brown on more mature trees. The large, opposite, three-lobed leaves emerge with a pinkish tint, develop into a deep green in summer and finish with brilliant yellow autumn colour.  The yellow-green, 4 to 5 petalled flowers can be male (stipulate), female (pistillate) or complete (bi-sexual) and are held on slender, six-inch pendant racemes.  The flowers open in late spring and are followed by attractive hanging clusters of one-inch long, paired samaras that persist into winter.  Thrives in a woodland setting with dappled light and moist soil.  Great understory tree.  3, 7 for 4 weeks, move seed pan to an outdoor location until germination.

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): Aconitum orientale

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 6′.  Caucasian Wolfsbane.  A splendid treasure from Turkey and Caucasus to Iran with large, long-stalked,  tri-lobed, dark forest green leaves.  Racemes of slender, hooded, creamy white flowers suffused with yellow appear in late summer.  Likes partial sun to shade and average garden soil.  PC – 4 weeks, 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Actaea alba (syn. A. pachypoda)

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2′. Doll’s Eyes. This American native has a long season of interest from flower to fruit. Racemes of fat, white, bottlebrush flowers bloom early and are followed by china-white berries with black eyes. Sturdy, red-flushed stems and the attractive toothed leaves add interest, too. A “must” for the woodland. Berries are poisonous! Partial shade. 3 & 7 for 3 months, then T2

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

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 6′. Early Snakeroot, Black Cohosh. An eastern North American native with branched wands of white, bottlebrush flowers. Blooms prolifically in June. Light green, divided foliage remains at three feet tall. 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): Adenophora liliifolia

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. Lilyleaf Ladybell. Central Europe to Siberia. Fragrant, pendant, violet-blue flower bells bloom like crazy in midsummer. Excellent cut flower. Well-drained soil. Will self-sow when happy. Sun. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aethionema coridifolium

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 6″. 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 seedheads. Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aethionema oppositifolium

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 2”. Caucasus. Our first alpine to bloom braving the long-awaited snowmelt. The round, glaucous, grey-blue leaves are succulent in appearance and form a dense, two-inch high mat smothered in tiny maroon buds that open to four-petalled, pale pink flowers in early spring. Definitely one of our favourites. A tough gem. Sun. 3 & T1

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agastache aurantiaca

Family: Lamiaceae

(A/TP) to 2.5’.  Orange Hummingbird Mint.  South US, Mexico.  Bright orange, tubular, lipped flowers in spikes provide a sizzling blaze of colour from mid-to-late summer. Aromatic silver-grey foliage too.  A hummingbird favourite.  Marvellous filler in our Peach Bed.  3 & T2

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

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 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 eupatoria

Family: (Rosaceae)

(P) to 3′. Agrimony, Church Steeples. Europe. An ancient, domestic medicinal herb long used for the treatment of wounds and snakebites. This charming, long blooming garden flower has tall, slender spikes of bright yellow, five-petalled blooms. The fruit is burr-like with hooked bristles to aid dispersal by animals. The deep green, softly hairy, pinnately-divided leaves have silvery undersides. The entire plant is sweetly fragrant, especially the flowers, whose perfume is said to be reminiscent of ripe apricots. June to September. Well-drained soil. Sun. 3 & T2