Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Euonymus americanus

Family: Celastraceae

Hardy shrub to 6′.  Hearts-a-Burstin.  North America.  A small native shrub with many inconspicuous, greenish-purple flowers in summer.  By October however, the scarlet fruit capsules have popped open to reveal the bright pinkish orange seeds inside, hence its common name.  Excellent red autumn colour.  Truly spectacular.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Eupatorium fistulosum

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 8′.  Hollow-stemmed Joe Pye Weed.  A tall, striking addition to the late summer border.  Fluffy, rounded domes of pinkish mauve to soft purple flowers.  Leaves whorl in groups of six to seven around the unspotted, hollow stem.  A great butterfly plant.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Eupatorium fistulosum f. albidum

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′. A beautiful, creamy white form of Joe Pye Weed. This North American native makes a great addition to the back of our White Garden. Also a perfect candidate for the wild garden/meadow. Bright green leaves whorl around sturdy stems ending with large, pyramidal corymbs of fluffy, cream flowerheads. Never needs staking. A long bloomer from July onwards. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Eupatorium hyssopifolium

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3′.  Hyssop-leaf Thoroughwort.  A plant of sandy soils and coastal areas from New England to Florida.  Large, flat-topped inflorescences of white flowers up to one foot across.  Fine textured foliage of narrow, whorled, grey-green leaves.  Easy and a good late summer bloomer.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Eupatorium perfoliatum

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 4.5′. Boneset. A southeastern American native with striking leaf and stem structure. As if it were a fencing foil, the stem pierces through long, pointed, opposing, rough, bristly leaves. Clusters of cream-coloured flowers are held up on corymbs. September. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Euphorbia myrsinites

Family: (Euphorbiaceae)

(P) to 6″.  Southern Europe.  Trailing, robust 12-inch stems with spiraling, blue-green, glaucous foliage.  Stems terminate in large heads of many greenish yellow bracts enclosing tiny, yellow flowers.  A perfect plant for a dry wall or sunny rock garden.  Blooms early summer.  Well-drained soil.  Self-seeds for us.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Euthamia graminifolia (syn. Solidago graminifolia)

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3.5′. Lance-leaved Goldenrod. North America. Upright, slender branching stems with many thin, grass-like, pointed leaves topped by irregular, loose, flattish cymes of small, golden yellow flowers in late summer. Its tendency to form attractive, airy clumps and prolonged season of bloom makes it an attractive addition to the garden. Well-drained soil. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Fagopyrum esculentum Pink

Family: Polygonaceae

(A) to 3′.  Pink Common Buckwheat.  Asia.  Cultivated for its grain-like seeds and as a cover crop, this lovely pink version is an eye-catcher in the meadow at Stonecrop.  It is somewhat erect but has a tendency to sprawl in the absence of support. The stems become ribbed and reddish green with maturity. The alternate, cordate leaves are up to four-inches long and 3-inches across with a slightly undulated edge. One or two racemes of flowers develop from the axils of the upper leaves; some of these racemes may be terminal. The racemes are one to three inches long, and densely crowded with whorls of flowers. Each flower is up to ½-inch across, consisting of five petal-like, rosy-pink sepals that become green toward the throat of the flower. Long bloom period and a pleasant floral scent. Each flower is replaced by a winged achene with three sides. Primarily bees and ants visit the flowers for their abundant nectar. When honeybees visit the flowers of Common Buckwheat in fields, they produce a distinctive honey.  Self-sows.  Prefers moist, rich soil.  Direct sow or 3 & 7 for 3 weeks then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum'

Family: (Apiaceae)

(P) to 4′. This Sweet Fennel has gorgeous, bronzy, feathery foliage. Fine, straw yellow umbels contrast beautifully with the anise-scented foliage. A great foil in the flower garden. Sun.  4, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Francoa appendiculata

Family: (Francoaceae)

(TP) to 2-½’.  Maiden’s Wreath. Chile. From an evergreen basal rosette of crinkled, wavy-edged, dark green foliage emerge graceful flowering spikes of bell shaped, shell pink flowers marked with delicate red stripes.  Excellent in a pot outdoors for a summer display then overwinter in a cool greenhouse.  Summer blooming.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Francoa ramosa

Family: (Melianthaceae)

(TP) to 3′.  Bridal Wreath.  A native plant of Chile that Miss Jekyll loved to grow in pots to enhance her summer display on the terrace.  Many slender spikes of sessile flowers rise above scalloped, deep green basal foliage.  The four petalled flowers are of the palest pink flushed white.  Early summer bloomer.  Follow Miss Jekyll’s lead, grow it in a pot, display outdoors and overwinter in a cool greenhouse.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Francoa sonchifolia

Family: Melianthaceae

(TP) to 2-½’.  Wedding Flower.  Chile.  In mid-summer, graceful, long-lasting, unbranched stems bear compact racemes of dark pink buds.  The buds open into soft pink flowers with darker pink markings.  Deeply lobed, spoon-shaped leaves form attractive, evergreen rosettes.  Best grown in pots for outdoor display and overwintered in a cool greenhouse.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Gentiana asclepiadea

Family: (Gentianaceae)

(P) to 12″. Willow Gentian. A native of Europe and Asia Minor. Clusters of two to three sapphire blue trumpets appear in the axils of the prominent veined, willow-leaved foliage. These arching sprays of blue are wonderful cascading over a rock or dripping down from a ledge above. Blooms late summer. Partial shade. 3 & 6

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Geranium macrorrhizum

Family: (Geraniaceae)

(P) to 18″. South Europe. An attractive, tough, and easy plant to grow in the flower border or woodland. Palmately lobed leaves are sticky and highly aromatic and contain geranium oil, used in perfumery and pot-pourri. White, pink or magenta flowers bloom from spring throughout summer. Gradually spreads to form an effective, attractive groundcover with reddish bronze colouration in fall. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Geum triflorum

Family: Rosaceae

(P) to 16″.  Prairie Smoke.  North America.  A wonderful choice for the native garden or rock garden, this Geum has distinct, light red, globular, drooping flowers with styles that elongate and collectively begin to resemble a hair blowing in the wind.  Rosette-forming habit, with dissected dark green foliage.  A slow growing but fantastic groundcover. Unusual and unique.  3 & T2