Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Glaucidium palmatum

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2′. Japan. Large-lobed, jagged leaves of fresh green are the background for the Poppy-like flowers of delicate lavender. A sight to behold in the middle of May. Cool seedpods follow. Moist soil. Partial shade. 3 & 7 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Glaucidium palmatum var. leucanthemum

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2′.  A lovely white form of the Japanese Wood Poppy.  Large, heavily-veined and crinkled maple-like leaves create a perfect backdrop for Poppy-like flowers comprised of four, snow white, petaloid sepals that surround a large, showy central boss of numerous bright yellow stamens.  This rare woodland aristocrat blooms in May and the show continues with interesting fruits of substantial, upright, two fused follicles which persist until fall.  Moist soil.  Partial shade.  3 & 7 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Gymnaster savatieri

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3′.  Eastern Asia.  A choice and uncommon perennial with powdery blue, Aster-like flowers with small yellow centres.  Lively, angular foliage that always looks perfect.  Covered in an exuberance of bloom from September onwards.  Simply a “must” for the fall garden.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Gypsophila tenuifolia

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(P) to 8″. Caucasus. Charming alpine Baby’s Breath with many delicate, open sprays of small, white to pink, five-petalled blooms in summer. Tight mats of slender, deep green foliage. Needs a well-drained, limey soil. Ideal specimen for the rock garden. Sun. 4 & T2

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Haberlea rhodopensis 'Alba'

Family: Gesneriaceae

(P) to 6″.  Bulgaria and Greece.  Rosettes of wide, rugose, softly hirsute leaves with toothed margins.  Showy, drooping, tubular, soft white flowers with two upper petals and three lower petals marked with yellow and orange spots in the throat are held on 6-inch scapes.  A choice treasure for a cool, north-facing crevice.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Habranthus robustus

Family: (Amaryllidaceae)

Tender bulb to 8″. Rain Lily. A native of Argentina and South Brazil. The three-inch, Lily-like flowers, two per stem, are a blushed pink with darker veining and a green throat. Narrow, strap-like foliage. Grow Habranthus on a cool windowsill in well-drained soil. Easy. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Habranthus tubispathus (syn. Habranthus texanus)

Family: (Amaryllidaceae)

Tender bulb to 8″.  Rio Grande Copper Lily.  Argentina and Uruguay.  Flowers have a copper-coloured exterior and are golden yellow within.  The solitary, upward facing blooms are 1½ inches in length and about the same diameter when open.  Blooms in the spring, but often, there is another flush in the fall.  Leaves appear after flowering.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Halesia monticola var. vestita

Family: (Styracaceae)

Hardy tree to 60′. Mountain Silverbell. Southern Appalachia. Visitors to Stonecrop in early May always admire this beautiful tree in full bloom. A mass of pendulous, pink bells appear before the leaves fully emerge. Seed was collected from our specimen, which is var. vestita having larger, pink, bell flowers, whereas the species has white bells. Makes a choice understory tree. Rich, well-drained acidic soil. Well worth the wait. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Heimia salicifolia

Family: (Lythraceae)

Tender shrub to 10′.  Willow-leaved Heimia, Elixir of the Sun.  South US, C & S America.  This unusual plant has many slender, woody stems that are densely covered in mostly opposite, narrow, linear, green leaves.  Small flowers have six, bright yellow, somewhat wrinkled, roundly obovate petals.  The petals are attached to the rim of the tube-shaped floral cup with 12 stamens inserted low in the cup.  The flowers arise from the leaf axils and bloom in profusion all summer.  This plant is very accommodating – in the spring we plant it in our Flower Garden and Order Beds then dig it up in the fall.  It never skips a beat.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Helenium autumnale

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 5′.  Sneezeweed.  Eastern North America.  A plant of swamps and wet meadows.  The branching sprays of warm, golden yellow daisies have prominent yellow centres and distinctive, reflexed, notched petals.  The lance-shaped leaves are decurrent, extending down the stiff, branched stems, giving them a noticeable “winged” appearance.  The dried leaves were once used as snuff, hence the name.  Blooms late August through September.  Prefers moist or wet soil.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Helianthus hirsutus

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 4′. Rough or Bristly Sunflower. Midwest. A tough, native sunflower producing a flourish of bright yellow, three-inch, daisy-like flowers from midsummer to autumn. The short stalked, lanceolate leaves have a distinctive rough, sandpapery texture. Found along dry woodland edges and roadsides, this clump-forming perennial makes a useful colonizer for those rocky or difficult spots. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Helianthus mollis

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 4′. Ashy Sunflower. Tallgrass prairie, Michigan to Ohio. The dense, soft hairs that cover the stems and clasping, broadly ovate leaves, give the whole plant an attractive, ashen grey appearance. The large individual blooms are a rich buttercup yellow, appearing from midsummer into early autumn over open, somewhat wide and spreading clumps. A widespread and drought tolerant native for a wild garden or an informal planting. Sun. 3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Heliopsis helianthoides

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′. Sun Glory. North America. Tall, sunny yellow ray and disc flowers on this late-flowering daisy. Cheerful, long-lasting masses of blooms in July and August. Sun. 3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hesperis matronalis

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(B/P) to 4′. Dame’s Rocket. Eurasia. Purple, notched, four-petalled flowers in racemes bloom in May, then sporadically through the summer. Lightly scented at night. Naturalized along roadsides. We love this “old-fashioned faithful.” Sun/partial shade. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hesperis steveniana

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(B/P) to 3′. Damask Violet. Rarely seen nowadays is this choice plant from Asia Minor. Attractive, grey-green foliage and branching stems bearing innumerable, slender spikes of scented, pale lilac-purple, four-petalled flowers from early summer onwards. Very fragrant. Useful for cutting. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T3