Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lepechinia hastata

Family: (Lamiaceae)

Tender subshrub to 6′. Americas. The specific epithet hastata is descriptive of the large, arrow-shaped, velvety grey-green leaves for which this tender subshrub is grown. Of equal value are the ten-inch long flower spikes adorned with numerous, one-inch long, rosy purple flowers of classic “Lamium-esque” form, sitting upon smoky purple pedicels. A striking specimen for a sunny spot in your home. Blooms on and off throughout the year. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lepechinia salviae

Family: (Lamiaceae)

Tender subshrub to 3′.  Chile.  A more compact form of Lepechinia hastata with large, blue-green, arrow-shaped leaves that are highly pebbled and pleasantly aromatic.  The flowers are magenta in colour, however in combination with the dark calyx and deep pinkish flower stem they have an overall smokey hue to the magenta. burgundy flowers, held in dark calyces on deep pinkish stems. Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Leucanthemella serotina

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′.  Southeast Europe.  A fancy name for a lovely white daisy, reaching a height of six feet.  A slow spreader, nice for the back of the border or a wild garden.  August through September.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ligularia dentata

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 4′.  China, Japan.  Orange, branched, daisy-type flowers.  Dark reddish or plain green foliage with toothed leaf margins, some more deeply toothed than others.  A welcomed sight en masse in the latter half of summer.  Likes moisture.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ligularia stenocephala

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 4′. Native to Japan and northern China. With these variable plants, expect rounded or triangular jagged leaves, light or dark foliage and stems, and spikes of yellow florets. You can’t go wrong. Summer. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Limonium bellidifolium

Family: (Plumbaginaceae)

(TP) to 10″.  Alpine Sea Lavender.  Europe.  Matt green clumps of congested, spathulate, leathery leaves with recurved margins.  Sprays of small, pale violet, five-lobed, trumpet-shaped, “everlasting” flowers are held in bunches on wiry branched stems.  Summer blooming.  Sun.  3 & T2, cover and keep dark.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Limonium minutum

Family: (Plumbaginaceae)

(TP) to 6″.  Miniature Statice.  Southeastern France.  A small, tufted, woody species from the Mediterranean regions.  The red-tinged, slender leaves are obovate to spathulate, with recurved margins and form a dull green, cushion-like mass of rosettes.  Sprays of small, lavender, five-lobed, trumpet-shaped, “everlasting” flowers are held in bunches on wiry branched stems.  Endearing.  June.  This mini-gem turns a bright plum-purple in fall.  Sun.  3 & T2, cover and keep dark.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lobelia cardinalis

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(P) to 3′. Cardinal Flower. An American native with racemes of brilliant scarlet, fan-shaped flowers. Green leaves remain basal. A “must-have” for the red bed and the woodland. Hummingbirds love their nectar. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6A

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lobelia inflata

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(A) to 3′.  Indian Tobacco.  Another great native North American plant for the flower border!  Spikes of small fan-shaped light blue flowers with a bearded lower lip are followed by fat balloons filled with seeds.  Long blooming from summer to frost.  The alkaloid Lobeline, was used until recently to appease nicotine cravings.  Sun.  3 & 6A

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lobelia siphilitica

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(P) to 3′. Great Blue Lobelia. A native of eastern North America. Clear blue, sometimes white, inch-long, fan-shaped flowers with small, white stamens bloom on dense racemes from July to September. Brings a feeling of coolness to the garden in the hottest part of summer. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6A

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lobelia siphilitica Pink Form

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(P) to 3′.  A very attractive and rare pale pink form of the native Great Blue Lobelia.  Clear pink, sometimes white, inch-long, fan-shaped flowers with small, white stamens bloom on dense racemes from July to September.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & 6A

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lunaria rediviva

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Perennial Honesty.  Europe.  Sweetly scented, four-petalled, pale lilac flowers.  Elliptical, slightly tapering seedpods mature to silvery, translucent cases used in dried floral arrangements.  Tough and durable with large, handsome, pale green, cordate leaves.  Partial shade.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lychnis coronaria

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Rose Campion.  Asia, Europe.  A cottage garden classic.  Tall grey stems with vivid, five-petalled, rose-magenta blooms are borne over clumps of ovate, densely woolly, silver-grey, flannelly leaves.  Blooms June and July.  Sun/partial shade.  Prefers moist soil but will tolerate poor soils with some dryness.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lychnis viscaria

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(P) to 12″. Alpine Catchfly. British native. Low, dark, spathulate foliage. Compact clusters of deeply notched, dark rose-pink, five-petalled flowers. A “show-stopper” in June. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lychnis viscaria subsp. atropurpurea

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(P) to 18″. Balkan’s Catchfly. This striking Catchfly has reddish purple marked leaves, purplish stems, and 10-inch panicles of deep purple, five-petalled flowers. Eye-catching.  Late spring. Sun. 4 & T2