Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tradescantia virginiana

Family: Commelinaceae

(P) to 3′.  Virginia Spiderwort, Spider Lily.  Eastern US.  This Spiderwort has three-petalled, blue-purple flowers with contrasting yellow stamens in terminal clusters above a pair of long, narrow, leaf-like bracts, each opening for only a day.  Clump-forming with multiple stems bearing narrow, pointed, olive green leaves.  A useful and robust perennial for native gardens, open woods and borders.  Blooms late spring to mid-summer.  Sun to part shade.  Moist, well-drained soil.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tricyrtis formosana

Family: (Liliaceae)

(P) to 3.5′.  Toad Lily.  Taiwan.  Shining, deeply veined, dark leaves on stiff, erect stems that branch into loose clusters of orchid-like buds and flowers.  Flowers are white to light purple with intense reddish-purple spotting and yellowish throats.  Stamens and stigma protrude far above the six splayed petals.  August to September.  Beautiful.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tricyrtis macropoda

Family: (Liliaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Japanese Toad Lily, Yama-hototogisu.  China, Japan.  Shining, deeply veined, dark, heart-shaped leaves on erect, arching stems that branch into loose terminal and axillary clusters of upward pointing, orchid-like buds and flowers.  Flowers are a more delicate pale-pink or white, featuring small, reddish-purple spots with stamens and stigma that protrude far above the six splayed petals.  August to September.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tripterygium regelii

Family: (Celastraceae)

Hardy vine to 30′. Regel’s Threewingnut. China, Manchuria and Korea. A sprawling, scandent, shrubby plant with small, white, green tinged flowers in large terminal panicles up to eight inches long. Produces green, three winged fruits that dry like the samaras of elm trees. Dark green, broadly rounded, alternate leaves. Notable as Beatrix Farrand’s favourite vine. Sun. PC- 4 weeks, 3 & T1

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Veltheimia bracteata

Family: (Asparagaceae)

Tender bulb to 2′.  Cape Lily.  This South African native has shiny strap-like leaves with crisp, undulating margins.  Purplish stems support spikes of pale green, upright buds which open to pendulous, pale pink, tubular flowers.  Flower spikes resemble those of the Red Hot Poker.  These regal bulbs add a presence to our Conservatory in March.  Sun.  3 & T3, then they may need 40º for 2-3 months.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbascum chaixii 'Album'

Family: (Scrophulariaceae)

(P) to 4′.  White Nettle-leaved Mullein.  Europe and Russia.  A white-flowered form of the classic yellow Verbascum chaixii.  Attractive, grey-green, felted, and corrugated leaves form large basal rosettes from which rise spire-like terminal racemes.  The racemes are densely packed with five-lobed, one-inch, white flowers sporting showy purple-red filaments and orange anthers.  Long blooming and very versatile.  Mid-summer. Sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbascum chaixii Mix

Family: Scrophulariaceae

(P) to 4′.  Europe and Russia.  A delightful blend of yellow and white Nettle-leaved Mullein. Grey-green, felted, and corrugated leaves form basal rosettes from which rise spire-like, unbranched stems with terminal racemes of five-lobed, flattish, one-inch, yellow or white flowers with violet stamens.  Very versatile.  Mid-summer. Sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbena bonariensis

Family: (Verbenaceae)

(A/TP) to 5′.  South American Vervain.  A great “see-through” plant for the flower border.  Bristly, dark green, stiff stems have a few, three-inch long, clasping, lanceolate leaves.  Numerous, small, rosy purple, tufted flowers cluster in flat-topped cymes.  Blooms all summer.  Gently self-sows when happy.  Sun.  3, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora ‘Bampton’

Family: Verbenaceae

(P) to 3′.  Vervain.  This cultivar originates from Bampton Manor in Oxfordshire England, coming true from seed.   A short-lived perennial with a loose and informal habit, great in a mixed border.  Mini, lavender-pink flowers forming gentle clouds of colour on drooping spikes.  Late to mid-summer bloomer.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbesina alternifolia

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′. Wingstem. East coast native. Stems winged, leaves alternate, lanceolate-elliptic to 10 inches long with serrated margins. The loose corymbs of many one-inch, yellow daisies grace the garden in late summer. Sun. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbesina virginica

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′.  Frostweed, Virginia Crownbeard.  Southeastern US.  From a distance, the many loose, open corymbs of small flowers look like white “daisies.”  On closer inspection the flowers are comprised of up to five oblong and notched, pistillate ray florets and many white central disc florets with five prominent, exserted, purple anthers.  The pubescent, winged stems are interesting with their up to six-inch long, downy, alternate, oblong-lanceolate leaves with serrated margins.  Each stem has soft, fleshy green flanges running longitudinally down its length. When winter weather brings ice, the stems exude water that freezes into fascinating shapes, hence its common name.  Blooms late summer.  Often seen along roadsides and open places.  An important late season nectar plant for pollinators.  Well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Vernonia altissima

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 8′. Tall Ironweed. Eastern North America. Loose, flattened clusters of thistle-like, purple flowers atop towering stems. Large irregularly toothed and pointed leaves. Not for the faint of heart! Blooms from late summer into autumn. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade.  3 & T1 for 3 months, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Vernonia arkansana (syn. V. crinata)

Family: (Asteraceae)

P) to 5′.  A statuesque Ironweed from the Ozark region of Missouri, producing tufts of fuzzy, deep purple, rayless flowers in late summer on tall, strong stems covered in minute fine white hairs with long, lance-like leaves in large whorls.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & T1 for 3 months, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Vernonia noveboracensis

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′.  New York Ironweed.  Terminal clusters of fuzzy, thistle-like deep purple florets bloom in late summer.  Strong stems have whorls of alternate, lanceolate, pointed leaves.  Earns its name because of its “iron-like” qualities – tough stems, the rusty-tinged colour of fading flowers and the rusty colour of the persistent, ripe seed heads.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & T1 for 3 months, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Veronica spicata 'Corymbosa'

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 9″. Many-Spiked Speedwell. Many dense spikes of deep blue, star-shaped flowers complement the dark green, toothed foliage. A long bloomer. Sun. 3 & T1