Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ammobium altatum

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 3′.  Winged Everlasting.  Although a perennial in Australia, we treat this tender perennial as an annual.  The pure white, stiff, papery ray florets are short and layered and surround bright yellow, central discs. Unusual greyish green stems are flat and winged along the edges.  Flowers are in abundance throughout the season.  An interesting and easy to grow annual that dries beautifully.  Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Amsonia ciliata

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(P) to 20″. Narrow-Leaved Bluestar. This native of open sandy woodland and prairies from North Carolina to Missouri resembles a petite, more refined version of the Arkansas Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) with five-petalled, starry, periwinkle-blue flowers in early summer. The narrow, almost needle-like foliage turns a brilliant golden yellow in the fall. Dry, well-drained soil. Sun. 3 & 7 for 12 weeks, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Amsonia elliptica

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(P) to 18″.  Dwarf Oriental Blue-Star.  China, Japan, and Korea.  Amsonia elliptica makes a bushy mound of tight-clumped, upright stems topped with starry, five-petalled, porcelain-blue flowers in early June. The glossy green, broad, grass-like leaves make an excellent backdrop for other garden plants during the summer.  In fall the foliage turns a glowing yellow to orange.  A great Amsonia for the small garden with a good display of flowers and excellent autumn colour.  Sun/partial shade.  3, 7 for 4 weeks, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Amsonia hubrichtii

Family: Apocynaceae

(P) to 3.5′.  Hubricht’s Bluestar.  Arkansas to Oklahoma.  Clusters of starry, blue flowers in summer but chiefly grown for the soft, feathery texture of its fine, needle-shaped leaves and its luxurious, billowing habit.  In autumn the leaves turn to a rich, burnished gold with overtones of copper and apricot.  Wow.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Sun.  3, 7 for 4 weeks, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Androsace septentrionalis

Family: (Primulaceae)

(A/short-lived P) to 6″. Northern Fairy Candelabra. Northwestern US. A small basal rosette of oblong-lanceolate, notched leaves give rise to several erect stalks terminating in an open umbel of small white flowers. The rounded, slightly notched, five-petalled flowers with yellow-green centres are held in a five-pointed calyx with red tips. The umbel clusters in fruit are very Allium-esque. Sun and well-drained soil. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Anemone virginiana

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. Central and eastern United States. This plant has long petioled, toothed basal leaves. The flowers are greenish white and not long lasting. However, the fuzzy, white, cotton ball-like seedheads provide an interesting addition to the garden throughout the summer. Not fussy. Partial shade. 3 & 6 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Anemonopsis macrophylla

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. False Anemone. A Japanese aristocrat. Handsome, glossy, dissected foliage. Late-season, nodding, waxy, pink-purple, anemone-like flowers. Wonderful in a woodland setting. Partial shade. 4 & T1

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Angelica gigas

Family: (Apiaceae)

(B/P) to 5′. This terrific Barry Yinger introduction from Korea and Japan is a stunner. Dramatic, deep maroon, spherical flowerheads emerge from red-flushed, bulbous, leafy sheaths above glossy green, dissected foliage. The afternoon sun intensifies the colour and lends this plant another dimension. Please note, insects, especially hornets, also find it irresistible. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Anoda cristata var. albiflora

Family: (Malvaceae)

(A/TP) to 3′.  Blooming from June until frost, pure white, satiny, mallow-esque flowers are accented by large triangular leaves.  Never needs deadheading.  This Central American and West Indian native prefers poor soil.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Anomatheca laxa

Family: (Iridaceae)

Tender corm to 12″. A South African treasure for a sunny window. Single, six-tepalled, orange-red flowers with a dark red blotch at the base of the lower three petals. Flat, fan-shaped leaves. Blooms in April/May and is followed by a capsule filled with shiny, red seeds. Easy and charming. Sun. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Antennaria dioica

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 4″. Pussy-Toes. Europe, North America. This adorable little carpeting perennial is at home in the sunny rock garden. It forms a flat mat of small, grey-green, tomentose, spathulate leaves. Short stems with dense corymbs of buds that resemble the toes of a cat which open to papery white flowers with a pinkish tinge. Plants are dioecious – male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. The female flowerhead is larger and has narrow, pointed, erect and often pink-tipped bracts.   Male flowers typically appear on shorter flower stalks with white-tipped bracts. A billowing cloud of fluffy seedheads follows. Blooms in late spring. A tough and useful plant. Well-drained soil and sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Antennaria dioica 'Minima'

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3″. Half the size of regular Pussy-toes, this adorable little carpeting perennial is at home in the sunny rock garden, alpine trough or growing between stepping stones. It forms a flat mat of tiny silver edged, grey-green leaves. Short stems with tight terminal clusters of buds that resemble the toes of a cat, open to papery white flowers with a pinkish tinge. A billowing cloud of fluffy seedheads follows. Blooms in late spring. A tough and useful plant. Well-drained soil and sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Antennaria dioica var. rosea

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 4″.  Pink Pussy-Toes.  Europe, North America.  A rock garden stalwart with a tight clusters of beautiful rose-pink flowers from a basal rosette of fuzzy-grey, evergreen leaves with white tomentose below.  Midsummer.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Antennaria neglecta var. gaspensis

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6″.  Newfoundland to Quebec.  Mat forming tufts of grey-green, woolly foliage.  Short, erect stems with loose corymbs of white “Pussy-Toes.”  Prefers a sunny spot in well-drained soil.  3 & 7

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Antennaria plantaginifolia

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 10″.  Ladies’ Tobacco.  North American native.  Mat forming, with ovate-elliptic, deeply veined, grey-green foliage that is sparsely woolly above, silver-grey and extremely woolly below.  The flowers are in dense, terminal clusters, white to pale pink, resembling “Pussy-Toes.”  Male and female parts are produced on different heads on different plants, with the female flowerhead often fluffier and the male flowers typically appearing on shorter flower stalks.  This “Pussy-Toe” packs a punch.  Blooms early spring.  Sun.  3 & T2