Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Amsonia tabernaemontana

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(P) to 3.5′.  Common Blue Star.  Southeast United States.  A lovely addition to the flower border bearing starry, forget-me-not blue flowers in late spring and early summer.  Large, carefree plant and surprisingly shade-tolerant.  The foliage turns golden yellow in autumn.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & 7

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) 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): Angelica polymorpha

Family: (Apiaceae)

(P) to 6′. China. Exquisite, airy umbels of small white flowers and attractive lobed leaves. The flowering umbels look like a perfect firework display. A choice plant. Sun. 3 & 6

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

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Anthyllis vulneraria var. coccinea

Family: (Fabaceae)

(P) to 6″. Kidney Vetch. Basal rosettes of deep green, paddle-shaped leaves with very light margins. Flowers are clustered, each containing a pale yellow tube with red lips. Flower stalks to eight inches tall and pale purple in colour. Blooms in May and June. Self-sows. Sun. 2B & 3 & 7 for 4 weeks, then T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aquilegia canadensis

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2′. Honeysuckle Columbine. A native of eastern North America. Nodding blossoms with red spurs surrounding yellow petals and yellow anthers and an extended stigma. Dark stems and delicate foliage. Late spring to early summer bloomer. Self-sows readily. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila f. rosea

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 6″. Fan Columbine.  A Japanese garden treasure with short-spurred, pale pink, nodding flowers in spring.  Biternate to triternate, blue-green foliage is somewhat suggestive of meadow rue.  The leaflets of this species are rounded and fan-shaped, hence the common name.  Adorable.  Sun. 4 & T2

This seed is either sold out or unavailable