Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aquilegia vulgaris Mix

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 3′. Columbine. Europe. The common name Columbine is derived from the Latin word for “dove” in reference to the resemblance of the inverted flower to five doves clustered together – a most descriptive image indeed. The intricate flowers can be nodding or horizontal and consist of five sepals and five petals to 1-½ inches long and come in a wide variety of colours, often developing dorsal hooked spurs. Interesting five, fused seed follicles follow. Each follicle has a long thin beak and holds many small, shiny, black seeds and persists until fall. The bushy, clump-forming plants have branched, thinly hairy stems and pinnate leaves, with the basal leaflets trifoliate. One of the most beloved plants appearing in an array of colours, sizes and forms, thanks to natural hybridization in the garden.  In 2021 we collected from plants described below.  Perhaps you will get an even more exciting variant.  Sun to part shade.  4 & T2

– Single White                – Single Lavender             

– Single Clear Pink         – Single Tall Purple

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aralia continentalis

Family: (Araliaceae)

(P) to 4′. Manchurian Spikenard. Clump-forming, architectural perennial with arching stems of alternate, bipinnate leaves. In midsummer, many terminal racemes of green flowers are soon followed by globose, blue-black fruit. Partial shade. Likes moisture. 3 & 7 for 4 months, then T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Araujia sericifera

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(TP) to 6′. Cruel Plant.  South America.  This twining, woody climber is another unique member of the Stonecrop plant collection.  The softly hairy, stalked leaves and loose cymes of waxy flowers belie its sinister relationship to its pollinators.  The five-petalled, white flowers are striped with two pink lines on each petal that act as a track to guide nocturnal moths toward the centre.  The sticky pollen then traps moth’s proboscides and holds them until they either escape or perish, ensuring the transfer of pollen within the flower.  An invasive species in many parts of the world, Araujia is not hardy here and thus can be safely cultivated as a handsome specimen for the warm glasshouse.  We bring our Araujia outside in the summer to enjoy its fragrant and showy flowers, and in the winter we enjoy the unique fruits under glass.  The large, leathery pods contain seeds tipped with a tuft of silky hairs, which give the plant its Latin species name of sericifera, meaning silk-bearing. Sun.  3 &T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aristolochia clematitis

Family: Aristolochiaceae

(P) to 30″.  This non-climbing herbaceous Dutchman’s Pipe has small apetalous, tubular, greenish yellow flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer in clusters from the leaf axils. Each flower has a straight funnel-shaped tube with pointed, curved upper lips (considerably different in appearance from the curved Dutchman’s smoking pipe-type blooms found on some other species in the genus).  Full sun to part shade.  4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Artemisia annua

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 5′. Sweet Annie. Southeast Europe. Fast growing with finely cut, aromatic, bright green foliage bearing lots of loose clusters of tiny, yellow flowers in late summer. Makes a great temporary screen or hedge. Adds a nice touch to dried arrangements. Self-sows readily. Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aruncus aethusifolius

Family: (Rosaceae)

(P) to 12″. A miniature Goat’s Beard from Korea. Bright green, finely dissected foliage forms a thick, lacy carpet. Small, dense, branched spikes of Astilbe-like, tiny, creamy flowers appear in summer. Foliage turns a beautiful burgundy in fall. Partial shade. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aruncus dioicus

Family: (Rosaceae)

(P) to 5′. Goat’s Beard. Europe and Russia. The tall stature and presence of this Aruncus with its large, creamy white, feathery plumes makes it a show stopper for the back of the border. Prefers moist soil and partial shade. Early summer bloomer. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Asclepias curassavica

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(A/TP) to 4′.  Blood Flower, Bastard Pecacuanha.  A native of tropical America with cymes of 10+ small, cinnabar-red, five-petalled flowers with orange hoods.  Upright foliage has pointed, elliptic, and opposite leaves.  Blooms in late summer.  Easy from seed but we dig ours up to overwinter.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Asclepias incarnata 'Alba'

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(P) to 4′.  A lovely white-flowered form of the Swamp Milkweed.  Tolerates average, well-drained soil in cultivation but does best in moist areas.  Blooms July through September.  Sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Asclepias syriaca

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(P) to 5′. Common Milkweed. Eastern North America. The familiar pale pink flowering version of the butterfly-luring milkweed. The ribbed, hairy pods are attractive, rattle in the wind and resemble Okra pods. Essential host plant for Monarch caterpillars. Vigorously spreading roots to the point of being invasive but a “must have” for any wild garden. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aster divaricatus (syn. Eurybia divaricata)

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 2′. White Wood Aster. An American native. Clusters of white ray flowers with yellow centres and heart-shaped leaves on dark stems. Very floriferous. Sun, tolerates dry shade. 3 & 6 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aster tataricus

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 7′.  Tatarian Aster.  Siberia.  Tall, long-blooming Aster with glorious, loose sprays of bold, lilac-blue daisies with yellow centres.  Dense clusters of wide, lance-shaped leaves.  Tough, durable plant that will thrive in a variety of conditions.  No staking needed, blooms late – September and October and well worth the wait.  Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Astilbe biternata

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(P) to 4.5′. False Goat’s Beard. North America. The only native Astilbe and unaccountably rarely seen. Tall, imposing stems with profuse, creamy white flower panicles light up the woodland in early summer. Dark green foliage is lush and resembles Actaea. Partial shade. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Astilbe chinensis var. davidii

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(P) to 6′. China and Japan. A tall and spectacular Astilbe. Late to bloom, but when the erect, branched, tapering panicles of rosy-purple blooms appear in late summer, it is well worth the wait. The foliage is attractive too with dense, sturdy clumps of serrated leaflets that emerge a gorgeous coppery bronze in the spring before turning a lustrous, dusty dark green. August. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Astilboides tabularis (syn. Rodgersia tabularis)

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(P) to 4′. William Robinson described it best, “A bold growing and handsome species with huge peltate leaves and plumes of creamy white flowers.” Leaves reach a height of 2 to 2.5 feet. A superb plant to use as a focal point in the garden. Definitely stimulates conversation. Partial shade. 4 & T2