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 2024 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): Arabis ferdinandi-coburgii

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 4″. Rockcress. Southeastern Europe. An easy growing, mat-forming perennial spreading up to 12 inches wide. Flowering white in clusters in early spring on five-inch stalks. A plant for sun or part shade in well-drained soil. 4 & T1

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): Arenaria sajanensis (syn. Minuartia obtusiloba)

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(P) foliage to 3″, flowers to 6″.  Alaska to Oregon.  Bright green, mossy mat of fine, needle-like foliage.  Five-petalled, starry, white flowers with green veining cover the mat.  Tough and attractive rock garden plant.  Sun.  4 & T1

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): Armeria juniperifolia

Family: (Plumbaginaceae)

(P) to 3″.  Dwarf Spanish Thrift.  Europe.  This alpine form makes a very dense bun or cushion of greyish green, needle-like leaves with soft pink, globe-shaped, five-petalled flowers with papery bracts which are held just above the foliage.  Sun, well-drained soil.  3 & T2

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): Arthropodium candidum Bronze Leaf

Family: (Asparagaceae)

Tender bulb to 12″. New Zealand. Starry white, six-petalled flowers bloom in early summer. Mottled bronze leaves are grass-like. Excellent for the cool greenhouse. Adorable. Sun. 3 & T2

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 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 chinensis

Family: Saxifragaceae

(P) to 3′.  China.  This clump-forming perennial features graceful, fern-like mounds of mostly basal, compound leaves with sharply-toothed leaflets that emerge coppery bronze. Tiny rose-purple flowers are densely packed into erect, plume-like flower panicles rising above the foliage on slender stems. August.  A tough and reliable plant that provides long-lasting interest through the season.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1