Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Baptisia leucantha

Family: (Fabaceae)

(P) to 3′. White Wild Indigo. Grows in dry woods from North Carolina to Florida. A sparsely branched, bush-like, herbaceous perennial with trifoliate, bluish-green, glaucous leaves. Dark flower stems give rise to erect racemes of small, white, pea-like flowers, up to two feet in length. Blooms in spring. The large, oblong, inflated seed pods are initially green but turn black, extending the show. Sun/partial shade. 2A & 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana

Family: (Begoniaceae)

(P) to 2′. Hardy Begonia. China and Japan. Pendant panicles of rosy pink blooms are held over attractive, coppery green foliage in late summer. The flower stems are tinged pinkish red and the slightly “lop-sided” leaves have a noticeable red venation. A joy in our Woodland Garden.  Moist, leafy soil.  Partial shade.  4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Blephilia ciliata

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Downy Wood-Mint.  A charming native plant found from Kansas to New England in open woods, glades, and along roadsides.  Dense clustered whorls form along sturdy stems.  Each whorl bears many small, pale lavender, tubular lipped blooms with purple spots nestled inside hairy, fringed bracts.  The rough, downy basal foliage is pleasantly aromatic.  May to August.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Boehmeria platanifolia

Family: (Urticaceae)

Perennial to 3′. Asian False Nettle. China, Japan, Korea. A subtle and unique plant for the woodland garden. The large, apple-green leaves have deeply serrated edges and are covered with tiny hairs, giving the plant an overall soft glow. The opposite leaves attach to the sturdy stems with contrasting red petioles. The leaves, in orderly pairs, are aligned at 90° to the pairs above and below.  Tannish-green tassel, catkin-like flowers emerge from the branch tips in August and continue to droop into the fall.  Partial shade.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Boehmeria spicata

Family: (Urticaceae)

(P) to 4′.  False Nettle.  Discovered in Korea by Dan Hinkley of Heronswood Nursery.  We love it in our Woodland, arching out of Pachysandra terminalis.  Bold, nettle-like, jagged-edged leaves have pinkish red, thread-like, elongated flower clusters emerging from the leaf axils.  A real curiosity.  Summer blooming.  Partial shade.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Borago officinalis

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(A) to 2′.  Common Borage can, according to John Gerard’s Herbal, “make men and women glad and merry, driving away all sadnesse, dulnesse and melancholy.”  Whilst the clusters of bright blue and white, star-like flowers in spring and summer will certainly bring a smile to even the most curmudgeonly of gardeners.  Borage is also cultivated mainly for its cucumber-flavoured leaves and flowers, used as a garnish for salads, and is a vital ingredient in Pimms No. 2, the drink of Wimbledon.  Sun.  3 & T1

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Bouvardia ternifolia

Family: (Rubiaceae)

Tender shrub to 4′.  Firecracker Bush.  Mexico, southwest United States.   A colourful, shrub with small linear leaves usually in whorls of three.  Bugle-shaped, brilliant orange-red flowers are arranged in loose clusters at the ends of the numerous erect branches. Each flower is up to two inches long, tubular and flare at the rim into four rounded, point-tipped lobes. The Spanish name, Trompetilla, meaning little trumpet, refers to the flower’s shape.  Great for attracting and providing nectar for hummingbirds.  A long, long bloomer.  Tolerates dry soil and partial shade.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Browallia americana

Family: (Solanaceae)

(A) to 2.5′.  Bush Violet.  Tropical South America.  One of our favourites.  Small, five-lobed, royal blue flowers are like little faces with a touch of white and black in the centre.  A multi-branched plant that blends well or stands alone.  A favourite of ours.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Browallia americana 'Alba'

Family: (Solanaceae)

(A) to 2.5′.  Exactly like the above, but with pure white blooms.  Very beautiful.  Makes a stunning display along the edge of our White Bed.  Both the white and the blue self-sow for us.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Bupleurum rotundifolium

Family: (Apiaceae)

(A) to 18″. A carefree border plant. The Euphorbia-like flower is neon yellow surrounded by green bracts. Glaucous foliage is similar to that of Eucalyptus. Self-sower. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Calamagrostis epigejos

Family: (Poaceae)

(P) to 5′.  Wood Small-Reed.  Eurasia.  Linear, silver-green foliage becoming purple-bronze as the season progresses.  Flowers are erect and foxtail-like, emerging green-grey and becoming auburn as they mature.  This grass receives so many compliments in our Flower Garden.  We started it from seed ourselves many years ago.  Sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Calamintha nepeta

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 2′.  Calamint.  Europe and Asia.  Loose mounds of deliciously aromatic foliage are literally covered from August until frost with dainty, lavender, and white, hooded flowers with a tri-lobed lower lip.  The soft, mid-green leaves are attractive too, and in a well-drained, sunny pot it makes the perfect edge to path or border.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Calendula officinalis

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 18″.  The pot marigold of all pot marigolds.  The flowers smother the foliage throughout the growing season.  The blooms are single golden orange and add intense colour to the flower border.  It is one of our (many) favourites.  Self-sows.  Sun.  3, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Callicarpa dichotoma var. albifructa

Family: Lamiaceae

Hardy shrub to 6′.  China and Korea.  White Fruited Beauty Berry.  Callicarpa dichotoma is, according to Dirr, the “most graceful and refined of the species.”  It is also the most cold-hardy.  This variety has white berries instead of typical purple and may get a bit taller than the typical form.  Sun to partial shade.  PC- 4 weeks, 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Calycanthus floridus

Family: (Calycanthaceae)

Woody shrub to 6′. Carolina Allspice. Maroon, strawberry scented flowers. Fruits are hard, fig-shaped capsules. Good autumn colour. A tough and attractive shrub. Sun. PC- 8 weeks, 1 then 3 & T2 & Δ