Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Nonea lutea

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(A/B) to 10″. Yellow Monkswort. SW Asia, SW Russia. This early spring bloomer forms large mats of dark green, lanceolate leaves that are rough in texture with a peculiar pustulated surface. The primrose yellow, five-petalled flowers are borne in the leaf axils similar to Pulmonaria. A reliable self-sower. Sun. Best sown in situ or 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbascum chaixii 'Album'

Family: (Scrophulariaceae)

(P) to 4′.  White Nettle-leaved Mullein.  Europe and Russia.  A white-flowered form of the classic yellow Verbascum chaixii.  Attractive, grey-green, felted, and corrugated leaves form large basal rosettes from which rise spire-like terminal racemes.  The racemes are densely packed with five-lobed, one-inch, white flowers sporting showy purple-red filaments and orange anthers.  Long blooming and very versatile.  Mid-summer. Sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Clematis heracleifolia

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 3′. This herbaceous, non-climbing clematis can be found in the blue/lavender/grey bed of the Flower Garden. The individual florets are tight, blue, and reminiscent of Hyacinth blooms, opening wide to expose pale centres and numerous cream stamens. Silvery, fluffy seedheads provide later beauty. Pleasantly fragrant. Full sun to partial shade in cool, moist soil. 3 & 7 for 8 weeks, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Echinops exaltatus

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′. Tall Globe Thistle. Eastern Europe to Russia. Spherical, silvery grey flowerheads atop sturdy, downy-white stems mature into tennis-ball size, prickly seedheads. The bold, greyish green, thistle-like foliage forms an impressive clump. Late summer blooming. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Centaurea macrocephala

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3′. Great Golden Knapweed. Caucasus. A large, leafy, robust plant bearing sturdy stems topped with incredible, rich golden yellow, hemispherical, thistle-like blooms. The fringed, rusty brown coloured involucre of bracts is very prominent and persists. Midsummer. Makes excellent dried cut flowers. Sun. 3 & T2

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Digitalis parviflora

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 2′. Spanish Foxglove. This is a true perennial species of Foxglove, native to the mountains of northern Spain. Plants form a rosette of dark, deeply veined, green leaves bearing in early summer, tightly packed spikes of small, rusty orange-red to chocolate brown flowers on stiff, leafy, upright stems. Eye-catching. Well-drained soil. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Silphium terebinthinaceum

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′. The Prairie Dock. Tall stems of yellow daisies. The giant leaves can reach three feet in length. Rough, flat, dark green and extremely handsome leaves. Fabulous foliage plant. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Heracleum stevenii (syn. H. antasiaticum)

Family: (Apiaceae)

(B/P) to 3′. A show-stopper from the Caucasus. Large, rounded, lobed leaves with white tomentose beneath. White flowers in dense umbels up to 18 inches across. Wow! Summer. Sun. 3 & 6

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Paeonia ostii

Family: (Paeoniaceae)

(P) to 5′. Osti’s Tree Peony. China. Named for Dr. Gian Lupo Osti, President of the International Dendrological Society. This woody peony is very floriferous with six-inch wide, sweetly fragrant, pure-white flowers with ruffled edges. In the centre of the flower is a cluster of pistils with prominent red stigmas surrounded by a mass of stamens with yellow anthers and pink filaments. When the petals drop, the big, fleshy receptacle is exposed with a green, drooping calyx and fat fruits/carpels with the still-prominent red stigmas, all together resembling a court jester’s hat. The attractive, medium green foliage is deeply divided into oval to lance-shaped leaflets on red petioles and is good-looking throughout the season. A real show-stopper in our Order Beds. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6A